Harvardwood 101

101 Program Overview - 2024

Boot Camp Week - January 2nd-6th, 2024

An intensive, informational few days in Los Angeles, featuring industry speakers, panels with interactive sessions, student Q&As, social events, and more.

Jan 2nd: Welcome Dinner / Orientation in the evening

Jan 3rd-5th: Full day programming

Jan 6th: Farewell breakfast for all Boot Camp participants; departures from LA (for those not participating in Winternships in LA).

Participating companies in the past 2 years included Netflix, Amazon Video, Spotify, BMG Music Group, Activision, United Masters, Upland Workshop, CAA, Anonymous Content, Westbrook Inc., and more

Historically, 20-25 students participated in person each year (40-55 students in virtual years).
Past programming has covered Writing, Producing, Agency/Management, TV, Film, Sports, Music, Acting, and more!
Additional networking sessions and social events offered.

Winternships - between Jan. 8th-19th, 2024

2 weeks in January in which students hold informal positions at entertainment companies or with individual industry professionals in order to gain behind-the-scenes knowledge and perspective on different aspects of the entertainment industry.

Work and communications may take place virtually and/or in-person.
Students who are offered and opt for an in-person Winternship experience will need to do so at their own expense, there will be no University resources available to support travel, accommodations, or other living expenses during the program. There may be a limited number of homestay opportunities available through Harvardwood, typically guest rooms in the homes of alumni
Additional Harvardwood events will be available to Winternship participants during their experience.
May be extended beyond the term of the program upon mutual agreement between Winternship host and student.

Students who have completed the virtual Boot Camp in the past are eligible to participate in the in-person Boot Camp, Winternships, or both this year.

Due to limited space, seniors and juniors are given priority. Applicants who are not accepted into the in-person 101 this cycle will be given preference for the virtual 101 Boot Camp offered in May. Participating in the May virtual 101 won’t negatively affect one’s chances of being accepted into future in-person 101 programs.

Application Information

Apply for Harvardwood 101 2024 here

Eligibility

To apply for Harvardwood 101, you must be:

A current student of Harvard College
In good standing with your Proctor or House Resident Tutor

*If accepted into the 101 program, Harvard College students who receive financial aid will be eligible for funding from the Mignone Center for Career Success to cover program fees for Boot Camp and Winternships (if applicable), a one-year Harvardwood membership, and a modest travel stipend. Please keep in mind that this funding is not exhaustive and students are expected to cover other expenses.

Timeline

Applications open Tuesday, September 19th and close Sunday, October 15, 2023 at midnight.

In-person info session on Thursday, September 28 at 6pm ET at Mignone Center for Career Success. RSVP here.
Virtual info session on Tuesday, October 10 at 4pm ET. RSVP here.

Winternships matches will be announced in November or early December.

If accepted, you must digitally sign our Code of Conduct.

Harvardwoood 101 fees*:

$1200 - Boot Camp Program Fee (includes all programming Tues-Fri, housing for 4 days and nights, orientation dinner Tues. and 3 meals per day Wed-Fri, breakfast Sat., snacks, etc)

$90 - Winternship Program Fee

**The additional fees for Winternships will only be assessed once a student is matched with a company and accepts that match. If a student applies for a Winternship but does not match with a company or declines a match that is offered, they will not need to pay the Winternship fee. For the 2024 program, Harvardwood will waive this fee for students who receive financial aid who successfully complete Boot Camp and remain in good standing with Harvardwood. Note: there is no University funding available to support student travel/housing for in-person Winternships.

101 History

The annual Harvardwood 101 career exploration program brings approximately two dozen current undergraduates to Los Angeles during the January term and provides a series of career-related activities in order to demystify Hollywood and educate the students about careers in the entertainment industry. Harvardwood founder Mia Riverton Alpert created the program in January 2003, and it has since been cosponsored by Harvard University's Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS).

Though we pivoted to a virtual experience between 2021 and 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are thrilled to bring back the in-person experience in January 2024, as well as to offer an additional virtual Harvardwood 101 Boot Camp option in May 2024!

For Companies

If your company has offices in Los Angeles and you're interested in:

Having Harvardwood 101 students visit your office
Hosting a company informational
Interviewing current Harvard students for summer internship opportunities

... review more complete information about your company's opportunities and then COMPLETE THIS FORM. A Harvardwood 101 program director will get in touch with you promptly to coordinate the details of the students' visit, interviews, and/or company informational.

Dozens of companies and productions have participated in previous Harvardwood 101 programs, including:

Alegra Entertainment, Arena Films 3D, Attention Span Media, Bluegate, LLC, "California Solo," Cause & Affect, Collective Conscience, Commonwealth Talent Group, Das Films, Don Buchwald & Assoc./Fortitude, Echo Lake Entertainment, Emerson LA, Ethan Gold Records, Freud Communications, Great Road Capital, Inc., Gurney Productions, Heyday Films, the set of How to Get Away with Murder, Indian Paintbrush Productions, Inside Out Community Arts, Interscope Records, Jackson-Medavoy Entertainment, KSR & Assoc., London Ink Productions, Los Angeles Film School, Lukewarm Alibi, Inc., Martin Chase Productions, Millennium Films, NBC-Universal, Night & Day Pictures, Overbrook Entertainment, Partos Company, PhD Productions, Realio Trulio Media, Red Wagon Entertainment, Reveille and Shine International, Right of Way Films, River Road Entertainment, Staples Center Foundation, Storm Lion, Team Downey, Temple Hill Entertainment, The Jim Henson Company, Tiara Blu Films, Tricon Films, Unique Features, Universal Cable Productions, USC Film School, UCLA Film School, United Talent Agency, Vuguru, Whitewater Films, YRF Entertainment, 2929 Productions, Artfire Films, Attention Span Media, Bedford Falls Company, Brancato Productions, Circle of Confusion, Deep Focus, Fanscape, The Film Department, The Firm, Gersh Agency, Groundswell Productions, HBO, Imaginarium Entertainment Group, Innovative Artists, Participant Productions, Peirce Pictures, Polsky Films, Roserock Films, Samuels Media, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Skybound, Temple Hill Productions, Village Roadshow Pictures Entertainment, The Mark Gordon Company, Sony Pictures Entertainment-Creative Advertising, Walt Disney Studios, Whitewater Films, Seed Productions, The Schiff Company, Screen Gems/Tristar, & YouTube Space LA.

Please review the 101 FAQs, and should you still have questions about the program, you can contact us at [email protected].