Discover the 12 best Harvard admissions essay samples that showcase exceptional writing and unique perspectives. Learn valuable tips and insights to craft your own standout application essay and increase your chances of acceptance at Harvard. Perfect for aspiring students! Find essay example & prompts with detailed description.
When you apply to Harvard, your essay is a key piece of the puzzle. It’s where you get to tell your story in your own words, showing the admissions team who you are beyond grades and scores. These examples are designed to spark your own ideas and help you understand what makes a compelling sample of application essay.
Harvard Admissions Essay Samples
Essay Sample 1: The Unexpected Teacher
Prompt: Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
The old lady waiting at the bus stop always had on a vibrant yellow hat, even during the most dismal of days. She sat alone, clutching an ancient cotton bag, and I, a harried high school student, would usually hurry by, absorbed in thought. My presumption was that individuals sitting alone at bus stops waited for a bus. One rainy afternoon, though, my phone ran out of power, and I was stuck, standing with her. We waited quietly for a few minutes, rain drumming on the awning. Then she sang a song. It was an old folk song, one that I remembered my grandmother singing. “That’s a nice song,” I said to her, my own voice catching me by surprise. She glanced up, her eyes crinkling in the corners. “My mother taught me that one,” she said, her voice husky but warm. We chatted for the next twenty minutes, about her garden, memories of childhood spent in a small town, and how a yellow hat always lifted her moods.
The result of that one brief conversation was an entire attitude change. I saw how quickly I’d jumped to conclusions, how I’d allowed a superficial gaze to make a false impression of her whole life. It wasn’t so much bus stops; it was the thousands of folks I rushed through on a daily basis, every single one of them having a whole, unspoken story. That afternoon, the yellow hat was no longer a sign of waiting, but of the grand, secret lives that surround us. It made me stop, to really look, and realize that all of us carry around an infinity of things. I now frequently approach strangers and strike up a conversation with them, always asking, always prepared to challenge my initial hypotheses. This short experience taught me that true understanding begins when we look through to the surface, something I take with me to every new situation and to every new subject that I study. This experience affected me profoundly in regard to my perception of human relationships, a skill I believe anyone who desires to contribute positively to a community can and should learn.
Essay Sample 2: The Language of Code and Friendship
Prompt: What is the most significant challenge you have faced and what steps did you take to overcome it?
It was like a second language, a language of alien symbols and unrelenting syntax. My initial computer science course was a closed door. While others took to concepts like loops and variables easily, I couldn’t find my footing in an ocean of curly brackets and semicolons. The biggest challenge was not a function of learning the logic; it was transcending the sense of “not smart enough” for a profession that I so desperately longed to succeed in. Each error message was a defeatist moment.
I knew I couldn’t quit. My first move was swallowing pride and seeking assistance. I lingered after class, bombarding my teacher with incessant questions. Then I discovered a tiny online community of beginners, where we could commiserate about our struggles and share little triumphs. My greatest gamble, however, was initiating a coding club at school with a few friends who were just as flailing. We named it “Code & Coffee.” We went there twice a week, not only to do homework, but to paraphrase concepts from one another in our own words, occasionally sketching diagrams on napkins. We celebrated each problem we solved, regardless of how small. The result was not merely passing the class; it was learning to find that much of the knowledge comes by sharing with others and that struggles are best overcome in the presence of an encouragement group. I learned that persistence is not being good at the beginning, but instead, being there, being willing to learn, and about finding your people. This was a challenging experience, but I learned how to break down hard issues and build a community, and I aspire to bring these skills to my Harvard application and in my coursework.
Essay Sample 3: The Symphony of the Garden
Prompt: Think about an intellectual experience that has been particularly meaningful to you.
My grandmother’s garden was a riot of color and aroma, but it was also my first classroom. Not a structured one, but a mental one that taught me to view the world in a certain way. I spent summers there in hundreds, not merely pulling weeds, but learning. I observed how the sun moved across the sky, how bees would visit particular flowers, how the ground would feel different after a rain. My shy grandmother would just point, or hand me a seed, or say “listen to the symphony of the garden.”
