Despite ‘Gloomy’ Weather, Harvard College Admits Enjoy Visitas 2023

Newly admitted students did not let rain showers dampen their spirits for Harvard College’s Visitas weekend.

Current students opened their doors to prospective members of the Class of 2027 during the two-day event, the second in-person Visitas after two years of virtual programming.

Prospective enrollees could attend an academic fair, an extracurricular fair, a campus jogging tour, and mixers with several student organizations. Admitted students also attended classes with current students and faculty on Monday.

Rush X. Bogin, an admitted student from Colorado interested in Economics and theater, said he reached out to other admitted students prior to Visitas on Crimson Connect, a platform where incoming students can talk with other incoming and current students about life at Harvard.

“I’ve met some people previously, but then showing up just at the check in, everybody’s been super friendly,” he said. “I’ve met like 50 people.”

E. Elson Bankoff, who plans to study Government and Environmental Science and Public Policy, said she has been connecting with other admitted students through social media.

“I already made a group of Bojack Horseman fans, like a little group chat and stuff. So I’ve been in touch with a lot of people,” Bankoff said.

Gabrielle M. Greene, a prospective enrollee who is interested in Government and Theater, Dance and Media, said she often found herself talking to people who had impressive achievements.

“You’re talking to someone and you’re having a normal conversation with them, and then you find out they’ve done some amazing thing that changed the world,” Greene said.

Similarly, prospective student Amelie S. Liu, who wants to study Economics and Government with a citation in Mandarin, said people were “very down to earth” despite having “done such amazing things.”

“Having a community of peers who are not only supportive, but push me to achieve is going to be really great. So I’m very excited about that,” Liu said.

Admitted students are also excited to join extracurricular and affinity groups in the fall. Greene has been in contact with groups like the Black Students Association, Generational African American Students Association, and Harvard Christian Impact.

“They’re really integral in helping me get acclimated to campus life and learning more about the College,” Greene said.

Bogin said he was excited to join theater groups like Hasty Pudding Theatricals, adding he thought it was “so cool” that the organization recently honored Jennifer Coolidge as its Woman of the Year.

Bankoff said the College’s location was a draw for her in applying.

“I think something I was looking forward to college is proximity to a city, but also kind of that small town feel, which is exactly what Harvard is,” Bankoff said. “And it has a kind of old-fashioned feel to it.”

Greene also said that the weather “seemed gloomy” but that she liked the College’s architecture.

“I really liked the historical aspect of it. All of the buildings seem like they have some sort of special connection to campus,” Greene added.

Juliet Bu, an admit from New Jersey who wants to study Economics and Government, said her favorite Visitas experience was visiting Government 1280: “Government and Politics of China.”

“It was a really nice snapshot of what a day in the life of a class at Harvard looks like,” Bu said.

Bu added that professors helped create a “really welcoming” environment that admits wouldn’t be able to experience otherwise.

“I think interacting with professors is really the best part, because you hear how passionate they are about things, like how willing they are to engage with you even though you’re literally a prefrosh,” Bu said.

Students admitted to the Class of 2027 have until May 1 to respond to their letter of admission.

—Staff writer Michelle N. Amponsah can be reached at michelle.amponsah@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @mnamponsah.

—Staff writer Emma H. Haidar can be reached at emma.haidar@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @HaidarEmma.