Harvard College allows applicants to submit optional supplemental media materials, such as videos, audio recordings, or images, electronically via Slideroom. Detailed submission guidelines for areas including art, dance or choreography, musical performance, and composition can be found on the Slideroom website. There is a nominal submission fee; however, applicants experiencing financial hardship can request a fee waiver during the submission process or by contacting the admissions office directly.
In the event of technical issues with Slideroom, applicants may submit a document with YouTube video links through their application portal. The admissions team may later ask for these materials to be resubmitted via Slideroom.
For applicants with notable talents or achievements in visual arts—such as art, film, or photography—Harvard encourages the submission of 2 to 25 recent works. Each submission should include the title, a brief description, the medium used, and the creation date. These materials should showcase a level of skill beyond typical high school accomplishments. While not required, the admissions staff may request additional materials if needed for a thorough evaluation.
Applicants must submit their main application to Harvard before uploading materials to Slideroom. Harvard is unable to track, acknowledge receipt of, or return these materials, and cannot guarantee that all submissions will be reviewed. For Restrictive Early Action, materials should be submitted by November 4, 2024, and for Regular Decision, by January 6, 2025. Submissions after these dates may risk delayed review.
Applicants using the Coalition Powered by Scoir application should submit materials through the "Coalition Application Supplemental Materials" program, while transfer applicants using the Common App should use the "Transfer Applicant (Common App Only) Supplemental Materials" program.
To assist in matching Slideroom submissions with other application materials, applicants should provide the following information:
High school name and location (e.g., Roosevelt High School, Des Moines, IA)
Common Application ID (write "Coalition Application" if using the Coalition on Scoir)
Application deadline (e.g., "Single-Choice Early Action" for early action deferrals; "Regular Action" for non-Common App transfer applicants)
Birth date
Gender
Applicants may submit between 1 and 25 items with the following file size limits: Images (up to 5MB each), Videos (up to 250MB each), Audio (up to 30MB each), PDFs (up to 10MB each), and Models (Sketchfab). They may also link to media hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or SoundCloud.
Supplemental Materials for Common App Transfer Applicants
Common App Transfer applicants with exceptional talents or accomplishments in the arts, including dance or choreography, music, or composition, may choose to submit supplemental materials through Slideroom. While these submissions are not required or expected, the admissions staff will reach out if additional materials would assist in the evaluation process. It is most beneficial to submit Slideroom materials by the March 1 application deadline, although submissions will be accepted until April 1. Please note that Harvard cannot track, acknowledge receipt of, or return these materials, nor can it guarantee that all submissions will be reviewed.
For Common Application Transfer applicants, materials should be submitted through the "Transfer Applicant (Common App Only) Supplemental Materials" program, rather than through arts-specific programs like Dance and Choreography. Applicants who submitted a Coalition Powered by Scoir Transfer application should use the "Coalition Application Supplemental Materials" program.
For visual arts submissions (including art, film, or photography), provide clear details about each piece. Dance, choreography, or theater submissions should include a title, brief description, medium, and date created. If multiple performers are involved, indicate which performer you are. Video footage should not exceed 10 minutes in total.
Music or composition submissions should consist of video recordings of 2 to 4 contrasting pieces, totaling 8 minutes or more, preferably recorded within the past 6 months. Include titles and dates for each piece. Solo recordings or pieces with minimal accompaniment are preferred; video recordings of recitals or ensemble performances are not recommended. Composition submissions should include scores along with audio performances, if available. Additionally, providing a musical resume would be beneficial.
Scholarly articles, research, or creative writing samples should be uploaded through the Applicant Status Portal, which becomes accessible after submitting the application to Harvard College. These documents should not be uploaded to Slideroom.
Source: Harvard University