What is comp?

Comp is the process through which prospective board members can join Crimson Business. The first half of comp consists of informative workshops meant to prepare compers for the second half of the comp, which is the evaluation portion. The evaluation includes a written application and two rounds of interviews. Interspersed throughout the second half of the comp are opportunities for compers to spend time in the office and get to know board members in a more casual format.

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Does The Crimson provide financial aid for students?

Yes. Since 1998, The Crimson's Financial Aid Program has enabled all Harvard students, regardless of economic circumstance, to take part in The Crimson. It has played a key role in increasing socioeconomic and ethnic diversity in the organization by lowering financial barriers for low-income students, many of whom would otherwise have to work outside jobs.

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What is the weekly time commitment?

Time commitments will depend on an individual's role and the circumstances of the given week. For example, associate workload can range from 5 to 15 hours per week, while managers and executives will often commit anywhere from 10 to 30 hours a week. That being said, all board members should be prepared to make Crimson Business a top extracurricular priority.

 

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What types of work do associates do?

Work varies based on department, ranging from pitching high-value contracts to clients to designing innovative sponsored content products to planning international programs and conferences. You can rest assured that the work you will find at The Crimson will challenge you to innovate in the business sphere, while simultaneously giving you the chance to grow as a team member and leader.

 

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Do I need previous business experience to join?

You do not need any previous experience to join. Everything you need to know for the comp will be provided to you during comp workshops. Once on board, executives and department managers will carry out onboarding and more specific trainings. At Crimson Business, we believe that the best way to learn is to do, and our associates can attest that high-value work paired with supportive mentorship has yielded significant growth and positive results.

 

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What do board members go on to do after graduation?

As you may have noticed, many board members go on to distinguished finance and consulting firms such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bain, and McKinsey. However, this path is by no means the only post-Crimson path: recent alumni have also gone on to realize new possibilities at startups across the globe, innovate at high-profile tech companies like Facebook and Microsoft, and even pursue solutions in healthcare, education, and medicine.

 

What makes The Crimson Business Board different from other business organizations on campus?

The Crimson is a financially independent business with all of the opportunities, risks, and expenses that come along with that. As such, the work we do on the Business Board is vital to keep the newspaper financially viable. Without the revenue we bring in, the lights won't be on, the printers won't run, and our employees won't get paid. We've found that the best way to succeed in this environment is with a dynamic team whose members not only work collaboratively but also choose to spend time together when the work is done. In short, The Crimson Business Board cultivates a tight-knit, community-oriented team that focuses on delivering high-value products in a high-stakes and ever-evolving environment.

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