From the Admissions Office

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April in the Admissions Office

April 6, 2012 in From the Admissions Office by Office of Admissions | 4 comments

Spring has finally arrived on campus, and here in the Admissions Office we’re excited about the Class of 2016 and what the coming weeks will bring.  It’s been a week since we mailed decisions, and the action never seems to end around here.  So what do we do when we’re not reading applications?   Good question!  The month of April is when we emerge from hibernation and exchange reading and committee meetings for new projects.  A few of the things we’ve been up to:

Our colleagues in the Financial Aid Office are working 8am-8pm daily with families to calculate financial aid awards and help with questions.  We want to do everything we can to make a Harvard education affordable for families, and we’re really proud of the personal attention and care we put into financial aid for admitted students.

Our travel coordinators are working to organize presentations all over the US next month with our Exploring College Options Program, a travel consortium we participate in with great colleagues from Duke University, Georgetown University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.  Check out the Harvard in Your Hometown page to learn of upcoming presentations near you next month.

We’ve also been hard at work reaching out to students and families and planning for our Visitas Program for admitted students later this month.  April is one of my favorite months in the admissions cycle because it’s the time when we work most closely with undergraduates.   The undergrads can’t wait to welcome the Class of 2016 to campus and have been hard at work planning well over 100 events for the weekend and signing up to be student hosts.  Last weekend, student representatives of the Undergraduate Admissions Council (UAC), the Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program (UMRP) , and the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative (HFAI)  programs got together for our biannual Call-A-Thon to reach out and congratulate our admitted students.  All of our undergraduate volunteers had a blast eating pizza and having great conversations with students and families.  Some Call-A-Thon photos below!

 

Mike giving instructions over pizza from Bertucci's– yum!

 

Gathering for call assignments

 

Happy callers! (and a background shoutout to Jeremy Lin!)

Big smiles and much congratulations to the Class of 2016!

 

Stay tuned for lots of great stuff from our bloggers in coming weeks, who will be talking about some of their favorite aspects of campus life.  If you have any requests of topics to cover, let us know in the comments section.  And if you haven’t had a chance to see Shaun’s video What is Harvard Like yet, check it out!

 

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Decision Day in the Admissions Office!

March 29, 2012 in From the Admissions Office by Office of Admissions

Hi, everyone!  Today’s a big day for us in the Harvard Admissions Office– the day we mail our decisions to our Regular Decision applicants.  We will also e-mail admissions decisions to applicants today at 5pm EST.

The Committee has put a tremendous amount of time and energy into the admissions process over the past few months, and it’s hard to believe another cycle is coming to an end.  In both the Early Action and Regular Decision admissions processes, we were impressed, humbled, and inspired by the thousands of incredible students who shared their lives and accomplishments with us this year.  We work hard to get to know each of you through your applications and to put together a class of students who will learn from each other and take advantage of the unique opportunities and special community here at Harvard.  And today’s the day when we can finally step back and celebrate the Class of 2016.

This afternoon, the office gathered together to partake in one of our most cherished and long-standing traditions: loading the mail truck.  Who knew that heavy-lifting was part of an Admissions Officer’s job?!  For me, standing side-by-side with my colleagues carrying letters is a wonderful reminder year after year of just how many people work together to make this day happen.   “A real labor of love”– Dean Fitzsimmons calls it, and everyone here at 86 Brattle would agree.

To all students hearing from colleges over the next few weeks, we wish you the very best of luck.  Take time to do your research, talk to students, visit campuses.  College is a rewarding journey, and choosing your home for the next 4 years is an important and exciting decision.

To Harvard College’s Class of 2016, congratulations!!  We hope we’ll see you at our Visitas Program for admitted students in mid-April. In the meantime, feel free to reach out with questions.  We are always happy to hear from you!

Big Smiles Sealing Admit Letters

Loading the Mail Truck

 

 

A Glimpse of the Assembly Line

 

 

The Cake Says It All… Congratulations!

