I am a business student from Sweden and in one year I would like to spent one semester abroad and I am currently looking for “Free Mover” opportunities at good universities. I just saw that Harvard offers the opportunity to spent one semester there and study. I am aware of the costs, but let’s not talk about this right now.
I was just wondering if anyone has experience with this program like required GPA or rate of acceptance?
As someone with no experience with “rate my chances” I can just post what I have done so far:
I study business administration and management in Sweden
I think my GPA is about 3.5 (it is a little difficult to compare swedish grades to the US grades, but comparing a few online tools the GPA should be around 3.5)
Member of 2 student initiatives
Co-founder of a small start-up
unsalaried tutor for children in low-income families
Internship at KPMG right now and at PwC after Christmas
LSE Summer School Course with A- finished.
Harvard College does NOT offer a business degree or finance courses. They do offer math and economics courses, but given your major you might have a difficult time in your Statement of Purpose as well the Tentative Plan of Study to convince Admissions that Harvard is the best fit for you, as opposed to say UPenn Wharten, which also has a visiting scholars program: https://fnce.wharton.upenn.edu/department-information/visiting-scholars/
In addition, your 3.5 GPA is very low for Harvard – too low to be accepted as a freshman applicant or transfer applicant. Although Harvard doesn’t list a GPA required, my guess is that Admissions would like visiting scholars to have at least a 3.8 GPA to ensure that students can handle the work load on campus. That said, the program has few applicants and about 68% are admitted. http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2010/10/27/harvard-vus-students-program/?page=single
^^ No, visiting undergrad students ALWAYS live off-campus. This quote from the last article cited in post #1
OP would need to find housing in Boston (not cheap - probably about $1,200 a month and not necessarily in Cambridge = $14,000 a year), pay the full-fare each semester as no financial aid is offered for VUS ($43,280 per year, plus $3,794 fees) and pay for Massachusetts mandated campus health care, as they are an international student ($3,718 per year). All in all, that would be about $63,000 not including flights, food, books and living expenses, which could boost the whole venture to $75,000 for the ear or $37,500 per semester… IMHO, that would be an unwise investment for a student majoring in business, but hey . . . each to his or her own.
Thanks for the answers. I know that it is expensive but where I study education is nearly for free so I saved money from working since half a year and will be spported by my familiy.
Are they also take internships and social activities into account or does only the GPA count?
