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On Campus Information Sessions & Tours

Registration instructions.

• Registration for a campus visit is required .
• To sign up, please select an available date from the calendar below. Multiple events may pop up when you select an available date. Click on the event labeled "On-Campus Visit" at the time that works for you, and then complete the registration form on a new page.
• Once your registration is complete, we will be in touch via email with helpful information to plan your visit and visit reminders.
• If you arrive on campus without registering, a member of our visitor team will help you to determine your best options including providing information about a self-guided tour and helping you to register for an open tour date and time.
• Sign up for an online session here  - this is a 1 hour live session with an admissions officer. 
• Click here to do a self-paced virtual tour  of Harvard's campus. 
• If you are in the area, you may stop by our office at 5 James Street from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday (11am-5pm on Wednesdays) and pick up a self-guided tour map and ask questions of the Visitor Center staff. 

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Group visits/tours, important information for your visit.

• Special Accommodations - there will be space on the registration form to request special accommodations. Please note that we require 21 days advance notice in order to secure ASL interpreters. We cannot provide interpreters for other languages at this current time. Those requesting the use of a wheelchair must leave a current driver’s license or state ID with our Visitor Center personnel until the chair is returned. 
• Most buildings are closed to the public. Public restrooms will be available in the Elizabeth Cary Agassiz House before/after the information session, and at the end of the tour at Smith Campus Center.
• At this time, it is not possible to store luggage or other personal property during your visit. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, especially for families who have traveled long distances to join us.
• Your registration and attendance have no bearing on the admissions process should you decide to apply.
• Guests are not permitted to record any part of the information session and/or tour. 

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Harvard Campus Tour: 15 Best Places to Visit at Harvard

From lofty libraries to picturesque walks, from Harvard Square to Charles River, here are the 15 best places to include on your Harvard campus tour!

Whether you’re a new Harvard student starting your school year, or visiting Harvard University on a campus tour, there is so much to discover. My lovely university is a heaven for students, tourists and photographers alike. During my time at Harvard, I got plenty of visitors, both friends and family. And for everyone, it was an overwhelming experience taking in all the beauty of our breathtaking campus.

Harvard University is one of the most visited places in Boston, and even all of East Coast. A Harvard University tour is a memorable experience, since every visitor has seen parts of the campus either in movies, pictures or places that have been inspired by Harvard architecture.

Harvard Campus Tour – Where to Go

Harvard University is full of new and old buildings, beautiful architecture and iconic spots to take your pictures. Of course, some of the best places at Harvard are reserved for the students, so if you aren’t one, it’s best to visit with a student or during the Open House.

But whether you have a Harvard ID or not, Harvard University will have a lot to offer you if you’re visiting. From hallowed libraries to historic dining halls, busy dorms to picturesque riverside walks, here is my list of the 15 best places to visit at Harvard.

Harvard Square and the Coop

Harvard Square may not be the most iconic place at Harvard if you’re just googling images of the university. But for every student and visitor, this is where the tour starts. Harvard has a whole T station (metro, subway or underground) dedicated to it, called Harvard Square, which can be the starting point of your Harvard university tour. It’s also the meeting point if you ever lose your tour partners!

Located at the junction of John F. Kennedy Street and Massachusetts Avenue is the building of Cambridge Savings Bank, which has become something of a landmark over the years. Along with this building, other structures and shops such as bookstores, toy stores, and a Bank of America also surround Harvard Square.

Harvard Square is unmissable, central and is the congregation point, where students run into old friends, meet new acquaintances and grab a bite to eat. The most popular and central spot is Starbucks, below the Cambridge Savings Bank, which is right at the corner of Mass Ave, and opened while I was a student at Harvard. Right outside is the Cambridge Visitor’s Information Center booth.

Some other popular spots next to it are the Au Bon Pain, next to Starbucks, and The Coop, across the road, where you can buy all possible books and official Harvard merchandise.

Harvard Yard & John Harvard statue

The green space between undergraduate dormitories is called Harvard Yard, which is enclosed by iron fences, walls and gates. Harvard Yard is the most iconic place at Harvard University, and is a must on any Harvard campus tour.

It is one of the oldest areas that became a part of Harvard University in the late 1600s, housing Harvard College dorms. Now it is also home to the famous John Harvard Statue, where you can see throngs of tourists taking pictures every time, everyday, touching his shoe to take pictures.

However, Harvard students would never touch it, because we all know that urinating on John Harvard’s shoe is one of three traditional deeds some Harvard College students strive to complete. It still remains the most touched spots of Harvard University. Sigh.

Harvard Yard is spread over 25 acres (10 ha) and it’s boundaries have 25 gates, opening at Mass Ave, Science Center. The yard is also home to libraries and memorial church, where the Harvard graduation ceremony takes place annually.

The Yard is the best place to soak the sun and read, be around College students. If you’re traveling in the fall season, it’s a beautiful place to take pictures. Here, you can see the New England fall colors in their full glory.

Widener Library

This is right in the part of Harvard Yard that is behind the John Harvard statue (called Tercentenary Theater). Widener library is the oldest one at Harvard University. And it’s the largest private and university-owned library in the United States. It is home to 3.5 million books, countless stacks and all types of reading spaces.

The library is named after Harvard College alumus and book collector Harry Elkins Widener, who died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912.

Although Harvard has many beautiful libraries, Widener is my favorite one. With high ceilings, chandeliers and royal chairs, it’s easy to forget Widener can also have so many hidden low-lit spots in its depths too. I used to spend all my free time there as much as possible, discovering new reading spots and books. My favorites were the comfy high-backed chairs that face the tall windows opening into Harvard Yard.

Memorial Church

Situated right across Widener Library, this is another iconic building in Harvard University and one of the best parts of Harvard. Most Harvard students see and pass by it daily, whether on their way to their dorms, dining halls or classes. And of course, almost all Harvard students graduate here, although not every student has been inside it!

The interiors themselves are often used for ceremonies, commemoration, etc. For example, the only time I ever went inside was for a candlelight vigil for Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Although every year, the Church is home to bittersweet memories for everyone. The area in front of Memorial Church, the central green of Harvard Yard, is known as Tercentenary Theater. This is where the Harvard commencement ceremony takes place every year. Many celebrities and famous Harvard alumni have delivered graduation speeches on its porch, such as Steven Spielberg, Mark Zuckerberg, J.K. Rowling and John F. Kennedy.

Memorial Hall & Sanders Theater

Memorial Hall is yet another iconic building in Harvard University. The building is located near the Yard, at the junction of Cambridge, Kirkland, and Quincy Streets. It has high Victorian Gothic architectural style. Constructed in 1878, the building has many stained glass windows, ribbed vaults, spires and pointed arches.

Also called Mem Hall or just ‘Mem’, the building used to be the background of the John Harvard Statue in the early 1920s and before. Mem Hall houses three parts: Sanders Theater, Annenberg Hall and Memorial Transept.

