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{shortcode-c1e2079885cf836c9278f3415476ba8fc6dda43e}Is this just an excuse to announce that, as of this semester, FlyBy (read: not Flyby Blog) will not, in fact, chastise you for taking one sandwich AND a salad? Maybe. Cheers to being properly fed as we enter this fall! From recruiting to more recruiting, see below for what’s out and what’s in this back-to-school season.

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Harvard Square is a living, breathing, and ever-evolving organism. Shops, restaurants, and cafes come and go pretty often, and there have been (and will be) some major additions (and losses) to the heart of campus life. If you’re not sure what’s up with all the changes or what to expect in the next few months, here is your guide to what’s new in the Square.

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Gong Cha

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Long gone are the days when the somewhat perplexing Boston Tea Stop was the only boba place to rule the Square. A popular bubble tea chain but new to the Harvard scene, Gong Cha opened on Church Street this past summer and is already a hit with students. PSA: Flyby will be exploring their boba offerings quite thoroughly for purely scientific research purposes.

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Taiyaki… to come!

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Ah, yes: Taiyaki AKA Japanese fish-shaped waffle cake with sweet fillings AKA our personal kryptonite. We hope you’re just as excited as we were to hear that the incredibly popular ice cream shop by the same name is finally coming to Cambridge! While opening date details are still murky, definitely keep an eye out for when those delicious, Insta-friendly treats hit the tourist-heavy streets of Harvard.

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Harvard Shop #3

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R.I.P. beloved Starbucks. Yes, there is Peets, Capital One, Tatte, Darwin’s, and more Dunkin’s than I can count (and another Starbucks by the Quad) to fuel our coffee addictions. Even so, our central, ever-so-convenient Starbucks will be missed. The silver lining is that the new Harvard Shop’s merch is way cuter than any merch at the Coop AND you get a consistent student discount on most items. Do we really need three Harvard Shops in the Square? No. Do I love my new Harvard Shop hoodie? Very much so.

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Corporate Jefe’s

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While the cozy, homey and somewhat sweaty vibe of the original Jefe’s may be gone, the Square is now home to a giant, two-story, upgraded Jefe’s, complete with lots of indoor seating and standing room (check out Flyby’s full Jefe’s investigation here). The vibes are different and may take some getting used to, but our new late-night meal spot will still fulfill drunken cravings, impress with its fun decor, and definitely feel less cramped as you not-so-patiently wait for your burrito.

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Rock-climbing wall

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If someone asked me to name 10 things (or maybe 50) that the Square is missing, I can’t say that a rock-climbing wall would be one of them. But, the new rock-climbing wall in F45 Training’s new Brattle Square location, is impressive. You can use their (not-so-generous) one-day free trial option to check it out and flex your climbing knowledge in front of everyone at CVS and Russel House.

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Brattle Square Florist 2.0(ish)

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Remember all those cute plants everyone got during the first week of classes? You can thank the ever-reliable Brattle Square Florist for those. After a few years of touch-and-go changes, this beloved family establishment has finally settled into their new location on 52 Brattle Street. If you’re scrambling for finishing touches on your dorm ahead of those wintertime sneaky links, you know where to visit first.

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So long, &pizza

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Controversial list of pros (personal pies and Snackpass immortality) and cons (insanely overpriced and subpar crusts) aside, it seems this Harvard Square staple has finally closed its doors. We can only wonder what will eventually take its place; after all, it's pretty prime real estate right by the Red Line T stop. A laser tag arena? A Mini Bass Pro Shop? A 21+ Rainforest Cafe? Yet another Harvard Sh…?

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The Macaron Store?!

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Not quite what a college campus needs, but Le Macaron French Pastries’ macarons are delicious and beautiful. There are macarons in flavors including but definitely not limited to chocolate praline, birthday cake, lavender white chocolate, and passion fruit dark chocolate. If you ever want an extra fancy snack or to manifest your next Parisian vacation, this is the spot for you.

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Though we’re always talking about popping the Harvard Bubble, don’t forget to also take some time to explore what’s in our own backyard! We promise Lamont and Cabot will always be right there when you return (for better or for worse). See y’all on the 2nd floor of Jefe’s!

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First years, you’ve made it to Harvard. You’ve survived your Pre-O, probably got zero sleep during orientation week, and now you have a few days of class under your belt. However, your first few months will be an adjustment, regardless of if you think you’ve already hacked HUDS. Here are some reminders and tips that will help you find your way!

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First Year Housing Round-Up

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Want to get the inside scoop on your first-year dorm? Visiting a new friend in Pennypacker but have no clue where that is? Check out this guide to make that 3 a.m. trip to get your new friend for life to edit your Expos essay or help you finish that CS50 Pset — we don’t judge ;)

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Form a Family With Your Freshman Roomies

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Even if the rooming situation isn’t always what you’ve dreamt of, you can still make the most of it! There’s a high chance your roommates will see you experience hundreds of emotions from crying to your sibling on FaceTime to inhaling some Jefe’s at 2 a.m. — read through this guide to discover the secret to unlocking another family on campus.

