Harvard Outreach Newsletter
154th Issue, June 2026
In this issue:
- School Visits Programme - book now for the autumn term
- Harvard Commencement Ceremony, 28 May 2026
- Information for next year’s applicants to US colleges
- Current status of federal government disputes with Harvard
School Visits Programme - book now for the autumn term!
Are you a teacher or a high school student who would like your school or sixth form college to have a visit from Harvard alumni?
Each year the Harvard Club of the UK’s outreach team visits around 25 schools across the UK to give different types of presentations, talks and Q&A sessions about undergraduate study in the USA. The photos below show a sample of the different types of event the outreach team has delivered over the last 12 months – please hover your mouse over each photo to see a description of the event, or tap the photo with your finger if you are reading this on your phone.
Our main presentation, entitled ‘Study in the USA – Is it for you?’ provides accurate information about the US higher education system – using Harvard as an example – so that students are fully aware of the opportunities available to them and can make informed choices. It covers the following topics:
- Differences between US and UK higher education
- How to research US colleges and find those that fit well with a student’s needs and abilities
- Financial aid – ‘need-blind’ admissions and need-based financial support
- Application process to US colleges
- Life on campus: academic study and extracurricular activities
- What opportunities does a top US college provide after graduation?
The presentation is suitable for both large and small audiences and takes 40 minutes plus time for questions – a total length of 45-60 minutes. The content is most suitable for students in the following year groups:
Years 11 & 12 (England and Wales)
S4 & S5 (Scotland)
Years 12 & 13 (Northern Ireland)
Parents, teachers and university advisers are also welcome to attend.
To request a visit, send an email to school visits co-ordinator Stuart Gordon schools@hcuk.org giving the name and location of your school and roughly when you would like us to come. Presentations can be arranged at any time of the day or evening to suit your school. We welcome requests from both teachers and students, but if you are a student, the request must be made with the knowledge and approval of the appropriate member of staff (the Head of Sixth Form or the teacher in charge of university applications).
We look forward to seeing you, particularly if we have never been to your school or college before.
Harvard Commencement Ceremony, 28 May 2026
Click the photo to view a video of his speech.
In one of its articles on the 2026 Harvard Commencement Ceremony headlined ‘A sea of happy faces,’ the Harvard Gazette gave profiles of some of the students who were there and noted that, as well as the stipulated robes, badges and caps…
“…many newly minted graduates found ways to accessorize around the margins – most notably, around their necks. Everywhere were ribbons and stoles of significance draped over robes. Many were distributed by student groups to represent pride and affinity: first-generation status, countries of origin, or membership in, say, the Harvard Law Review. Others were more personal.”
See below for photos of some of the individuals and groups who attended, together with their carefully made accessories showing their proud affiliations.
Information for next year’s applicants to US colleges
This information is relevant for students in these year groups:
Year 12 (England & Wales) S5 (Scotland) Year 13 (N. Ireland)
If you are still researching which US colleges you want to apply to in the autumn, make sure you have identified your final shortlist by 1st August when the online application forms go live. You can apply to as many colleges as you like, but in an article entitled How Many College Applications Are Enough? the College Board (which administers the Common Application Form) suggests that a shortlist of 5-8 colleges is typical:
“There is no magic number, but five to eight applications are usually enough to ensure that a student is accepted into a suitable institution (depending, of course, on the individual student’s record and circumstances). This number should be made up of a combination of ‘safety,’ ‘match,’ and ‘reach’ colleges.”
Click here to read the full article, which gives definitions of ‘safety,’ ‘match,’ and ‘reach’ colleges as well as other useful information to help you create your college shortlist.
Also, be sure to read the July and August editions of this newsletter. The July issue will contain information on the main two application methods, the Common Application Form and the Coalition for College, together with resources for students, teachers and recommenders. The August issue will provide an introduction to the Student Essay that is part of the application process for US colleges and show how it differs from the UCAS Personal Statement required by UK universities. A full list of essay titles will be provided.
Current status of federal government disputes with Harvard
In an article in its May/June 2026 issue headed ‘Harvard Weathers a Year of Turmoil,’ Harvard Magazine gives a summary of the various disputes the university has had with the federal government over the past 12 months. The article provides the key dates, the impact, and the current status of each of the following six disputes:
- Civil Rights and University Governance
- Federal Research Funding
- Taxes and Tax Exemption
- International Students
- US Military Education
- Admissions Data
Of particular relevance to Harvard’s international students was the decision by the US Department of Homeland Security in May 2025 to revoke the certification that allows Harvard to host international students, meaning that it was temporarily difficult for UK students to obtain their visas. Harvard immediately sued the federal government and won a restraining order which enabled all UK students to get their visas and start their courses on time in August 2025.
Then in June 2025 Harvard received a presidential proclamation attempting to bar its international students from entering the U.S. on national security grounds. While the presidential proclamation was quickly blocked by a Federal Judge, the government has appealed the court’s injunction. In January 2026, a coalition of 22 higher education associations filed an amicus brief supporting Harvard. Oral arguments are expected later in 2026.
In addition to the Harvard Magazine article quoted above, Harvard also has its own website covering the Federal lawsuits, entitled ‘Upholding Our Values, Defending Our University.’ It updates periodically with the latest news so contains the most up to date information.
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