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October updates from Brattle Street

October 27, 2011 in From the Admissions Office by Office of Admissions | Comments closed

Hi everyone!  Elise here,  it’s my favorite time of year in Cambridge, and after several weeks on the road, I’m really happy to get back to campus.   My colleagues and I have had some exciting travel adventures this fall and have talked with students all across the country and throughout the world.  Here are just a few of the places Harvard Admissions Officers have visited in the United States over the past few months:  Montgomery, Alabama; Anchorage, Alaska; Los Angeles, California; Tallahassee, Florida; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Providence, Rhode Island; McAllen, Texas; Washington D.C., Sioux Falls, South Dakota– and the list goes on!  Beyond the US, we’ve visited China, South and Central America, 4 African nations, 4 Canadian provinces, and the United Kingdom.   See photos below from the recruitment trip to Swaziland, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania that our International Director of Admissions Robin Worth took last month:

 

Information Session at the US Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe

 

Presenting at Masibambane High School, outside Cape Town, South Africa

 

Back on campus, the academic year is in full swing, and Harvard Yard is buzzing with activity.  New England is stunning in the fall, and I’m constantly reminded of how lucky I am to be here.  When the leaves begin to change, Harvard Yard glows with brilliant yellows, reds, and oranges, enough to take your breath away.   Photos to come– I promise!  Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve had lots to celebrate at Harvard.  Two weeks ago, students and alumni from all over gathered together to wish Harvard a Happy Birthday.  If you haven’t already, check out what Caroline and Kate had to say about Harvard’s 375th Anniversary!  This past weekend was Head of the Charles, the world’s largest Regatta, and thousands of students and families flocked to the banks of our beloved Charles River to compete, watch races, and partake in the festivities.

Here in the Admissions Office, we’re gearing up for the Early Action application deadline next Tuesday, November 1.  If you’re planning to apply to Harvard under the Early Action deadline, make sure you have your materials in by November 1.  We’ll look forward to reading your application!  And while we’re on the topic of applying, please humor another quick plug to check out our new Application Tips section of the Admissions website for some great helpful hints.

Lastly, as you may have noticed, we have some new faces on the blog.  Visit the updated “Meet your Bloggers” page for bios of our new writers.   Our students can’t wait to tell you about their experiences!  I’d like to offer a big  welcome to our new writers– Natalie, Shannon, Kemie, Scott, Jeanie, Shaun, and Reid.  And we’re delighted to have some familiar faces– Caroline, Jesse, and Kate– on board again this year.  Stay tuned for posts from each of these students throughout the next few months, and let us know in the comments section if there are topics you’d like for our writers to cover.  We’re here for you!

That’s all for now– good luck with your applications!

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Kicking off the Fall in Cambridge

September 12, 2011 in From the Admissions Office by Office of Admissions | 2 comments

Greetings from the Harvard College Admissions Office!  Here on Brattle Street, we had a great summer and are gearing up for a new admissions cycle.  You may be wondering, what have we been up to over the past few months?  What does the life of an Admissions Officer entail when applications aren’t coming in?  Believe it, or not, we’ve been hard at work for months preparing for the Class of 2016 application cycle, and we have a few exciting updates to report for prospective students and families as we kick off another year.

  • Check out the brand-new Application Tips section of our website.  The section features a compilation of words of wisdom from officers across the Admissions Office, designed to help you navigate the Common Application and get a sense of how our careful evaluation process works.  The tips provided can help as you begin thinking about your college applications—to Harvard and elsewhere.
  • While you’re at it, visit the new Net Price Calculator on the Financial Aid Office’s website.  The Financial Aid Office did an amazing job designing this new tool to help students and families get a sense of what a Harvard education may cost.  We’re extremely proud of our generous Financial Aid program.  Check out the calculator, and see how affordable a Harvard education can be.
  • As of this week, many of our Admissions Officers are hitting the road to visit students, families, and guidance counselors across the country through our biannual Exploring College Options Tour with Duke, Georgetown, the University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford.  Check out the Harvard in Your Hometown section of our website for info about upcoming presentations near you!
  • We’re in the process of recruiting and hiring new student bloggers for this year… stay tuned for posts from new faces and updates from a few familiar folks.  For current undergraduates interested in writing for us, email Eggart at fas as soon as possible for an application.  We’ll also continue to feature Guest Bloggers throughout the fall, so if there’s something you’d like to hear about, let us know in the comments below, and we’ll track down a writer for you!
  • And last but not least, the Harvard Admissions team just won the Championship for our summer kickball league!  A few photos of the office in action below…

A few of the Admissions Office crew and friends, celebrating after the championship game

We even convinced Dean Fitzsimmons to join the team… what a kick!

That’s all for now– we look forward to seeing your applications this year in the Single Choice Early Action and Regular Decision processes!

