STATE COVERAGE
Harvard and MIT clarify testing, essays, early plans and optional portfolio routes.
RANKINGS · METHODOLOGYVerifiedTop 50 / RANKINGS · METHODOLOGY
A new earnings measure helped end Princeton’s long run atop a prominent ranking—showing how methodology can move institutions without changing the campus overnight.
HARVARD · FINANCIAL AIDVerifiedIvy+ / HARVARD · FINANCIAL AID
The university’s headline income levels widen the group asked to compare a Harvard offer on net cost rather than assume it is unaffordable.
MIT · ACTIVITIESVerifiedIvy+ / MIT · ACTIVITIES
The application asks students to select four activities and use MIT’s own form, forcing prioritization rather than a complete inventory.
MIT · ESSAYSVerifiedIvy+ / MIT · ESSAYS
The current application asks about academic direction, an unexpected path, problems an MIT education could address, handling a surprise and four rapid personal questions.
HARVARD · SHORT ANSWERSVerifiedIvy+ / HARVARD · SHORT ANSWERS
The current first-year checklist confirms that every applicant completes five Harvard-specific responses in addition to the Common App essay.
HARVARD · EARLY ACTIONVerifiedIvy+ / HARVARD · EARLY ACTION
The nonbinding plan blocks most simultaneous private early applications but preserves specific public, international, military and scholarship exceptions.
MIT · PORTFOLIOSVerifiedIvy+ / MIT · PORTFOLIOS
The optional portfolio accepts up to 25 media attachments, requires evidence of how work was made and caps video at two minutes total.
HARVARD · TESTING ACCESSVerifiedIvy+ / HARVARD · TESTING ACCESS
SAT or ACT submission is required, but applicants who cannot access those exams may use AP, IB, GCSE/A-Level or national leaving-exam results under Harvard’s stated exception.
SEPTEMBER 11 · NEWS & ANALYSISVerifiedTop 50 / SEPTEMBER 11 · NEWS & ANALYSIS
The September 9 announcement covers eligible U.S. first-year, transfer and returning students beginning fall 2027. Housing, meals, assets and annual aid applications still matter.
APPLICATION OPENVerifiedIvy+ / APPLICATION OPEN
The institute’s application portal is live with first-year deadlines of November 1 for Early Action and January 4 for Regular Action.
TESTINGVerifiedIvy+ / TESTING
Harvard’s live requirements place the SAT or ACT at the center of its testing rule while identifying limited alternative exams when access is not feasible.
MASSACHUSETTSVerifiedStates / MASSACHUSETTS
MIT’s application is not part of Common App, so applicants need a dedicated account, MIT short answers and institute-specific document tracking.