Tips for Harvard Students

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."
Arthur Ashe

https://seo.harvard.edu/student-employment

Have you decided to visit Harvard? Be prepared for more events, more people, and more sushi than you ever wanted. This decision is going change your life.

Now, for those still deciding between schools, good luck. Harvard is an incredible place. It has great people, great classes, and a mascot that is literally just a color.

Crimson: The color of lust, love, and awkward freshman photos

But if you know you’re coming to Harvard, this post is for you. Months before enrollment, you start shaping your Harvard career. You make connections, meet people, and start ridiculous projects. Its can change your life.

But only if you make it.

Get a jumpstart on Harvard.

1. Call your host in advance

Before you arrive, talk to your host briefly. Hear about their activities, plans are for the weekend, and what suggestions they have. Then, tell them a bit about yourself.

Talking to your host helps structure the trip. Some hosts will have work that weekend. Other hosts will plan out your Visitas in advance. Knowing how much time your host has will help you make plans in advance. As well, if your host knows what you’re interested in, they will introduce you to relevant, upperclassmen friends. Your host is your best resource. Give them a call and learn about them in advance.

https://www.diarystore.com/harvard-university-usa-harvard-admission-fee-application-process

2. Ask organizations for summer opportunities

Want a jumpstart on college life? Get started this summer. During the activities fair, meet organization you’re interested in. Then ask how to get involved this summer.

Most organizations won’t have summer plans. But, they would love help publicizing their group (over the facebook page, etc.). The International Relations Council (IRC), for example, runs every model UN conference at Harvard. As well, they try to bring in freshman during a “Welcome Week” in early fall. If a prefrosh (rising freshman) helped reach out to other freshman, they would be pretty happy. As well, they wouldn’t quickly forget your help.

On the other hand, some organizations may have summer opportunities. Talk to them during the activities fair.

3. Start a company

The best time to start a company? Right now. Talk to people about company ideas you have. Simply, post in the Facebook page that you’d like to talk about start-ups. A College consultancy (where you help high school students apply to college) is a great place to start. Some years ago, Crimson Consulting took form with students on the Facebook page. Now the company is valued at a couple million dollars.

https://college.harvard.edu/admissions

4. Choose an event to invite new friends to

You’ll meet some incredible people. But, as soon as you meet, you will both be drawn in different directions. So, it is entirely possible that you won’t see them again.

Unless you have a plan.

Before you arrive, look through the schedule of events. Then pick 1 or 2 that you will definitely go to. Eleganza is an amazing fashion you could use. Or, you could invite friends to stargazing with the Student Astronomers group. Regardless of the event, make it something you want to go to. Then, if you meet someone you like, invite him/her to come with you.

5. STOP asking “Where are you from?”

We’ve all asked it. And we should all stop. Unless you do come from the same place, the question is a dead end. Let’s simulate a conversation you’ll have.

You: “Where are you from?”

Them: “Suburbs of New Jersey”.

You: “Oh. Cool.”

Conversation ends

The problem is that this question rarely leads to conversation. Better questions might include “What is your favorite pasttime in high school?”, “How did you find out you were admitted?”, or “should I go to the event with donut holes or barbecue wings?”

https://www.harvard.edu/

6. Make a food-based plan of attack

Speaking of food, don’t waste this opportunity. Student groups will put more money into food than conceivably useful. There will be donuts, Banh Mi, and more Naan than you could ever want. Take a look at the events. Then make a food based plan of attack.

7. Reach out to your Facebook crush

Sometimes you have to create reasons to give. Other times, you just have to find them. One great way to celebrate other people is to record their birthdays. This is a forty minute exercise that will help you give for the rest of the year. Send reminder to yourself two weeks before their birthday date. Help plan a surprise party, make a special gift, or simply write them a card.

8. Arrive early to events

Don’t arrive on time. Don’t arrive late. Arrive before the event begins. If the event has a speaker, you can talk to them before they present. (After they present, they will be swarmed by others.) If the event has current students, they will have more time to talk. Arrive when the organizers do. If you do, you’ll have better access to the best parts of events.

http://www.veritas.org/location/harvard-university/

9. Be deliberate about friendships, many will last throughout college

You will never forget your Visitas friends. Whether it is freshman fall or Senior spring, you will wave at them on campus. These people will define (part) of your Harvard experience. So be intentional.

Spend time with people you really like. So, if that means leaving a group you don’t really connect with, do it. Will it be scary? Of course. But, in the long-run, it will mean finding the right people.

10. Reach out to professors you’re interested in

Are you interested in research? A certain subject? Debating between majors? If any of those are true, reach out to professors before you arrive. The key is just asking.

https://astronomy.fas.harvard.edu/graduate-program

Before you arrive, think of some faculty members you might like to meet. Then, send them a quick email asking to talk. Frame the conversation in terms of 1. enjoying their research and 2. wanting to learn more. Professor’s love to help students think about college. As well, they’ll be impressed by your proactive approach.

Current students have access to the Harvard directory. This includes the contact information of everyone on campus.

11. Learn easy pneumonics to remember names

Are you bad at names? Join the crowd. There is nothing worse than meeting someone and then promptly forgetting their name. One strategy is to write every name in a small notebook. Another is to learn pneumonic tricks to learn names. Often just repeating names back helps.

Invest 10 minutes to learn a strategy. It may feel trivial. But, remembering a name is the difference between developing and not developing a friendship.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2017/12/10/homeschool-harvard/

This post has been about the how of Harvard. But, it shouldn’t be at the expense of the why. Personally, I love Harvard. It is filled with amazing thinkers, incredibly friends, and a genuinely great administration. But, it’s not perfect for everyone.

Is Harvard really right for you?

I hope so.