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26 Vocab Words For the Class of 2026

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With the return to campus comes the return of our favorite Harvard lingo that we all know and hate love. For all the words that will be embarrassing outside of the Harvard Bubble, but absolutely necessary to master on campus, this guide is your new best friend. From “Berg” to “paff” to “basty” to “HUA,” not even Harvard students can keep up with the new vernacular, let alone the class of 2026.

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First Year Guide to Laundry

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Now that you’ve finally made it to Harvard, there’s suddenly no one to do your laundry (unless, of course, you want to splurge on door delivery). Since you’ve probably FaceTimed your mom one too many times asking if whites and colors can be washed together, here’s our official guide to doing your laundry at Harvard.

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Dear Freshmen: An Open Letter About Handling Failure

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Under any circumstance, coming to college is daunting, and adding a pandemic to the mix just makes it all the more challenging. So take it to heart that making mistakes and “failing” (whatever that may mean) are a natural part of life, and certainly part of the Harvard experience. We guarantee you that any upperclassman you know has experienced a long list of failures, too.

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Advice From: Class of 2024 & Advice From: Class of 2021

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Need some affirmation that you can absolutely THRIVE at Harvard? Take some advice from the class of 2024 and 2021 — and believe us, you got this!

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Take it from two seasoned sophomores that no matter how overwhelmed you feel right now, give it some time, and Harvard will soon begin to feel like home.

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If you’re a Harvard student, you know that El Jefe’s Taqueria is essential to campus life. Where else can you take refuge from a terrible Mather JCR party and reunite with classmates you haven’t seen in years, all while eating an incredible, slightly greasy burrito?

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If you haven’t been living under a rock, you know that the place where these precious mems took place is no longer Jefe’s — earlier this summer, our beloved taqueria moved from its long-time residence on Mt. Auburn and into that funky-looking building on Brattle.

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So, the Jefe’s location change brought up many necessary questions: Does the new Jefe’s have the same nostalgic, rugged feel? Is it still easy to find someone (anyone!) you vaguely know and join them in the line? Will another Harvard Shop take its place?

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Luckily Flyby investigated the new Jefe’s (meaning I went there three times over the past three days and am now giving my unsolicited thoughts).

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Cons of the new Jefe’s

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No, you cannot cut the line as easily as you could before. The restaurant has a new, streamlined layout, which did unstreamline my personal burrito ordering process.

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Personally, I was not a fan of the multiple TVs added. Reading about Russia’s energy attack on Europe was a bit of a vibe kill after my night out.

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New Jefe’s was stingier on the guac. I have no idea if this has to do with their fancy new building, but it was upsetting.

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The new location does not have the same cozy, homey, everyone is on top of everyone vibes. Since New Jefe’s hasn’t been lived in the same way, it did feel a bit sterile. Why was I not getting pushed in line?

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Pros of the new Jefe’s

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As one of my friends remarked, “the quality of seating is far better.” New Jefe’s does have more seating: there are high-top tables by the line and long benches on the upper deck. Turns out my friend meant that the benches seemed physically sturdier, and, I suppose, that too, is a pro.

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You are still able to order quesadillas at night.

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I appreciated many of the decor choices. Aesthetically the new Jefe’s is quite similar (the walls are still bright teal). But there were some new, thoughtful additions, including a hot sauce display wall.

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The space is bigger and located closer to the yard. That might mean more freshmen, but you can’t win everything.

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The highlight of my new Jefe’s experience, though, was that over the three nights, I still ran into literally everyone I have ever met at Harvard. No matter the location, Jefe’s will always be the ultimate post-game spot and its charm truly comes from the people inside (aww). Am I still sad to lose the old Jefe’s? Absolutely. But, I can’t wait to consecrate the New Jefe’s with section-crush sightings outside class, unsolicited, whole-restaurant sing-alongs, and disagreements with that one non-Harvard-affiliated individual who doesn’t understand Jefe’s has no line.

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Note: This Flyby Tries™ article was written during the 2021-2022 Academic Year. In an effort to preserve the authenticity of the authors’ experience, it still reads in the present tense.

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Raymond and Annette are two students who are taking multiple p-set classes. As a result, they spend most of their time grueling over their homework at Cabot Library. In fact, they probably spend more time at Cabot than they do in their own dorms. One day, they had a groundbreaking idea to hold a Sleepover in Cabot because… why not? They were young, naive, and excited to make memories in their dorm away from dorm.

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Here’s a rough timeline of what happened:

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10:00 p.m. - Raymond and Annette arrive at Cabot, starting to regret their decision and feeling a little like their souls have been sucked out of their bodies. They have their room (LL06) booked from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. so they currently are camping out on the very colorful sofas, holding their pillows and sleeping bag and looking very stupid in their pajamas.

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11:00 p.m. - They are finally in their room. They had a few close calls with both of them almost falling asleep but are determined to persevere until at least 1 a.m. so they can have a proper sleepover. They also had to kick two guys who had been using the room out. Sorry!

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Raymond and Annette also find this mess on one of the chairs. To this day, they still do not know what it is. They do not want to know.

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11:17 p.m. - Annette is starving but she has already brushed her teeth and is unable to consume anything other than the freezing cold water from the Cabot library water bottle filling station. She begins to play Christmas music to cope (this endeavor took place in October). Just to add to the ambiance, Raymond begins to play his LS1a learning pod video out loud.

