Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

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❍ Admissions Application Instructions and Information

■ Academic Requirements Online submission of the application for admission is encouraged. If you choose to apply
■ Application Instructions using the paper application, the application for admission and all supporting documents must
and Information be submitted in the enclosed envelope to ensure full consideration.

■ Apply to GSAS
■ Admissions Checklist
■ Categories of Admission
The application for admission, together with all supporting materials, becomes the property
of the Graduate School. No materials, except those noted in the section on "Transcripts," will
be returned to the applicant nor forwarded to other schools or agencies. All materials
related to your application will be filed by your last or family name. It will facilitate

■ Costs: Tuition and Fees

our handling of your application if you identify your family name on all
correspondence with this office. This is of particular importance for names that do not
Dean's Welcome Letter
follow standard English word order. Those who have filed an application to the Graduate
■

■ Degree Programs School in a previous year should read carefully the information on "Reapplication".

■ English Testing for New Deadline and Fee Information

International Students

Application deadline December 3, 2007, at 5:00 p.m. EST

■ English Language Program
● Business Economics
■ ESL Courses and Tutoring
● Organizational Behavior
■ Harvard Integrated Life ● Science, Technology, and Management
Sciences
Application deadline December 7, 2007, at 5:00 p.m. EST
■ Minority Students ● Biological Sciences in Dental Medicine*
● Biological Sciences in Public Health*
■ Non-Degree Programs
● Biology: Medical Sciences*
■ Program Deadlines ● Biology, Molecular and Cellular*
■ Program Details ● Biology, Organismic and Evolutionary*
● Biophysics*
■ Recruitment Schedule
● Chemical Biology*
■ Request an Application ● Chemical Physics
● Chemistry and Chemical Biology*
■ Secondary Fields
● Systems Biology*
❍ Financial Aid
*Participating programs in Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS)
❍ Student Life
Application deadline December 14, 2007, at 5:00 p.m. EST

● Astronomy

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● Biostatistics
● East Asian Languages and Civilizations
●September/October 2007 ● Engineering and Applied Sciences (preferred deadline)
GSAS Bulletin ● Forestry
● Health Policy
● Summer 2007 Colloquy
● History
The GSAS Alumni Quarterly
● Mathematics
● GSAS Handbook ● Physics
● Psychology
● Statistics

Application deadline January 2, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. EST

● African and African American Studies

● Anthropology
● Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning
● Celtic Languages and Literatures
● Classics
● Comparative Literature
● Earth and Planetary Sciences
● Economics
● Engineering and Applied Sciences (final deadline)
● English and American Literature and Language
● Germanic Languages and Literatures
● Government
● History of American Civilization
● History of Art and Architecture (Formerly Fine Arts)
● History of Science
● Inner Asian and Altaic Studies
● Linguistics
● Middle Eastern Studies
● Music
● Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
● Philosophy
● Political Economy and Government
● Regional Studies-East Asia
● Regional Studies-Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia
● Religion
● Romance Languages and Literatures
● Sanskrit and Indian Studies
● Slavic Languages and Literatures
● Social Policy
● Sociology

Refer to the list in Program Details for the appropriate department deadline. The application
fee is $90. All applications received by the appropriate deadline with the correct application
fee are guaranteed full con sid eration. Applications and supporting documentation delivered
after the appropriate deadline might not be considered.

It is important that you send all supporting materials in the same envelope. If you are
submitting a paper application, use the enclosed envelope. Consideration of your application
may be delayed if supporting materials are sent separately. The Graduate School cannot
guarantee review of supporting material received after the appropriate deadline.

The only acceptable form of payment for the online application is credit card. If you

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are submitting a paper application, the fee must accompany the application for
admission.

The only acceptable forms of payment for the paper application are:

1. Any domestic (US) check or money order.

2. Foreign checks or money orders if explicitly written in US dollars and if drawn against
a corresponding US bank.
3. Any Canadian check or money order if drawn in US dollars.
4. Japanese Postal Money Orders.

Checks and money orders should be made payable to GSAS-Harvard University and must
bear the applicant's full name- with family name and program number circled. Please do
not send cash. Do not send the application fee separately. The application fee is not
refundable.

Selecting a Department and Subject

The term "program" refers to the various departments, divisions, and committees that offer
graduate degrees. "Programs, Subjects, Degrees, and Requirements" appears in Program
Details. Programs are described in the Degree Programs section of this Website.

