In light of recent comments circulating online and in social media, the Harvard Club of Shanghai offers the following reminder from William R. Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard College:

Harvard has a need-blind admissions policy, meaning that students are accepted to Harvard without consideration of their ability to pay. Admission decisions are in no way linked to support received by the University for students from specific backgrounds. Once students are admitted, their financial need is met by the University. For admitted students from the People’s Republic of China who have demonstrated financial need, a number of scholarships may be used to help meet that need. Harvard College continues to keep Harvard affordable for all admitted students, regardless of their financial resources or nationality.
— William R. Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard College
哈佛大学实行 “需求回避” 的招生政策,指在招生时不考虑学生的经济能力。在招生决策过程中,绝不会考虑学生是否来自特殊背景并曾给予过学校支持。一旦学生被录取,学校将帮助其解决财务问题。对于来自中国的录取学生,若需要经济援助,学校有一些奖学金,用来帮助他们解决财务问题。不管学生的经济状况或国籍情况,哈佛大学都将继续为所有录取的学生提供帮助,让他们可以负担得起学费。
— 哈佛大学本科招办主任 William R. Fitzsimmons

Alumni Perspectives on the Application Process

Amidst US college recruiting season, eleven Harvard College alumni interviewers gather to share their personal perspectives on the application process.  Through this video they hope to clarify common misconceptions in China, and encourage more students from diverse backgrounds to apply.

This video is jointly produced with the Shanghai United Media Group's affiliate International Education Journal.


哈佛校友面试官分享本科申请经验

正值美国大学招生季,十一位哈佛大学校友面试官接受采访,分享他们对本科申请的个人体验。通过这个视频他们希望澄清中国申请者常见的误区,鼓励更多不同背景的学生来申请哈佛。

本视频与上海报业集团下属的《国际教育风云录》联合出品。
 


An Open Letter to Applicants from China

With a spirit to provide open and fair access to information, and to address popular concerns among applicants from China to Harvard College, the Harvard Schools and Scholarships Committees of Shanghai and Beijing would like to clarify the application process.

All application materials are publicly available on the Harvard College website:

https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply

We wish every applicant the best of luck!

The Harvard Schools and Scholarships Committees of Shanghai and Beijing

 

致中国地区申请者的一封公开信

本着提供公开、公平信息的精神,为了回答哈佛大学的中国地区申请者一些普遍存在的疑惑,哈佛上海和北京的学校与奖学金委员会希望就相关问题做澄清说明。

关于哈佛大学招生政策的全部信息和资料,官方网站上都进行公开提供:

https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply

我们向所有申请者寄以最好的祝福!

哈佛上海和北京学校与奖学金委员会

 

Q: Are there minimum SAT score requirements?

A: Harvard does not have any minimum score requirements for applicants. The admissions committee reads every application, regardless of the student’s test scores, and considers every student based on the complete set of credentials presented in the application. Because the applicant pool is very large, most admitted students do tend to have strong test scores, but this is not the most important component of an application, and there is no minimum requirement for consideration.

 

问题:申请哈佛大学有最低SAT分数线的要求吗?

回答:哈佛大学不设置最低分数线的要求。招生委员会认真阅读每一份申请材料,不论学生的考试成绩分数如何。每一个录取决定都是基于学生全套申请材料呈现出的各方面资质。由于我们收到的申请数量十分庞大,因此大部分被录取的学生会趋于具备很强的考试成绩;但是这并不代表考试成绩就是申请材料中最重要的部分,而在我们做出录取决定时也不设置最低分数线的要求。

 

Q: Does attending Harvard summer school help admission?

A: Programs that offer academic enrichment beyond the high school environment, especially those at the college level, can be helpful demonstrations of a student’s academic abilities, and can give students a taste of what college life may be like. The admissions committee, however, does not expect students to attend such programs. We understand that not every student will have the resources to attend a summer program, and we are most interested in seeing how each student has taken advantage of the opportunities that he or she has had. There is no partnership between Harvard Summer School and Harvard College Admissions, and students who attend Harvard Summer School are not given preference in the admissions process. We do, however, request that students send a transcript for any additional academic courses that have been taken outside of their high school.

 

问题:参加“哈佛暑期学校”对申请有帮助吗?

回答:一般来说,参加那些提供高中课堂范围以外(尤其是达到大学水平)的学术体验的项目,是可以展现一个申请者的学术能力的,同时也可以帮助学生提前感受大学生活。但是,哈佛大学招生办公室并不期待每一个学生都可以参加这样的项目。我们理解并不是每一个学生都有足够的资源去参加暑期项目,而我们最关注的其实是每一个学生怎样充分利用和发掘他或她可以拥有的教育资源。哈佛大学招生办和哈佛暑期学校之间没有合作关系,参加过哈佛暑期学校的学生在申请哈佛的过程中也没有任何特别优势。与此同时,如果学生参加过高中以外的任何学术项目,我们要求他们提交这些项目的成绩单给招生办。

 

Q: Does applying for financial aid hinder admission?

A: Applying for financial aid will not hinder your chance of admissions, regardless of your citizenship. Harvard offers the same financial aid for domestic and international students. 

 

问题:申请助学金对申请有任何影响吗?

回答:对于哈佛大学,申请助学金不会影响被录取的可能性,不论学生的国籍是什么。哈佛大学对于美国国内学生和国际学生提供同等的助学金政策。

 

Q: Do I need a recommendation letter from a Harvard alumni to apply?

A: In China, we have a limited number of interviewers. If the Admissions Committee requires more information about you, you will be contacted by the Admissions Office. If you are not interviewed, it will not adversely affect your candidacy. Recommendation letters from Harvard alumni are not required or expected, and are usually not helpful. We do require recommendation letters from two teachers, as well as a letter from a school counselor or other school official – please see our website for instructions.

 

问题:申请哈佛大学需要提交“校友推荐”吗?

回答:在中国地区,我们的校友面试官人数是有限的。如果招生委员会希望了解更多关于你的信息,将会与你取得联系。如果你没有接到面试,并不代表你的申请资格受到影响。我们并不要求、也不期待申请者提交来自哈佛校友的推荐信;一般来说这样的推荐信没有帮助作用。我们要求两封来自老师的推荐信,以及一封来自高中的升学顾问或者其他学校领导的推荐信—具体要求请查看招生办公室 官方网站。

 

Q: Does Harvard partner with agents or donors to guarantee admission slots?

A: There are no agents or donors who have any partnerships with Harvard admissions, and no one holds any reserved or guaranteed admission slots.

 

问题:是否有中介机构或捐赠者与哈佛大学有合作关系从而获取保证的录取名额?

回答:没有任何一家中介机构或捐赠者与哈佛大学招生办公室有合作关系。没有任何人拥有哈佛的“预留”或“保证”录取名额。