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Guest Blog: Summer- A Key to the Puzzle

August 11, 2011 in From the Admissions Office, Guest Blogger by Office of Admissions | 7 comments

Meg Zolner, History and Science Concentrator in Kirkland House, Class of 2012

As a prospective student, I remember wondering what life would look like for a Harvard student – What time do they wake up? What are lectures like?  What do they do for fun?  One thought that never occurred to me, though, was what summers meant for Harvard students.

For Harvard students, summers offer a fabulous opportunity to explore new regions of the world, learn about the workings of local government from a state representative, or enjoy some well-deserved relaxation time at home.  The previous bloggers showcase the true diversity of interests amongst the student body, which is, to me, one of the most distinctive aspects of a Harvard experience.  These interests become even more apparent during the summers.

For three three-month long summers, we can try on different hats.  As Harvard students, we can always try out new things on campus – take that new history class about pyramids, sign up for ballroom dancing lessons, or (attempt to) win the intramural ping-pong tournament.  But, summers are special.  We have the opportunity to learn through real work experience, and most students take advantage – I’ve definitely been no exception!

I’ve worked on campus – I gave historical tours through Harvard’s Events and Information Center and counseled prospective students as an Admissions Counselor in the College’s Admissions Office.  I was able to meet students – like you! – and families, some visiting for the first time, who were eager to fully immerse themselves in Harvard’s history, traditions, and newest initiatives.

I’ve traveled to Cambridge, England to study as part of an eight-week interdisciplinary program – actually with Rachel, the most recent guest blogger!  Now, our passports look incredibly exciting, and we’ve officially incorporated “cheers” into our vocabularies.  More importantly, though, I was able to take three classes that introduced me to new cultures and schools of thought.  Classes about the history of British sport, the cycles of conquest in medieval England, and the study and practice of traditional art were all unique to my particular program, as they were able to point to and incorporate the very real pieces of history that then surrounded us.

 

Rachel and Me at King's College, Cambridge

And this summer, I’m working at a nonprofit in the Boston area as part of a nonprofit consulting fellowship.  With this position, which I was introduced to through one of the many career fairs on campus, I’m able to gain operational experience working within the Development Office of a nonprofit, while also being trained as a consultant; I’m getting hands on experience by conducting prospect research and writing copy for fundraising campaigns, while also working on a more theoretical level to answer questions of growth, specialization, and strategy within real businesses.

Boston's Statehouse, a stop on this summer's work scavenger hunt

And, Harvard has been with me when I’ve tried on each of these hats.   Harvard’s Student Employment Office, Office of International Programs, and Nonprofit Career Fair have connected me with each of these opportunities.  They make the sometimes abstract and intimidating summer search fully manageable, steering students in the right directions.

For some, summer positions turn into fulltime job offers after college, a definite perk of any summer internship.  For others, summers are especially valuable in refining career interests or even figuring out those areas that actually may not be the best choices for you.

As a rising senior at the College, real life is just around the corner, and while that isn’t exactly comforting for many of my friends – we don’t want to leave! – I appreciate that I won’t be alone in choosing my next hat.  Advice is everywhere to be had, and clues can come in the form of an information session with a company representative, an email to a career counselor in the Office of Career Services, or even just a conversation with a peer about a career of interest.

For any incoming or prospective students, don’t worry about real life just yet!  You have four terrific school years of fun exploration ahead of you, but, as a Harvard senior who has had fabulous experiences over the past three years, taking full advantage of those three months off campus each year has led me to many surprisingly valuable insights.

 

P.S. Please let any of us know if you have questions about these blog entries or the Harvard student experience more generally!

 

Guest Blog: A New (Window!) View of Harvard

August 2, 2011 in From the Admissions Office, Guest Blogger by Office of Admissions | 5 comments

Rachel Brown, Psychology Concentrator in Adams House, Class of 2012

Sitting in my summer office in the Holyoke Center and overlooking Harvard Square, I can’t help but observe the energetic activity of all of the people outside. I think about what the Square looks like during different parts of the year—in the fall when the students cross Mass Ave in their commutes from the River Houses to the classrooms just a few minutes before (or after) the hour, in the winter when the density of people significantly decreases, mirroring the decrease in temperature, and in the spring when all-too-eager students wear shorts on sunny days despite the not-quite-warm enough weather. However, I will have to wait to see that again because it is summer now, and Harvard Square is packed with summer school students, tourists, and the year round residents, all seeming to share two common affinities: the new two-storied Starbucks and the new Pink Berry—both perfect for warm summer days.  During the summer, I have found the atmosphere at Harvard to be entirely different than that of the school year, and so I have decided to reflect on two of those differences.

