35 Harvard Essays That Worked
Updated for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle.
About Harvard
One of the most prestigious universities in the world, Harvard University is the United States’ oldest college. Steeped in a rich 400 year history, Harvard's rich academic and research environment has fostered some of the world's brightest minds. Students at this Cambridge-based school have access to a world-class education and a community with exceptional talents, resources, and connections. Indeed, Harvard’s alumni includes presidents, billionaires, and award-winning researchers. Motivated students and passionate faculty members make it possible for Harvard's students to pursue their passions and gain the experience they need to realize their goals and make the world a better place.
At a glance…
Acceptance Rate
4%
Tuition
$54,002
Average Cost
$13,872
Average SAT
1520
Average ACT
34
Location
Cambridge, MA
Real Essays from Harvard Admits
Prompt: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.
Trump Rejects “Man-Made” Climate Change, the news alert on my phone reads. The world’s constant injustices tempt me to punch a wall. Instead, my hand rushes to the keyboard, applying irony and humor to transform this frustration into laughter for [Name Redacted], my school’s satirical newspaper: Trump Sends Prayers to Amazon Forest Fires, Hopes Jeff Bezos Alright Bombarded by news streams, I’m constantly swirling in an ocean of injustice and contradictions, but satire is my breath of fresh air—my way to wade through the sea of disillusionment. Even during lockdown, I created online platforms for [Name Redacted] to continue producing content for my school community and to bring some stillness to rough waters. The true reward of my team’s work, beyond producing smiles, is enabling others to think critically and to question the world around them, whether we’re satirizing climate change deniers or merely my school’s unbearably long lunch lines.
Essay by Sarah J.
CS @ Stanford
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