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11:37 p.m. - Raymond and Annette’s friend, Jayden E. Personnat ’25, visits and laughs at them. He then proceeds to leave to have a good night’s sleep in the comfort of his own bed. Godspeed.

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11:44 p.m. - Raymond finally finishes his LS1A learning pod video. Go, Raymond!

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11:52 p.m. - Their other friend (yes, they have more than one friend) Agustín J. León-Sáenz ’25 comes to visit like the supportive friend he is.

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12:06 a.m. - Annette and Raymond wonder: Why does Stanford have all the hot people?

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12:11 a.m. - “She’s like thawing,” said Agustín referring to Mariah Carey in the weeks leading up to the holidays, of course.

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12:26 a.m. - Raymond and Annette attempt to educate Agustín on Taylor Swift’s music, starting off strong with “Enchanted.” It turns out that Agustín enjoys “Christmas Tree Farm.” Do what you will with this information.

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12:43 a.m. - They start listening to Nessa Barrett songs for… some reason. They’re in paaaaiiiiin.

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12:45 a.m. - No more Nessa Barrett songs.

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12:52 a.m. - “I like that laugh HEHEHEHEHEHE.”

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12:55 a.m. - They are listening to early quarantine songs… Why don’t you say so? This lasts for a while.

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1:32 a.m. - Karaoke session ensues. Also, Kidz Bop.

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1:43 a.m. - Friendship ended with Agustín and Annette because Raymond found out they do not like “Bob’s Burgers” (AKA Raymond digs himself deeper into a deep, dark hole by admitting he likes “Bob’s Burgers.”)

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1:48 a.m. - Friendship ended with Agustín and Annette again because Agustín confused “Bob’s Burgers” with “South Park” and Annette confused “Bob’s Burgers” with “Family Guy.” Sorry (not really). In Annette and Agustín’s defense, it was late.

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1:51 a.m. - Agustín leaves Raymond and Annette. All alone, once more.

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1:56 a.m. - Annette gains a lithp via retainer (shoutout to all the people who’ve had braces and feel her pain).

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2:02 a.m. - Raymond makes an absolutely groundbreaking discovery. He’s out of breath due to his rush to write this down. His voice shakes. The first-floor Cabot bathroom sink no longer scalds you when you use it for more than five seconds. (The next day, he learns that this was just a fluke, and he goes back to being sad.)

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2:05 a.m. - Annette finds out that everything is a lie. Raymond is a fraud: He was not born and raised in Brooklyn like he so proudly proclaims (For clarification, he was born in Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn, so he’s only a half fraud at most). But at least Raymond is not a Queens resident like Annette.

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2:14 a.m. - Raymond and Annette ask each other questions from a Teen Vogue quiz for best friends. They discuss high school crushes, gossip about people, and major life questions like concentration ideas, what they want to do after graduating, and how they can most easily become TikTok famous and drop out.

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3:49 a.m. - They head to bed — or more like Annette heads to the floor while Raymond makes an unsound makeshift bed out of three chairs.

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6:00 a.m. - Annette wakes up thinking the night is over. Unfortunately, there are two more hours of sleeping on the hard floor.

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7:51 a.m. - Raymond wakes up sad, shivering, and sore.

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8:00 a.m. - Annette and Raymond get up and face the walk of shame back to their dorms. There are quite a few people in the basement of Cabot at this early hour, and they realize people could definitely see them sleeping through the window.

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Here’s what Annette and Raymond learned from their Sleepover in Cabot:

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Don’t do a sleepover in Cabot.

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It’s never too early to play Christmas music.

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Don’t do a sleepover in Cabot. Just don’t do it. Go back to your dorm. Sleep in your (bigger) bed.

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But if you’re really adamant, here’s their advice:

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Bring a sleeping bag like Annette did—in fact, bring multiple sleeping bags *and* many, many pillows to cushion you from the cold, hard Cabot floor. Or maybe just sleep on one of those sofa chairs.

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Bundle up and wear warm clothes because it can get cold.

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Reserve a room for a good portion of the night so you aren’t bothered.

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And last, but certainly not least, if you’re going to subject yourself to suffering, make sure you bring along a couple of friends so at least you’re all suffering together.

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More pictures!

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{shortcode-90e33471ce068132cdae53b107ba2a2d9569673e}Classes? Who is she. We’re still reminiscing about summer — whether we were in South America, the Bay Area, or hanging around Cambridge, those sweaty sweaty days are still on the brain (instead of our p-set 0). Read on to see a snapshot of what Flyby writers were up to this summer!

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Flyby Abroad:

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Matylda A. Urbaniak: After deciding that I couldn't possibly roast in the furnace that the Northeastern United States over the summer, I did a lil 180 — I traveled to the winter of Santiago, Chile, to work for an environmental conservation organization. Here, my main hobby was complaining about the cold and wearing five layers to work because unlike in Boston, there is no indoor heating. Thankfully, it made me feel grateful enough about returning to the summer that I didn’t complain about the heat for a whole few hours!!

