Applying to Harvard

• It seems like you have to choose one essay prompt from a list of options.
• Prompt 1 focuses on your intellectual activities outside of your academic requirements. You can list projects, training experiences, online courses, or summer programs that you haven’t mentioned elsewhere in your application. The word limit is 150 words.
• Prompt 2 requires you to elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. The word limit is between 50 and 150 words.
• Prompt 3 is optional and allows you to include an additional essay if you feel that the college application forms don’t provide enough opportunity to convey important information about yourself or your accomplishments. There are several suggested topics to choose from, including unusual circumstances in your life, travel or working experiences, what you would want your future college roommate to know about you, an intellectual experience that has meant the most to you, how you hope to use your college education, a list of books you have read in the past year, a time when you or someone you observed had to make a choice about acting with integrity and honesty, what you would do to contribute to the lives of your classmates in advancing the mission of Harvard College, if you were to defer your admission or take time off during college, and the distinctive aspects of your background, personal development, or intellectual interests that you would bring to your Harvard classmates. Alternatively, you can choose to write on a topic of your choice.
• There is also a specific prompt for international students, asking about their specific plans for using the education they hope to receive. The word limit is 50 words or less.