Harvard's high school course requirements?

I'd love to go to Harvard, but what kinds of high school courses are they looking for in their applicants? I want to make sure I am taking the right classes in preparation for applying. Thanks in advance!

Harvard, like many other highly selective universities, doesn't have a strict set of high school course requirements. However, they do provide some general guidelines for courses to take in order to be well-prepared for higher education. These guidelines are intended to ensure that you're taking a rigorous and balanced curriculum, which is one of the most crucial factors in the admissions process.

According to Harvard's recommendations, you should aim to take the following types of courses:

1. English: Four years of English, focusing on literature, grammar, style, and composition.

2. Mathematics: Four years of math, ideally including some advanced topics such as calculus and mathematical modeling.

3. Science: Four years of lab sciences, including Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, and an advanced course in one of these areas.

4. Social Sciences: Three to four years of history and social science courses, including U.S. History and European History.

5. Foreign Language: Four years of study in a foreign language. Becoming proficient in another language indicates intellectual curiosity and cultural awareness.

6. Arts: Though not required, involvement in the arts (music, theater, visual arts, etc.) can be an asset in demonstrating your diverse interests and skills.

In addition to these courses, Harvard values depth and expertise in particular areas, often referred to as a "spike". So, if you're passionate about a specific subject or field, whether it's within or outside the traditional high school curriculum, consider further exploring that interest through related coursework, extracurricular activities, or community involvement.

Lastly, take advantage of any Honors, AP, or IB courses available at your high school. Enrolling in these more challenging courses demonstrates both your academic abilities and your willingness to tackle a more advanced curriculum. Just make sure that you can maintain a strong GPA while pursuing these rigorous courses.

In summary, while there are no fixed course requirements for Harvard, aiming to take a well-rounded and rigorous curriculum that aligns with your interests and strengths will help prepare you for the admissions process.

Finally, on a separate note, if you want tips on how to strengthen your overall application to Harvard, beyond just your course history, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle their school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-harvard-university-essays/

The essays can be a fantastic opportunity to lay out your academic and intellectual passions in detail, as well as to set yourself apart from even other applicants who have taken an impressive array of courses.

Best of luck!