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Tina Chen: All the manifesting finally came true — because this summer, I lived that hot girl European life (on sweet Harvard dime). With absolutely zero German knowledge, I lived in Germany for two months, drinking sparkling water, eating brötchen to my heart’s content, and just not knowing what was happening around me most of the time. Although I was part of a fellowship program working a full-time internship, it ended up being mostly remote with some loose tasks here and there. So instead, I packed my bags and spent most of my time on speedy European trains and traveling to different cities (if my supervisor somehow finds this, I’m kidding <3). I made it to Amsterdam, Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Brussels, and Paris. It was a great international experience, but alas, I will now be spending the next three weeks adjusting to HUDS food and being under the drinking age again </3.

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Ellen S. Deng: Like every other Harvard student, I spent my summer across the pond in Europe, interning in Geneva, Switzerland, and raving about the food and public transportation. While I wasn’t pushing my lactose intolerance to the limit with French and Swiss cheeses or discovering the beauty of desktop monitors, I solo-traveled across Western Europe, meeting the coolest people while sleeping staying in hostels (or falling down a mountain). Dean Khurana would be proud of just how much I was transformed by my experience <3

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Corinne E. Furey:

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This summer, one of Flyby Blog’s newest members, Corinne E. Furey, partook in all of the traditional “everyone look I’m abroad” activities: hopping between various countries, taking as many photos as her no-storage camera roll allowed, and stealing borrowing the local pets (see picture below). After “gracefully” exiting a week in Greece, Corinne ventured to London to take a course where knowledge was learned and adventures were had. Upon returning home to the lovely state of Delaware, Corinne attempted to reconcile her absurd sleep debt before training for the upcoming Volleyball preseason (#RollCrim).

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Flyby At Home:

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Raymond Wu: This past summer I went back home to New York City and interned for JamRock Productions, a new theater production company. I was tasked with making the website for the company and taking meeting minutes and a bunch of other typical intern duties, but the fun part was that I could go to a bunch of theatrical performances (for FREE!!!!). We went to Broadway shows, Off-Broadway shows, and presentations and workshops for shows still under development. I also went to Times Square more times this summer than I have ever been in my life previously and got lost every single time, but at least now I can kind of read street signs.

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Get You a Writer Who Can Do Both:

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Janani Sekar: I spent most of the summer suffering in the gross, sticky, Cambridge humidity while working on cool research. But the month of August was a little spicier. I went back home to the Bay Area and drank lots of good coffee in the best city in the world (San Francisco). And then I yeeted across the planet to India and then to Thailand, where I suffered in more humidity, saw the Taj Mahal, ate really good mangoes, and shopped at outdoor markets for a lot of things I wanted but did not need. Now, I’m dealing with the consequences (limited closet space and horrible jetlag).

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Anjali Z. Mehta: Staying true to Harvard stereotypes, I worked at a consulting firm for the majority of the summer. I racked up airline points traveling during the week and mastered the art of making aesthetically pleasing decks. I’m even currently having Powerpoint withdrawal. Afterward, I and my (literal) mother joined everyone and their (figurative) mother in Europe, as we traveled around Spain for a week. I then returned to campus to lead a FOP trip. I loved getting to know my FOPpers, and, as a directionally challenged individual, am pretty proud that we only went two miles off route. I’m so excited to return to campus, experience house life, and attend parties that aren’t in Tasty Basty!

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Alexandra A. Kassinis: \u200b\u200bI spent this summer interning remotely at Save the Children US, working and conducting research as part of their Climate Change team! I lived in Boston for part of the summer and was able to explore new parts of the city, visit Cape Cod and take a quick trip to Washington D.C. I spent the second half of the summer at home, in Cyprus, soaking up the beautiful Mediterranean sun and spending a lot of time at the beach!

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{shortcode-733e3911c73c9730e126e878ce4efdd26ceeda15}The first day of class is an exciting, traumatizing, and admittedly, transformative day for everyone on campus. Here is Flyby Blog’s collection of favorite overheards from various Harvard people on this very memorable start to the 2022-2023 school year.

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"I was taught as a kid that capitalism was the problem. I believe that capitalism is the answer" — Anonymous economics professor

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“I am going to sing. Be worried.” — Anonymous non-economics professor

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“My whole life is alone, and look how happy I am” — A woman, presumably a professor, said on the phone, rather unhappily if we do say so ourselves

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“Should I buy a second futon?”

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“You don’t even have space for your first one??”

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*Silence*

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— Two (presumably) suitemates in Smith

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"How long should the response papers be"

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"About 350 words"

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"Okay, but how many pages do you want"

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— Student in Gened lecture

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"What words or phrases do you think of when you hear the word 'Harvard'?"

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"Princeton”

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— People in The Yard

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“I thought we were supposed to clap after lecture?” — Student in the Science Center

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"Sorry I don't know what you guys discussed last year, I'm new here" — First year in a third-year Chinese class

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"is that MeMorRiAL haLL??" — First-year looking at Google Maps, pointing directly at the Science Center

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"We held a poll asking students if they wanted a midterm, and 80% said PLEASE can we have a midterm. Just kidding we didn't do that." — Cass Sunstein

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“But…I literally hate treating people right” — Girl by the Science Center Rocks

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“I’m not gonna make it” — Student walking into Mather elevator and (rightfully) doubting its structural integrity

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“HELP I haven’t even been in school for an hour and I’m breaking out already” — Student currently looking for a new skincare routine

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“The pset partner to marriage pipeline is real” - Aspirational sophomore in STAT 110

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“What (undergrad) year are you?” - Anonymous member of Flyby Blog to their professor

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-733e3911c73c9730e126e878ce4efdd26ceeda15}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2018/10/09/210332_1332869.JPG.1500x762_q95_crop-smart_upscale.jpg', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=]>)])

('

{shortcode-bd2885c8c66392f2bc632be47445bd8b8415c1c8} Icebreakers — sorry, just the word gives me ~flashbacks~ to yesterday, sitting in a circle telling everyone my favorite color is purple. While it’s still icebreaker season, let me save you from the traumatic, anticlimactic experience of telling strangers dull facts about yourself that no one asked for. I got you with the perfect life hacks for thinking of conversation starting **fun** facts.

