Last month, we announced some exciting opportunities to study in the US this summer, including at Harvard and Yale Universities.
This blog answers all your questions about the Harvard opportunity. For further information about Yale, please visit this blog.
Remember: you may apply for a place on both the Harvard Summer School and Yale Young Global Scholars Programme (YYGS) but you will only receive Seren funding for one of these, should you be successful.
For students who apply for both: places for Harvard will be announced before YYGS. Therefore, if you are successful in being offered a place at Harvard and YYSG you will automatically be discounted for Seren funding for the YYGS programme. You may still attend YYGS if successful but will need to fund this yourself as this will be outside of the YYGS Seren partnership.
Seren applicants to both Yale Young Global Scholars and Harvard Summer School in 2019 will need the following forms:
- Sign Up Form for 2019 Seren International Summer Programme Workshops
- Question Submission Form for 2019 Seren International Summer Programmes
- Scholarship Application Form for 2019 Seren International Summer Programmes
Overview
The Seren Network has established a scholarship with the Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program at Harvard University, USA.
In 2019, the Seren Network will support up to 5 Seren students to participate in the Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program at Harvard University, USA.
For five Seren students, the Welsh Government will provide a scholarship worth $4,700 per student.
The Harvard Pre-College Program is an immersive, collaborative, and transformative residential experience.
Alongside peers from around the world, you’ll thrive in a dynamic and supportive academic environment.
Through the Harvard Pre-College Program, you’ll be introduced to college life as you attend challenging classes, live on campus, and enjoy fun excursions and activities.
You’ll have the opportunity to learn without limits, live at Harvard and thrive outside the classroom.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How do I find out more about the Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program?
To find out more about the Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program please click on the following link:
https://www.summer.harvard.edu/high-school-programs/pre-college-program
- How do I apply to the 2019 Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program?
All students should follow the application process on the Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program website. Please click on the following link:
https://www.summer.harvard.edu/high-school-programs/pre-college-program/admissions
To be eligible for the Seren-Harvard Summer School Scholarship you must also complete the Seren International Summer Programme Scholarship Application Form at the following link:
https://equaleducation.typeform.com/to/fyoq5d
- What is the deadline for applying to the 2019 Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program?
The closing date for applications to the 2019 Harvard Summer School Pre-College program 2019 is Friday, February 1, 2019 at 5pm GMT.
To apply, go to:
https://www.summer.harvard.edu/high-school-programs/pre-college-program/admissions
- What if I miss the deadline?
If you miss the application deadline, your application to Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program will not be considered.
All parts of the application must be complete for consideration for admission.
- Who should apply to the 2019 Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program?
Harvard Summer School Pre-College 2019 program is open to applications from anybody who meets the eligibility criteria described on the Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program website.
Please see the following link for details:
https://www.summer.harvard.edu/high-school-programs/pre-college-program/admissions
However, the Seren-Harvard Summer School Scholarship is only available to Seren Network students currently in Year 12 or the first year of A Levels at college if attending a further education college.
The application process is highly competitive so only the strongest applicants will be offered admission.
The Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program is designed to challenge top performing high school students with fast-paced, university-level material. Prior to arriving at Harvard, students are required to do preparatory reading and during the program will spend the majority of each day in lectures, seminars, and small-group discussions.
The academic work in the program is intense and each session covers a wide variety of material in two weeks. Students must also be mature and able to engage respectfully and civilly in discussions over controversial intellectual, moral, and political issues.
- How long is the 2019 Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program?
The Harvard Summer School Pre-College program is two weeks long, with sessions commencing from mid-June through to the end of July.
- Would I be travelling to Harvard independently or would someone be with me?
The 2019 Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program has different start dates ranging from mid-June through to late-July.
As a result, there will not necessarily be a designated party of Seren Network students or representatives travelling together.
Students applying should be prepared to travel independently and this should be a consideration before applying.
Of course, any Seren students admitted to the same session are welcome to travel together and Seren will endeavour to help facilitate this where possible, but this cannot be guaranteed.
- What does the Seren-Harvard Summer School Scholarship cover?
Tuition for each session of the 2019 Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program is $4,700 USD (including $100 for health insurance).
The scholarship includes all programme costs.
This includes your instruction, housing on one of Harvard’s historic residential colleges, three meals per day, programme-related activities, and health insurance.
Travel is not included in program tuition.
- How likely is it that my traveling costs will be covered?
