Can I apply as freshman?

I already took one semester in a local college, but I’m hoping I could still apply as a freshman to Harvard. Do you know anybody who’s been in the same situation and has been considered eligible? I have contacted Harvard Admissions about this multiple times (thru email), but they have not responded even once, and I haven’t been able to call their phone number as I’m international and the call rates are really high. I would appreciate any reply! Thanks

Do you mean you’re a senior in high school, who took a semester in a local college, and you’re hoping to apply as a freshman admit? Were the classes dual credit or not?

@buckybarnesx I graduated already, took only one semester in a local college, then decided to take a time off/gap year after that

I don’t think you can. Once you’ve graduated from high school and then attend any college, junior college, community college and receive a grade I believe you can only apply as a transfer student. Hopefully others with more knowledge can answer more definitively. If Harvard is not responding could it be that the answer can be found online on their website?

No, you cannot. You must apply as a transfer student. There is a clearinghouse colleges can use to verify whether you have previously taken college courses.

Presumably they also want to know that you have paid in full for those prior classes as evidenced by your previous college’s willingness to send a transcript.

@apparently22 yes I read from somewhere that Harvard explocitly stated in theit website before that anyone who has not taken one full continuous year of college can apply as a freshman, but it changed and the guideline is more vague and doesn’t specifically mention if I still can apply as a freshman. But I still wanted to confirm, that’s why I kept contacting them

@Groundwork2022 it’s not like I’m gonna hide it. I’ve already written a brief explanation of my situation that I plan to include in the Additional Information section. A few other colleges have responded to the same question actuallt, and Amherst and Swarthmore still considers one a freshman applicant if one hasn’t taken one full year of college. Same with Columbia and Brown, and I am hoping Harvard does too, but no one has replied to my queries yet.

I finally found a specific guideline from harvard (but the FAQ pertains to Veteran applicants):

“If you do not meet the above requirements and have not yet completed one continuous academic year in a full-time degree program at one college, then you may apply for freshman admission to Harvard College. Please note that if you are eligible to apply as a freshman that any college coursework you have completed would not transfer to Harvard College.”

I still would love if anybody who has had an experience (or who knows somebody who has) comment here just to reaffirm this.

You have to remember that Harvard gets thousands of applicants. Your chances as an international are less than 1%.

The schools are getting tougher in admitting students. Taking coursework beyond high school indicates that you are already a semester ahead of students just getting out of high school. That’s a disparity compared to to freshman applicants.

You need to realize that, at this time, the admissions counselors are very busy to respond to emails, especially a school as busy as Harvard.

You should consider yourself a transfer, until you are told otherwise. Also, consider that transfers tend to get less financial aid overall.

Based on this description you are not eligible to apply as a transfer student.

Does this mean you can apply as a freshman? Or does this make you ineligible? I’m not sure.

If you are still eligible to apply, I am certain you would need to include your grades, courses, and transcript from your local university in addition to your explanation.

“I’m an international male student (Southeast Asia),…SAT: 1400…”

This is from your other thread earlier this year. Did you end up having a much better score? As an international applicant if you have not heard from AO requesting interview at this point your chances are not good in EA round. You may want to search and prepare for other affordable alternatives (if money is an issue) outside H. As an I-student it won’t be easy.

@jzducol took the ACT, got a 34 composite. Got 800 in Math 2 and 730 in Lit as well.

Have you been contacted for interview yet? Not that it decides anything but its a good sign.

If one is a veteran from the US military this makes perfect sense, like you said. Harvard and other schools are purposely trying to reduce barriers to higher education for US veterans. It would make sense that if this was their policy for all applicants, including international applicants, they would say that but that’s not what they’re saying in that paragraph you posted. You mentioned other schools that have the policy you’re looking for so that’s great. Good luck in your process.

Admissions should answer this via email. Not sure why they haven’t. If you call, make sure it isn’t a student who answers your question.

I would think it likely that you would be eligible, actually.

My understanding is that in the past Harvard had a clear position that if you had ever matriculated at a college or university after graduating from high school, you were ineligible for freshman admission. But that ceased to make sense in light of (a) Harvard’s decision not to award freshman enrollees any credits toward a bachelor’s degree for non-Harvard course work, and (b) other peer institutions’ very different and much less harsh policies as noted above.

When I looked at the Harvard website expecting to find a clear answer to the OP’s question, like everyone else, I failed to find a clear answer. What I conclude from that is that they are still trying to figure out what they think.