Memorial Transept is a vault that anyone can enter, and is serves as the congregation space for Sanders Theater. It has a high vaulted ceiling and large stained-glass windows above the entrance on either side. Great place to take pictures, if only it were better lit. Either way, it’s an important one to include in your Harvard campus tour.

The Sanders Theater is Harvard University’s largest indoor space. Used for lectures, concerts and most notably, the annual graduation ceremony for Harvard College students. Sanders is where they receive their diplomas.

Even Harvard students aren’t allowed inside, unless it’s for a mandatory lecture or they have a pass for a particular lecture or ceremony. Most lectures that take place in Sanders are by celebrities or famous alumni, such as Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Theodore Roosevelt have spoken there. One of the times I have attended a lecture there was when Bill Gates came to speak.

Although if you are accompanied by a Harvard student and you request, they may allow you to take a peek inside when the theater is not in use.

Annenberg Hall

Located inside the Memorial Hall, Annenberg Hall serves as the dining hall for freshmen of Harvard College. When it was constructed in 1874, people from all over the country came to visit, since it was one of the largest indoor meeting spaces ever constructed in the US.

It is also breathtakingly beautiful, and serves a large selection of food (yum!). With its large expansive, unobstructed space, Annenberg Hall is designed in Gothic style. It has stained glass windows, wooden trusses and vaulted ceiling. The hall is decorated with large hanging candelabras. Its walls have paintings of benefactors and presidents and its ceiling is so high I’m not even sure it exists!

Originally meant to be a place for alumni meetings, Annenberg was soon converted to a dining commons. Now it is used for the freshmen students only. And as a grad student, I only got the opportunity to eat there during the days my own dining hall was closed. (Of course, then my dorm mates and I loved it, because we were treated to their desserts, ice-cream and beautiful entrées.)

It is also used for dances, banquets, examinations and more. Also, Annenberg is what inspired the Great Hall in Harry Potter movies. Only Annenberg Hall is more beautiful.

Read more: Annenberg Hall & Harvard Memorial Hall: All You Need to Know

Science Center

Located north of Harvard Yard, Science Center is home to the computer labs, classrooms and science library for undergraduates. The first floor also houses a nice cafe where I frequently lunched.

To someone expecting the classic Harvard style of architecture, Science Center is not much to look at. In fact, not even many Harvard students find it pretty. That’s because it was constructed in the ’70s, amid the modernist movement, when designers sought to do something different than the existing antiquated Georgian architectural style.

The plaza in front of the Science Center is home to the beautiful Tanner fountain, where kids are often found playing and water-splashing! Students often put up Yard sales, College club events and protest rallies there. Oftentimes, you can also find food-trucks, farmers’ markets and even Quidditch practices there.

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Graduate School of Design or GSD is my alma mater, which is mainly located on 48 Quincy Street in a building named Gund Hall. The Gund is also constructed in glass, steel and concrete (just like the Science Center) and is different from the iconic Harvard architectural style.

Gund Hall has a stepped design, where different studios form the levels, called trays. The building has a lot of clear glass, allowing natural lights into the trays, where students have their drawing boards or desks.

GSD also has a yard where student works are often exhibited, including those using 3D printing, robotic machines, CNC machines, etc.

The area near the entrance at the first floor of GSD is used to exhibit student work throughout the year. These exhibitions are specifically designed to give a new “interior look” to the space with each exhibit, often theme-based or interactive. This space also houses temporary events, student performances and the spillage from the events happening in cafeteria called Chauhaus and the Piper Auditorium.

Harvard Law School & HLS Library

Harvard Law School (HLS) is located near the northwest of the Harvard Yard. The HLS library is a beautiful old building with a big yard in front of it. Named Langdell Hall, it is immediately recognizable with its large windows, columns and Harvardian architecture style.

HLS library has a large, high-ceilinged chandelier-lit reading space with countless stacks filled with law-books. But they serve free hot-chocolate at night, so it’s a good place for non-law-students to study, too. You can get in with a Harvard ID, and discover their chessboard coffee tables, too! HLS library is my second favorite library after Widener, and was also my first workplace after my Harvard graduation, where I worked for a whole year to create digital learning spaces.

Wassterstein Hall Harvard Law School

Take a secret underground passage from the HLS library and it takes you to the newly built Wasserstein Hall. (You can also get to it from above the ground, tho, but where’s the fun in that?) It is one of the newest and most beautiful buildings in all of Harvard University, and was opened when I was a student.

The Wassterstein houses a large fireplace-lit study space with the coziest high-backed chairs, two cafeterias and a bar, pool table and the most gorgeous toilets you can find on-campus. Even balconies and a grand semi-circular staircase. What more reason could there be to include it in your Harvard campus tour? I used to lunch here everyday when I was an employee at the HLS library, and the first-floor cafe is great for an evening snack (they have great fries).

Natural History Museum

Located north of the Science Center and near the graduate dorms, the Natural History Museum is a great place where many students don’t even go throughout their time at Harvard! Although admission is open only to Harvard community.

It is such a hidden gem within the university, especially to go if you’re visiting harvard with kids. In fact, the only time I went here was when I was showing my parents around the campus the day before my graduation ceremony (they loved it!).

The museum is home to many permanent and temporary exhibits that any student will love. These include a paleontology exhibit, which has the fossils of Kronosaurus, a 42-foot-long prehistoric marine reptile. Also, there’s exhibits of birds, wildlife microbes and a famous glass-flower exhibition.

Radcliffe Quad

Located north of the Harvard campus, the Radcliffe Quad, or just “Quad”, is not much of a touristy spot, but is a great place to visit if you’re a Harvard graduate student and looking to explore the campus. The Radcliffe Quadrangle houses the Quad green and undergraduate dormitories, including the oft-photographed Cabot house and Pforzheimer house.

The walk from Cambridge Commons to Radcliffe Quadrangle is a beautiful one, and depending on the season, you’ll see brilliant tulips or fall colors.

Malkin Athletic Center & Harvard Stadium

Harvard stadium.

The Malkin Athletic Center (MAC) and the Harvard Stadium are located at completely different parts of the campus, but I have to include them together here.

The Harvard Stadium is south of the campus, across from HBS. The world-renowned stadium was built in 1903, and is a National Historic Landmark. It’s an essential part of any Harvard campus tour.

The Stadium is primarily a College football stadium, but they also use it for music festivals and other sports. It’s next to the humongous Blodgett Pool (one one that you see Robert Langdon swimming in in the Da Vinci Code movie).

Malkin Athletic Center (MAC)

The MAC is my favorite gymnasium at Harvard and is the perf spot for all Harvard students to work out. The gym is located south of the Harvard square, and is a large five story facility.

