Harvard Supplemental Essay Prompts (2025–2026)

by Justin Neiman, Former Harvard Admissions Officer
August 1, 2025

Harvard Supplemental Essay Prompts (2025–2026)

Harvard University Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2025-2026 Application Cycle

***Harvard has officially released their 2025-2026 prompts and essay questions on the Common App.

Harvard 2025-2026 Essay Questions (Official)

  1. Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a student body with a diversity of perspectives and experiences. How will the life experiences that shaped who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?
    (150 word limit)
  2. Describe a time when you strongly disagreed with someone about an idea or issue. How did you communicate or engage with this person? What did you learn from this experience?
    (150 word limit)
  3. Briefly describe any of your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are.
    (150 word limit)
  4. How do you hope to use your Harvard education in the future?
    (150 word limit)
  5. Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you.
    (150 word limit)

Harvard Admissions Instructions

The following required five short answer questions invite you to reflect on and share how your life experiences and academic and extracurricular activities shaped you, how you will engage with others at Harvard, and your aspirations for the future. Each question can be answered in about 100 words.

How to Write Harvard’s Supplemental Essays: Tips & Strategies

If you’re applying to Harvard during the 2025–2026 admissions cycle, the supplemental essays will be one of the most important parts of your application. These questions are your chance to show Harvard who you are, what you care about, and why you belong on campus. They're intentionally designed to uncover the qualities, experiences, and perspectives the university values most. By offering authentic and meaningful responses, you’ll help the admissions committee imagine what kind of classmate, community member, and contributor you’d be as part of the Class of 2030.

Be specific

Don’t just say you’re passionate or curious about something. Show it. Use concrete examples and tell real stories—Harvard wants to understand the person behind the achievements.

Make each answer distinct

Each question is a chance to reveal something new. Remember that your Personal Statement essay from the Common App will also be reviewed together with the Harvard supplement. Try not to repeat themes across answers.

Make sure you are answering the question

This sounds obvious, but it’s a common pitfall. Take time to truly understand what each prompt is asking—and make sure your response clearly and directly addresses it.

Highlight positive qualities

While it can be beneficial to discuss challenges, failures, and personal growth, be mindful of the takeaway. If your essay leaves the reader questioning your judgment, character, or integrity, it could harm your admission chances. Ensure that even when discussing setbacks, the overall message is one that casts you in a positive light.

Use the maximum word count

Although the Harvard Admissions Office instructions say each question can be answered in about 100 words, I strongly recommend you to aim for the maximum of 150 words. It will already be challenging enough to get your message across in 150 words, you will need to use every word possible to get an effective response across.

Build a cohesive story

A strong narrative turns your application from a list of accomplishments into a memorable story about what drives you. It helps admissions officers understand not just what you’ve done, but why it matters — and where it’s all heading. Not sure what a narrative looks like? Check out this blog post!

Need Help With Your Harvard Application?

Looking for additional guidance or application review support? Feel free to reach out. We’re here to support you through every step of the process!

Harvard University Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2025-2026 Application Cycle

***Harvard has officially released their 2025-2026 prompts and essay questions on the Common App.

Harvard 2025-2026 Essay Questions (Official)

  1. Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a student body with a diversity of perspectives and experiences. How will the life experiences that shaped who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?
    (150 word limit)
  2. Describe a time when you strongly disagreed with someone about an idea or issue. How did you communicate or engage with this person? What did you learn from this experience?
    (150 word limit)
  3. Briefly describe any of your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are.
    (150 word limit)
  4. How do you hope to use your Harvard education in the future?
    (150 word limit)
  5. Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you.
    (150 word limit)

Harvard Admissions Instructions

The following required five short answer questions invite you to reflect on and share how your life experiences and academic and extracurricular activities shaped you, how you will engage with others at Harvard, and your aspirations for the future. Each question can be answered in about 100 words.

How to Write Harvard’s Supplemental Essays: Tips & Strategies

If you’re applying to Harvard during the 2025–2026 admissions cycle, the supplemental essays will be one of the most important parts of your application. These questions are your chance to show Harvard who you are, what you care about, and why you belong on campus. They're intentionally designed to uncover the qualities, experiences, and perspectives the university values most. By offering authentic and meaningful responses, you’ll help the admissions committee imagine what kind of classmate, community member, and contributor you’d be as part of the Class of 2030.

Be specific

Don’t just say you’re passionate or curious about something. Show it. Use concrete examples and tell real stories—Harvard wants to understand the person behind the achievements.

Make each answer distinct

Each question is a chance to reveal something new. Remember that your Personal Statement essay from the Common App will also be reviewed together with the Harvard supplement. Try not to repeat themes across answers.

Make sure you are answering the question

This sounds obvious, but it’s a common pitfall. Take time to truly understand what each prompt is asking—and make sure your response clearly and directly addresses it.

Highlight positive qualities

While it can be beneficial to discuss challenges, failures, and personal growth, be mindful of the takeaway. If your essay leaves the reader questioning your judgment, character, or integrity, it could harm your admission chances. Ensure that even when discussing setbacks, the overall message is one that casts you in a positive light.

Use the maximum word count

Although the Harvard Admissions Office instructions say each question can be answered in about 100 words, I strongly recommend you to aim for the maximum of 150 words. It will already be challenging enough to get your message across in 150 words, you will need to use every word possible to get an effective response across.

Build a cohesive story

A strong narrative turns your application from a list of accomplishments into a memorable story about what drives you. It helps admissions officers understand not just what you’ve done, but why it matters — and where it’s all heading. Not sure what a narrative looks like? Check out this blog post!

Need Help With Your Harvard Application?

Looking for additional guidance or application review support? Feel free to reach out. We’re here to support you through every step of the process!

Man smiling wearing gray sweater with brick building and shrubbery in the background

Justin Neiman

Former Admissions Officer, Harvard University
Former Assistant Dean, Stanford University

As a College Counselor I help students navigate the college admissions process. My goal is to help students stand out and get accepted to their top-choice schools.