Can I go to Harvard if I'm poor?

The short answer? Yes. But there’s more to it.

Honestly, I used to think Harvard was just for rich kids from prep schools. You know, those with family legacies and trust funds. But after talking to my friend Maya (who got in!), I realized that’s not the full story.

Yes, Harvard is elite. Yes, it's expensive.
But—and it's a big but—if you’re smart, driven, and qualify academically, being poor won’t stop you. In fact, it might even help.

Let’s dig into it.

How much does Harvard actually cost?

The scary sticker price

Harvard lists its tuition and fees at over $80,000 a year. Yeah, I know. Pfff. That number alone made me close my laptop the first time I checked.

But that’s not what most students pay. Not even close.

What you really pay if your family is low-income

Here’s the deal:
If your family makes under $85,000 per year, you pay zero in tuition. Nada.
Harvard will cover it. And if your family makes up to $150,000? You’ll still likely get significant financial aid.

They call it a “need-blind” policy for U.S. applicants. Basically, they don’t even look at your financial background when deciding whether to admit you.
They just look at you.

Financial aid: not a scam, I swear

Grants vs loans

This was a huge relief for me—Harvard gives grants, not loans. That means you don’t have to pay the money back.
I remember Maya telling me:

“They literally told me: Don’t worry about money. Just focus on school.”
She got over $60,000 in aid. Wild.

What about food, housing, books?

Covered.
They include room and board in the aid packages. You might still need to pay a little for travel, clothes, etc. But if you’re careful (and maybe get a campus job), it’s manageable.

I actually asked Maya how she handled clothes for Boston winters—she said the school has programs to help with stuff like that. No one gets left out.

Is it harder to get in if you’re poor?

Surprisingly, no. In fact, being from an underrepresented or disadvantaged background can strengthen your application.

They want diversity—real, lived diversity

Harvard wants students from all walks of life. Your story matters.
You didn’t go to a fancy school? That’s okay.
You had to work after school to help your parents? They want to hear about that.
You crushed the SATs or built a robot out of junk parts? Even better.

They’re looking for resilience, talent, grit. And let’s be real—growing up without money, you’ve probably got plenty of all three.

Okay but… will I fit in at Harvard?

This was my biggest fear. Honestly.
What if I get there and everyone’s talking about their yacht summers and private tutors?

But Maya told me something that stuck:

“Yeah, some people are like that. But most aren’t. I found my people. You will too.”

There are first-gen student groups, support programs, financial aid offices that actually help, and professors who understand.
You won’t be alone.

So, can you go to Harvard if you’re poor?

Yes.
You can.
You might even thrive there.

But it’s not magic. You’ve gotta work hard, be strategic, and tell your story honestly. Reach out. Ask for help. Believe that you deserve to be in that room—even if no one in your family’s ever stepped foot on a college campus.

Because trust me: you do.

And who knows? Maybe a few years from now, someone else will be googling this same question… and they’ll find your story.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.