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The Harvard Freshman Experience

Starting your first year at Harvard can be daunting. With a new campus comes a multitude of questions about academics, extracurriculars, recruiting, and all the other aspects of student life that await you. Check out our Q&A with Harvard students of all backgrounds to get your questions answered so that you can take charge of your own freshman year experience!

Taking Advantage of Pre-professional Opportunities

Although many go on the hunt for internships in their sophomore and junior year, it does not hurt to get an early start into your industry of choice. Read some advice from current Harvard students on finding internship opportunities as a freshman below!

Should I do anything the summer before freshman year?

The summer prior to beginning your first year at Harvard can be a great way to get a head start on the recruiting process and your Harvard experience. Read advice on how to spend your first-year summer below!

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Get EXPERIENCE

“I think that the summer before your first-year is the best time to dip into an industry, especially because I believe that any early industry experience is really valuable. My approach was to get as much experience as possible in order to get a sense of what I was interested in and where I wanted to go. However, you also shouldn’t feel pressured to do something. The summer before your first-year is still super early and if you don’t do anything you won’t fall behind.”

— Computer Science Concentrator '23

How can I find internship opportunities as a first-year student?

Although many go on the hunt for internships in their sophomore and junior year, it does not hurt to get an early start into your industry of choice. Read some advice from currenty Harvard students on finding internship opportunities as a freshman below!

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leverage your network

“I applied and was accepted to one of Harvard IOP director’s internships for the summer after my first year, but the internship was cancelled due to COVID-19. I then emailed many people I knew from the IOP and was lucky to have been able to secure an internship that way. If you want to get into public service after or during your first year, I recommend networking with as many people as possible.”

— Computer Science & Government Concentrator '23

How early should I start prepping for recruiting seasons, and how should I prep?

While firms generally make deadlines for applications clear, different industries and different applicants see varying preparation timelines before and during their recruiting seasons. 

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get involved

“I think that the first step in the recruiting process is just joining the right clubs on campus. I also recommend talking with upperclassmen, reaching out to alumni and going online and finding a ton of resources to help you prep and learn concepts. Personally, most of the learning I’ve done about recruiting has been through looking at resources online.”

— Computer Science Concentrator '23

Featured Employers​

McMaster-Carr

Williams Companies

Industry Guides​

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Career Guide

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