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Offer a Hot Take

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Nothing says conversation starter like a friendly debate, buttt be careful of how much you push this one. You want to entertain the group with a humorous argument, not create a lifelong enemy in your crack of dawn at 9 a.m. because they’re a Jefe’s stan and you're not.

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Complain

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OK, this might seem like the easy way out. But hear me out: complaints are relatable! Let’s face it, we all bond over complaining about endless p-sets and HUDS’s not so flavorful food, so why not start the ~bonding~ over grievances early?? Instead of sending that long text message rant to your best friends, perhaps you could instead share the rage with sleep-derived strangers who you met two minutes ago.

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Share What Makes You *Special*

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Do you speak multiple languages? Do you have a SoundCloud? Are you secretly an FBI agent???? Well, maybe don’t share that. But, simply just share what makes you, you. This can be as artificial as you want it to be, or as genuine as you’re willing to share. People could remember you as the “one who can eat a Felipe’s burrito in 5.6 seconds,” instead of the “one who has two dogs.”

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Be a Copy-Cat

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The goal of an icebreaker is to make friends right? Build off someone’s story of how they were featured on Shark Tank, or how they met Bill Gates. Having things in common is the foundation of friendship, so nothing says friendship like having the same brand. Speaking of branding, psychology says that people tend to like themselves *so* much that they’re attracted to the mere image of themselves. Don't steal their identity, but definitely match their ~wavelengths~. They might end up subconsciously despising you for coming for their clout, or you might just trick them into becoming friends!!

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Confess your Love

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Are you obsessed with Playa Bowls? Were you in the top 1 percent of Taylor Swift’s 2021 Spotify listeners? Use this as your chance to write a love letter to your favorite coffee shop, band, or even everyone’s favorite pharmacy right down the street. Your new classmates might think you’re a little obsessive (in a not so healthy way), but at least you have a personality!

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Remember these five categories, and you’ll never be overwhelmed with the unbearable embarrassment your mediocre fun fact has brought you during the first few weeks of classes. Everyone will think you’re ~that~ person after they hear your fun fact, but little do they know you just have amazing taste in blogs ;)

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{shortcode-0c9043fb75a06c5c5b1acd3cc1eecbee546e21a3}It has been a long, long 13 weeks, and though it’s bittersweet, we are so glad this spring semester is coming to an end. To close off our semester on a wholesome note, we are recollecting the small acts of kindness, words of encouragement, and other sentiments that helped us get through the spring.

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Shout out to:

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The girl who shares my love for General Gao’s chicken and waited patiently with me until the HUDS staff kindly brought out a new tray of our favorite chicken nuggets covered in sweet and sour sauce.

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The really nice guy in Berg who always says “thank you” and “have a nice meal.”

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Pet therapy, need I say more? There is no better feeling than walking past the science plaza tent and seeing the cute goats, ducks, chicks, bunnies, and pigs and having your stress instantly melt away. Thank you to Stuey, Starlight, Meatball, and Tony for being there when we needed it the most.

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The new Berg additions. Falafel Fridays, Taco Tuesdays, Sundays Sundaes, and the reopening of the Grill. The variety that we’ve seen in the dhall menu is astounding. Having a nice meal to spice up my life after a really long day in lab, classes, and club meetings really pulled us through the semester.

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The two girls who complimented my dress in front of Lamont. Nothing feels better than fellow women’s validation. Thank you for making my day and helping me feel pretty.

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Seeing the flowers start to bloom. A beautiful sight for my eyes, a sore sorrow for my nose. Even though I’m sneezing every few seconds, the flowers motivated me as I walked through the yard for another Cabot Library study session.

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My semester crush. Thank you for not making a move again this semester. I didn’t want a relationship anyway because of my #commitmentissues. Ahahah. Definitely not crying myself to sleep. (Iykyk)

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Thank you Taylor Swift, always, but specifically for releasing “Red” (TV) when I was in the trenches. I will never not sing along to “All Too Well 10 minute version.”

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It’s been a challenging semester, but it’s the little things that count. Thank you to everyone and everything that kept us from dropping out every so often. Keep thriving, besties. And as they say in high school, HAGS.