First Day of Work for my Harvard Internship

The first and most noticeable difference is the change in my lifestyle as I exchange my textbooks for business casual pumps and shift gears from Harvard student to Harvard employee. I am working at the Advising Programs Office which oversees programs geared toward advising sophomores and incoming freshmen. During the summer, we are preparing for the arrival of the freshmen by assembling course suggestion guides, coordinating the faculty advisers and matching freshmen with upperclassmen peer advisers. During the school year, 5:00 pm usually marks the half way point in my day as I am finishing up softball practice, eating dinner and settling in for a night of school work, but 5:00 pm during the summer means the end of the work day and the start of a relaxing and fun evening. From September-May, most weekends are filled with school related events including attending athletic events, competing for my softball team and doing homework, but during the summer, I’ve found very different ways to stay busy. So far, I have visited my roommate’s house in Maine, seen the Chihuly exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, shopped at the Haymarket Farmer’s Market, visited Revere Beach for the Annual Sand Sculpting Competition and seen several other parts of Boston. So yes, weekends still fly by way too fast, but I’ve traded in my football foam finger for a Charlie card to explore the city.

 

Weekend Trip to Maine with Friends

Another significant difference involves my athletic commitments. In addition to working Monday through Friday from 9:00-5:00 in the APO, I am also training for the Varsity Softball team to prepare for my senior season. Four mornings a week, I join the “Summer Dawgs” group in the Palmer Dixon Strength and Conditioning Center for agility training, conditioning and lifting. The group contains athletes from various teams, all committed to excelling on our respective fields/courts/rinks/etc. It is hard not being in the physical presence of my teammates not only for some weight room enthusiasm but also for the camaraderie that naturally builds up during the year, but our e-mail chains help to keep us motivated and connected despite our temporary separation. For the summer, I turn to this new group of Harvard athletes to inspire me to work hard, and if there is one thing I’ve learned, it is that I, a softball pitcher, will never beat a women’s hockey player in a race.

Trip to Boston Public Gardens with my Roommates

Harvard Square is different during the summer—it is missing most of the student population that resides here for 9 months of the year, but it hasn’t lost its energy. For those that are still here during the summer, we get to experience Harvard in a new way, perhaps in professional settings or perhaps by transitioning away from our typical student lifestyle and enjoying different adventures that Cambridge and Boston have to offer. I am looking forward to carrying these new experiences and my new outlook into my senior year, but until then I will try to survive the heat and humidity as I anxiously await the return of the upperclassmen and the arrival of the bright-eyed freshmen, eager to start the next phase of their lives.

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Guest Blog: Harvard Around The World: From مرحبا. to ¡Hola!

July 20, 2011 in From the Admissions Office, Guest Blogger by Office of Admissions | Comments closed

Cody Dean, Government Concentrator in Mather House, Class of 2014

Veritas. Truth.  As our motto, it’s what we seek to discover and make known as a university. It isn’t tamed by mountains, impeded by deserts, nor deprived of its existence by institutions of our own creation.  Truth can solely exist and await its discovery. It is a universal language that knows no borders and serves as a foundation to our existence.  Sans the sensationalism, Harvard has proven to me that this truth exists in all places around the world and not just in Harvard Square.

Having come from the small town of Crab Orchard in the great state of West Virginia, I thought I knew exactly what the truth was. I had preconceived idea of what the world was and how we relate with those whom are our brothers and sisters in humanity, but are distant cousins in culture.  However, looking back on that idea after my first year at Harvard, I could not have been more blinded. I had allowed my own experience to cloud my perception of the masses.

Harvard casts its net into the far reaches of our world and I have been overwhelmingly fortunate to have the opportunity to visit some of the most exciting and relevant places in that net during my first year. Over our winter intersession during the month of January, I was lucky enough to discover an opportunity to travel to the tiny fishing village of Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. Located about an hour outside of the city of Jeddah, Thuwal is a small village along the Red Sea that consists of the university, a local fish market and souk, and then copious expanses of desert.  While there, I worked as a coordinator for the Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology. A connection from a recent Harvard alumnus offered me the opportunity to experience a culture that, for many, remains a mystery.

