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If yous're applying to Harvard, information technology's important to learn everything in that location is to know almost Harvard GRE scores. What's a good GRE score for Harvard? Is there a certain GRE score you should be aiming for?

In this article, we'll discuss what Harvard is known for, explain how competitive it is for graduate students, and go over the Harvard University GRE score requirements for major programs. We'll and then conclude with a few tips on how to calculate your chances of admission to Harvard so that y'all can put forward your best application possible.

What Kind of Schoolhouse Is Harvard?

Harvard University is one of the most prestigious and well-known universities in the world. It was established in 1636, making it the oldest establishment of higher education in the Us.

A founding member of the Ivy League, Harvard offers a variety of graduate programs that consistently summit national rankings.

Currently, the university is dwelling to 12 schools spanning the fields of constabulary, business, engineering, medicine, design, instruction, public health, and the arts and sciences.

Harvard GRE Scores: How Competitive Is Harvard?

Harvard is an extremely competitive schoolhouse for graduate applicants.

On average, the GRE scores of admitted applicants range from about 155 to 166 for Verbal and 155 to 170 for Quant, with many programs wanting scores in the 160s, or the summit x-xv percentage. (Typically, Quant expectations are higher for math- and science-oriented programs, while Verbal expectations are higher for reading- and writing-oriented programs.)

As for Belittling Writing (AW)—generally considered the least important of the 3 GRE sections—most admitted applicants score in the range of 4.5-5.0.

Expectations for Harvard GRE scores can vary widely by programme. For example, y'all'd likely need a higher Quant score for a figurer scientific discipline programme than you would for an English plan.

Now that we've looked at the GRE score needed for Harvard in full general, let'due south go over how you tin can figure out the Harvard GRE requirements for your programme in particular.

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What's a Proficient GRE Score for Harvard?

In this section, nosotros give yous an overview of the boilerplate Harvard GRE scores for some of the university's biggest programs. In addition, nosotros tell y'all what each program'south US News ranking is, whether the program requires GRE scores, what the average GPA of admitted applicants was, and what the acceptance rate is.

Before we await at the chart, allow'southward go over how Harvard GRE requirements volition be laid out. GRE scores are ordinarily presented in one of three ways:

  • Required scores: These are the minimum GRE scores you need to qualify for admission. Score lower than these thresholds and your application will most likely be rejected.
  • Recommended scores: These are the ideal GRE scores you should aim for in order to exist a competitive applicant. While you don't absolutely need to get these scores to exist admitted, reaching (or exceeding) them volition give you a much better chance of admission.
  • Boilerplate scores: These are the average GRE scores of previously admitted applicants. Yous'll want to aim for at least these scores (ideally, a few points higher) if your goal is to exist a competitive applicant.

All Harvard programs below are arranged in alphabetical gild by field and pertain to both main's and doctoral degrees (unless otherwise stated). Most Harvard GRE scores are averages, though some programs reported recommended or median (i.east., the 50th percentile, which is similar to the average) scores instead.

Plan The states News Ranking GRE Required? Avg. GRE Scores Avg. GPA Credence Charge per unit
History of Art and Architecture PhD Yep Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
Biophysics PhD ane Yes V: 664
Q: 790
AW: 5.three
(erstwhile scoring scale)
Unavailable Unavailable
Chemistry / Chemical Physics four Yes V: 163
Q: 166
AW: iv.5
3.92 overall, 3.95 in scientific discipline coursework Unavailable
Graduate School of Design programs Aye V: 157
Q: 159
AW: 4.0
Recommended
three.4
Unavailable
Economic science PhD 1 Yes Five: 97th percentile
Q: 97th percentile
Unavailable 4-v%
Primary of Education (EdM) 1 Aye V: 80th percentile
Q: 60th percentile
AW: iv.6
Unavailable Unavailable
Pedagogy PhD i Yes V: 87th percentile
Q: 58th percentile
AW: four.9
Unavailable Unavailable
Md of Didactics Leadership (EdLD) 2 Must accept either GRE or GMAT V: 69th percentile
Q: 37th percentile
AW: 4.five
Unavailable Unavailable
Applied science and Practical Sciences 23 Yes Five: 80-85th percentile
Q: 90-95th percentile
3.8 nine% (for all programs)
English PhD 8 Yes Recommended
5: 166
Recommended
A- average in English coursework
Unavailable
Film and Visual Studies PhD Yes Unavailable Recommended
A- average in relevant coursework
Unavailable
Health Policy PhD i Must take either GRE or GMAT Recommended
5: Higher up 80th percentile
Q: Above 80th percentile
AW: Above 80th percentile
Unavailable 8-ten%
Public Wellness (SM, MPH, SD, and DrPH programs) 2 Yep Median
V: 160
Q: 161
AW: 4.0
Recommended
V: 50th percentile
Q: 65th percentile
Unavailable SM: 31.three%
MPH: 52.9%
SD: fifteen.7%
DrPH: half-dozen.9%
History PhD 4 Yes Unavailable Unavailable half-dozen%
JD 3 Must have either LSAT or GRE Unavailable Median
three.86
16.five%
Medical Sciences PhD programs 1 Yes Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
Middle Eastern Studies Aye Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
Psychology PhD programs 3 Yeah Recommended
Five+Q: 1350 (sometime scoring scale)
Unavailable Unavailable
Sociology PhD programs 1 Yes Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
Theology (MDiv, MTS, ThM, and PhD programs) Yes Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Sources: Harvard.edu and Usa News

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What Are Your Chances of Admission to Harvard?

