Prefrosh Receive Warm Welcome

Approximately 1,200 doe-eyed high school seniors wielding red folders—the ubiquitous and unmistakable badge of prefroshdom—filled the Yard for the College’s annual April visiting program this weekend.

“It’s really just a chance to introduce the College—not sell the College to [the prospective students],” said Erin F. Fehn ’04, an admissions officer and the visiting program’s director. “We want to open their eyes to the different resources we have to offer.”

The events of the past few days closely mirrored the agenda of past pre-frosh weekends. Last year, 91 percent of those who came to the visiting program matriculated with the class, according to Fehn.

Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross ’71 told admitted students in his Saturday morning welcome address that they should not just come to Harvard because of its reputation, but keep an open mind about what specific programs it has to offer, according to Evan G. Hose, an admitted student from Carrboro, N.C.

Hose said that the visiting program was instrumental in helping her to see that the makeup of the admitted class was markedly different from what she expected.

“I don’t really consider myself ‘Hahvahd’—I’m first generation going to college, so...I didn’t want to be stereotyped, especially within my family, as being pretentious and stuck up—I was worried about being surrounded by rich, spoiled brats,” she said. “I’ve actually found that the people I’ve been hanging out with are very chill.”

But the prefrosh experience on display this past weekend may not be entirely representative of what some currently enrolled students face on a daily basis.

“I liked the people handing out the fliers outside the dining halls. There was a lot of unscheduled time,” said Molly C. Storar of Sherborn, Mass. “I got kind of bored.”

Storar, Hose, and fellow prefrosh Nancy H. Nguyen of Orange County said that their interactions this weekend followed a five-question template.

“First question: ‘What’s your name?’” Hose said. “Second question: ‘Where are you from?’”

“Third question: ‘Which schools are you choosing between?’ If it is definitely Harvard, bypass number four, which is, ‘What are you leaning towards?’” added Nguyen.

“After four, there is an awkward pause, and then you say, ‘So what are you planning on concentrating in?’” Hose said. “If it continues, you continue conversing, if not, you move along to the next person.”

As for the “gorgeous” weather this weekend, Storar said with a smile, “I wasn’t fooled—I’m from here.”

Fehn said the number of attendees was an estimated 200 students above average, but added that she couldn’t offer any specific reasons behind the increase.

—Staff writer Aditi Balakrishna can be reached at balakris@fas.harvard.edu.