In the center is a large pool, and the upper floors have the cardio rooms with a view of the pool. Actually, I find the group exercise mezannine space overlooking the pool even prettier! This is where I discovered my passion for Zumba (miss it!). The building also houses many weight rooms, strength training equipment, basketball court and what not.

Charles River

The Charles river is an iconic body that divides the main Harvard campus. The north part of the campus on the north of Charles is the Cambridge campus, that borders at Memorial Drive. And the southern one is Allston campus, that starts at Soldiers Field Road. These two are connected by the Anderson Memorial Bridge, which is the perfect spot to take pictures and view both sides. It’s a must-see spot when visiting Harvard and MIT.

The space next to Memorial Drive is where you’ll see the bike path, students lounging around after classes, and skateboarders. The John F. Kennedy Memorial Park is right next to it, featuring a fountain. And while you’re here, also walk around to discover tiny lanes, tree-lined avenues. If you’re on a self-guided harvard tour, walk west, and enjoy a quiet cappuccino at Darwin’s, or go up north to have a cup of tea at Pete’s Cafe.

Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School is the top-pick for MBA tourists or student-visitors who like business management. Located in Allston, the HBS campus is a bit separated from the main campus by the Charles River. However, it’s a beautiful campus that all students and visitors should check out on their Harvard campus tour.

Right from across the river, you’ll see the iconic Baker Library, a world-famous building. It has the best place to take a picture at Harvard – in the HBS yard, with Baker Library forming the backdrop. And if you want one with the Harvard sign, check out the HBS sign at the back entrance.

The next spot to check out is Spangler Center, which is the student center. A relatively new building, Spangler has the same Georgian architecture style that the old Harvard buildings have. Inside is a massive student lounge that’s actually the last place I can concentrate in, because it seems a bit daunting.

The HBS cafeteria is inside too, which is rather nice and serves different cuisines everyday. The dining hall is gorgeous with large tables and chandeliers (although nobody joins you if you’re eating alone). Step underground to their bar and also check out their underground passages while you’re at it. (It leads to the library).

– Experience the Harvard Student Life with Me: How is Life at Harvard – Is Harvard Worth It? Analyzing Costs to Benefits for a Degree – What Kinds of Students Get into Harvard?

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Introducing the visit harvard mobile app.

By Amy Kamosa

The Harvard Visitor's Center has launched a new Visit Harvard mobile app that will provide free, self-guided, self-paced themed walking tours of the University. The first tour released on the app is a historic walking tour of the Cambridge Campus. It incorporates 14 locations throughout campus that highlight some of the most important buildings and events of the University's nearly 400-year history.

In 2019, approximately 8 million people visited Harvard Square, and more than 35,000 visitors took part in public and private tours of the Harvard Campus. When the campus shut down in early 2020 due to the pandemic, Robin Parker, Associate Director of Harvard's Visitor Center, worked with colleagues and a small team of undergraduate tour guides led by Fari Mbaye '22 and Madi Fabber '22, to create a series of live, student-led online virtual tours as an option for would-be visitors who were no longer able to come to the Square.

The mobile app tour builds on the content developed for those virtual offerings, but provides a more accessible option that visitors can use to guide themselves while they visit campus in-person, or from the comfort of their own couch anywhere in the world.

"Our student tour guides really led the charge on the creation of these tours. Some of the images they've included have never been seen before, and the content weaves a really compelling story through Harvard's history," said Parker.

It was that storytelling aspect of the mobile tour that Mbaye said was the most challenging and important aspect of translating the live tour content to the app. "When we, as tour guides, give live tours, we're really just working off bullet points and we weave our own details and jokes in as we go. With the app, we had to turn the content into a complete story that people would want to read and listen to," she explained.

If app users choose to visit the campus, they can follow the geo-location tags on the app to travel point-to-point. The total distance of the tour is approximately one mile and should take approximately one hour to complete—including travel between stops, but the self-guided nature of the app means that users can complete this circuit at their own pace.

According to Visitor Center Manager Maggie Dawson, the ease of use and simplicity of design was an intentional choice to ensure that the app was as accessible as possible. Additional features like geo-location tagging, audio tracks with transcript, and image alternative text for visually-impaired users, all enable a large range of users to interact with the app in their own way, and according to Dawson, inclusion will continue to be a priority as more content is added. "Our hope is to tell many parts of the Harvard story to as many audiences as possible. Not only are additional tours in development, including a Black History Tour, and Arts Walk, and a Women's History tour, but we are expanding the tour languages as well," she explained.

The Visit Harvard App is available for download through the Apple Store and Google Play . There is also a desktop version of the app you can access here .

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Eddie Nesmith ‘20

Concentration: Molecular and Cellular Biology House: Dunster Employer: Harvard Admissions and Financial Aid Office

Eddie knew he was meant for this job before he even had any experience with it - his bubbly and open personality was just that cut out for what the job’s responsibilities called for. “I never had a college tour experience as a high school student, but it’s just one of those things I knew I wanted - that wherever I ended up going to school, it was something that I would want to do.” And once hired as a tour guide for the Harvard Admissions Office, Eddie discovered that the role was everything he had hoped for and more.

Reflecting on his time at Harvard, Eddie shares how it has been an incredible experience - one that he’s eager to share as tour guide with all the prospective students. “I’m really enthusiastic about my Harvard experience, and I find that this is a really good opportunity to share that experience. I talk about my friends and how much I’ve learned from them, how Dunster House is the best, about academics and my favorite professor Rob Lue and how he’s so corny. I love sharing how positive my Harvard experience has been.”

But more than that, Eddie believes it’s important to communicate an accurate representation of Harvard students and student life that dispels any assumptions about this school that prospective students may have. “I’m really excited about that process of sharing with prospective students, and dispelling preconceptions of Harvard students, and I’m just like ‘No, no, no. Everyone’s different.’ I would not classify every Harvard student under one stereotype. Everyone’s individual, everyone’s super friendly. We do do work here, but we have hobbies and interests and passions that are not necessarily academic, like yes, I want to Boston and get Panera and Ben & Jerry’s, so yes, we’re normal people as well, so I just like to convey that sentiment.”

As Eddie sums up, he recommends that everyone should work as a tour guide for the Admissions Office, overbrimming with enthusiasm for the job. “I like my job a lot, and I actually enjoy it. I like to interact with people, I love talking to people, so like this was a perfect fit for me. I truly believe that you can make anything out of your experience at Harvard, and I get to share that. I feel like it has been a really positive experience for me, like in that respect, I enjoy talking to people about Harvard, but additionally, I feel like I’ve cultivated my own public speaking style, where I can be more comfortable presenting in general - I feel like it’s given me a life skill that I needed to ascertain.”

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Online Tours

Virtually tour our campuses in Allston  and  Cambridge .

Private Tours

Harvard Student Agencies provides tours of the Science and Engineering Complex, which can be arranged using this  form   ( https://trademarktours.com/request-tour ) or by contacting  [email protected] . 

