Every year, many students across the United States compete for a place at Harvard University, widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious institutions of higher education. Harvard’s illustrious alumni network includes a who’s-who of political leaders, entertainers, and business magnates, a testament to the value of a Harvard education.
Admissions are tough, however, and many of the most successful and brightest students come from a select few schools. Below, we’ll look at the schools that send the highest number of students to Harvard each year.
Why Harvard?
Harvard University is without a doubt one of the most well-known and respected names in education. Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institute of higher education in the United States and boasts some of the most successful and distinguished alumni in the world. Its 6,700 undergraduate and 14,500 graduate students are part of an exclusive club of scholars, each of whom has been deemed qualified by a highly selective admissions process.
This process typically includes a combination of strong academic performance, solid test scores, comprehensive essays, and multiple rounds of interviews to determine the best candidates. Since Harvard University’s founding in 1636, it has been the premier choice for many high achieving students who are looking for a top-tier education.
Harvard offers a world-class education that is unmatched by many other institutions due to its highly selective admissions process, distinguished faculty, and wide variety of degree and research opportunities. Furthermore, attending Harvard often gives students access to a prestigious alumni network that can be advantageous for future career prospects. All of these reasons and more make it one of the most desirable schools to get into in the US.
What Schools Send the Most Students to Harvard?
Unsurprisingly, top-tier private schools dominate the list of schools who send the highest number of students to Harvard University. According to a report by U.
S. News, the top 10 schools in terms of Harvard admissions are Exeter Academy, Phillips Andover Academy, Milton Academy, St. Paul’s School, Westminster School, Deerfield Academy, The Hotchkiss School, The Thacher School, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Collegiate School.
All of these schools are well-known feeder schools for Harvard, and notably, Phillips Exeter Academy and Phillips Andover Academy are sister schools located in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, respectively. Additionally, a number of public schools have become notable feeder schools to Harvard recently, thanks in part to the push for greater diversity in elite colleges. These schools include the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia, The Bronx High School of Science in New York, and Mission San Jose High School in California, all of which regularly send students to Harvard.
Furthermore, a number of universities can also be considered “feeder schools” to Harvard, as they send a sizeable amount of students to the school. The most notable of these universities is Harvard’s own Ivy League partner, Princeton University.
Other notable universities include MIT, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, and the University of Chicago.
The Admissions Process at Harvard
The admissions process for Harvard University is notoriously selective and competitive. Prospective students submit an online application which includes grades, test scores, personal essays, and a letter of recommendation. Applicants are then typically invited to interview with the Harvard Admissions Office if they meet certain criteria.
The interviews, which are conducted both by phone and in person, are an important part of the admissions process, as they are meant to give the Harvard admissions officers a better idea of the student’s personality and qualifications. The admissions officers look for a wide range of qualities, such as leadership, intellectual curiosity, and passion.
These qualities are then weighed along with test scores and grades to determine who has the best chance of succeeding at Harvard. It is also important to note that Harvard looks at the difficulty of the courses that applicants have taken when determining their admissions status. Therefore, prospective students from the schools listed above may have an advantage if they are able to demonstrate that they have taken classes that are more challenging than the standard fare at most public schools.
Conclusion
Harvard University is one of the most sought-after universities in the world, due to its reputation for academic excellence, distinguished faculty, and superb resources. Each year, many students from top private schools and universities vie for admission to Harvard.
Prospective students must possess outstanding academic credentials, demonstrate leadership potential, and possess intellectual curiosity in order to stand out and get accepted. While there are many schools and universities that compete for Harvard’s incoming class, the schools listed above consistently place a large number of their students into the prestigious Ivy League institution.