International freshmen said they reacted to Harvardâs plan for an in-person fall with excitement but said it marks only the beginning of a multi-step process â complicated by visa policies and vaccination rollouts â they must complete before arriving in Cambridge in August.
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Claudine Gay announced last month that the FAS is âexpecting a full return to campusâ and a return to in-person learning in fall 2021. The news came as a relief to many College students.
Gayâs announcement paves the way for international students in the Class of 2024 to learn on Harvardâs campus for the first time next fall. Federal visa restrictions barred international freshmen from living in Harvardâs dorms this academic year. Many reported their first semester of college was marked by social isolation, nocturnal schedules, and inadequate support from Harvard.
The âSecondâ Class of 2024
More than 20 international freshmen interviewed said their first semester of college was marked by nocturnal schedules, social isolation, and inadequate support from the College. Many said they feel pessimistic that things will get better this spring.
Like many Harvard students, Nabin Poudel â24 stays up late to complete his assignments in time for typical midnight deadlines.
Unlike others, though, midnight in Cambridge falls around 10 a.m. local time the next morning for Poudel, who is taking classes online from his home in Nepal this academic year.
âSometimes I would find myself working [the] whole night on assignments,â Poudel said.