Undergraduate Tours

Take a student-led supplemental tour focused on Harvard’s undergraduate programs in engineering and the applied sciences (including applied mathematics, biomedical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, engineering sciences, and mechanical engineering).

The tour, led by SEAS staff and students concentrating in the sciences and engineering, provides an overview of pursuing a technical degree in a liberal arts context, undergraduate research opportunities, related student groups and competitions, and support for entrepreneurship and innovation.

The SEAS tour will not cover the Harvard College (undergraduate) admissions process.  To learn more about admissions and financial aid, please visit the office of  Harvard College Admissions and Financial Aid .  You may also attend the  Harvard College general information session and tour .

Please note that registration is required for both the SEAS Tour and Harvard College Information Session & Tour so be sure to register as soon as you have a visit date in mind.

Wednesday, July 3, 11:30am-12:30pm

Tuesday, July 9, 8:30am-9:30am

Wednesday, July 10, 11:30am-12:30pm

Monday, July 15, 11:30am-12:30pm

Tuesday, July 16, 8:30am-9:30am

Tuesday, July 23, 8:30am-9:30am

Wednesday, July 24, 11:30am-12:30pm

Monday, July 29, 11:30am-12:30pm

Tuesday, July 30, 8:30am-9:30am

Monday, Aug 5, 11:30am-12:30pm

Tuesday, Aug 6, 8:30am-9:30am

Click here  to register online for SEAS Tours through Eventbrite.

• Cancellations:   If you are no longer able to attend the tour, please cancel your registration via Eventbrite or email   [email protected]  with your name and order number with at least 48 hours notice.

Tour check-in takes place in the main entrance of the Science & Engineering Complex (SEC) located at 150 Western Ave, Allston MA 02134.

We kindly ask that you do not bring additional guests beyond those that registered for your selected tour time. Any cancellation that is made is automatically designated to the next person on the waitlist, up until the start of the tour. All tours are capped at a certain level due to the availability of tour guides and the capacity for guests in the lab spaces which make it difficult to accommodate additional requests.

Public Parking

Public parking is available at metered spots on Western Ave. Parking meters run from one to two hours and are enforced from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.  A further advisory: Boston parking violations start at $35.00, and meters are monitored closely by transportation officers. We do not reimburse visitors for parking tickets. 

Daily Parking Permits for Visitors

You may purchase a Daily Visitor Parking Permit  online  for the 114 Western Avenue or 2 Hague Street lots. Maps indicating the locations of other nearby Harvard lots can be found at  http://www.transportation.harvard.edu/parking/garages-lots . You will need to bring a printed copy of your permit to display on your dashboard.

For additional questions, please call (617) 496-7827.

More Parking Information

Parking policies at Harvard are the responsibility of the Harvard  University Parking Services , (617) 496-7827. For detailed parking information, please visit the Parking Services website at  www.transportation.harvard.edu/parking .

• More information on Harvard Shuttles can be found at  http://transportation.harvard.edu/shuttle-van-services

Real-time shuttle tracking is also available on smartphones through the  PassioGo! mobile app or shuttle.harvard.edu .

Digital transit screens with real-time transportation information – including Harvard shuttles, MBTA buses, and BlueBikes – are located in the SEC atrium and in 114 Western Avenue lobby.

Shuttle schedules and frequency are subject to construction delays, traffic, and weather.

The SEC Cafe is located inside the Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) open Monday through Friday from 8AM-3PM. 

For more questions about SEAS undergraduate programs and visits:

Email:    [email protected]

Phone: 617 495 3163

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Where can i find a tour of harvard’s campus.

A tour is a great way to get to know the campus! Harvard Information Center, located in the Smith Campus Center, offers free student-led walking tours through Harvard Yard. Tours are one hour and provide a general overview of the main Cambridge camps and University history. The Information Center also has maps for self-guided walking tours. For details and schedule, as well as links to tour information at the graduate schools go here . The Admissions Office offers separate tours for prospective students.

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Harvard Tours – tickets, prices, discounts, what to expect

If you couldn’t make it to Harvard University, then worry not! You can still explore the campus – just book a  through Harvard Campus Tour. 

A Harvard tour gives you insights into campus life and tells you why it is the best institute in the world. 

The tour revolves around exploring Harvard History, Harvard Culture, and Famous Harvardians.

This article covers everything you must know before booking tickets for the Harvard Campus Tour.

Top Harvard Tours

#  70-minute group tour

Table of contents

What to expect, where to book tickets, how do online tickets work, harvard tour ticket prices, harvard tour tickets, where do harvard tours start from, how long does the harvard tour last, is a tour of harvard worth it, sites you will see on the harvard tour, what to bring on the tour, things to know before starting a tour, faqs about the harvard walking tour.

The Harvard tours introduce you to the dynamic Harvard History, Harvard Culture, and Famous Harvardians. 

Harvard campus tour covers many landmarks such as Harvard Square, Harvard Yard, the John Harvard Statue (the university founder), Harvard Lampoon, and many more. 

All the tour guides are Harvard students who are charismatic, engaging, and enthusiastic. 

These guides make Harvard tours more like a show or a theatre filled with non-stop fun and entertainment. 

With the students’ guides by your side, you get to learn interesting facts about the university, its hidden secrets, and stories of popular Harvardians like Mark Zuckerberg, Barack Obama, Conan O’Brien, and many more. 

Harvard tours are designed to entertain both adults and children. AAA Magazine called them “great for families!” The tour guides cater to guests of all ages and families. 

Tickets for the Harvard tour are available to be purchased at the attraction or online in advance.

Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the attraction.

When you buy online, you can avoid standing in long queues and wasting time.

When you book early, you also get your preferred time slot.

Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, they may sell out during peak days. Booking online also helps avoid last-minute disappointment and delays.

Go to the Harvard tour booking page , select your preferred date and time and the number of tickets, and buy the tickets right away.

After the purchase, you will receive the tickets via email.

You don’t need to carry printouts.

Show the smartphone tickets at the meeting point on the day of your visit and begin your adventure.

Adult tickets for the Harvard Tour are available for US$23 for visitors aged between 18 and 64 years.

For children between four and 17 years of age, tickets are available for US$21.

Senior Citizens aged 65 and above can get the tickets for US$22.

Infants up to three years of age do not require a ticket.

Experience Harvard University like never before with a guided walking tour.

Explore the campus while learning about the oldest university in the USA and its notable landmarks.

The tour will be led by a student guide who will share interesting anecdotes about life at Harvard.

In addition, the ticket also includes an illustrated map of Harvard Square.

The tour route covers a distance of less than one mile.

Ticket Prices

Adult ticket (18 to 64 years): US$23 Senior ticket (65+ years): US$22 Child ticket (4 to 17 years): US$21 Infant tickets (up to 3 years): Free

Along with their Harvard Campus Tour, some tourists prefer to book a group tour of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology .

