Applying as an entering freshman despite prior college experience?

I’d really rather not go into detail due to anonymity, but I’ve been fortunate enough to have an exceptionally successful career in a competitive field. I have some prior experience in college, but I didn’t do well because I considered it a waste of time back then (I was off making money lmao). Now, I’d like to go back to school and get a degree in my field. I’ve always had a passion for learning, just not school itself. I don’t have any desire to transfer credits since I plan on retaking all of those classes anyway. Is there some way I can apply as an entering freshman, not as a transfer student? (assuming I have the other stats and I have this particular valuable life experience, I know it’s still competitive but I’d like to at least be rejected because of merit, not just this technicality)

Thanks!

You cannot apply as a freshman. It is against the rules and Harvard will find out.

Oh I wasn’t trying to hide the fact that. Really I’m wondering if there’s some way an exception can be made. Do you know who I might be able to reach out to?

The person to reach out to would be an admissions rep at Harvard. An exception is unlikely, but you can always ask.

Are you aware of any exceptions in the past? I haven’t found any CC posts about it

No

I know someone who attended Juilliard before attending Harvard, @H4RV4RD. I’m not sure if that person graduated from Juilliard before applying to Harvard. This was in the 1980s.

Why Harvard?

And what do you have to show that you can handle the academics and that you match in the other ways they need?

There are thousands of candidates with extraordinary- and meaningful - life experiences. And the academic strengths.