Visitas
Getting Down & Nerdy: Undercover @ MIT’s Prefrosh Weekend
The three of us rolled down Mass. Ave., maps in hand, surrounded by high school seniors. It didn’t matter that we had never applied to MIT and never would. It definitely didn’t matter that we were sophomores at Harvard; nothing was keeping us from MIT’s Campus Prefrosh Weekend, fondly titled CPW. We wanted free shit.
Fifteen Visitas Rumors
Imbibing alcohol during Visitas will result in a retracted offer of admission, but also you get an oversized cotton t-shirt reading: “Getting into Harvard is hard, getting kicked out is even harder.”
Be a Great Prefrosh Host
I was never a prefrosh at Visitas, I never officially hosted a prefrosh, and I don't even know what the word Visitas means (is it Latin or a pun?). I did however, own a dog, and I'm pretty sure that means I’m qualified to give advice on how to host prefrosh.
Undercover Prefrosh
Having tragically missed Visitas as an actual prefrosh, I felt as if I was lacking a fundamental aspect of the Harvard Experience. This past weekend, I finally got my chance (again). Taking advantage of my journalistic skills and one semester of seventh grade drama class, I went undercover to experience the life of a prefrosh.
Getting Directions
After attending a Lacrosse game, visiting mother and daughter from Connecticut take a break by shielding from the rain in Straus Common Room. They both decided to use this time to get acquainted with the area through one of the maps available in the room.
Prefrosh Outing in the Square
To avoid the crowd at Annenberg Sunday Afternoon,visiting students Elizabeth Melamphy and Diana Cheng have lunch at Panera. Both girls went to high school in Dunsteable, Massachussetts and attended many events together over the weekend.
Harvard Thinks Big at Visitas
As part of the Visitas event formatted as a model of "Harvard Thinks Big," Professor Timohty McCarthy addresses visiting members of the class of 2016 in Sanders Theather. McCarthy's lecture was titled "Protest Nation:Tea Parties, Occupations and the Soul of America."
Parents Question Answer
During an event for parents of the class of 2016, a couple from California gets their questions answered by a freshman volunteering for the Undergraduate Admissions Council. The parents were looking to hear first hand strories about student life on campus to help their son make a decision after the visiting weekend was over.
Free Shirts for Hosts
The Undergraduate Admissions Office distributed t-shirts to undergraduates hosting admitted students to thank them for their contributions to Visitas Weekend.
Freshmen Hosts
The common room of a freshmen suite was used to host two visiting students from the class of 2016. The room residents; Lianna Llewellyn '15 and Camara Shaperson '15 were prepared to receive their two visitors with inflatable mattresses and a camping bed.
Visitas Back Packs
After attending different events in the Science Center, visiting students exchange phone numbers. All visiting students received a Harvard back pack filled with informative materials to guide them through the weekend.
The Upperclassmen Guide to Visitas
Enjoy awkward silences and endless introductions? We've compiled a list of the highlights of this year's Visitas weekend.
Prospective Freshmen Due To Visit Campus
Approximately 1,310 eager prefrosh will surge through Harvard’s gates this weekend for Visitas, Harvard College’s visiting program for admitted students.
