Harvard Veteran Acceptance Rate

In comparison to last year, Harvard College admitted more ROTC and veterans to the Class of 2024. Fitzsimmons ’67 credits both increased applicant interest and the College’s own outreach initiatives.

Fitzsimmons claimed in a Friday interview that the number of admitted students identifying as veterans has increased exponentially.

Last year, there were six first-year students, and this year there are 13, according to Fitzsimmons.

The admitted Class of 2024 includes 13 veterans and 47 ROTC applicants, an increase from the six veterans and 41 ROTC applicants admitted to the Class of 2023.

Fitzsimmons emphasized the College’s expanded outreach initiatives for potential applicants who are presently serving in the military. Harvard has attracted applicants by working with organizations connected to the Department of Defense, and in 2017, it joined the Service to School program’s VetLink initiative, which connects veterans with top universities across the nation.

Fitzsimmons remarked, “We’ve had a recruiter on the road, who’s gone out to bases and gone out to community colleges and junior colleges where there will likely be veterans, and he’s made a really big difference.”

Veterans make up a large portion of the students who transfer into the College from other institutions; seven of the total 12 transfer students admitted last year were veterans.

Due to their desire to serve their country and the fact that many of them come from military families, many of these students also provide something unique, according to Fitzsimmons. They have lived all over the nation and the globe. They’re a fascinating group of people with a mission to serve their country after graduation, you know. ”.

The Admissions Office values the perspective and experience that veterans can bring to campus, according to Fitzsimmons. Advertisement.

The education you receive at Harvard with all of your classmates, he said, “and the experiences the veterans have had are just remarkable by any standards,” was one of the things he always told incoming freshmen.

—Staff writer Benjamin L. Fu can be reached at benjamin. fu@thecrimson. com. Follow him on Twitter @BenFu_2.

Search the site Search

Applying to Harvard After Your Service

Individuals who have served in the U. S. Veterans are welcome to apply for first-year and transfer admission, as they bring valuable perspectives to our community.

All of our admission decisions are based on rigorous academic standards, non-academic leadership, and personal qualities. But typically, the varied and distinctive experiences that make up military service at all levels play a significant role in a veteran’s application.

You must first decide whether you are eligible to apply as a first-year or transfer student. You can apply as a first-year student if you haven’t taken a full year of college courses. You can apply as a transfer student if you have taken more than one year’s worth of college courses but less than two years overall.

Please be aware that you cannot be admitted to Harvard College if you have completed more than two years of college-level coursework. Please also be aware that military training programs do not count toward admission as a first-year or transfer student.

We encourage all U. S. military veterans to review our application requirements. Please get in touch with us if you have any specific questions; we can assist you. Additionally, it’s important to note that Harvard is a participant in the Service to Schools’ VetLink program, which offers guidance and assistance to veterans during the college application process.

We automatically waive the application fee for ALL U, so don’t let that stop you from applying. S. military veteran applicants.

From the service to school

Veteran transfer students from community colleges make Harvard home

Harvard College participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Veterans typically receive benefits through the U. S. In addition to the Post 9/11 GI Bill® programs, the Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran’s benefits may be used in addition to or even in place of Harvard’s generous need-based financial aid program when calculating the total cost of attendance. If paying the application fee puts you or your family in financial hardship, we will also waive it. Don’t let the cost prevent you from attending Harvard University.

Calculate Your Estimated Scholarship

To quickly calculate the true cost of Harvard, use our Net Price Calculator.

We’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions for potential students with U S. Military experience. In order to learn more, we also suggest visiting the website of the Harvard Undergraduate Veterans Organization. Please contact us if you can’t find the answer to your question. Were here to help.

