Fresher is on full aid. She has just started a week early on the one week international program. After flights, buying a mobile phone (reconditioned) and a host of other expenses (Like ordering bedding and student room stuff) she and mother are already in a cash flow crisis.
Can anybody enlighten me as to when and what cash she will get this semester. She thinks she will get a ‘starter’ $1k but doesn’t know when. I’m sure Harvard will provide enough and she will work for $3.5k + in the year but that doesn’t solve the immediate issue where mum has run out of cash being $2k down already.
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If you think money is coming from Harvard…you need to contact Harvard about the timing. No one here can answer your question better than Harvard.
ETA…the STUDENT should contact Harvard about the timing of money release, if any.
You mention that the mom is cash strapped. Are you the other parent? If so, can you pitch in to help in the meantime?
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I agree with the above - contact the financial aid office. They can tell you about the timing on any grants that will be credited to her account. In addition most schools (including Harvard) have student hardship funds that allow students to apply for small, short-term interest free loans to get through a cash crunch. Good luck!
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I thought Harvard provided assistance with transportation (flights). As I remember there was also an allowance for a computer. Definitely call the financial aid office and maybe make sure you are not talking to a student. There should be a representative assigned to your student.
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Yes they pay for flights … rather generously too… It’s more a cash flow thing as flights PC and phone need to be bought in advance of her getting anything.
Yes she is in the best position to find out, just I’ve heard she is a bit overwhelmed by this first week so was trying to do some research and help out behind the scenes.
I think the course choices have been a bit much. In the UK in the first year most degrees don’t give you any choice at all you do xyz and that’s that, so I think she is having some academic culture shock too.
She should reach out to her financial aid officer. Their contact information is available on the financial aid tab in myharvard.
Also, if she bought a computer, she can receive a loan for up to $1500 to cover that cost. She would need to submit the receipts here: Computer Loan Form | Harvard
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Does Harvard still have “shopping week” where you can sample classes?
An Ode to Shopping Week | Harvard
The bookstore shelves of books for each class can be a good guide too.
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From an academic perspective, registration is a bit challenging to navigate - and the advising structure itself has been updated this year. She should have been contacted by a faculty advisor as well as a peer advisor and she can reach out to either for further guidance. The peer advisors are particularly helpful. Additionally, if she is in FIP, she can seek help from the FIP proctors as well.
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Is the peer advisor the ‘proctor’ … Her academic advisor has said her style is ‘hands off’ which doesn’t sound too helpful.
Sorry … Errrm FIP?
Each student’s advising team is listed in myharvard on the Advising tab.
From an academic standpoint:
- The peer advisor is a fellow student (upperclassman or graduate student) who is familiar with the registration process and has recent relevant experience. This individual can really help out with questions about first year seminars, expos (expository writing), general requirements, and the overall workload and balance of classes.
- The academic advisor (preconcentration advisor) is a faculty or staff member who provides broad advice and approves the student’s schedule, but may not focus on the student’s areas of academic interest. For example, D24 intends to concentrate in physics with a secondary in philosophy of science. Her advisor is a professor of modern Greek studies and of comparative literature.
There is also living/housing-based support:
- Each “yard” (group of dorms) has a residential dean. In our case, the residential dean helped to ensure D24’s medical accomodation for housing was met.
- Each “entryway” (group of dorm rooms) has a proctor (in D24’s case, there are two). These are faculty, staff or grad students who live next to the students and look after their overall well-being.
The proctor is a good place to start if there are questions or an advisor cannot be reached.
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Excellent and very easy to understand for this bear with a small brain. Thank you.
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There are a number of pre-orientation programs, of which “FIP” is designed for international students. D24 is currently attending “FAP(!)”, which is an arts program. Pre-O programs have upperclassmen and graduate proctors who mentor small groups of students.
“FIP is a tremendous program for international students and US residents who have lived and studied primarily overseas. Partnering with the Harvard International Office and Office of International Education, participants receive foundational information for a happy, successful start at Harvard. Sessions and discussions include American culture, immigration, and academics in the US and at Harvard. Participants are also able to set up a bank account and cell phone service. Through its emphasis on inclusion and belonging, FIP creates new and lasting friendships, and at the same time cultivates the larger international community at Harvard.” Pre-Orientation | Harvard College Dean of Students Office
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My pleasure! We’re all in this together figuring it out with our young ones proverbially sitting on their suitcases with red hats and labels around their necks saying Please Look After This Bear!
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That doesn’t mean they cannot/are not willing to help. More likely they mean “I won’t micromanage you, but I am here if you need me.” Have your daughter set up a meeting and share she is feeling a little overwhelmed navigating the new system and ask the questions on her mind.
Additionally, I am guessing there is an office dedicated to supporting international students. What your daughter is feeling is not new. They will be able to help her, and point her in the right direction.
If you look through the forum, you find lots of conversations about the leg-up kids from private schools have at these schools. This advantage mostly amounts to knowing how to use the resources around them from the get go. Everyone catches up soon enough, but early on there is a learning curve. Advisors, Residential Deans, support offices are all there to guide and support. She should not be afraid to reach out and build those relationships.
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Yes, “hands off” gives a somewhat different impression in the US than the UK because the standard in the US is so much more hands-on. In the UK it can often imply “I’m busy, so don’t bother me unless it’s absolutely necessary”.
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Ah ok Yes she is on the international pre Freshers program. I wasn’t familiar with the name though. Thanks.
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Thanks for the translation. I’m only partially bilingual with US English 
D24 ? is she ‘class of 28’ just starting now?- sorry but UK terminology is really different so just trying to get this straight.
Hi - yes she is in the class of 2028. She moved in to Wigglesworth on the 22nd.
D24 = Daughter + 2024 high school graduate