Your chances of admission to a Harvard grad program depend on several factors. Earlier we discuss those, though, let's go over some estimates.

For about Harvard programs, the following GRE scores and GPA should give y'all an excellent shot at getting accepted:

  • If Verbal is your most important section, around 165 on Verbal, 160 on Quant, and 5.0 or college on AW: Reading-heavy programs at Harvard want to see high Exact scores but don't expect similarly high Quant scores, so it'south a skillful thought to aim for at least the low 160s on Quant. In add-on, a great AW score lets you prepare yourself apart from other applicants with similarly high Verbal scores.
  • If Quant is your well-nigh important section, effectually 166 on Quant, 161 on Verbal, and 4.5-5.0 on AW: With math-heavy programs at Harvard, it's of import to get a super high Quant score and a very good Verbal score. You usually don't take to worry about your AW score equally much, as long as information technology's at to the lowest degree 4.5.
  • 3.8 (out of four.0) GPA or higher: Essentially, an A or A- average is best. You'll have an fifty-fifty better shot at continuing out if y'all have a 4.0 (or higher, if your undergrad college calculated GPA on a weighted scale). Retrieve that the rigor and relevance of your coursework are of import also, and so even if your GPA isn't as high every bit these, the difficulty of your undergrad courses could work in your favor!

Getting these GRE scores and GPA should make you lot a very competitive applicant for Harvard. Yet, there are a couple of caveats.

For i, GRE and GPA expectations vary significantly amid Harvard grad programs, so you won't always demand to match the exact scores and GPA we've given y'all higher up in club to get accustomed.

Secondly, because Harvard is an especially selective school, even uncommonly high GRE scores or a perfect GPA can't guarantee you'll be admitted.

At present, let'south take a await at some of the near important factors that tin can touch on your chances of admission to Harvard.

#i: Is There a Minimum Required GRE Score or GPA?

One major factor to consider is whether your grad program requires all applicants to meet a particular GPA or GRE score minimum when applying.

According to the nautical chart, most Harvard programs don't maintain minimum GRE score cutoffs. But if yours does have a strict cutoff, yous must get at to the lowest degree this score to qualify for admission. Not reaching this threshold will (almost likely) immediately disqualify your application.

If your programme recommends a certain GRE score (but doesn't require it), y'all should withal aim for at least this score. A lower score doesn't necessarily mean your application will be butterfingers, just it will give you a worse gamble of getting accepted since it won't be as high every bit the program wants.

As for GPA, most Harvard programs don't accept minimum required GPAs. That said, y'all'll still need a high GPA for access—every bit I mentioned above, an A or A- average is ideal. Unfortunately, you tin't practise much to change your GPA like you can your GRE scores. If you lot don't have a high undergrad GPA, hither are some tips on what you can exercise to make upwards for it.

#two: How Does Your GRE Score Compare to the Average?

What's the GRE score required for admission to your Harvard grad program? The easiest way to effigy this out is to discover the boilerplate GRE scores of previously admitted applicants.

Typically, you'll desire to aim as high as, or even slightly higher than, your programme's average GRE scores. Doing this will make you lot equally good as other applicants and give yous a solid shot at access.

For example, if I were applying to Harvard's doctoral chemistry programme, my goal scores should be at to the lowest degree 163 on Verbal, 166 on Quant, and 4.5 on AW. Getting these scores ensures I'll be equally competitive as other applicants to my program. But if I score higher—say, 165 on Verbal and 168 on Quant—I'll have an fifty-fifty better run a risk of access!

Unfortunately, many Harvard programs don't offer GRE averages or whatever GRE information at all. If your program doesn't offering GRE averages, follow the tips in our guide to a good GRE score to estimate what scores y'all'll need for a great chance of getting accepted.

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#3: How Strong Is the Rest of Your Application?

In addition to GRE scores and GPA, other application factors can influence Harvard'southward decision to either admit or reject yous to a grad plan.

Some of the most important admission factors include the post-obit:

  • How well written and compelling your argument of purpose is
  • How cogent and complimentary your letters of recommendation are
  • How much enquiry or extracurricular feel you accept in your field
  • Whether your particular research interests friction match the faculty's areas of expertise

Essentially, y'all'll want to make sure that each part of your awarding is as stiff as information technology can be. Don't rely solely on nifty GRE scores and a loftier GPA to get you admitted to Harvard; work diligently to put together an accommodating impressive application.

Ultimately, even just one trouble with your application, such every bit a clichéd statement of purpose or sloppy CV, can brand Harvard determine to reject you. So spend time making each element of your awarding shine!

What'south Next?

Want to learn more than about average GRE scores?Read our guides on average GRE scores by school and by major to see how loftier you'll need to aim in society to impress admission committees.

What are good GRE scores for other prestigious grad schools?Take a wait at our GRE score pages for MIT, Stanford (coming soon), and Columbia (coming soon) to learn more!

Ready to better your GRE score past 7 points?

We've written a eBook about the top five strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your GRE score. Download it for gratuitous at present:



Hannah graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with a bachelor'south degree in English and E Asian languages and cultures. Subsequently graduation, she taught English in Japan for 2 years via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. View all posts by Hannah Muniz