After the fall semester’s final papers, exams, and projects have ended, there is a brief academic lull before the spring semester begins. While some students spend their extended holiday break with family, catching up on sleep, or re-planting their hometown roots, a select population participates in Wintersession.
Wintersession at Harvard, colloquially known as “J-Term,” is part of the College’s liberal arts mission to further student enrichment and learning via for-credit and noncredit opportunities.
Running during the last week of Winter Recess, any Harvard office or department, faculty and staff member, or the majority of recognized student organizations are allowed to sponsor Wintersession programming. Once Harvard College posts the lists of available programming, any interested current students can register. While most options are free, a few have fees which are typically noted on the experience’s registration form. Students who plan to participate only in the week-long Wintersession options do not need to apply for housing, as all dorms will remain open. However, some initiatives, especially those run by student organizations, often last longer than just one week. Depending on the location and duration of these programs, undergraduates may have to request Winter Recess Housing.
From building concrete professional skills to traveling with peers who share similar interests, Wintersession is seemingly the perfect chance to broaden one’s college experience. However, there are additional benefits beyond just the activities one is engaging in. Maya Flores ’27, who is working at the Y2Y Homeless Shelter in Harvard Square during Wintersession, expressed, “Being on campus will also allow me to get prepared before the start of [the] second semester.”
The 2025 Wintersession runs from Jan. 17 to Jan. 26. Since some student organizations are running more complex programs, many have already released and closed their applications. However, here are a few unique opportunities that may be available in the future, should they spark your interest.
Closed Applications
Lasting from Jan. 8 to Jan. 24, the Conflux Collective is hosting its Winter Residency 2025. The Conflux Collective is a student organization that explores the intersection between art and technology. This residency guides Conflux fellows through panels, workshops, and targeted project development focused on everything from AI and algorithmic tools to physical interactive art. Ultimately, this experience has students explore how these technologies influence everyday personal, social, and professional identities. Participating undergraduates will create anything from interactive installations to digital performances. The 2024 Residency projects offer more information on what enrollees will be devoting their time to over the 2.5 weeks.
Dedicating a little under a week to vastly different activities, the Harvard Outing Club (HOC) is hosting their annual retreat in their New Hampshire cabin from Jan. 19 to Jan. 24. Participants can expect to fill their days with self-selected ventures, including cross-country skiing, hiking, nature walking, going to the nearby town of North Conway, or having a cozy day in the cabin playing games. Wanting to expose all students to the outdoors through HOC’s strong community, there is no experience necessary to participate in this program.
HOC Gear Manager Nate Marinaccio ’27 remarked that “[The HOC retreat] was truly one of the highlights of my freshman year. I made so many friends and got closer with others, one of which is now my blockmate. I think it was the best consecutive six days of 2024 for me to date.”
Apart from hobby-oriented activities, there are also pre-professional initiatives offered through Wintersession. For instance, Harvard Undergraduate BIOME is offering Harvard undergraduates the chance to shadow healthcare workers in the Boston area from Jan. 19 through 26. Participants will also experience networking panels, team dinners, community socials, and more to bolster their understanding of medicine in advance of their potential future careers.
Looking to travel further from Massachusetts? Harvard’s Habitat for Humanity is taking students to Decatur, Alabama from Jan. 3 to Jan. 12 to work on house renovations while sightseeing throughout the local area.
Journeying outside of America, the Harvard Undergraduate Philippine Forum (HUPF) is offering a peer-led trip to the Philippines from Jan. 3 to Jan. 13. Aiming to expose Harvard undergraduates to the vibrant Filipino culture in Luzon and some parts of the Visayas, HUPF’s trip focuses on engaging with diverse locals, visiting cultural sites, and interacting with nearby student leaders.
Darley Boit ’25 wrote in her Individual Trip Reflection that “nothing has deepened my investment and interest in the country as much as this recent experience with HPF, not just in the Philippines as a state, but the area as a cradle of history and culture.” Approximately 15 students will be selected for this trip.
Service opportunities are popular throughout Wintersession, and the Fong Family Winternship Program offers a hands-on learning experience in the public sector. Student participants will devote three weeks in January to service work of their choice, making a direct impact on an organization while developing professional connections. All program-enrolled undergraduates will receive a $1,000 stipend for their time.
Open Applications
If you did not have a chance to apply for the above programming before their applications closed, there are countless courses, workshops, seminars, and more still available during Wintersession.
Y2Y Harvard Square is a student-run homeless shelter looking to provide a secure and welcoming space for young adults ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness. Since the shelter stays open during winter break, undergraduate staff members are responsible for maintaining successful and smooth operations throughout January.
While Y2Y staff is hired at the beginning of the school year through the Phillips Brooks House Association, anyone can volunteer. As one of Y2Y Harvard Square’s Volunteer Directors, Flores explained, “During the colder months, the need for shelters is especially high, so it is also a critical time for the population we serve.” More volunteers are always welcomed, especially during Wintersession. All undergraduates are welcome to join the Y2Y team over the course of January to support their critical efforts.
With this being Flores’ first time participating in Wintersession, she is looking forward to furthering her involvement in the Y2Y community. “Being involved in Y2Y has connected me to the most wonderful community, so I look forward to continuing this work over break. It is also a special time, as we have many new volunteers helping us out over break, so it will be great to see new faces involved in Y2Y,” she commented.
In addition to Y2Y, the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter has volunteer options for any students looking to come back to campus early.
Apart from volunteer initiatives, the Office for the Arts at Harvard (OFA) hosts Wintersession programming each January. The 2024 workshops ranged from DIY terrarium building projects to the architecture of poetry. While the OFA has not yet posted their 2025 offerings, deadlines usually close around early January, and their available experiences should be uploaded onto their events calendar soon.
For any individuals not looking for formal programming but who are interested in arriving on campus earlier to re-adjust to Cambridge before classes resume, Harvard Athletics and Recreation (Harvard Rec) hosts a collection of events throughout the week. Similar to OFA, Harvard Rec has not yet posted its 2025 Wintersession engagements. However, here is a list of the 2024 offerings, and the 2025 programming will likely be added to the same page soon.
Harvard will be posting the full list of Wintersession programming for any undergraduates still looking to get involved. From public service to international trips, there are countless opportunities available to Harvard students looking to end their six-week-long Winter Recess with an extra week back on campus.
Sara Kumar ’27 (sjkumar@college.harvard.edu) hopes to participate in a Wintersession program during her time at the College.