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-0c9043fb75a06c5c5b1acd3cc1eecbee546e21a3}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.thecrimson.com/photos/2022/05/03/105034_1356378.gif', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=]>)])

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{shortcode-5707d61f4f3b9bc23a3ef2b80a0304986152c905}

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Final Exams: You’re in for an intense, yet short and sweet rollercoaster ride

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Huong T. Le

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With a final exam, there is no need to schedule 50 different Calendlys with your TF to discuss your thought process. You have three hours and JUST three hours. As an exam-taker, you only have to memorize a semester’s worth of class material and dump it out on paper, and when you hand in that thicc stack of papers with your name and Harvard ID on every page, YOU’RE DONE! No proofreading, no citations, no cutting back on words to fit the limits. Out of sight, out of mind!

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It’s pretty amazing to take a three-hour final exam in one sitting. As your hands are writing like a typing machine, your brain is synthesizing ALL the information you have accumulated since the beginning of the semester. Pretty impressive work for running on two+ shots of espresso and three hours of sleep. You should be proud of yourself, because we are!

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Meanwhile, remember grinding a final paper you put off ’til the last day? You can spend hours in the liminal space of Lamont, looking at a blank document, waiting for the ideas to miraculously come to you. Sometimes it can also feel like you have too many options to choose from and suddenly your inability to make a decision is stopping you from writing anything. Plus, essays can be extremely hard impossible to write if you haven’t done the readings because suddenly you’re expected to synthesize and write a complex analysis of material that you haven’t looked at after skimming the syllabus in January.

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Final exams, on the other hand, are the golden ground to flex your BS ability. You don’t need to put in polished sentences with advanced vocabulary to impress your TF, who is already bored grading hundreds of other papers. You can keep your answers short and sweet. As my friends throw me sympathetic looks for studying so hard for my upcoming final exams, I sympathize with them for having three humanities papers looming over their heads. I hope they find the time in between the endless formals to complete their 300-page readings. For me, I just can't wait until the moment I walk out of that big lecture hall, leaving my exam and class behind that door forever.

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Final Papers: It’s always better when it’s on my terms.

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Abigail Mejia

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Final papers are the more merciful enemy because they let you go down your way. There’s no three-hour limit and you can go at your own pace. Without the time limit, you don’t get that horrible rush of anxiety in exams where you are second guessing all of your answers every time someone gets up to turn their exam in (gotta love imposter syndrome). Plus you can have someone look over your work and help you before you turn it in, but in exams that would be “academic dishonesty” or whatever.

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Not only can you do papers on your own timeline, but you also get to write them in whatever environment you’d like. The crusty ambiance of Lamont at 3 a.m.? The dark academia aesthetic of Widener? The cozy comfort of your own bedroom? The choice is yours. No need to be trapped in a tiny little desk for three hours in a lecture hall, with your posture looking more like a shrimp every minute.

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Another great thing about final papers is that you don’t have to memorize stuff. Imagine this: you’re in the middle of an exam and you vaguely remember the page the answer is on. What was on the right corner of page 312? You can almost picture it, but then it disappears like a mirage, leaving just frustration behind. With a paper, you can go back and look at the material whenever you need.

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One of the best things about essays is that there’s (usually) so much more creative freedom. We Live in A Society and this is one of the few times where you can choose to follow your dreams (!!) and write about what you want since there’s rarely only one correct answer.

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{shortcode-b13249f086531cfb8a2e0e388b1e5876ac2e46a1}We’re in the home stretch. In just about a week, office hours and reading period will end, meaning you won’t get to see your section crush for an entire three months. And that’s if you're lucky. What if they’re graduating? What if they’ve been quadded? What if they decide to change their concentration and you’re no longer in similar classes? What if their start-up takes off and they drop out of Harvard????

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My point is, life is short. Now is the time to shoot your shot, or forever hold your peace. Lucky for you, Flyby’s got you covered. We present: Shooting Your Shot Before the Semester Ends 101.

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Invite them to study for the final together.

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A classic move. I recommend going to Cabot Library or Smith; don’t jump the gun and book a room in the basement of Lamont or suggest the Stacks. You may be asking, “but what if we have a final paper instead?” Not to worry. Brainstorm/workshop that paper with them. Give feedback on each other’s writing. And look good while you’re doing it. You can make it work.

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Ask them to grab coffee!

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I know you’re already thinking that this is wayyy too forward and there’s no way you’ll work up the courage to do this. But this can be done in a very friendly way, and in the worst case scenario you just become friends, which is a great alternative. If you’re in the same section or class, you have at least some common interests. Next time you see them, casually slip in that you’d love to grab coffee and continue discussing derivatives or metaphysics or Luther’s 95 Theses or whatever it is that you do. No one turns down caffeine. Also, people love directness. Don’t go with the wishy washy “Are you free for coffee soon?” Instead, try “Do you want to grab Peet’s with me this afternoon? I’m super open, whatever time works for you!”

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Swipe up on their Instagram story pubbing their club.

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Their obscure, four person club is hosting an event with ~free food~? Grab a friend and head over to support! This is a great way to show them you’re interested in their life beyond their fabulous looks. And who knows, maybe you’ll find a new extracurricular you really like!

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Volunteer to take their “I promise it’ll only take two minutes” research survey emailed to their entire House.

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I know I can’t be the only one with these surveys flooding my inbox. And more importantly, let them know you did them a solid by taking it.

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Invite them to a formal with you.

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Formal season is officially here, and what better way to shoot your shot than this? All you need to do is shoot over a quick, informal text (example: hey, it’s ___ from section. I have Eliot fête on Tuesday, was wondering if you wanted to come with?) or if you’re feeling bold and romantic, ask them in person. “Formal-posal” it with a free boba, if you must.