The Harvard campus tour starts from Harvard Square. 

Located at the junction of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and John F. Kennedy Street, Harvard Square is thronged by visitors, students, and artists daily. 

You’ll find your tour guides outside the Harvard Red Line Subway Station next to the Out of Town News Kiosk. Get Directions

The closest street address is 1380 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138.

The 70-minute Harvard Tour is available throughout the week.

Visitors can choose between tour slots starting at 10 am and continuing every half hour till 4.30 pm. 

The Harvard walking tour lasts for about 70 minutes. 

There are umpteen stops on the 1-mile (1.6 km) long tour.

The tour guides will tell you the stories and significance of various landmarks you pass by.  

Established in 1636, Harvard is America’s oldest university and perhaps the most famous institution of higher education on the planet. Harvard is very much worth visiting.

This prestigious university contains tall buildings, libraries packed with books, and iconic sites that are breathtaking. 

Whether you’re a student or not, the campus has much to please your mind and soul. 

Since the students will walk you through the campus, you get an insider perspective about the university. 

All of this makes the Harvard Tour worth your money and time.

You’ll walk through the university gates, around the yard, and past some historic buildings with Harvard Tour guides. 

The major sites covered under Harvard Tours are:

Harvard Square

It is a commercial center in Cambridge with streets lined with cafes, restaurants, retail stores, cinemas, and bookstores. 

Johnston Gate

This majestic gate takes you to the world of knowledge and wisdom. It is one of the many doorways to Harvard Yard.

Harvard Yard

It is the heart of Harvard University, enclosed by wrought iron fences, walls, and a thick canopy of trees. The John Harvard Statue is situated in this beautiful yard. 

Science Center

It is a place for science and math buffs who experiment and do research.

Memorial Hall

The cornerstone of the building was laid in 1870 in memory of those who laid down their lives during the Civil War. 

New College Theatre

It hosts several theatrical and musical performances of Harvard students every year. NCT is also open to the general public to enjoy the performances of Harvard-affiliated groups and performers. 

The Harvard Lampoon

Sometimes referred to as “Lampoon Castle,” this sturdy castle consists of an office, library, dining hall, and a lounge. It is famous for publishing comic and humor magazines. 

Lowell Bell Tower

This blue-capped bell tower is in proximity to Harvard Yard and Harvard Square. It houses the iconic Russian bells.

It is better to come prepared for the weather to avoid surprises.

When coming for the tour, you can bring along the following items-

• Comfortable shoes

Before starting the campus tour, keep in mind the following points-

• The tour will go on despite rain or sunshine.
• Reach the tour’s starting point (Harvard Square) at least 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time. 

The tour does not take you inside any of the buildings.

Here are some questions visitors usually ask before taking the Harvard Walking Tour.

The tour includes a guided walk through Harvard Yard and visits to various historic buildings on campus.

Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.

Yes, it is best to buy tickets in advance to ensure availability and have a hassle-free experience.

The tours last approximately 70 minutes.

Yes, the tours are wheelchair accessible.

Yes, you can bring a backpack or bag on the tour, but it will be subject to security screening.

Yes, there is a gift shop at the Harvard University Information Center where you can purchase souvenirs and other items related to Harvard University.

No, pets are not allowed on the tour.

Yes, cameras are allowed, and visitors are free to take photographs.

Yes, restrooms are available at the Harvard University Information Center.

Sources # College.harvard.edu # Harvard.edu # Apply.college.harvard.edu # Seas.harvard.edu The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy .

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He is a two-faced traveler, who enjoys both the hustle-bustle of an urban holiday and the serenity of a break from the rest of the World. During some of his vacations, he is a resort hopper, and on others, he barely spends time in his hotel. He loves to try mouth-watering local cuisines, especially non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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China: Harvard graduate student inspired to return to China after eye-opening short stay

Posted: June 28, 2024 | Last updated: June 28, 2024

China - Recent Storyline: An American graduate student from the prestigious Harvard University has been inspired to return to China after making an eye-opening recent trip to the country, and now hopes to further his study of the language, explore smaller cities, and deepen his overall understanding during a longer-term stay in China. Erik Rasmussen, a graduate from Harvard Business School's Class of 2024, joined over 100 classmates in a whirlwind tour across several Chinese cities back in May. Prior to the trip, Rasmussen had studied Chinese for around six months and said he is now already planning to come back to China in September to study in more detail now that he has graduated. Reflecting on his first visit to China, Rasmussen said it was the country's urban development that made the first deep impression on him. The graduate also expressed his admiration for China's rapid technological advancements, including its new energy vehicles, high-speed rail network, and even other unexpected discoveries such as the use of robots. During their trip, The Harvard students visited the metropolises of Beijing and Shanghai, as well as the historic Xi'an City in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the popular Chengdu City in southwest China's Sichuan Province, where Rasmussen said he was deeply captivated by the ancient culture and beautiful scenery. He admitted he fell in love with Chinese culture, so much so that he is now planning his immediate future in China, where he hopes to make more friends, travel to new places, and gain deeper insights into life in the country. Shotlist: China - Recent: FILE: China - Exact Location and Date unknown 1. Aerial shots of cityscape, traffic; USA - Recent 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Erik Rasmussen, Class of 2024 Harvard Business School Graduate (starting with shot 1/ending with shot 3): "Obviously people can assume a lot of things about places that they've never been before. It's really great for Americans to see China I think. Seeing China for the first time was really beautiful. I was amazed at how built up some of the cities are. Going to Shanghai, going to Beijing, seeing the skyscrapers, seeing how much apartment buildings are being built up. There's incredible development in the country."; FILE: China - Exact Location and Date unknown 3. Aerial shots of cityscape, traffic; 4. Various of photos taken by Rasmussen; 5. Various of photos of American students paying visit to China; 6. NOMI, smart robot boarded on EV car; USA - Date unknown 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Erik Rasmussen, Class of 2024 Harvard Business School Graduate (starting with shots 5-6/partially overlaid with shots 8-9): "We went in a BYD and NIO and some other electric vehicles that were really interesting, so it was cool to see the Chinese vehicles. It's also with the NIO cars, they have the NOMI, which is like a little robot that's built into the interface -- super cool to see that. And then we saw some of the robots in the hotel that like bring towels and bring things to the room and those are super cool as well. The robots are [switch to Chinese] very cute [switch to English], the bullet trains that are so impressive and it was really cool to get to experience those firsthand."; FILE: China - Exact Location and Date unknown [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 8. Various of food delivery robot in operation; 9. High-speed train running [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; 10. Various of photos taken by Rasmussen, group members at famous landmarks; USA - Recent 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Erik Rasmussen, Class of 2024 Harvard Business School Graduate (partially overlaid with shot 12/ending with shot 13): "For me, I'm planning to live in China in the fall. I got more excited about what it would be like to live there for a few months. I think I want to see some of the smaller cities. I don't know what which ones yet, I'm hoping to make friends that I'll go back to their hometowns. But I think I've seen the big cities, but it would be nice to see the tier two, tier three cities. I think some of the smaller cities would be interesting to explore."; FILE: China - Exact Location and Date unknown [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 12. Various of photos taken by Rasmussen during China visit; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 13. Various of photos of Rasmussen in traditional dress, at landmarks during China visit. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]

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College sees strong yield for students accepted to Class of 2028  

Financial aid was a critical factor, dean says

Eighty-four percent of students accepted to the Class of 2028 have decided to attend Harvard College this fall, a slight increase from last year. The strong yield indicates that Harvard continues to be a top choice for many of the world’s most promising students.

