Every year, Harvard invites the newly admitted class to visit campus, explore student activities and clubs, eat in Annenberg, Harvard's first-year only dining hall, and even take classes! This weekend, called "Visitas" (a spin on Harvard’s motto, veritas, which means “truth”), is a highly anticipated event for the entire Harvard community.
This year, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Visitas is going virtual, all month long! This means that the Class of 2024 will have access to events not just for one weekend, but for the entire month of April! While certainly, nothing can compare to the experience of first stepping foot in Harvard Yard, the whole community is so incredibly excited to share as many online resources as we can, to help you get a feel for all Harvard has to offer.
So, what is Visitas, and how can you get plugged in to all of the amazing virtual events? Read below for more information!
Virtual Visitas
On the admitted students website, you will find a link to Virtual Visitas. Check this page regularly for the most up-to-date information for all things Visitas! Also, you can download Harvard-themed backgrounds for Zoom and mobile devices to #levelup at all your meetings.
The Hub
Did you know that Harvard has over 450 student organizations, ranging from intramural sports, undergraduate research journals, peer-led counseling services, a capella groups, improv, public service organizations, and more?!
Throughout the month of April, continue to check out The Hub, where clubs will list online events just for pre-frosh (that’s you!). Extracurricular activities are a central part of the Harvard experience, and organizations are always excited to meet with new students. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the ~long~ list of stuff to get involved in, don’t worry! Each semester, Harvard holds an Extracurricular Activities Fair, where all 450+ organizations meet either in Tercentenary Theater, in Harvard Yard, or on the Quad Lawn. Even though I’m a rising senior, and have pretty much settled into my established activities at Harvard, I still love going to the activities fair to find out what other amazing organizations exist on campus (and ok, also to snag some free candy, t-shirts, and even food from restaurants in Harvard Square!)
First-Year Peer Resources
Visitas may be your first exposure to what being a “Harvard student” looks like. Because our students come from all different backgrounds and from around the world, you will get a whole team of advisors to help your first year run smoothly. Harvard also has incredible peer resources to help you transition to college life!
Explore Harvard
Just because we’re not physically on campus doesn’t mean we can’t explore all that Harvard has to offer! You can take a virtual tour, follow @harvard_admissions, @harvardcollege, and @harvard on Instagram, and read student stories to get a better understanding of all things Harvard! Additionally, make sure to follow @virtualvisitas on Snapchat, where every day, there will be a new student takeover. You can ask questions, hear about individual student experiences, and more! For even more on life at Harvard, check out Harvard Traditions, which we can’t wait for you to experience next year.
While we are all so sad not to be able to greet you with open arms on Harvard’s physical campus, we are so incredibly excited to meet you all and welcome you to your new home this fall! I encourage you to check out the Class of 2024 admitted students Facebook page, and to reach out to current students with any questions, curiosities, concerns, etc.