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Simply ask for their number.

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I believe in you! Take a shot — of water of course ;) — if you need liquid confidence. And then just rip the band-aid off: It can be painful to muster up the courage, but when you’re sending each other inside-joke GIFs afterwards, you’ll be glad you did it. Like I said, you might never see this person again in your Harvard career. YOLO.

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All that pining, and for what? Do you really want to regret not making a move on that one person you thought was cute all semester??? No, you don’t. You never know if you don’t try :)

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('

{shortcode-ca061da4d1cc1efe620e6b941b21922012ee2064}Summer is coming, and soon you will be left on your own without a professor to tell you what books are worth reading. But the literary grind never stops! Select the heading that most describes your emotional needs after this semester from hell and find the perfect reading experience for you, selected by me, an English concentrator who has an inflated sense of taste.

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Oh God I’m So Alone (Romance)

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Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston — A transatlantic gay romance, complete with political escapism, Texas, and maybe the most obnoxious Gov concentrator of all time.

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Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins — Live out your covid-killed high school fantasies in this saccharine Parisian rom-com.

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The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood — This one’s for all the STEM concentrators who wish they could pay someone to date them. Also for all the Reylos (don’t google it).

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There is Not Enough Stress In My Life Already (Mystery-thriller)

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Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé — This thriller-mystery that follows the only Black students at an elite private school will definitely spike your blood pressure.

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Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie — There’s a reason everybody talks about this being the classic whodunnit.

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The Secret History by Donna Tartt — Dark academia reigns in this satire of all of the tiny liberal arts colleges you decided you were too good for in your senior year.

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This Semester Has Me In Dire Need of Catharsis (Lit fic)

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On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong — This semi-autobiographical coming-of-age of a Vietnamese-American gay man is basically just a long poem that will make you cry.

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The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro — A butler is REALLY into butlering, until he isn’t, and then you cry again.

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Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin — Man goes to Paris to find himself, realizes he already is himself, hates himself. But so well-written.

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I Need to Feel Smart For the First Time In Months (Nonfiction)

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The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green — John Green (you may remember him from the videos you watched to pass your AP classes) reviews the human experience.

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Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls — A yuppie journalist’s memoir of her unconventional Appalachian childhood.

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Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong — Incredibly well-written essays on one woman’s experience being Asian-American.

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Please Can I Look At Some Pictures (Graphic novels)

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Heartstopper by Alice Oseman — Read this rom-com that inspired Netflix’s new show!

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Persepolis by Mariane Satrapi — A young girl grows up in Iran in the 70s-80s.

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The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott by Zoe Thorogood — An artist must make her final work before she goes blind.

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('

{shortcode-3c21bfb2c444fb688c84fcebba0139505c282f6e}Enough talk of the norovirus and the dissolution of the UC! Let’s discuss something fun: where, oh, where can one go to brunch in the Square??? From familiar favorites to the new kids on the block, it’s about time for a fresh ranking on Harvard’s Greatest Brunch spots.

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The Countdown

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5. Darwin’s Ltd.

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Necessary disclaimer: Darwin’s is a gem and in no way deserves a last place ranking. But alas, Harvard has some pretty fire brunch spots. Darwin’s menu is filled with tons of fun twists on the classic egg-and-cheese combo, a great coffee bar, and DESSERTS. One small caveat is the limited sit-down options. While there are a few small tables to sit and chat, Darwin’s is overall more of a grab-and-go setting. My order you ask? The Radcliffe – 1 cage-free over-medium egg, cheddar, avocado, pickled onions, & arugula on a housemade biscuit, and don’t forget about a top-notch matcha latte with almond milk. Enough said. Darwins’s close proximity to the Quad is making me pretty hyped to join the Currier community next fall.

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4. Tatte Bakery & Cafe

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Tatte’s line consistently spills out onto the sidewalk or is often packed to the door. This speaks to the cafe’s stellar food, extensive options, and great overall vibes. But its popularity is also its very downfall. Brunch becomes complicated when you're sitting at a miniature table fit for approximately half of a person and can barely hear the person sitting next to you. But, outdoor seating is back! Time for a spring Tatte moment. Food? Fabulous. Pancakes? Perfect. Muesli? Magnificent. I’m a huge fan of the shakshuka and their coffee always hits. So Tatte’s only downside is simply the fact that everyone seems to know how great it is. So be it.

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3. Life Alive Cafe

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Third place goes to the baby of the Brunch Fam! Welcome to the Square, Life Alive! This one might be my personal favorite. With an immaculate ambiance and tons of seating options (upstairs and ~below ground~), you’re almost sure to find a spot. The menu is very exciting and the food quality is top notch. The acai bowls are truly the best I’ve had and the Superfood Waffles definitely give the HUDS Veritaffles a run for their money. Life Alive’s singular flaw is the fairly steep price point. But at this point in the semester, a trip to Life Alive should count as self care.