Financial aid was a critical factor. Approximately 55 percent of the class will receive need-based aid, and the average parent contribution for students receiving aid is $15,500. Nearly one-quarter (23.4 percent) of the admitted class will attend Harvard with no parent contribution.

“It’s exciting to hear from so many incoming students and their families about the importance of our generous financial aid in their decisions to come to Harvard,” said Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William Fitzsimmons.

A new launch grant program, announced last fall , has expanded support for students with family incomes below $85,000, providing $2,000 during junior year as students prepare for life after graduation.

“The launch grant complements a $2,000 start-up grant that ensures students have a smooth transition to life at Harvard,” said Griffin Director of Financial Aid Jake Kaufmann. 

First-generation students make up 20.3 percent of the class. Pell recipients make up 20.4 percent, and students requesting an application fee waiver make up 29.4 percent.

The Class of 2028 is made up of 53.2 percent women and 46.8 percent men. Additionally, 13 transfer students will join the College this fall. Harvard continues to successfully recruit from the military, enrolling 19 veterans for the Class of 2028. The class also includes 23 students who received ROTC scholarships.  

A robust recruitment effort by faculty, staff, alumni, and students supported the application cycle. Thousands of volunteers helped interview applicants and recruit students through college fairs. Admissions officers visited some 150 cities in the U.S.

“Our recruitment efforts are only as good as the staff and volunteers who are committed to seeking out our most promising students. The Class of 2028 represents the best of these kinds of efforts,” said Director of Admissions Joy St. John. 

The incoming class includes students from all 50 states and the U.S. territories: New England (17 percent); Mid-Atlantic (20.2 percent); South (16.1 percent); Midwest (9 percent); Mountain (2.5 percent); Pacific (14.9 percent); Central (1.6 percent); and U.S. territories (.4 percent). International citizens, representing 94 countries, comprise 16.7 percent of the class.  

Prospective social science concentrators make up 36.9 percent of the incoming first-years while 12 percent of students expressed interest in the humanities. More than 25 percent of students expressed interest in the sciences (15.5 in the life sciences, 10 percent in the physical sciences) and 22.9 percent in studying computer science and engineering. Only 1.7 percent declared themselves undecided.

A record number of admitted students (1,304) attended Visitas in April. Expanded programming included opportunities to attend actual or sample sessions of four iconic Harvard courses (CS50, Econ10B, Human10B, and LifeSci1A) and engage with faculty; there was also an option to attend virtually as well. Many students reported that their decision to come to Harvard was influenced by Visitas and other outreach conducted during the month of April by faculty, students, and alumni. 

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Welcome, g1 physics students 2019.

Academic Life in Cambridge and Boston Harvard University's physics students are welcomed into an environment which is internationally renowned for its faculty, resources, and research initiatives. Commensurate with the academic surroundings are the outstanding cultural and recreational options available in the historic cities of Cambridge and Boston, which have been thriving on the banks of the Charles River for more than 350 years.

Students can relax on the grass of the Cambridge Common, where George Washington took command of the Continental Army, or stroll the narrow streets around Harvard Square, where bookstores, restaurants and shops buzz with activity while street musicians and performers entertain those passing by.

On the other side of the Charles, the Boston Freedom Trail takes walkers through early American history, winding its way around landmarks from the days of the American Revolution, such as the Old South Meeting House in which the Boston Tea Party was planned, the Old State House where the Declaration of Independence was first read in public, and the "Cradle of Liberty", Faneuil Hall.

Cultural and entertainment opportunities are bountiful around Cambridge and Boston, from world-class orchestras, theaters, museums, and festivals, to professional sports of every stripe, to an endless variety of popular entertainment venues, superb dining, clubs, galleries, lectures, and screenings of rare films.

The natural environment of the Atlantic coast offers unlimited choices for recreation and relaxation. To the south are the magnificent beaches of Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard, and to the north sprawl the mountains of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, popular with hikers and skiers. Picturesque towns like Marblehead and Kennebunkport hug the rugged seacoast and provide excellent destinations for weekend getaways. Greater Boston is home to at least six major research universities. Harvard students can benefit in many ways from the area's rich academic atmosphere by taking part in the many seminars, colloquia, and inter-university collaborations that happen on a regular basis throughout the year. Harvard students may also cross-register for classes at MIT, which is 20 minutes away from Harvard by bus or subway.

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Harvard Task Forces Find Climate of Bias for Both Jewish and Muslim Groups

Groups investigating antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias cited instances of discrimination against pro-Israel students and “a pervasive climate of intolerance” against pro-Palestinian students.

By Anemona Hartocollis

Harvard’s task forces on antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias each found a climate of discrimination and harassment on campus, writing in preliminary reports released on Wednesday that the situation for pro-Israel students was “dire” and that pro-Palestinian students were being suppressed.

The antisemitism task force cited reports of teaching fellows discriminating against or harassing students because they were Israeli or pro-Israel. It added that there was an ideological “litmus test” for extracurricular activities that made it impossible for some students to participate.

The task force called for a variety of measures, including anti-harassment training for all students, discussions of antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias, and accommodations for those who observe Jewish holidays, to improve the quality of life for Jewish students on campus.

On the other hand, the investigation into anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bias on campus found that the freedom of expression of Palestinian and pro-Palestinian students had been broadly suppressed, leaving them in “a state of uncertainty, abandonment, threat and isolation” and in “a pervasive climate of intolerance.” The report said that many students felt the words “Palestine” and “Palestinian” had become taboo on campus.

Among other recommendations, the task force urged the school to appoint a visiting professor in Palestinian studies, and, in the long run, recruit tenure-track faculty members to expand the school’s curriculum related to Palestinian studies. It also recommended that the university clarify policies around bullying and bias.

The preliminary reports come after a school year in which concerns have grown about antisemitism and Islamophobia at Harvard and other universities. Last week, Stanford released reports from its own task forces, which found pervasive antisemitism and suppression of pro-Palestinian speech on its campus.