She took me on one tour and pointed to a very small, barely perceptible fungus on a rosebush. “It’s draining from the rose,” she whispered, “but it’s also of the circle. Everything is in touch.” That simple statement, spurred by her vision, opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking. I started to see the garden not just as separate plants, but as a vibrant, living matrix. I read textbooks on ecosystems and biodiversity, attempting to grasp the relationships that weren’t there. The most significant segment of all was that every living thing, however large or however small it may be, has something to contribute. This instilled in me the value of observation and appreciation of interdependence, which are now driving my passion for environmental science and my enthusiasm for learning about these complex relationships at Harvard, where I would like to continue to learn about them.
Essay Sample 4: The Art of the Perfect Pizza Dough
Prompt: Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
My happy place is not a library or a mountaintop. It’s my kitchen, and more particularly, the ancient creaky wooden counter where I knead pizza dough each Friday night. The air is toasty and soothing, filled with the smell of flour and yeast, and a gentle thrum of the refrigerator. What I do there is uncomplicated: I mix, I knead, I wait, then I stretch.
It’s significant because it is a process of creation, but one of release. The instruction to craft the ideal dough is not one of literally following a recipe; it is a process of listening to the dough, reading the mood. Is it sticky? Add flour. Too thick? A dust of water. It is about becoming temperate, the kind you can’t speed up. The reason behind it is the fulfilled joy of turning plain ingredients into something good and to share. It’s where I can silence my mind, concentrate on the texture of the dough beneath my fingers, and attain a rhythm that soothes me. There in the kitchen, surrounded by familiar sounds and smells, I am happily satisfied, anchored in a simple, tangible act of creation. This tiny ritual speaks of the beauty of process and the pleasure of bringing something into being, values that I would love to bring to my learning and add to rich Harvard life.
Essay Sample 5: The Unspoken Language of the Stage Crew
Prompt: Describe a quality you possess that you believe would be valuable to the Harvard community.
The stage goes dark. The audience waits in suspense. Offstage, the actors deliver their lines, but backstage, a different force is at play. As a stagehand for the theater, one of my own qualities that I think would be of best use to the Harvard community is shining in the “unseen.” We are the quiet backbone, the people who pay attention to the fact that the spot is where it is supposed to be, the scenery goes up, and the props are where they are supposed to be.
That is not a quality of flying under the radar; it’s a quality of understanding that every piece, no matter how small, is integral to the overall vision. It’s about reading ahead of needs, making solutions up in the dark, and operating in complete harmony as a unit without the employ of one lone spoken word. If a prop has gone missing or a flat has gotten stuck, there is no time to panic, but to move quietly and quickly. This experience has not only shown me the strength of cooperation, the value of dependability, and the joy of being part of something beautiful without recognition, but I am convinced that this commitment to behind-the-scenes support, being able to operate seamlessly behind the scenes, and knowing that ultimate success is a team effort would be an asset to any team or collaborative project at Harvard. My application essay sample brings this special contribution to the fore.
Essay Sample 6: The Story of a Scratched Record
Prompt: Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
My record collection is my pride and joy, every album a tale. And so, when I managed to scratch my favorite album, a first press and a rare discovery, it was a cataclysmic disaster. The needle stuck, the track skipped, and the lovely sound was lost. It wasn’t a record; it was a reminder of my own laziness, a tangible result of my error. I seethed with frustration and disillusion, much of which was self-directed.