 

Erected just three years ago, the university could be described as a fortress in the middle of a desert wasteland. While there, I worked as one of the program coordinators for the 2011 WEP. We brought in distinguished speakers from all walks of life to speak during the month long program and organized talks and symposia with topics including entrepreneurship, sustainable development, 3D animation, chemistry, and biological/marine sciences. I had the great pleasure of helping coordinate the multimillion-dollar program as well as the opportunity to meet and work beside distinguished guests such as Dr. Bengt Nordén, former chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee in Chemistry, and Maria Zuber of MIT and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. I also had to opportunity to experience daily life in the Muslim culture and saw a completely different system of government at work. I was challenged and at times overwhelmed by how much I once thought I understood about world religions, culture, and government. I saw the beauty of a religion that I had once dismissed as the opponent of my own and formed connections and friendships with people that I would have never encountered had Harvard not brought us together. I quickly realized that the current international political environment makes it far too easy to categorize people subconsciously. It has been in the instances of complete immersion that I am constantly discovering what the truth is for me.

Photo Slideshow

As I write this today, I’m sitting in a café in Buenos Aires, Argentina where I am spending the summer studying the Argentinean flavor of the Spanish language and eating my weight in the local beef as part of the Harvard Summer School in Buenos Aires. (Seriously, the things I would do for a vegetable these days are astonishing!) I was able to attend the program thanks to the generous gift from David Rockefeller SB ’36, LLD ’69 via the international experience grant named in his honor. I am spending eight weeks traveling around Argentina and learning the culture and language. We live with Argentinean host families for two months and get hands on experience of what life is truly like. We signed a firm contract to speak only in Spanish for two months and that requirement is taken quite seriously. As part of the program, we travel to many of the various provinces of the country to further appreciate the rural life as well. The academic side of the program has proven to be quite rigorous, but the result will mean an entire year’s worth of Spanish language credit towards my language citation.   My fluency has improved immensely throughout the program, and we have traveled to some of the most breathtaking locations in the world.  I have been amazed by the national addiction to fútbol and the passion that is deeply embedded in the Argentinean culture. The program has given me a solid understanding of both the life and literature of Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, and Domingo Faustino Sarmiento and has highlighted the music, nature, politics, and religion of the Argentines. The intersection of language and culture has been perfect for my understanding of the value of other lifestyles and I can’t recommend the program highly enough. Whether it be having your group bus break down in the middle of the marshlands of the province of Corrientes or getting lost in the maze of streets that form Capital Federal, it is sure to be an unforgettable experience.  

 

 

 

If I could leave you with one piece of advice, it would be to cease every opportunity and take time away from the place you know best to discover what life is like in another’s shoes. Best wishes as you continue through your high school career!

Photo Slideshow

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Guest Blog: Housing Freshmen

July 14, 2011 in From the Admissions Office, Guest Blogger by Office of Admissions | 4 comments

Sue Brown, Resident Dean of Freshmen, Elm Yard

If you are an incoming freshman, first of all let me congratulate you on your accomplishment! Here at the Freshman Dean’s Office, we are very excited to meet you in August. You are probably engaged in one of a variety of activities (or several, as the case may be). You are working, traveling, backpacking through the wilderness (and likely not reading this blog), or just hanging out and gearing up for the big move. It’s an exciting time.

 You probably aren’t really wondering what we are doing in the FDO. Who are we anyway? Well, at our helm is the Dean of Freshmen Tom Dingman. There are four Resident Deans who oversee roughly 60 proctors. All of us live in residence with or very close to students. We have a fantastic Director of Freshman Programming (Katie Steele), an outstanding Department Administrator (Sheila Coveney) and a thoroughly amazing support staff (Julie Berenzweig, Brandon Edwards, Mary Lincoln, and Chrissy Spakoski). We hope you’ll come by and meet us in the fall!

So, what are we doing? Well, believe it or not, we are getting to know you. Most of the FDO is busy preparing in a variety of ways for your arrival. The four Resident Deans are housing you with your future roommates. You may or may not know this, but we do nearly all of it by hand. The only random bit is which dean you’ll work with (which puts you into either Elm, Ivy, Crimson, or Oak Yard). After that, we go through all the applications individually and match you based on a number of factors including the preferences you indicated on your housing applications. This process takes several weeks in the summer. Each of us has 400-450 students to fit into the spaces in each Yard (which are all very different!). In the end, we build entryways that reflect in some way or other the diversity of the freshman class. We’ll be finishing up and sending out your housing assignments next week!

