What is the best way to visit Harvard University as a prospective student?

First, it's a great idea to visit Harvard’s campus if you’re seriously considering applying. To get an official campus experience, you should sign up for an in-person campus tour through Harvard’s Undergraduate Admissions website. These tours, often led by current students, give you a structured overview of the campus, an inside look at major landmarks, and details about student life that you might miss on a solo stroll. Registration is easy: just pick a date and time that works for you, and you’ll receive confirmation with meeting location details.

As someone traveling from out of state, try to book your tour in advance, especially for the summer, since spots fill up quickly. If tour slots are full or your schedule changes, you can still visit campus on your own. Harvard Yard and the surrounding areas are public, and you can download a self-guided tour app from Harvard’s website which highlights important spots.

In terms of admissions, visiting campus is not a formal advantage. Harvard doesn’t track demonstrated interest the way smaller colleges might. So don’t stress about missing an ‘admissions boost.’ Still, visiting can be valuable for you: it helps you see if the campus culture and environment feels like a good fit.

While you’re there, make sure you check out these places: Harvard Yard (the heart of campus), Memorial Hall, Widener Library (just peeking inside if you can), and the Science Center. Walk around Harvard Square for a sense of the surrounding community; grab a coffee at a local spot to see what it’s like to be a student off campus.

If you get a chance, chat with current students or admissions staff; panels and info sessions can answer specific questions you have about application expectations or academic opportunities. And take lots of notes; you’ll refer back to them when it’s time to write your supplemental essays!

Additional Note:
If you want to truly immerse yourself in the Harvard experience, while also gaining a potential advantage in admissions, I recommend applying for the Harvard Secondary School Program during the summer. You take college level courses, live in the Freshman dorms in the Yard, and Harvard tends to take note of the interest this demonstrates (as well as your ability to handle college-level courses). You can even use these courses for college credit at some schools (including Harvard).