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Prospective Student-Athletes

Prospective Student-Athletes

Thank you for your interest in Harvard Athletics. If you are an individual who has begun classes for the 9th grade, or if you are a student enrolled at a preparatory school or a two-year college, then you are considered a "prospect." The following information will help you answer any questions you may have about playing for the Crimson.

NCAA Clearinghouse Registration

What do I need to do to be eligible to play on a Harvard intercollegiate athletic team?

You'll need to obtain both academic and medical clearance to practice and compete.

Academic Clearance First, to compete at the NCAA Division I level, all incoming freshmen must be certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse is an agency that provides initial-eligibility certification for all first-year student-athletes. To receive certification from the Clearinghouse, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Graduate from high school
  • A minimum sum score on the ACT or minimum combined score on the SAT
  • A high school grade point average of at least 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in a core curriculum of 14 courses. These include the following core courses**:
    • English - 4 years
    • Math - 2 years
    • Natural/Physical Science (incl. 1 lab) - 2 years
    • Social Science - 2 years
    • Additional English, Math or Natural/Physical Science - 1 year
    • Additional Academic Courses (from any category above, or foreign language, social studies, philosophy, computer science) - 3 years

To be cleared by the Clearinghouse, American students must complete the student release form and foreign students must complete the Foreign Student Application, which are both available at http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. In addition, you must send an official high school transcript demonstrating proof of graduation and SAT/ACT test scores to the Clearinghouse from your high school.

**NOTE: In 2008, the number of core courses required will increase from 14 to 16. To be cleared by the Clearinghouse in 2008, prospective students must have completed three years of math and four years of extra courses.

Medical Clearance

Second, when you arrive on campus, you'll need to obtain medical clearance from University Health Services. In addition, you'll also have to complete all necessary paperwork and attend a compliance meeting at the beginning of the academic year.

Transfer Students

I'm thinking about transferring to Harvard from another school, and I would like to compete for the Crimson. What should I do?

You must obtain a written release from your school's Compliance Office and fax it to Nathan Fry, Harvard's Director of Compliance, at 617-496-9950. We are not allowed to speak with you until we receive this release, which gives us permission to contact you. Once we obtain this form, we will call you to discuss next steps.

General Questions

Does Harvard offer scholarships?

No. As an Ivy League institution, Harvard does not offer athletic or academic scholarships to students. However, Harvard does provide need-based financial aid to those students who demonstrate financial need.

If a Harvard athletic team is recruiting me, do I have to go through the same admissions process as other applicants?

Yes. All prospective student-athletes must be accepted by the Harvard Admissions Office in order to play for a Harvard athletic team. Since all Ivy League schools do not award athletic scholarships, there are no signing dates for the National Letter of Intent. You will be notified of your acceptance into Harvard at the same time as all other applicants. To learn more about the application process, visit http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/.

After my football game last week, a man who identified himself as a Harvard alum approached me and offered to pay for me and my family's expenses to travel to Harvard to visit the campus. We're pretty sure we have to decline, but we just want to make sure accepting the offer is not allowed.

NO. This is considered an "extra benefit." Extra benefits are benefits for prospective and enrolled student-athletes that are not equally available to all prospects or Harvard students. If you accept any of these benefits, then you may be in violation of the NCAA's principle of amateurism and you could be deemed ineligible. An extra benefit includes the provision of any transportation, meals, housing, clothes, service, entertainment, or other benefit not equally available to all enrolled students and prospective students who are not athletes.

When can a coach call me?

With the exception of football, a coach can first call you or your parents during March of your junior year in high school. Coaches are not allowed to call you until July, after you have completed your junior year. Coaches can then call you once a week. This is the general rule and there are exceptions for football, men's and women's basketball and ice hockey.

When can I call a coach?

If the call is paid at your own expense, then you can call coaches at any time.

Is it okay if I email a coach? Can I instant message with him or her?

Like phone calls, you can email or IM a coach as much as you want. However, a coach will not be able to respond until September 1 of your junior year in high school.

When can a coach contact me?

With the exception of football, a coach cannot meet with you on your high school campus until April of your junior year. Then, a coach cannot visit you before July 1 after you have completed your junior year

A few weeks ago, an assistant coach mentioned that the team might want to bring me to Harvard for an official visit. What exactly is an "official visit"?

An official visit is any visit to a college campus by you and your parents paid for by the college or university. Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have to provide the college with a copy of your high school transcript and SAT, ACT, PACT, PSAT or PLAN score. The institution can pay for the following expenses:

  • Your transportation to and from the college
  • Room and meals (three per day) for you and your parents while you are visiting the school; and
  • Reasonable entertainment expenses, which includes three complimentary admissions tickets to a home athletics game.

What is an "unofficial" visit?

This is a visit to a college campus by you and your parents and paid for by you and your parents. Three complimentary tickets to a home athletics game are the only expenses you may receive from the college. You can make as many "unofficial" visits as you want and you can make these visits at any time. During an unofficial visit, the only time you cannot meet with a coach is during a dead period. A dead period is when a college coach may not have any in-person contact with you or your parents during this time. Visit www.ncaa.org to learn more about the recruiting calendar for your sport.

For more information about playing on a Harvard intercollegiate athletic team, visit Harvard Recruiting.