When completing the application, consult the list of "Programs, Subjects, Degrees, and
Requirements." Locate the department, division, or committee to which you wish to apply,
and enter the program number and name on the appropriate line, at the top of the
application. Indicate on the "subject" line the subject name and number you wish to study
and on the "degree" line, the degree you seek. Note that though most programs accept
applications only for study leading to the PhD, a few offer AM degrees.

Consideration by More than One Program - Occasionally, an application may be

transferred by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid to a second department that may
be more suitable to the applicant's academic interest. Candidates for admission to member
programs in the Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS) may also apply to more than one
program (see following section).

The Graduate School does not recommend submission of more than one application.
However, if you choose to submit multiple applications (up to a limit of two), the applications
may not share any item. Each must have its own transcripts, recommendations, financial
data, test scores, etc., and must be accompanied by the correct application fee. If you file
more than one application, attach a note to the front page of each, indicating the
program numbers and names to which you are applying.

It is Graduate School policy that an individual may submit only one application per program.

It is Graduate School policy that an individual may submit no more than three applications
during the course of his or her academic career.

Applying to a Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS) Program

To apply to a Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS) program, students complete and
return the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) admissions application by December
8, 2007. HILS students are admitted to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard,
and register in one of the 12 life science PhD study areas that are members of the HILS
federation.

Ordinarily, students apply to one HILS program, and we strongly recommend this targeted
approach. While each program's admission committee makes its admissions decisions
independently, the committees also consider each candidate's suitability in adjacent HILS
programs as part of their evaluation process, and will transfer files accordingly. You will be

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notified by the GSAS Admission Office if this occurs.

For candidates who nonetheless wish to formally apply to more than one program, HILS will
accommodate the submission of up to three applications to its member programs under a
single $90 application fee. Applicants who wish to submit multiple applications must indicate
their program choices on the online application form using the specific code numbers listed in
the section "Programs, Subjects, Degrees, and Requirements," and, for each program
applied to, must complete a separate Statement of Purpose explaining their specific interest
in each program. Online submission of the applicaton is encouraged.

If you formally apply to more than one HILS member program using the online application,
follow the instructions online to "Apply to more than one program."Using the paper
application, complete two (or three) applications and Statements of Purpose, submit one
application fee, and submit all applications in the same envelope.

Note that it is the policy of the Graduate School that an individual may submit no more than
three applications during the course of his or her academic career. This policy applies to
multiple HILS applications, whether or not they are submitted under a single admission fee.
If you apply to two HILS PhD programs this admission cycle, for instance, you will be able to
apply to just one Harvard PhD program in the future. If you apply to three HILS PhD
programs this admission cycle, you will be unable to apply to any other Harvard PhD
program in the future.

English Proficiency

Adequate command of spoken and written English is required for admission. Applicants
whose native language is other than English and who do not hold a Bachelor degree or its
equivalent from an institution at which English is the language of instruction must submit
scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the
Educational Testing Service (ETS), Box 899, Princeton, NJ 08541. When requesting
official score reports, be sure to indicate the receiving institution as Harvard University
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Code 3451. If an "Applicant's Score Confirmation
Report" is available, mail it with your application for admission. However, the official
institutional score report sent by ETS is still required. A minimum score of 550 on the paper
test, 213 on the computer test, and 80 on the Internet test on the TOEFL is required for
consideration by the Graduate School; individual departments may require a higher score.
Applicants who took the TOEFL more than two years ago must repeat the test. No test other
than the TOEFL will be acceptable as proof of English proficiency.

Letters of Recommendation

Submit three letters of recommendation from faculty or others qualified to evaluate your
potential for graduate study. The letters must be received by the appropriate deadline
of December 3, 7, or 14, 2007; or January 2, 2008. At least one letter should be from a
faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student unless you have been
out of school for more than five years. Substitutions for faculty recommendations may
include work associates or others who can comment on your academic potential for graduate
work. Indicate on the recommendation form whether you are waiving your right to see the
letter of recommendation. Recommenders should seal their letters, sign across the seal, and
return them to you for inclusion with your application. Recommenders may send letters
directly to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, although doing so might delay the
completion of your admission file. If the application deadline is approaching, and you are
awaiting letters of recommendation, do not delay submitting your application. Send delayed
letters as soon as they are available. GSAS, however, can only guarantee full consideration
of applications for which letters are received by the appropriate deadline of December 3, 7,

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or 14, 2007; or January 2, 2008. Additional copies of the letter of recommendation form can
be obtained online.

