Q: Why should someone decide to join the Rising Scholars Program?
It definitely is a big ask because you’re giving up your summer, however, you truly will be better equipped to handle the challenges academically and socially of the first semester. Walking into Annenberg during the first couple weeks of the semester can be really stressful, but you will no doubt have your RSP cohort to lean on. The exposure to campus early on, resources and city life is special in a way that no other student will have been able to relate to. You’re ultimately setting yourself up to succeed, not only academically but socially as well, which is just as important.
Q: How did you feel about starting your first year at Harvard as a Rising Scholar?
I remember feeling like I was already an upperclassman, I was really comfortable around campus and the first-year jitters weren’t as overwhelming as I had previously thought because of the exposure we already had from RSP. I knew resources and people I could talk to later in the year when I needed guidance academically and it was really comforting knowing there were faculty I had already cultivated relationships with who could offer me guidance and advice.
Q: How did the summer experience impact your academic skill set?
To put it simply I learned more about my strengths and weaknesses coming from high school you are used to being the best at everything and this won’t necessarily be the case once you reach college. It’s a low-stakes way of exploring areas of interest and learning more about your academic interests and personal interests which may align.
Q: What is the highlight of being in the Rising Scholars Program?
I met lifelong friends and people who I hold very close to my heart. I met my blocking group through RSP, they are the people I lean on when the semester gets hard and the people who lift me up when I feel down. I also learned the city of Boston like the back of my hand, by the time September rolled around I had already memorized the best routes and best places to eat. I spent a lot of time alone exploring the city but never felt lonely because there was the safety net of our cohort which was really pivotal during the transition time. While it may seem hard in the moment looking back on it, I would’ve taken the opportunity to do RSP again because it really made the transition period a lot smoother.”