Harvard GRE Scores: There are no two ways about it Harvard is one of the most competitive universities in the world. So, to measure up to Harvards expectations for Masters (MS), your GRE scores can make a big difference.
Harvard University GRE scores are not fixed by the university admission committee. What is also notable here is that GRE scores are not the only criteria for admission to Masters. A competitive school like Harvard does not only rely on GRE scores but gives equal weightage to essays, LORs and interviews.
Before finding out the GRE scores required for Harvard University, students must know that although recommended, GRE scores are optional for the academic year 2022-23. That said, with its record-low 3.1% acceptance rate for the Harvard Class of 2026, it is clear that gaining admission to the university can become significantly difficult without a good GRE score. Here, let us delve deeper into the popular MS programs at Harvard and their GRE cutoff.
Popular MS Courses at Harvard University
The courses at Harvard University are life-changing and create unique learning and leadership opportunities. Students emerge as pre-eminent scholars and influential leaders due to the practical and transformative education policies at Harvard.
Some of the popular MS courses at Harvard University that students from across the world compete to study are given in the table below:
MS Courses |
US News University Subject Rankings 2022 |
Biology and Biochemistry |
2 |
Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology |
1 |
Cell Biology |
1 |
Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems |
1 |
Computer Science |
14 |
Optics |
1 |
Psychiatry/Psychology |
1 |
Social Sciences and Public Health |
1 |
Mathematics |
7 |
Molecular Biology and Genetics |
1 |
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Harvard GRE Scores for Different Schools
Harvard GRE scores for different Harvard Schools vary. It also depends on the course opted for by students. Let us have a quick glance at the GRE scores for different schools of Harvard University:
Harvard School |
Average Quant Score |
Average Verbal Score |
Analytical Writing Score |
School of Engineering and Applied Science |
167 |
163 |
4.5 |
School of Education |
157 |
158 |
4.0 |
Law School |
162 |
161 |
4.5 |
School of Design |
159 |
158 |
4.0 |
Business School |
166 |
162 |
5.0 |
Harvard Kennedy School |
160 |
163 |
4.5 |
What is Harvards Average GRE Score?
It is difficult to aim for a particular Harvard GRE score because it varies across schools and disciplines. It is advised that students target the 85th percentile for GRE Quant section andGRE Verbal sections. Even the GRE Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) average scores are also high. Here in the following table, you will get an idea of the average Harvard GRE score:
Harvard Course |
GRE Quant Score |
GRE Verbal Score |
GRE AWA Score |
MBA |
167 |
163 |
5.0 |
Design Engineering |
168 |
162 |
5.0 |
Data Science |
168 |
161 |
4.5 |
Landscape Architecture in Urban Design |
160 |
156 |
4.5 |
Biotechnology |
164 |
162 |
5.0 |
Architecture in Urban Design |
159 |
158 |
4.0 |
Computational Science and Engineering |
167 |
162 |
4.5 |
Architecture |
159 |
157 |
4.0 |
Urban Planning and Public Policy |
158 |
157 |
4.5 |
Education |
156 |
159 |
4.0 |
Urban Planning and Public Administration |
159 |
157 |
4.0 |
Health Care Management |
159 |
157 |
4.5 |
Public Health |
160 |
157 |
5.0 |
Public Administration |
160 |
162 |
4.5 |
Public Administration in International Development |
159 |
164 |
5.0 |
Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations |
155 |
162 |
4.5 |
South Asian Studies |
155 |
162 |
4.5 |
Performance Practice |
156 |
161 |
4.5 |
Note: These are estimated GRE scores calculated from previous years. For the 2022-23 academic year, submission of the GRE scores at Harvard is optional or not required at all.
How Important are GRE Scores in Harvard Applications?
In spite of the fact that minimum GRE scores are not mentioned in Harvard applications, it is necessary that students assume its extreme importance in the MS application process. The acceptance rates at Harvard are among the lowest and every academic year, it scrutinises and selects the best of the best applicants.
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As mentioned before,GRE scores are an important determining factor for admission. However, it should also be noted that it is one of the many criteria. So, equal weightage should be put on every component of the application process.
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Bad GRE scores do not disqualify students from getting admission to Harvard. However, extremely low scores may lead to rejection. As per the university website, Masters at Harvard can be challenging but successful applicants with lower GRE scores have presented evidence of academic ability in other areas of the application.
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GRE scores can aggravate chances of getting a scholarship which is a major source to fund education at Harvard.
What are Your Chances of Admission to Harvard?
To analyse the chances of admission to Harvard, it is first necessary to understand what are the factors on which admission to a graduate program at the university depends:
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GRE Scores: The GRE scores need to be in the top bracket for admission to Harvard with 165 on quant, 160 on verbal and 5.0 in the writing section. It is necessary to target a high verbal and quant score. The AWA score, on the other hand, helps to differentiate students with the same verbal and quant scores. Notably, high Quant scores on the GRE are required for programs that are based on Mathematics to a significant extent. So, students must target to get 166-167 in that section.
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GPA: Harvard also evaluates candidates on the basis of their past academic record or Grade Point Average (GPA). So, a high GPA score of 3.8 or above, on a scale of 4.0 is crucial to studying MS at Harvard.
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Other Aspects: Apart from high GRE scores and a high GPA, students have to cater to the other aspects of the admission too. Besides GRE scores and GPAs, a well-written statement of purpose (SOP), Letters of Recommendation (LORs), Demonstration of English Proficiency, research experiences and participation in extracurricular activities will also have a significant impact on your application process.
It is essential to make every part of the application strong. Students must make a diligent effort in every part of the application to present their candidature strongly in front of the department of their choice.
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