How do we do this? Well, I can’t give away all of our secrets, and I can’t speak for the others, but I can share a little about how I do it. First I house the women and then the men. Each of you indicated your preferences for social and neatness levels in your suite, as well as how many students you would like to live with. This gives me a broad sorting mechanism. I then read through each application and note your interests and musical tastes and study your essay very carefully. Do you like art museums and coffee? Perhaps I’ll find someone from another country who also likes art museums and coffee to go with you. Do you like Broadway show tunes and country music? Maybe your roommate will, too. Do you have an adventurous spirit and a quirky sense of humor? Maybe your roommate will will have spent a gap year in Southeast Asia and want to write for the Lampoon. Do you like video games/not like video games? Are you particular about your bedtime? Do you want social roommates who hope to use the room to study and relax, while they socialize outside the dorm? These are just some of the many, many things that get taken into consideration when we match you.

Here’s what it looks like when we’re in the thick of it (imagine a very large game of Concentration):

In matching this way, we hope you’ll teach each other and share your life stories with each other. We hope you will broaden each other’s horizons and support each other. We hope you will be open to each other’s differences as you seek out your commonalities. Ultimately, we hope that you and your roommates will strive to enrich each other’s lives. This is what you tell us you are eager to experience.

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Guest Blog: A Harvard Summer in D.C.

July 7, 2011 in From the Admissions Office, Guest Blogger by Office of Admissions | 3 comments

Sophie Fry, Government Concentrator in Adams House, Class of 2013

It’s always been my dream to spend a summer in DC. Although I’m from London, England, I am fascinated with American Politics. As a government major at Harvard, I have relished the chance to take classes such as ‘American Presidential Elections from 1960 – 2008’ and ‘The Supreme Court and American Politics’. Yet being in DC has exceeded all the expectations I had initially held from watching hours of the West Wing and films such as Dave and The American President.

This summer I am working at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), an organization chaired by Madeline Albright which works on promoting democracy in countries all around the world. With this being a topic at the forefront of everyone’s mind due to the Arab Spring, it has been a fascinating time to be working here. The work I do for NDI is varied, and it really changes day to day, giving the job an exciting edge of the unexpected. I attend regional team meetings and get expert information and updates regarding news from countries in every corner of the globe. Due to the international nature of the work NDI does, I also help organize a lot of travel (if you’re looking for a good hotel in Lithuania, or need to know the best way to drive from Bosnia & Herzegovina to Kosovo, I’m your girl), and many times have put together teams to go perform development work with political parties in countries such as Sierra Leone and Haiti.

Photo with Senator Shaheen

I heard of this opportunity through Harvard’s Institute of Politics, an organization that I devote a lot of time to on campus. During the year, the IOP runs programs dedicated to getting students involved in politics and public service, and brings in some incredible speakers – this last year, I had the chance to meet and hear figures such as

former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and General Odierno speak on campus. On top of this day to day programming, the IOP also runs a fantastic internship program which sets up funded internships in organizations not just across America, but around the world – I have friends working in places such as the UK Houses of Parliament and the World Health Organization in Geneva!

Yet, my political experience in DC isn’t contained solely within my working hours. The Institute of Politics also runs a program called ‘Summer in Washington’, which organizes opportunities for Harvard students down in DC. Some of the coolest things I’ve had the chance to do so far this summer have included: going to see a taping of Meet the Press, featuring 2012 Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum, and the first debate between the chairs of the DNC and RNC, Debbie Wassernan-Schultz and Reince Priebus respectively; having lunch with one of Joe Biden’s foreign policy advisors and speech writer, Jon Finer; and having coffee on the Hill with Senator Shaheen of New Hampshire.

Photo at the NBC Studios on the set of Meet the Press with host David Gregory

DC is a great place to spend summer – there are hundreds of college students in the Capital doing incredibly interesting things, and there is always something going on to keep you busy! Although I only have a few more weeks here at NDI, I know that I will definitely be back in DC in the very near future.

 

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Stay tuned for Summer Guest Bloggers!

July 7, 2011 in From the Admissions Office by Office of Admissions | 2 comments

We hope everyone is enjoying a fun and relaxing summer!  The weather is beautiful  here in Cambridge, and in the Admissions Office we’re enjoying the sun and gearing up for next year’s process and some exciting new changes, including the return of Early Action.  As our student bloggers are away on vacation, we’ve enlisted the help of some of our friends throughout the University to write as Guest Bloggers throughout the summer.  You can look forward to hearing from students, faculty, and staff who are  doing interesting things on Harvard’s campus and throughout the world this summer.  Stay tuned for updates!

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