Make sure your child has good grades, especially in the last two years of secondary school. Help him or her study, and encourage your child to work with his or her teachers if necessary. Harvard College Admissions state that the most successful applicants rank in the top 10 to 15 percent of their high school class.
Enroll your child in the most advanced classes available. Combined with good grades, rigorous classes (such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate programs) help students stand out. If your child's school doesn't have advanced or honors classes, consider enrolling him or her at a local community college or creating an individual study program.
Diversify the classes your child takes. A well-rounded student with several years of advanced math, science, English, arts and foreign language will stand out more than someone with strong potential in just one subject. Help your child branch out, even into subjects he or she doesn't immediately excel at.
Help your child beat the tests. Harvard College Admissions requires applicants to take either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT with writing component. Admissions also requires two SAT II Subject Tests. Higher scores improve chances of admission, so enroll your child in an SAT or ACT prep course to maximize his or her chances.
Give your child opportunities to excel outside of school. Harvard and the rest of the Ivy League smile on students who demonstrate leadership outside of the classroom. Encourage your child's natural interests in clubs or sports.
Demonstrate civic involvement to your child. Community service is not required, but shows your child's good character and commitment to other people. Be a role model in your community and your child will probably do the same.
Do not let your child stretch himself or herself too thin. While extracurricular activities are very important, a few leadership positions stand out more than casual membership in many different groups. Your child should focus on his or her true passions, and explore them deeply.
Have your child ask for recommendations as early as possible -- well before the deadline, which is usually in January. Harvard College Admissions requires two recommendations from teachers who know your child well, but encourage your child to ask a coach or extracurricular leader as well. A third recommendation can help his or her application.
Encourage your child to start the application and Harvard supplement early. Do not let him or her rush the application. It's just a few sheets of paper, but it will affect his or her life for many years. Check it over, and ask your child to reread it several times as well.
Make sure the test agencies send the official test scores. If Harvard does not receive them, call the College Board (for the SAT) or ACT, Inc. and ask for the scores to be resent.
Let your child write the admissions essay without your help. The essay can be very personal, so you should let your child exercise his or her self-expression about why he or she wants to go to Harvard. Only read it upon request.
Send all application materials to Harvard as soon as everything is ready. There is no benefit to waiting, and your child might risk missing deadlines. Call Harvard Admissions to ensure it has received all the materials.
Bring your child to the Harvard campus. A visit will help your child decide if Harvard is the right choice. He or she can meet with other students and professors. The admissions committee also considers a visit a sign of commitment to Harvard.
Require your child to send a thank you note after his or her interview. Not everyone does an interview, but if your child does have one, make sure he or she sends a thank you note to the alum or admissions worker he or she met with.
Keep Harvard abreast of any new developments. If your child wins an award, gets new test scores, or accomplishes some other achievement of note, let Harvard know.