--James M. Harmon '93 is an Undergraduate Council representative.

"Four years of Harvard is just enough time for Harvard to make decent people stress fiends and anal animals--even in such a way that they actually believe Harvard has made them good students. It's important to get out after four years with that shred of a chance to salvage your original personality and humanness."

--Elizabeth M. Clyma '90 is a senior in Leverett House.

"As I live in the Quad, I am not quite qualified to speak about Harvard life. But what I can say is that even though Harvard's academic system is not perfect, it could be worse--at least they accepted you."

--Robinson O. Everett '90 is the director of humor for the Harvard Lampoon.

Crimson Key Society

"Welcome to Harvard! After reading Barron's guide to colleges, you are probably well aware of Harvard statistics. Throw those boring numbers out the window this week. Instead, check out the kiosks around the Yard. You won't believe the number of activities waiting to be tried. Whether you participate by joining or simply by watching the event, you will never be bored.

"Make a trip to one of the upperclass houses. The residential system is one of the more unique characteristics of the school. The first phase is the most exciting. As a first-year student in the Yard, you will be in the center of Harvard life. You'll meet an incredible number of people and can literally roll out of bed into class. House life offers you a special place in an intellectual and social community. There are intramural sports and dances, and there are always residential tutors available to offer guidance or to shoot some pool.

"Also, walk around Cambridge or go into Boston. Harvard's location is an often overlooked paradise. Pick up lasagna in the North End. Walk the Freedom Trail. Go Dancing at a club.

"You'll never cover all of Harvard and Boston in one weekend. You have to come for four years to even make a jump. It will always be different, and you'll never outgrow it."

--Jennifer E. Brumage '90 on behalf of the Crimson Key Society

Society of Nerds and Geeks (SONG)

"I hope that most of you will decide to spend your next four years here, for Harvard is one of the best centers of knowledge and research in the world. Yet a lot of students here do not make the full use of its vast intellectual resources. Although ostensibly everyone is here to learn, there is tremendous peer pressure against taking studying seriously and against doing above the minimum amount of work required to get a good grade.

"I hope that you will not choose to follow the crowd in pursuing knowledge only for its utilitarian purpose and only as a good in itself. I also hope that you will join SONG in our nationwide campaign to change public attitudes towards education and the intellect."

--Leonid Fridman '85 is a founder of SONG.