Republican lawmakers and donors have been especially vocal in pressuring Harvard to address antisemitism since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Such pressure, as well as a theatric grilling from the Republican-led House Committee on Education and the Workforce in December, contributed to the resignation of Harvard’s president, Claudine Gay, after she gave vague, legalistic answers to whether a call for genocide on campus would be considered antisemitic.

In a scathing letter in May, Virginia Foxx, the committee chair, accused Harvard of ignoring the recommendations of an advisory committee on antisemitism (which was later dismantled and replaced by the task force). Harvard said that Dr. Foxx was cherry-picking evidence to arrive at inaccurate conclusions.

Pro-Palestinian protests and encampments have gripped campuses, including Harvard’s, over the past year, putting universities in awkward positions as they try to balance free speech rights and campus safety.

Jewish groups have said that incidents of antisemitism were rampant during these protests, while Muslim groups asserted that their free speech was stifled when universities cracked down on demonstrations.

The report from Harvard’s antisemitism task force did not go into much detail on specific incidents. But a Harvard Divinity School student, Shabbos Kestenbaum, testified at a public House hearing in February that his classmates had posted on an anonymous social media app that “too many damn Jews live in this country.”

Mr. Kestenbaum, who graduated this spring and has accused the university in a lawsuit of being “a bastion” of hatred against Jews, said on Wednesday that the antisemitism report was not tough enough.

“The most substantive policy change is ‘pork products should be clearly marked,’” he said, referring to the recommendation that Harvard serve more hot kosher meals and identify dishes with pork in dining halls.

The report on Islamophobia was also somewhat generic but did include accounts of students with hijabs or kaffiyehs being called “terrorists.”

It also mentioned pro-Palestinian students being doxxed, meaning that their private information was revealed. In one such instance, students associated with organizations that signed a letter holding Israel responsible for the Oct. 7 attack had their names and faces displayed on trucks that drove around campus, operated by an outside conservative group called Accuracy in Media.

The task force called for more dedicated spaces for prayer and communal gatherings, more recognition of Muslim holidays and religious instruction during orientation. “Religious illiteracy needs to be addressed as it is a significant factor contributing to stereotypes and prejudices,” the report said.

Neither report addressed the dispute over whether anti-Zionism is a form of antisemitism, which Abed A. Ayoub, national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said was a significant oversight.

“All this comes off of efforts to change the definition of antisemitism,” he said. “There is hostility toward anti-Zionist groups; that’s not to be underestimated.”

Mr. Kestenbaum also said he was disappointed that the antisemitism report did not include a definition of antisemitism.

In an email releasing the reports, Alan Garber, Harvard’s interim president, urged his campus to engage “each other with tact, decency and compassion.” He added, “Our learning cannot be limited to purely academic pursuits if we hope to fulfill our responsibilities to one another and to the institution that is our intellectual home.”

Anemona Hartocollis is a national reporter for The Times, covering higher education. More about Anemona Hartocollis

Colleges and the War in Gaza

News and Analysis

​Harvard’s task forces on antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias each found a climate of discrimination and harassment  on campus.

​The Manhattan district attorney dropped most of the 46 cases against pro-Palestinian demonstrators  charged in the April 30 siege of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University, citing a lack of evidence.

​Stanford released dueling reports — one on antisemitism and the other on anti-Muslim bias — that revealed mirroring images of campus life  in recent months that may be impossible to reconcile.

Familiar Methods With Different Outcomes:  ​Pro-Palestinian student activists at a university in Brussels have borrowed from the U.S. playbook of encampments and slogans. The results, however, have been starkly different .

The Right Price for Protests:  ​At pro-Palestinian demonstrations, students have broken codes of conduct and, sometimes, the law. But the question of whether and how to discipline  them is vexing universities.

Making Sense of the Protests:  In the weeks leading up to graduation, our reporter spoke with more than a dozen students at Columbia University and Barnard College about how the campus protests had shaped them .

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Harvard looks to combat antisemitism, anti-Muslim bias after protests over war in Gaza

FILE - People take photos near a John Harvard statue, left, on the Harvard University campus, Jan. 2, 2024, in Cambridge, Mass. Two task forces charged with proposing ways to combat anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian bias and antisemitism at Harvard University have delivered their preliminary recommendations to Harvard interim president Alan Garber. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Two task forces charged with proposing ways to combat anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian bias and antisemitism at Harvard University have delivered preliminary recommendations to the school’s interim president Alan Garber.

The recommendations issued Wednesday focus on more than a dozen areas where the school can act quickly, officials said.

“We must strengthen our ties with a sustained commitment to engaging each other with tact, decency, and compassion,” Garber wrote.

The recommendations follow a tough academic year for the university that ended with student protests over Harvard’s response to Israel’s war in Gaza.

While each task force reported hearing very different experiences from community members, some common themes emerged, including a perception that the university has fallen short of its stated values, specifically those that celebrate diversity while respecting differences.

“Intentional engagement with diversity is a very important skill that all our students should have, regardless of what school they attend. Not having those skills and the tools to engage has serious consequences for our world,” Ali Asani, co-chair of the Task Force on Combating Anti-Muslim, Anti-Arab, and Anti-Palestinian Bias, said in a statement.

Jared Ellias, co-chair of the Task Force on Combating Antisemitism, said Harvard has to appreciate its global ambitions mean it’s going to bring together “a gigantically different group of people where what they have in common is their excellence.”

He said teaching students doesn’t mean sugarcoating conflict among peers, instructors, and future colleagues, neighbors, and friends.

“I think we have to start being more intentional in saying that we aren’t going to agree with every idea that everybody has, and we’re not going to agree with every version of the world that people might want to create,” he said.

School officials said the recommendations emphasize the need to create a safe environment for community members in part by publicly denouncing the consequences of harassment, including doxxing — the publication or release of private information as an act of punishment or retaliation.

The task force also recommended a Harvard-wide audit of academic resources related to Islam, the Middle East, and Palestine studies, as well as Arab, Middle Eastern, and Islamic studies across the university’s faculties.

Many Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and pro-Palestinian Harvard affiliates said they felt unsafe physically and in terms of their careers as students, faculty, and staff in expressing their opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, the report said.

Those involved in the task forces also asked the school to act against what they described as the derision, social exclusion, and hostility that Jewish, Israeli, and pro-Israel community members have experienced.

“Training for instructional staff and at student orientation programs must clarify the difference between a challenging classroom atmosphere, which is healthy and constructive, and a threatening one, which is toxic,” said Derek Penslar, co-chair of the Task Force on Combating Antisemitism.

The task force also called for greater antisemitism awareness training.

Another recommendation is that the school improve kosher and halal food options in the dining halls.

“All of our students deserve convenient access to tasty and nutritious food,” Penslar added. “So long as Harvard does not provide these forms of accommodation, it is signaling that religiously observant Jewish and Muslim students are not welcome here.”