Graduate Record Examination

The Graduate School requires that applicants present scores of the General Test of the
Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Scores from either the computer-based or the
traditional paper administration are acceptable. You must take the GRE in sufficient time
for score reports to reach us by the application deadline. Many programs also require
one of the GRE Subject Tests; requirements are noted in Program Details.

Make arrangements to register for the tests well before administration dates. Scores should
be reported to Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Code 3451. For
further information write: Graduate Record Examination, ETS, Box 955, Princeton, NJ
08541.

GRE scores are valid for five years only. Applicants who have not taken the GRE in the last
five years and intend to submit scores should take the examinations again. If you have
personal score reports available from tests taken within the last five years, include them with
your application. However, be sure also to have official institutional score reports sent
directly from ETS; only official scores are acceptable.

Transcripts

The Graduate School requires that one official university/college transcript from each
university/college attended-bearing the seal of the institution and signature of the registrar
or appropriate official-must accompany your application. For admissions purposes,
transcripts issued directly to the student, and so marked, are acceptable. Photocopies made
by the applicant are not acceptable. If for some reason it is necessary that transcripts be
mailed by the institution directly to the Graduate School, make sure that they are sent to the
correct Office of Admissions address (see below). An official transcript showing the conferral
of the undergraduate degree is required to register in the Graduate School.
Foreign transcripts--records of all courses, seminars, and examinations, including grades,
scores, grading scales, and conferrals of degrees--must be in English. If records are not
available in English, original records must be submitted with certified English translations. All
translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records. Irreplaceable
foreign documents will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed envelope large
enough to hold the documents. Students from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, and
Bangladesh cannot apply for admission until results of their master's degree examinations
are available.

The University reserves the right to request additional academic documents.

Abstract of Courses

Although this form may duplicate information available on your transcript(s), it is essential
that the admissions committee has available an orderly summary of your courses. The
Division of Medical Sciences does not require that you complete this part of the application.

Other Requirements

All applicants are strongly urged to submit a resume or curriculum vitae with their completed
application. Please see Program Details for additional requirements of your department.

Summary Form

For applicants submitting the paper application only: The summary form is the key to
application materials submitted to the Graduate School. Its thorough and legible completion
will allow us to serve you better, particularly when questions arise about your application.

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Codes for completion of the form appear at the end of this publication.

The address you supply on the summary form is the one at which you will receive
your admission decision letter. Please inform us in writing of any address changes.

Papers and Manuscripts

If you submit a paper, manuscript, publication, recording, or other materials in support of

your application, print your full name and the program to which you are applying and your
US Social Security number on all materials. Since the Graduate School cannot return these
materials, applicants are urged to make and keep copies. All materials will be destroyed after
admissions decisions are made.

Mailing Application Materials

If you are using the paper application, all other materials related to your application (i.e.,
application for admission, application fee, transcript(s), recommendations, etc.) should be
mailed in the enclosed envelope to:

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Harvard University
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 9129
Cambridge, MA 02238-9129

Do not mail any application materials directly to the department to which you are applying,
except for specific requests detailed in Program Details.

Please note: The Graduate School does not return any portion of the admission application
and supporting documents with the possible exception of certain foreign transcripts.

The Graduate School cannot acknowledge receipt of material received after the
appropriate deadline.

Questions?

If you have questions about your application, or if problems arise when completing it, you
may call for assistance. We are unable to accept collect calls.

There are two telephone numbers available for your use: one for questions that pertain to
your application for admission and all supporting documents, and another for questions that
pertain to your application for financial aid. Please be sure to use the appropriate number for
your question.

The telephone numbers and hours of operation are:

Questions on the application for admission:

617-496-6100
(Please call between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through
Friday.)
admiss@fas.harvard.edu

Questions on the application for financial aid:

617-495-5396
(Please call between 2:00 p.m. and
5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.)

Questions for the Minority Recruitment and Student Programming Officer:

617-495-5315
minrec@fas.harvard.edu.

If you write, be sure to include the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) in the

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address.

Please note: Harvard University is closed December 21, 2007, through January 1,
2008.

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Copyright © 1999-2007 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College

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