Reality: By junior year, even hackers and Trekkies are lining their window sills with beer bottle collections.

North

Sound-bite: Orgo rocks, but not too loudly.

Reality: People who live here actually want to.

Quincy

Sound-bite: Read All About It! Behaviorism Validated! New Quincy residents pick up and move to Illinois suburbs without missing a beat!

Reality: Dean Epps and son hold court in the dining hall as parties rage on the terrace and Matherites cut across the courtyard.

Winthrop

Sound-bite: All Melrose and no Beverly Hills makes Winthrop a dull house. All Melrose and no Beverly Hills makes Winthrop a dull house. All Melrose and no Beverly hills makes Winthrop a dull house.

Reality: The house that gossips together sleeps together.