Undergraduate

Student Experiences

Headshot of Nathaniel ver SteegLanguage Study

Completing a secondary in German was one of the highlights of my time at Harvard. The instructors were genuinely interested in helping students learn, and the small class sizes made for a fun and productive environment... Outside of classes, the Kaffeestunde and Stammtisch gatherings offered even more chances to work on speaking and listening and were a great way to connect with other students and faculty.

Nathaniel Ver Steeg '17

Headshot of Brooke IstvanStudy Abroad

I decided to... study abroad... after my freshman year of German classes. We spent time in Vienna and Berlin learning about arts, culture, and history. That summer opened my eyes to the power of language, immense cultural beauty, and the world we all share. I developed friendships with some of my favorite people from Harvard... and [the faculty leading the program] became some of my most supportive mentors at Harvard.

Brooke Istvan '19

Headshot of Ana OlanoWork Abroad

My involvement [in the department] began through [its] incredibly supportive internship program. […] Following my superb experience [...] as part of the UROP summer research program at RWTH Aachen Universität, I was eager to continue my German studies. The incredible quality of instruction in all of my courses and profound care for students present through the entire department staff led me to pursue and complete a citation in German.

Ana Olano '19

Where We Are: Alumni Stories

  • Headshot of Brianni LeeBrianni Lee '20

    MPhil Candidate, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

    My background in the German language and literature allowed me to form unique perspectives in my research inquiries... As I prepare to graduate from my master's program... and work in the field of law, I know that my background in Germanic studies... will continue to be a rich source of inspiration.

  • Headshot of Mahlet ShiferawMahlet Shiferaw '20

    Fulbright Scholar, Potsdam, Germany

    I'm really grateful I pursued a German language citation, because without it I would not have my current position: a grant for a year-long research fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics. The ... citation not only qualified me to apply for this opportunity..., but also gave me the confidence that I would be able to hold my own in Germany for a year (and the tools to do so).

  • Headshot of Daniel MenzDaniel Menz '19

    Legal Assistant at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, NY

    Since graduating from Harvard with a joint degree in Government and German Studies, Daniel has been working at the law firm Davis Polk and Wardwell LLP. He is starting his MSc in International Relations at the London School of Economics in fall 2021.

  • Headshot of Nathaniel ver SteegNathaniel Ver Steeg '17

    Data Scientist at QuantCo, Cologne, Germany

    For me, the department offerings also opened up many new academic and career opportunities. ...I went to Munich for a summer language program and enjoyed it so much that I returned to Munich to study for a semester during my junior year. Later, I worked as a research assistant in Vienna, and my first job out of college was in Cologne.

  • Maxwell Phillips '15

    Composer and Conductor

    After graduating with a joint concentration in Music and German, Max received a Fulbright fellowship to pursue a master’s degree in composition at the Kunstuniversität Graz, Austria. He then went on to do his master’s degree in German at Ludwigs Maximilian Universität München (LMU), with a thesis titled "Stimmen des Hains: das Echo in Hölderlins später Dichtung". In fall 2021, he will begin his PhD in German at Yale.