Student Organizations To Postpone Application Deadlines

In a bid to alleviate what they see as a stressful start to the collegiate experience, administrators are strongly encouraging student organizations to postpone application and "comp" deadlines until after the study card day for freshmen.

Postponing the deadlines until after study card day—which, on the Registar’s Office calendar, falls on Sept. 7 during the next academic year—will "ensure that first-year students have the space in which to prepare for the year academically, socially, and personally," according to an email Assistant Dean for Student Life David R. Friedrich said he and Director for Freshman Programming Katie W. Steele sent to student leaders.

This past year, some student organizations required that students submit applications to be a part of their group. But administrators say that is difficult to find a balance between completing applications and focusing on academics.

"Students’ primary reason for being at Harvard is their academic work, and that should not be overshadowed by spending too much time on extracurricular activities," Dean of Student Life Suzy M. Nelson said in a statement. "Balance is important."

In addition, the student activities fair will be held on Sept. 2—two days after the start of classes.

This academic year, the fair was on the first day of classes, which administrators felt was overwhelming for students—especially for first-year students who had not yet acclimated to Harvard academics.

"People were getting all wound up about extracurricular decisions when they should have been focused on their classes," said Dean of Freshmen Thomas A. Dingman ’67.

Administrators have long expressed concerns that the workload associated with extracurricular activities detracts from students’ academic experience.

"It’s very intense. It’s very competitive," Nelson had said in October about the Opening Days schedule. "When you’re new to a campus, that can feel very overwhelming."

Olivia A. Abbate ’14 called the shift in the calendar "a productive move."

"Things get crazy with new classes and extracurriculars," she said.

But Kristin I. Barclay ’14 said that she thought the change would have little impact.

"It’s still the same amount of stuff to do in the first week," she said.

—Danielle J. Kolin contributed to the reporting of this article.

—Staff writer Hana N. Rouse can be reached at hrouse@college.harvard.edu.