Visit Harvard

There are a number of ways for students to become acquainted with Harvard, but the best by far is to visit. For our current schedule please refer to our Visitor Center Calendar. Our map indicates the most common destinations, including the Admissions Visitor Center.

For All Visitors

Attend an hour-long group information session in the Admissions Office
Admissions officers, often with undergraduates, present information and answer questions about admission to the College, financial aid, academics, extracurriculars and residential life at Harvard. No appointment or registration is necessary to attend for families and groups of 10 people or less. Groups with 10 or more people should email tours@fas.harvard.edu to schedule a session. For our current schedule please refer to our Visitor Center Calendar.

Take a tour
Take a student-led tour of the undergraduate campus. The dorms, academic departments, athletic facilities and libraries are not included on any of our tours. No appointment or registration is necessary to attend. For our current schedule please refer to our Visitor Center Calendar.

Attend a class
The Admissions Office Visitor’s Guide to Larger Lectures — Fall 2009 provides a list of meeting times and locations of courses held during the academic year that are able to welcome visitors. Because this guide is based on class enrollment, it is compiled and available four weeks after the start of each semester. You can look up the course description through our on-line course catalog.

Speak with Harvard faculty and staff
Schedules permitting, faculty members, directors of extracurricular activities, coaches, and other staff members are often glad to talk to students who have specific questions about our programs. It is best to write ahead directly to the appropriate person or office to arrange an appointment. Our office can help you with names, addresses, and telephone numbers. You can also find information about academic departments here: www.fas.harvard.edu/home/academics-and-research/degree-granting-schools-departments-and-committees.shtml.

For Seniors Only

Eat a meal with Harvard students
During the academic year, high school seniors are our guests for one meal in Annenberg Hall, the first-year dining hall, or in one of the House dining halls if accompanied by a House resident. Ask for a ticket when you visit the Admissions Office.

Stay overnight in one of the residence halls
Our office can arrange for high school seniors to stay with volunteer student hosts for one night, Monday through Thursday, from October 1st through early-March, while classes are in session. Overnight visits typically end the first week in December and resume the first week in February, just after the beginning of the second semester. We need to hear from you by phone (617-495-1551) or mail at least three weeks in advance for us to be able to confirm your stay with a host.

Have an interview with a member of our staff
An interview in Cambridge is not a required part of the application process, but a high school senior who will be in the area may arrange an office interview from June through November. Because of heavy demand and a limited staff of interviewers, we are unable to guarantee an interview. Our group information sessions do not require an appointment. Group information sessions can also be a better use of time than an interview if you must make a choice, because you may benefit from questions asked by other prospective students in the information session.

The Admissions Visitor Center is located
in Radcliffe Yard
5 James Street
Cambridge, MA 02138.