• Veterans applying for admission do not go through a special admissions process. Both first-year students and transfer students who have between one and two years of college credit may apply if they have less than one year of college credit. Please visit the U. S. page for military veterans with information on admissions and financial aid
• Before your anticipated date of matriculation at Harvard, you must have successfully completed at least one continuous academic year in a full-time degree program at one college and not have spent more than two years in college overall. Please be aware that regardless of the courses taken, once a student has finished more than two years of college coursework at another institution, they are no longer eligible for transfer admission or freshman admission. Since the Harvard faculty established this rule, our office is unable to make any exceptions. You may apply for freshman admission to Harvard College if you do not meet the aforementioned requirements and have not yet finished one continuous academic year in a full-time degree program at one college. Please be aware that any college coursework you have completed would not transfer to Harvard College if you are eligible to apply as a freshman.
• Standardized tests are not a requirement for the College Classes of 2027-2030 application. However, you have the option to include standardized test results from earlier in your career in your application. The Admissions Committee would benefit from knowing your most recent test results if you decide to report them.
• You are eligible to apply for financial aid. But there are no veteran-specific financial aid initiatives at Harvard. All first-year and transfer applicants to Harvard are eligible to apply for our generous need-based financial aid program. For more information about our program, please visit the Applying for Aid page. Veterans who qualify may also think about utilizing VA benefits; helpful details can be found at http://sfs harvard. edu/veteran-military-benefits.
• Yes. Harvard University is pleased to support the Yellow Ribbon Program, which aids veterans in pursuing their education. The Harvard College Financial Aid Office manages the Yellow Ribbon Funds for its qualified undergraduate students as a part of the University. Government assistance is treated the same as all other awards, and students also receive a matching sum from the College.
• Yes, Harvard College has veteran-specific student and alumni groups. For information about our student group, the Harvard Undergraduate Veterans Organization, and our alumni group, Harvard Veterans, please visit those respective websites.
• No, despite the fact that Harvard University is primarily a residential institution, some students do not live there. Undergraduates who live off campus can choose to join Dudley House. Many students, including married students and those who want to live in a community that is entirely non-residential, have found this option to be appealing. Members of Dudley House are entitled to meal contracts there and are invited to all of the House’s sponsored social and cultural events. They are counseled for fellowship and professional school applications by Dudley House tutors and “deaned” by the Allston Burr Resident Dean of Dudley House.
• Harvard generally does not accept military-specific coursework or credits obtained through military education and service, including classes listed on Joint Services Transcripts. Online courses are also not generally eligible for transfer credit. Only courses taken in person while enrolled as a full-time college student and that are of a liberal arts nature (in subjects comparable to those provided by Harvard College) are eligible for transfer credit. Once a student has been admitted, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Registrar Office reviews transcripts for all admitted transfer students to determine whether courses can be transferred.
• We take into account an applicant’s entire range of experiences and how they have evolved, especially for veterans. Even with a poor high school record, you may still be a strong candidate for Harvard. Examine your high school transcript critically, note any areas where you may have struggled in the classroom, and consider what you have since done to address those issues. Be prepared to discuss any improvements you have made.
• We are aware that some of your high school teachers may no longer work there or may not remember you. If you have pursued any coursework since high school, we typically advise that you obtain a similar set of letters from people who are well acquainted with you in your current stage of life, such as commanding officers or other professors/instructors. Helpful letters could discuss how you handled stress, adversity, or other difficulties, how you got along with your peers, and how you made the most of the opportunities that were available to you. These are all essential skills for success at Harvard and beyond.
• Interviews are not required for admission. Call our office at (617) 495-1551 if you are contacted for an interview but are unable to leave base so that we may help you. Please be aware that transfer applicants are not typically offered interviews if you are applying as a transfer student. When an applicant is hard to reach, we might ask for a phone or Skype interview.
• There is currently no option to earn a degree online at Harvard College. For students looking for opportunities to study remotely, Harvard Extension School provides more flexible options. Learn more about the Extension Schools undergraduate degrees.

Learn More About Harvard

To download our brochure and stay in touch, sign up for our email list.

How Two Marine Corps Veterans Got into Harvard

FAQ

Can veterans get into Harvard?

Individuals who have served in the U. S. Veterans are welcome to apply for first-year and transfer admission, as they bring valuable perspectives to our community. All of our admission decisions are based on rigorous academic standards, non-academic leadership, and personal qualities.

How many veterans attend Harvard?

Number of Undergraduate Veterans at Most Selective U. S. Colleges20132019Dartmouth College1434Duke U**Georgetown U2542Harvard U17.

Is it easier to get into college as a veteran?

However, applicants to colleges may find that having military experience is beneficial. Your military experience, irrespective of the branch, can help to distinguish and strengthen your application. In fact, having military experience can help you not only get into college but also graduate more quickly.

Do Ivy Leagues accept veterans?

The majority of Ivy League schools, as demonstrated below, have a generous Yellow Ribbon program that covers the majority of the unpaid expenses. Remember that the VA matches what a school pays over and above the tuition and fees it already pays directly to the school under the Yellow Ribbon program.