Clarissa Chong, '29, Applied Math, Harvard Summer School in Korea Program, Summer 2026

Clarissa Chong, '29, Applied Math, Harvard Summer School in Korea Program, Summer 2026

Overall, I very much enjoyed the Harvard Korea summer program. The first half with the Korean language class was extremely intensive with 4 hours of class per day and 3-4 hours of outside studying. At the same time, it was rewarding to look back on it and see how much I learned in a short span of three weeks. I really liked my teacher as she was super enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and kind. I also enjoyed the environment in Seoul a lot because we had the opportunity to explore cool study cafes and bond. 

The program got even more fun when the Ewha students joined for the second month. The sociology course was a little bit more manageable than the Korean course which I appreciated because it gave us a little room to breathe and enjoy the city. It was thoughtful how the final project for the course was assigned as doing research and visiting areas in Seoul as this provided further opportunities to explore Seoul in an academic setting. Excursions at times were challenging due to hot weather, but there were interesting aspects to them as well. I enjoyed learning about the history and culture of Korea in the sociology course while being directly immersed in the country. I was able to form what I hope will be lifelong friendships with the Ewha students; I wish they could have joined us since the beginning of the program even if they didn’t take the language course.

Seoul’s nightlife was by far the most enjoyable and memorable component of the experience. The vibrant scene provided so many opportunities to have fun with friends and explore things I had never done before. I appreciated Ewha’s location and proximity to Hongdae. I think generally it is a great location. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in Korean language and culture; this summer is one of the best summers I have ever had in my life.