Harvard First Generation Program
Overview
Blaze the Trail for your Family
While you may be the first in your family to attend college, you won’t be alone in blazing that trail at Harvard.
If you are a first generation-college student, your college experience will be especially exciting for you and your family—from application to graduation. But you may find you have questions about the process of applying and about what to expect in college. We can help.
About
In fact, over 20% of Harvard students are first generation-college students1 (including Harvard’s Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, William Fitzsimmons). Those who have been first before you have created resources and networks to support you at Harvard and beyond.
The Admissions and Financial Aid Office’s Harvard First Generation Program (HFGP) focuses on directing college awareness to future first-generation college students. Our HFGP coordinators will provide support and information as you begin to navigate the college application process. Contact us with any questions about admissions, financial aid, or first-gen life at Harvard. We look forward to meeting you!
1 We consider you a first-generation college student —or “first-gen” for short— if you will be in the first generation of your immediate family to graduate from a four-year college or the equivalent.
Student Group: HFGP
Contact
Do you have a question about first-generation student resources? Fill out this form to contact a current Harvard College student. Our coordinators are here to help answer questions about being the first in your family to graduate college, and will be in touch with you as soon as possible. You can also join our mailing list to request more information about Harvard College.
Resources
Harvard Financial Aid Initiative (HFAI) While first-generation students come from a variety of financial backgrounds, this financial aid initiative has increased the number of students from lower income backgrounds and simultaneously added to the number of first-generation students at Harvard. And HFAI supports students not only through generous financial aid but also through special programs like the Student Events Fund, the Winter Coat Fund, and community events like the popular HFAI dinners.
FYRE, a pre-orientation program for incoming first-year students, aims to provide first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented first-year students with the resources and community to feel supported, celebrated, and ready to take ownership of your Harvard experience.
Harvard Primus is a student organization that seeks to ease the transition to college, to build a strong and supportive community, and to provide a voice for first-gen students.
First Generation Harvard Alumni is a Harvard Alumni Association shared interest group dedicated to mentoring, advocating for, and providing networking connections to first-generation Harvard students and alumni.
Other offices across campus, such as the Academic Resource Center, the Office of Diversity Education and Support, and the Mignone Center for Career Success, provide a variety of academic resources, community programming, and social events for the first-gen Harvard community.
