Harvard Outreach Newsletter
153rd Issue, May 2026
In this issue:
- Reception for the Harvard Class of 2030
- Portrait of this year's admits: achievements outside the classroom
- International enrolments at Harvard: where to go for up-to-date information
Reception for the Harvard Class of 2030
On Sunday 17 May, 27 of the 49 UK admits to the Harvard Class of 2030 gathered with their parents, interviewers, and Harvard Club Board members at The Queen’s Club in West London, to chat with the classmates they will spend the next four years with after they begin their studies this August.
As usual, the admits were soon talking with each other excitedly and swapping stories and contact details – and so were their parents, who appreciated the opportunity to compare notes with other parents who are supporting their children through their university years.
The students were formally welcomed by Stuart Gordon, Co-Chair of the Schools and Scholarships Committee of the Harvard Club UK. HCUK President Daphne Siniscalco then gave an introduction to the Harvard Club and introduced recent grads Alex Chen, Gloria Zhang and David Zhang who talked about their reflections on their time at Harvard, including what they would do differently if they had their time on campus again.
Portrait of this year's admits: achievements outside the classroom
Given that most applicants to Harvard are highly accomplished academically, what often tips the balance towards being offered a place is what they have been doing outside the classroom. Some applicants are excellent musicians, actors or dancers, while others are playing sport at an elite level. But there are a wide range of other pursuits that catch the attention of the Admissions Committee.
In this year’s cohort, there are young people who have:
- Represented the UK at the World Debating Championships.
- Built scale models of F1 racing cars powered by miniature jet engines.
- Been editor-in-chief of the school newspaper with an interest in media literacy and the importance of recognising bias.
- Volunteered at a farm that follows Victorian farming methods including the use of vintage tractors and ploughs.
- Co-founded and led a music magazine with approximately 100 contributors.
- Ran a film society which makes its own short films scripted, performed and directed by its members.
- Volunteered in a charity that teaches robotics and coding to underprivileged children through free workshops.
- Researched the recipes for in-flight food served on Pan Am aircraft in the 1950s and 60s and cooked them for dinner with friends.
- Founded and led a men’s mental health forum that convenes students regularly for structured conversations over shared meals.
- Founded the school’s law society with a mission of increasing awareness among the students of law as a career path.
- Set a world record for being a member of the first ever under 18s team to swim the North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland.
- Founded an organisation to mentor students towards admission to competitive schools.
- In sport, there are two hockey players selected for England youth teams, five elite rowers rowing at a national or international level, and a GB national champion in high jump, long jump and triple jump.
- In music, in amongst the pianists and violinists, we also have a virtuoso player of the bagpipes.
International enrolments at Harvard: where to go for up-to-date information
If you have been admitted to the Harvard Class of 2030, the key website for information for incoming international students is the Harvard International Office (HIO), which contains a wealth of useful information about visas, travel, health insurance, bank accounts, cell phones, and many other topics.
The HIO also provides U.S. immigration FAQs for international students and scholars.
For more general news and information about Harvard, the news page of the Office of the President website contains presidential statements, updates and articles of interest.
Finally, if you have been admitted to the Harvard Class of 2030, be sure to check your Harvard inbox regularly to stay abreast of the latest information regarding your arrival on campus in August.
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