The Veritas About Harvard

The oldest university in America has evolved with the times, and brings many a modern accommodation and countless exciting opportunities to any prospective international college student looking to find themselves and pursue their dreams. Set what you know about Singaporean education aside – life at Harvard is about carving out your own path to success, and building a rugged sense of individualism while also being uniquely attuned to needs and problems that exist in the wider Harvard community, and the world.

At Harvard, I have been made keenly aware about the value of my education, and the privilege that comes with being educated and having a voice. Nothing that we learn is in a vacuum – most classes involve continuous assessments, discussions and projects that revolve around applying the content learnt in class to solve wider social problems in the world. I am also always amazed by the flexibility that Harvard provides – I am majoring in Economics, while minoring in Mind, Brain, Behaviour (an eclectic mix of psychology and neuroscience), and in Vietnamese. Much of the coursework you will encounter at Harvard is interdisciplinary, and you truly have the opportunity to dabble in many subject areas, while gaining particular competence in your major.

The living environment and extracurriculars that are available further enable this flexibility. Harvard has a residential college system – first-years live in the historic Harvard Yard, and are sorted into one of 12 houses before their second year, where they will live with and meet other like-minded peers. This system allows for first-years to make friends across the entire class, meeting people from across America and around the world, and once sorted into the houses, upperclassmen (second- to fourth-years) receive focused academic and residential support to aid them in their college journey. I have enjoyed meeting people in Adams House (the best house!), finding new opportunities and making cherished memories with every new friendship. You may choose to live with people you’re already friends with, or room randomly, or by yourself – the residential college system caters to all living needs, and allows you to be as social as you like. The wide range of extracurriculars, from pre-professional to interest-based, also facilitate socialisation, and many of them are widely accessible to students looking to discover new interests. Some groups have a competitive application and acceptance process – but a majority of Harvard students pursue multiple extracurriculars, many of which are interest-based, or self-started.

I personally pursued many artistic extracurriculars – acapella, theatre and dance! At the same time, I continued to work on my own artistic projects – no group at Harvard formally supports playing the 二胡 (erhu – two-stringed Chinese fiddle), but I continue to play the instrument. I have teamed up with groups like the Chinese and Taiwanese Student Associations to perform at their events, as well as producing music with the instrument and making music videos, a testament to how anyone can make their own extracurricular activity at Harvard. Besides these, I like to run, cycle and explore the Greater Boston area for fun. In a way, Cambridge and Boston are like Singapore – with greenery and natural sights to see amidst the bustle of city life. The area around Harvard has provided many a backdrop for my music videos, and every other week I am discovering something and some place new about Greater Boston. The scenic highlight of Harvard, besides its red-brick architecture and imposing buildings, is the Charles River. Flowing out towards the open ocean at Boston’s Back Bay, the Charles River connects Harvard to MIT, Boston University, and many other institutions. It is a wonderful location for relaxation, contemplation, connection, or a spot of exercise.

I love Harvard dearly, and am forever grateful for the opportunities it has provided me, and the flexibility it gives in designing your own rigorous curriculum, allowing you to choose classes and extracurriculars to truly discover your passions and purpose. As is the case with most US universities, I would say that Harvard particularly looks for students with a strong sense of individualism – something that makes you unique that adds diversity to the student population. At the same time, they look for students who desire to use their education for the greater good. As nebulous and as tall of an order as that seems, if you are able to express in your application the ways in which you intend to turn your education at Harvard into a career that could do social good, or to fuel your aspirations for effecting positive change, then you already have your foot in the door. The application process for any university is daunting, but at the end of the day, be truthful, be honest, and most importantly – be you – you will certainly go far.