Harvard cover letter example

It's the college that needs no introduction. Harvard is the world's most prestigious university, ranking in the top position in the Times Higher Education poll. It's kind of a big deal. So, if you have your sights set on gaining a job at the institute, you need to pull out all the stops.

Your Harvard cover letter doesn’t simply depend on your booksmarts. It's about more than the qualifications you have — although they absolutely matter too. Yes, this is a chance to tell your personal story and win the reader over with your dreams and resilience.

This guide, along with the corresponding Harvard cover letter, is designed to show you create the most effective application possible by:

• Choosing the best cover letter format and including each of the required sections
• Writing with powerful action verbs and examples of your achievements
• Sharing your own journey to convince an admissions officer of your desire to succeed
• Avoiding mistakes often made on cover letter samples.

Resume.io is a resource for job seekers at every stage of their careers. You can find even more insight and valuable writing tips for your desired field of study in our 180+ free cover letter examples.

Best format for a Harvard cover letter

As with any cover letter, your Harvard one should contain sections that make it easy for the reader to find the information they are looking for. Here are the essential components of your Harvard cover letter sample:

• The cover letter header
• The greeting / salutation
• The cover letter intro
• The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
• The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)

By this point in your high school career, you’ve no doubt written a number of English essays. You’ll likely find that the parts of a cover letter are much the same – the intro is your hook, for example, and the body is the place to present the strongest evidence of your achievements. 

This structure helps your letter flow from one section to another and keeps an admissions officer interested in what you have to say. Unlike a normal cover letter which discusses much of the experience on your resume, a Harvard cover letter should tell a personal story without needing much detail about your high school clubs or leadership roles (unless that’s part of the story you want to tell, of course!)

Below is a Harvard cover letter example to help you get started in writing your own.

Cover letter header

The header of your cover letter serves two important roles: the first is to label the document with your name and contact information so the admissions officer knows exactly whose letter they are reading. The second is to create a bit of visual formatting that catches the admissions officers attention and helps them remember your cover letter a bit better than all the others. 

You may be submitting your letter in an online application or another format that doesn’t allow for a header. If that’s the case, make sure your name, phone number, email and other relevant details are included in the appropriate boxes so that there’s never a question of how to contact you.

You can see an attractive and functional header on our Harvard cover letter example.

The aim of the cover letter header: Include the most relevant contact details and create an attractive page layout to make your cover letter sample stand out from the rest.

Cover letter greeting

The cover letter greeting is how you address the person (or people) who will be reading your cover letter. In many other situations, you’d be instructed to address your letter to the name of the recipient in order to make a personal connection and show interest. In the case of Harvard, however, you’ll likely need a more general greeting. 

In certain circumstances, your Harvard cover letter sample won’t need a greeting at all. If you’re asked to paste your letter into a box with limited word count, forgo the greeting to maximize writing space. 

The aim of the cover letter greeting: Use a general greeting that’s appropriate for a Harvard cover letter in order to set a friendly and respectful tone.

Here’s the greeting from our Harvard cover letter example.

Cover letter introduction

The introduction is the hook of your Harvard cover letter. This is the place to draw a reader into the story you have to tell and to give them a reason to read until the very end. The introduction is generally the first paragraph of your cover letter sample. Set the scene, give the details of the characters and offer a sense of what the admissions officer will discover in the rest of your cover letter.

The aim of the cover letter introduction: Begin your cover letter with an interesting set-up that hints at the rest of the letter and encourages the reader to continue.

Check out the introduction from our Harvard cover letter example below.

Cover letter middle part (body)

The body of your cover letter gives you all the space you need to expand on your story and convince the admissions officer that you’re the best choice for one of Harvard’s limited positions. In the body section, you’ll need to explain how the experiences you’re writing about changed you and made you the person you are today.

The aim of the cover letter body: Share more details about your story that explain your outlook and attitude today.

Use the body from our Harvard cover letter example as a model for your own.

How to close a Harvard cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)

Your Harvard cover letter should make a point and wrap up into an easily-digestible conclusion. Generally-speaking, your conclusion should reflect your outlook on the world or describe the ways in which you’d be an asset to Harvard (without directly pleading for a spot.) 

Unless you’ve included a greeting, there’s generally no need to sign-off. Your cover letter should be complete at the final line of the conclusion.

The aim of the cover letter conclusion: Share the moral of the story and end with your final thoughts that show what type of professional you’d be at Harvard.

Here’s the conclusion from our Harvard cover letter example.

Writing psychology: how to tell your story

In order to succeed in writing a Harvard cover letter sample, you’ll first need to reflect on your own life and look for interesting stories to share. Here are some questions to consider:

• What experiences have I had that were particularly memorable?
• Have I lived through any situations that are unusual for people my age?
• Who or what has influenced me the most in life?
• Where do I get my drive and inspiration?
• What are my strongest personality traits and where do they come from?
• What are some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned at this stage in my life?

There are no right or wrong topics for a Harvard cover letter, but make sure to choose one that you are truly passionate about. By weaving a narrative throughout your cover letter and focusing on your authentic experiences and tone of voice, you can be sure the admissions officer will feel your passion and desire to be part of their university.

Basic mistakes in a Harvard application letter (and how to avoid them)

• Cliches and generic information: The reader has read it all, so it’s important to give them something that stands out. Cover letters about hard work, athletic achievements or tragedies will need to be revised carefully so that they don’t come across as too generic.
• Poor tone: Your tone should be authentic without ever sacrificing professionalism. You don’t need to beg for a shot, but you should also be careful to avoid coming across as entitled or demanding.
• Spelling and grammar mistakes: When the competition is this fierce, any little typo or grammar mistake can be a big deal. Avoid these issues by using spell check and asking a trusted mentor to proofread.
• Formatting issues: If you need to upload a cover letter sample as its own file, you’ll want to make sure that your layout and design is as attractive as possible. A free cover letter template can help you do this quickly.

Key takeaways

1. A Harvard cover letter is one of the most important documents to help you get a position at this prestigious institution.
2. As seen in our cover letter example, having clear and organized sections makes it easier for the reader to understand your letter.
3. Most Harvard cover letters will share a personal story about the applicant and explain what they’ve learned or how it affected them.
4. Avoid cliche topics like sports victories, tragedies or difficult coursework and look for unique moments in your life to expand upon.