when does harvard rea come out

Harvard’s Restrictive Early Action (REA) decisions typically come out in mid-December , and for the 2025–26 cycle (applicants to the Class of 2030), they are scheduled to be released on December 18, 2025 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

What “mid-December” means

• Harvard officially describes REA notification timing as “mid-December,” so applicants should always expect decisions in that general window rather than a fixed recurring date each year.

• In recent cycles, specific dates have fallen around the second or third week of December, usually on a weekday evening (U.S. Eastern Time).

This year’s expected REA date

• For the 2025–26 application cycle, multiple admissions date trackers list Harvard REA decisions on December 18, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET.

• Forum chatter also lines up with this mid-December expectation, with users mentioning December 11 or 18 as the likely release dates, ultimately converging on December 18.

How to think about future years

• Harvard does not guarantee the same calendar date every year, only “mid-December,” so future REA dates may shift slightly year to year.

• Historically, dates tend to stay in the same mid-December week range, so if you are applying in a later cycle, expect a similar pattern and watch for official announcements in late fall.

Quick tips for decision day

• Be ready to check your applicant portal and email around the announced time; decisions are usually released online rather than by postal mail.

• Since dates can change, always treat unofficial calendars and forums as guides, and rely on Harvard’s own communication for the final word.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.