Gone are the days of passing notes in class or asking out crushes through the grapevine. For the love-shy Harvard student, three new Web sites offer the opportunity to tip off a crush anonymously. As Valentine's day approaches, students have flocked to these sites-and some have even found their match.

DateSite.com

Subject: Someone likes you...

This message has been sent to you because someone likes you! It could be anyone from a good friend to a casual acquaintance.

We can't tell you who put your name in our system unless you show a mutual interest. Go to http://www.datesite.com to see if your feelings are mutual. It's simple and completely free!

Sincerely;

The DateSite Docs

Hundreds of Boston-area college students have received this e-mail from a modern version of Yenta the matchmaker. It is sent by DateSite.com, an on-line dating service started by a group of Winthrop sophomores that promises to spark action in the usually languid Harvard dating scene.

What first started as a dinner table conversation on Nov. 8 has expanded to become a comprehensive Web site on dating that now occupies much of its creators' time. During its first two weeks, the site has grown exponentially. The word of mouth and the temptation to log on have attracted over 1,200 users.

But it does not stop with matchmaking. The self-proclaimed "Love Docs," Edward S. Baker '01, Arthur E. Koski-Karell '01, Jacob E. Fleming '01 and Joshua J. Wilske '01, offer suggestions for restaurants and activities in the hope that one date will turn into many more.

"We're just trying to have fun and help people," Barker says.

While most users hail from Harvard, MIT students have also used DateSite. A smaller number of Tufts, Boston University and Wellesley students have signed up, and Fleming says that he hopes to expand the user base, mostly through word of mouth.

The four roommates worked for over two monthsbefore launching the site. The effort drew on thecomputer skills of two roommates, and the researchand writing skills of the others. To theirsurprise, the Web site is booming with minimalpublicity. The "Love Docs" are happy to be playinga larger role in Harvard's dating scene.

"Mostly we talked to people who talked topeople, and I went out last weekend wearing ourT-shirt," Koski-Karell says. "I'm just excitedthat people are excited."

The e-mail message students receive when asecret admirer enters their name givesinstructions for logging on. Users, whose e-mailaddress must end with .edu, enter a list of peoplethey would be interested in dating. If someone onthis list logs on and lists the person who namedhim, then both persons receive an e-mail message.Simply press update on your browser, and a matchis made.

The one kink is that not everyone uses DateSiteto find a match. Some log on merely to find outwhich of their acquaintances are so needy as touse the site. Thus, some matches have been madebut not in heaven.