The $4,700 USD Seren-Harvard Summer School Scholarship does not cover traveling expenses.
The Seren Network, will work with successful students to raise funds to support travel costs.
- As a Seren student, will I be guaranteed a position in the 2019 Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program?
No, Seren cannot guarantee the success of any individual application to Harvard Summer School.
Harvard Summer School’s application process is highly competitive.
Whilst the Seren-Harvard Summer School Scholarship is available for up to five Seren students in 2019, the standard of applications must still be high enough to be worthy of an offer of admission independently of the scholarship, so only the strongest applications will be offered a space.
Applications will be considered by the Harvard Summer School admissions team and final decisions for admission to Harvard Summer School’s Pre-College Program will be made by the Harvard Summer School.
- How will the Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program know that I’m a Seren student and how do I notify them?
You must complete the Seren International Summer Programme Scholarship Application Form at the following link:
https://equaleducation.typeform.com/to/fyoq5d
You must also inform your Seren hub coordinator of your application to YYGS. Your coordinator is required to provide a final list of applicants from their hubs. This final list will be submitted to YYGS as the final list of Seren-eligible applicants for the YYGS summer school.
You should also mention your membership of Seren within your application.
As well as demonstrating an applicant’s success in gaining admission to this exclusive network, this will draw an application to the attention of admissions staff at Harvard Summer School who are expecting applications from Seren students.
- When will I be notified whether my application to the 2019 Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program has been successful or not?
Applicants will be notified electronically of admissions decisions by 25th February 2019.
- Can students who are not members of The Seren Network apply?
Harvard Summer School is open to applications from anybody who meets the eligibility criteria described on the Harvard Summer School website.
Please see the following link for details:
https://www.summer.harvard.edu/high-school-programs/pre-college-program/admissions
However, the Seren-Harvard Summer School Scholarship is only available to Seren Network students who are successful in their applications to the Harvard Summer School’s Pre-College Program in 2019 and who have NOT previously attended a paid summer school in the US as part of a Welsh cohort. Students who have benefitted from a scholarship, or supported financially by their unitary authority, or the welsh Government are not eligible for funding for 2019.
The application process is highly competitive and so only the strongest applicants will be made an offer of admission.
- Do I need to apply for financial aid portion in my application to Harvard Summer School?
No.
Seren Network applicants do not need to apply for financial aid as part of their application to Harvard Summer School’s Pre-College Program to be eligible for the Seren-Harvard Summer School Scholarship which will be given to up to five successful applicants from the Seren Network in 2019.
- How do I pay the $75 application fee? Is this covered by the scholarship?
Ordinarily, all applicants must pay the $75 application fee.
Harvard Summer School will waive the application fee if it would constitute a significant financial burden for the student’s family.
All Seren applicants to the Seren-Harvard Summer School Scholarship in 2019 must complete the Seren International Summer Programme Scholarship Application Form at the following link:
https://equaleducation.typeform.com/to/fyoq5d
In order to gain a fee waiver, you must indicate that the fee would constitute a significant burden to you or your family.
Then, you will receive an Application Fee Code to include in you Harvard Summer School application in the same section where you indicate your membership of Seren.
Students and families who can afford the $75 application fee should not indicate that they need an application fee waiver.
Applicants must not share Application Fee Codes with other applicants.
Applicants found to be doing so could be automatically disqualified from being eligible for the Seren-Harvard Summer School Scholarship in 2019.
- I have more questions relating to Harvard Summer School Pre-College Program, where should I go?
Applicants should look out for information from their Seren hub coordinators and the Seren Network Facebook page about in-person and Facebook Live information sessions and workshops about 2019 Seren International Summer Programmes happening in January 2019.
Please see the following link to sign up to a workshop about the international summer programmes supported by Seren in 2019:
https://equaleducation.typeform.com/to/feLnI5
If you’re a Seren student, please submit all questions relating to the Seren-Harvard Summer School Scholarship in 2019 via the following link:
https://equaleducation.typeform.com/to/cB3obD
If an applicant has any technical difficulties, they should email:
(and cc liam.rahman@aya.yale.edu on the correspondence)
You can also email – Liam Rahman, at liam.rahman@aya.yale.edu or – Manon Charles, at manon.charles@equal.international.
Applicants can also seek guidance from their school’s university guidance counsellors and Seren hub coordinators.
We do, however, advise that guidance in this FAQ document and from the Harvard Summer School website is followed and prioritised above other advice you might receive.
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