Harvard Supplemental Essays Guide (150 words each)

Harvard’s supplemental essays are about reflection, engagement, and perspective. They’re not trying to see how impressive you are on paper. They want to know how you think, how you interact with people, and how your experiences shape the way you move through the world.

Strong Harvard essays feel thoughtful and grounded. Weak ones feel rehearsed, dramatic, or like they’re trying too hard to sound important.

Let’s break down each prompt in order.

Essay 1

Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a student body with a diversity of perspectives and experiences. How will the life experiences that shaped who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard? (150 words)

This is Harvard’s contribution through lived experience essay.

They’re not asking for a list of identities or hardships. They want to know:
How did your experiences shape the way you think, listen, lead, or collaborate?

The best answers:
• focus on one or two defining experiences
• show how those experiences affect how you engage with others
• connect that to campus life naturally

Avoid generic statements like “I value diversity” or “I bring a unique perspective.”

Instead, show it.

Strong structure:
Experience → mindset → contribution

Example direction:
Maybe growing up translating for family members taught you how to navigate complex conversations. That skill becomes something you bring into classrooms and group work at Harvard.

Essay 2

Describe a time when you strongly disagreed with someone about an idea or issue. How did you communicate or engage with this person? What did you learn from this experience? (150 words)

This essay is about intellectual humility and communication, not debate skills.

Harvard is watching for:
Can you listen
Can you stay respectful
Can you grow

Pick a disagreement where:
• the stakes mattered to you
• the other person wasn’t a villain
• your perspective evolved in some way

Avoid trying to “win” the essay.

Strong structure:
Disagreement → how you engaged → what changed in you

Example direction:
A disagreement with a teacher, teammate, or family member where you learned how to ask better questions instead of pushing your point harder.

End with reflection. That’s the most important part.

Essay 3

Briefly describe any of your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are. (150 words)

This is a zoom-in essay, not a summary.

Choose one main experience and explore how it shaped your values, work ethic, or worldview.

Good topics include:
• a job that taught responsibility
• a long-term activity that changed how you see yourself
• family responsibilities that matured you

You don’t need to sound impressive. You need to sound honest.

Strong structure:
Role → challenge → growth → takeaway

Example direction:
A part-time job where you learned to advocate for yourself or manage pressure without external validation.

Essay 4

How do you hope to use your Harvard education in the future? (150 words)

Harvard does not expect a fixed career plan.

They’re looking for:
Direction
Curiosity
Intentionality

You can talk about interests that are still forming. In fact, that often works better.

Avoid:
“I will attend Harvard, major in X, then become Y.”

Instead:
Show how Harvard’s environment helps you explore, question, and build toward something meaningful.

Strong structure:
Current interests → questions you want to explore → how Harvard fits

Example direction:
You’re interested in public policy but unsure where you fit. Harvard becomes a place to test ideas across disciplines and communities.

Essay 5

Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you. (150 words)

This is Harvard’s personality essay 😊

It should feel light, honest, and real. This is where you sound the most like yourself.

Good things to include:
• habits
• quirks
• boundaries
• how you handle stress
• what living with you is actually like

You can write this as:
• short paragraphs
• mini bullet-style sections
• a casual note

Example direction:
One habit, one quirk, one value. Keep it human.

This essay often helps admissions picture you on campus. That matters more than people realize.

COMMON HARVARD ESSAY MISTAKES

• Trying to sound overly academic
• Turning disagreement into a debate win
• Listing achievements instead of reflecting
• Writing what you think Harvard wants to hear

If your essay sounds like it could’ve been written by anyone, revise.

If you want personalized feedback on your Harvard supplemental essays, I also offer essay reviews where I go through your drafts carefully and leave clear, specific suggestions. You can check it out here.