Harvard University announced the task forces in January as it struggled to manage its campus response to the Israel-Hamas war ,

The formation of the task forces followed the resignation of Harvard president Claudine Gay , who faced a backlash over her congressional testimony on antisemitism as well as plagiarism accusations.

Some Jewish students filed a lawsuit against Harvard earlier this year, accusing the school of becoming “a bastion of rampant anti-Jewish hatred and harassment.”

Toward the end of the academic year, pro-Palestinian students and activists established encampments on university campuses around the country including at Harvard. At some campuses, police were called to dismantle those sites.

Protesters at Harvard voluntarily took down their tents last month after university officials agreed to discuss their questions about the endowment. Protesters remained at odds with the university after the school announced that 13 students who participated in a protest encampment would not be able to receive diplomas alongside their classmates.

At Harvard’s commencement, hundreds of students in graduation robes walked out of Harvard Yard chanting “Free, free Palestine.”

From classrooms to boardrooms, Virginia Tech graduate students embark on a capstone tour

Students in the Pamplin College of Business’ Center for Business Analytics completed their graduate program with a summer tour, which saw them present their capstone projects to sponsoring companies.

• Jeremy Norman

27 Jun 2024

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Eleven cities. Fifteen days. Over 5,000 miles.

No, this isn’t the recent leg of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, though you’d be forgiven for the confusion. It’s the Center for Business Analytics summer tour – the culminating event for students in the Master of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in business analytics program.

From June 3-18, students concluded their graduate experience with on-site, in-person capstone presentations to sponsoring companies. The capstone presentation is the pinnacle of nine months of intensive, experiential learning.

For each project, student teams prepare a professional consulting report and formal presentation that summarizes and supports its findings and builds a business case for its recommendations. The capstone projects allow students to work closely with corporate and faculty mentors, experience hands-on learning, and connect the classroom to real-world problems and decision-makers.

Tour schedule

• June 3: Students from the Norfolk Southern team delivered their recommendations to improve serving yard efficiency to representatives from the company in Atlanta. The team developed a framework to gauge serving yard performance across entire divisions to identify areas of improvement or opportunity and leverage them to provide a more robust service product for Norfolk Southern customers.
• June 4: In Roanoke, a team of students presented its neural network model to Advance Auto Parts. The neural network model is structured to predict future store performance in relation to gross margin.
• June 5: A student team traveled to Reston, Virginia, to deliver its rubric to NASA Langley Research Center. Students developed a comprehensive framework for evaluating and improving generative artificial intelligence outputs to enhance NASA's mission performance and operational efficiency.
• June 5: Students traveled to X-energy headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, and provided recommendations on ways to reduce costly delays and predict material quantities for nuclear power plant construction. The team developed a model to estimate the optimal size for a temporary warehouse to store raw materials during the construction of Xe-100 nuclear reactors.
• June 6: Students headed to Rocky Mount, Virginia, home of ValleyStar Credit Union to present solutions for increasing credit union member retention and loyalty. The team analyzed current member data and discovered an opportunity to target Generation Z and Generation Alpha with three recommendations to create a comprehensive loyalty program.
• June 7: At the Acquisition Innovation Research Center in Arlington, students delivered their carefully designed approach to portfolio and project risk assessment. The team established a Stage-Gate Risk Assessment Framework utilizing Portfolio Theory to quantitatively evaluate the risks of the Navy's science and technology acquisition research efforts.
• June 10: At Carter Machinery headquarters in Salem, students demonstrated how they have enhanced Carter's digital excellence and data quality initiatives. They analyzed current processes and other best practices to identify a way to implement data quality standards companywide, which led to recommendations focused on data entry standards and continuous data monitoring.
• June 11: After attending several meetings at NobleReach in Tysons, Virginia, students returned to show off their entrepreneur matching tool, which is already in use at the company. The team developed a scalable tagging and matchmaking system to improve the pairing of embedded entrepreneurs in NobleReach's database with suitable government research projects.
• June 12: A student team went to Inorganic Ventures in Christiansburg to showcase its machine learning model, designed to help chemists formulate compounds. The team evaluated machine learning software to automate workflows to create a competitive advantage in the industry.
• June 12: Students delivered their predictive analytics tool to customer Flex-Metrics in Roanoke. The team developed a scalable machine learning model to accurately predict catastrophic failure on manufacturing equipment and developed a Power BI dashboard to effectively visualize actionable insights.
• June 14: The HP team flew to Houston, Texas, to visit the offices of HP and deliver its proposed strategy for HP to achieve its goals of addressing digital equity and gentrification. The HP team analyzed gentrification and digital inequity in Austin, Texas, recommending HP to collaborate with STEM organizations to offer Title I students in-person, interactive summer and afterschool programs to enhance their understanding of technology.
• June 18: The teams returned to Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus to deliver their respective presentations at the Public Presentation Day, during which the public was able to see each team’s projects and celebrate the cohort members' completion of their master's degrees.

Marc Kaplan

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Private tour group providers

This information is for private tour providers not associated with Harvard University. If you are an individual looking for a tour, please visit our Tours page.

At this time, Cambridge and Boston tour companies who wish to lead tours of visitors through Harvard Yard are required to register with the Harvard University Visitor Center.

For further inquiry, please contact: [email protected]

Registration process

Apply to be a registered Harvard Yard Tour Provider

To register:

• Fill out the application.
• Submit a copy of a business license (in Cambridge or Boston) and proof of insurance.
• Allow up two weeks for the authorization process.

Once approved:

• The Harvard University Visitor Center will provide a physical “Welcome Packet” to the tour company.
• Sign the Harvard Yard Use Agreement.
• The tour company will be directed to the online payment system, where tour passes must be purchased at least three days in advance for the desired tour date (currently through the end of the semester).

Before the tour:

• Prior to coming to campus, the tour company must review the Harvard Yard Guidelines and go to Visit Harvard for any updated campus information.
• The tour company will use Touchnet, the online payment system, to purchases passes for the current semester at least three days in advance of the desired tour date.
• A Harvard Yard Tour Pass purchase requires a non-refundable payment of $1.50 per tour attendee.
• The tour company will receive a PDF file of the Harvard Yard Tour Pass within three business days.
• The tour company must print the Harvard Yard Tour Pass in color and it must be visibly worn on the tour group leader at all times while in Harvard Yard. Lanyards and other tour materials may be found in the “Welcome Packet.”

Keep in mind:

• Occasionally the Yard closes for University activities. If this conflicts with a tour you have sign up for, your payment will be refunded.
• Tour groups can include up to 35 people.
• The tour company may offer up to one tour per day in Harvard Yard, as space is available.
• The tour company may offer tours in Harvard Yard between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
• The tour company must remain in good standing in order to annually renew the Harvard Yard Use Agreement.

Frequently asked question

Who has to register to provide tours in harvard yard.

At this time, Cambridge and Boston Tour Companies who wish to lead tours of visitors through Harvard Yard are required to register with the Harvard University Visitor Center.