I stayed away from that record for days. But then one day, something occurred to me: what if this wasn’t the end? I decided to find out. I discovered the science of fixing records, the fragile grooves and the tender techniques. It was a painstaking process, one that necessitated patience and a firm hand. I experimented with many things, some making it worse, some providing it with a glimmer of hope. The result wasn’t a perfect repair – the scratch remains, a subtle reminder within the music. But what I found was more valuable than an untainted record. What I found is that failure is not necessarily complete ruin; sometimes it is a frustrating blemish that you learn to live with, to adjust to, and to love for the lesson that it teaches you. It was a lesson in perseverance, the need to try in the face of adversity, and that maybe the most lovely things aren’t perfect. This lesson is small but significant in terms of perseverance and accepting faults, one which I am ready to carry with me to Harvard and beyond.
Essay Sample 7: The Debate Over the Last Cookie
Prompt: The College asks you to consider how you have grown. Describe a moment or experience that illustrates this growth.
My brother Leo and I were always incredibly competitive with each other, particularly over the last cookie. It is no ordinary sibling rivalry; it is a small mirror image of our relationship. For years, the debate over the “last cookie” consistently went in my favor, the older brother – generally with a combination of sheer will power or diversion at exactly the moment in time. This was my proven routine, a small but habitual aspect of my nature.
A very tasty chocolate chip cookie lay alone on the plate one afternoon. My hand reached out to it automatically, but I hesitated. I glanced over at Leo, who was staring yearningly at it with exactly the same look. A half second of thoughtful pause seized me. Instead of grabbing it, I said, “Hey, you want to share it?” His eyes broadened at being surprised, and then slowly a smile crept onto his face. We both alternately gently cracked it in two, savoring our share. The result wasn’t some grand epiphany, but a soft, personal transformation. It was a moment of selecting generosity over habitual competition, of noticing his need to be equal to my own. This little action said a lot for some remarkable expansion within me – a shift from always having to “win” to the pleasure of sharing and compromise. It taught me that actual strength is not necessarily a matter of exuding dominance, but sometimes of stepping back, listening, and finding a solution that benefits everyone. This growth, while quiet, is one that I believe would allow me to positively impact the collaborative environment at Harvard.
Essay Sample 8: The Rhythm of the City Street
Prompt: What is a topic you are passionate about and why?
I am drawn to the unspoken rhythm of city streets. It’s not the monuments or the massive buildings that attract me, but instead the gentle flowing motion of everyday life. The cry of a street vendor, the surge of rush-hour footsteps, the far-off siren, the thrum of conversation – it all blends into one living soundscape.
My interest was piqued during many walks in my neighborhood. I began to realize that various areas of the city had their own rhythms, like they were different musical pieces. The market had a panicked, rapid beat, and the homes in the neighborhood buzzed with a softer, slower pulse. I began to record them on my phone, enthralled by how they spoke a wordless tale. It compelled me to learn urban planning, sociology, and even music theory in an attempt to decipher the patterns and meaning within those sounds. It signifies something to me because it reminds me of the precise beauty within the mundane, the unseen links between people and places. It’s listening to harmony amidst disorder, and observing the distinctive personality of every place. This interest in understanding intricate systems and the human experience there is something I look forward to learning more about and applying to my Harvard studies.
Essay Sample 9: The Unexpected Power of a Broken Chair
Prompt: Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision. What factors did you consider, and what was the impact of your decision?
The wooden chairs in our community center were breaking down. While organizing one of our local events one day, one actually broke under my weight. Fortunately, I wasn’t injured, but the experience led to a tough choice: replace it, or attempt a repair? Replacing it would be simple, quick, and likely safer. The center was short on funds, though, and new chairs cost too much.
The motivations I weighed were pragmatic and personal. From a practical standpoint, could I actually repair it? I did have some experience with woodworking, but this looked more than I could handle. On a personal level, I felt sentimental about these old chairs; they were a part of the center’s history. The effect of my decision to attempt to repair it wasn’t seen right away. It took hours of sanding, gluing, clamping, and more than a few frustrated sighs. I learned online, asked advice, and even borrowed tools. The end result was a chair that, though still clearly old, was sturdy and useful again. And best of all, that chair sparked a small revolution. People saw me fiddling with it, and before long a few volunteers came over to help me, with their own broken items and knowledge. We opened a “Repair Hub” in the middle, repairing anything from wobbly tables to torn curtains. My insistence on mending one broken chair, instead of throwing it away, demonstrated the strength of resourcefulness, the beauty of collaboration, and that the most seeming most daunting decision often leads to the most surprising and valuable outcome. This problem-solving and community development experiential learning is something that I feel would be a great addition to my Harvard application.
