Yes, Harvard requires ACT scores as part of their application process for undergraduate admissions.
So let’s take a deeper look
Yes, Harvard requires ACT scores as part of their application process for undergraduate admissions. In addition to the ACT, students can also submit scores from the SAT or three SAT Subject Tests. The school recommends submitting scores from at least two SAT Subject Tests, but they are not required.
Harvard notes on their website that standardized test scores are not the most important factor in their admission decision, stating, “We care more about how you’ve developed your intellectual and personal interests, and how you’ve engaged with and impacted your community.”
It’s worth noting that Harvard, along with many other schools, has temporarily suspended the requirement for ACT/SAT scores due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this is subject to change in future years.
As for the importance of standardized tests in the college admissions process, there are varying opinions. Some argue that the tests provide a standardized measure of a student’s academic abilities, while others criticize them for their potential to favor students with more resources and time to prepare. As Robert Schaeffer of FairTest, an organization that advocates for test-optional college admissions, notes: “The tests are not fair nor are they useful in admissions decisions when high school grades, teacher recommendations, and students’ non-academic achievements provide a more honest, fairer, and more accurate way to judge applicants.”
Here’s a table to summarize the information:
| School | Required Standardized Tests for Undergrad Admissions |
|---|---|
| Harvard | ACT, SAT, or 2+ SAT Subject Tests (recommended) |
| MIT | ACT or SAT (two SAT Subject Tests recommended) |
| Yale | ACT or SAT (two SAT Subject Tests recommended) |
| Stanford | ACT with Writing or SAT with Essay (recommended) |
| Princeton | ACT or SAT (two SAT Subject Tests recommended) |
As you can see, standardized test requirements vary by school. It’s always a good idea to check the admissions requirements for the schools you are interested in to ensure you are meeting all the necessary criteria.
A visual response to the word “Does Harvard require ACT scores?”
In the YouTube video “Asking Harvard Students How They Got Into Harvard | GPA, SAT/ACT, Clubs, etc.,” a YouTuber interviews Harvard students about their experiences getting admitted to the prestigious university. While the students come from different backgrounds and have varying reasons for attending, they all agree that the hard work and right attitude can get you into Harvard. High school performance, extracurricular activities, and unique backgrounds, talents, and passions were all considered important for gaining admission, but not necessarily required. The interviewees express high levels of satisfaction with their choice to attend Harvard and would choose it again if given the chance. Overall, the message is that the challenges of getting into your dream school are worth it to end up where you belong.
On the Internet, there are additional viewpoints
Harvard will not require SAT or ACT scores for admission through the next four years, extending a policy adopted during the coronavirus pandemic and adding fuel to the movement to permanently eliminate standardized test scores for admission to even the nation’s most selective schools.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has greatly altered life as we know it – including academics – Harvard will not require SAT or ACT scores next year.
Moreover, people are interested
Does Harvard care about ACT scores? Harvard College will allow students to apply for admission without requiring SAT or ACT scores for the upcoming Harvard College Classes of ’27, ’28, ’29, and ’30.
Does Harvard require all ACT scores? The response is: Harvard College
"You are free to use the College Board’s Score Choice option or the similar option offered by ACT when applying to Harvard." Harvard doesn’t say they automatically focus on the highest scores if they get more than one SAT score or ACT score.
Besides, What’s the lowest ACT score Harvard has accepted?
Answer to this: The average ACT score of Harvard-accepted students is 33. Although Harvard claims there is no minimum ACT score, if you apply with a 29 or lower, you’ll have difficulty getting in. So, to get into Harvard, it is important to note the different Harvard University requirements for test scores.
In this manner, Is 4.7 GPA enough for Harvard? Answer: Average GPA: 4.18
(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 4.18, Harvard requires you to be at the top of your class. You’ll need nearly straight A’s in all your classes to compete with other applicants.
Is a 26 a good ACT score?
Is a 26 a good ACT score? Yes, a score of 26 is very competitive. It places you in the top 82nd percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. The score indicates you’ve done a well above above average job answering the questions on the English, Math, Reading and Science sections of the test.
What is the average SAT score for Harvard University?
Response to this: The average SAT score composite at Harvard is a 1520. The 25th percentile New SAT score is 1460, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1580. In other words, a 1460 places you below average, while a 1580 will move you up to above average.
Subsequently, Is Harvard taking SAT scores?
Response to this: Like your GPA, you need to get top scores on your ACT or SAT to be admitted to Harvard. While Harvard says that it does not use a score cutoff for the ACT or SAT for admission, the admissions statistics demonstrate that your scores are important.
In respect to this, What’s a good ACT score?
A perfect score on the ACT is 36. Most students assume that because 36 is the highest possible ACT score (both composite and individual), it’s a “good” ACT score. Yet while a 36 will definitely add a competitive edge to an application, anything less than a 36 isn’t necessarily a bad ACT score.