Essay Sample 10: The Quiet Language of Numbers
Prompt: What do you hope to accomplish during your time at college?
While attending college, perhaps at Harvard, I would be thrilled to completely grasp the hidden language of numbers. Not only how to solve using them in equations, but how numbers reveal a story, patterns, and insight into the intricate world that surrounds us. I am intrigued by the way seemingly intangible numbers are able to number everything from traffic flow to ideas diffusion.
My long-term aspiration is to explore deeply into mathematics and statistics, not to solve problems per se, but so that I can know how to frame questions better. I am interested in studying the way quantitative methods can be used to comprehend social conundrums, ecological issues, and even human conduct. I’d like to work with students and faculty members on projects that involve data exploration and suggesting actual solutions. I want to learn how to take complicated numerical results and reduce them to a clear, coherent narrative that will act as a call to action. Ideally, I would love to be not only a numbers person, but a human who can utilize them as a positive force for change, expanding our understanding of our world. This is what I would like to acquire from Harvard.
Essay Sample 11: The Art of the Perfect Sandwich
Prompt: Describe a moment or experience that changed your perspective.
My own understanding of cooking for all these years was utilitarian: food as fuel. My family’s kitchen was the fast-moving meal and the efficient domain. “Art” in a sandwich was a farcical idea. I held fast to that perception until the summer that I worked part-time in a small artisanal deli. My first task was constructing sandwiches. I figured it would be a piece of cake. It wasn’t.
My supervisor, a man named Enzo, had a ceremony for each sandwich. He’d select the bread carefully, slice the meat with care, place the cheese with care, and line up the vegetables as an artist plans to set out the hues of a painting. He did not construct; he created. I once rushed a sandwich, throwing ingredients together. Enzo took it apart in silence and rebuilt it, saying, “Every layer counts. Every ingredient has a voice. It is not food; it is an adventure.” And at that moment, in light of his master class, my worldview was revolutionized. I saw how something so simple could be refined through effort, care, and respect for process. The result was a deeper appreciation for craftsmanship in all its guises, from the artfully constructed sandwich to the well-crafted paragraph or carefully designed experiment. It showed me that greatness is not only for gaudy gestures; it exists in the details, in the commitment to do even the littlest thing with purpose and heart. This change of heart is something that I feel will best serve me as I apply to Harvard and face each new challenge.
Essay Sample 12: The Unwritten Rules of the Chessboard
Prompt: How do you hope to contribute to the Harvard community?
In addition to the mental challenge and active extracurricular life, I also hope to be of service to the Harvard community in facilitating an atmosphere where the “unwritten rules” of comprehension and understanding are held in as much esteem as the written ones. I have learned something particular about this from having played competitive chess. On the board, there are strict rules governing every move, but mastering the ones that are not on paper: reading people’s minds, guessing at their real agendas, and shifting your strategy not only to the board, but to the individual in front of you.
It is being able to look beyond the game on hand, and be aware of the larger game afoot. It’s not a question of listening to what is said, but rather the space between, the silence, the change in tone. I think this sensitivity to the non-verbal, this ability to enter relationships with a mixture of strategic acumen and real human sense, would enable me to contribute to group work, conversation, and the general texture of Harvard life. Whether in student organization, study group, or just discussion at the cafeteria, I would want to be the type of person who not only provides ideas but assists in building closer, kinder relationships between people, understanding that exceptional results are most often the product of really seeing and respecting one another. My application essay sample is evidence of this distinctive mindset towards contribution.