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2. Zoe’s

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Ahhh what a cute classic diner. Zoe’s brings a chill retro flair to the brunch scene, making it the perfect place for a casual catch-up. Thankfully the prices are more college-budget friendly compared to the other places on this list. The all-day breakfast menu is massive – pancakes, milkshakes, omelets, you name it. I’m personally fired up about the idea of Zoe’s “Crunchy French Toast” and a vanilla milkshake on a Sunday morning with the roommates. Are pajamas allowed? I think so.

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1. Bluestone Lane

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And the winner is… Bluestone Lane! Immaculate vibes. Lots of seating. And the food? 10/10 rating in my book. My personal favorites are the warm banana bread (I mean…) and the egg x feta x bacon x avocado breakfast burrito. You get the jist. And for all the indecisive food ordering queens like myself, Bluestone offers the perfect solution: their Brekkie Board pairs avocado toast with a cute little decorated yogurt parfait. Still wondering if those flowers are actually edible…

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That’s A Wrap…

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Let’s be real – a “week-in-the-life-of-a-Harvard-student” is not as glamorous as our campus vloggers may make it seem. The perfect remedy to revive your tired soul of the past week’s 11:58 p.m. pset submissions and the mounting anxiety of a section cold call is here... and her name is Brunch <3.

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{shortcode-b7dcad82d0c6af2acbf130223cb8676a23d6fa40}Finals week is creeping up on us,and you know what that means: cramming 40 hours’ worth of lectures because you’ve been skipping class all semester. But before all the fun of finals, move-out, and graduation (congrats seniors!), we have a weird transitional week that Harvard calls reading period! Maybe you’ll use these seven days to catch up on sleep or venture to new places to avoid your roommate who is now in the dorm too often. Regardless, here are some tips on how to make the most of this precious time before finals week.

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Take a tour of the libraries

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Harvard has more than 70 libraries across its undergraduate and graduate schools. While I can’t guarantee that you will have swipe access to all of them, you can certainly try visiting a lot of them and pray to the finals gods that you survive all your exams. It’ll be like River Run but (hopefully) sober and more academic.

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Schedule cry sessions

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The semester — no, the entire school year — has definitely been challenging in many ways. Returning to campus after so many remote semesters and having to (*gasp*) socialize again can be hard for anyone. Actually going to classes and taking three-hour long math exams? Not the vibe. Whether it’s academics, social life, the crush who started dating someone else, or coming to terms with the fact that turkeys live in trees and can attack you from above at any moment, your feelings are so, so valid. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed at times! Gather your closest friends (human or stuffed animal), and let the emotions flow.

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Form study groups

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Studying alone on the second floor of Lamont sucks. Getting shushed in the Widener Reading Room is just embarrassing. Take a trip to a talking library instead with some classmates and study together! You can split up what lectures to watch and teach each other or complain about how unfair the grading system is for the class (why can only a certain percent of the class get an A?). Bonus points if you form a study group with your crush. It’s not an actual date, but it will be to you and that’s all that matters.

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Ask. For. Help.

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You’ll regret your overconfidence soon enough, so just swallow your pride and ask for help if you need it. Professors, section leaders, TFs, ARC tutors, the Writing Center, librarians, and so many others are so willing to help. Take advantage of your resources early on before you have a day-before-the-exam breakdown.

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Relax for a second

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Go on a picnic by the Charles (if Boston can stop being the windiest city for a second). Reward yourself with some BerryLine. Go to the gym and try to intimidate the athletes by getting on the treadmill right next to them even though the other ones are empty and outdoing both their speed and resistance. Have a karaoke party (but not at like 2 a.m. in your dorm). Go on an excursion outside of campus (leave early because everything closes at 5 p.m. in Boston apparently). Throw a party to celebrate the end of the semester.

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Whether you decide to study or to relax or throw a rager during reading period, here’s to finally reaching the end of another school year. Pat yourself on the back for making it through another two semesters without dropping out. You’re doing great, sweetie!

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{shortcode-28ffc7d145a9d2211c1daec410e1414efda0ecf6}What does the end of the semester have in store for you? Look no further. Since it’s fun to confidently spew nonsense that could also maybe (?) be true, here’s what the last weeks of classes will look like for the signs (based on absolutely nothing but astrology TikTok).

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Taurus

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It’s Taurus season. Yay! In the upcoming weeks, you may feel more grounded, confident, and motivated. Good for you. You may even be feeling extra perfectionisty. So, turn in those last psets and get a head start on those final projects — everyone will be jealous of your stability.

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Capricorn

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Let’s face it, you’ve been grinding this entire year. Mix it up! Really enjoy the last few weeks of school and take this time to reconnect with yourself before you start your summer consulting job (get the bag, I guess?). And yes, working for 12 hours a day is too much.

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Virgo

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Breathe in. Breathe out. You’re stressed. We get it. You took five classes this semester and now you’re paying the price. Just remember that you may be stressing out your friends too (just saying). Use this time to focus on strengthening your relationships. We can sense romance brewing (and no, a Lamont date does not count).

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Sagittarius

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Enjoyed the parties last night, did you? You may be great at making the most of the last few weeks on campus, but maybe start your work? Just a suggestion. While finding motivation may be hard, start with smaller tasks (clean your room!) and then begin tackling the larger projects. Mars in Pisces will surely help you find motivation (Why, you ask… Absolutely no idea).

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Aries

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Even though Aries season has come to a close, don’t lose sight of what you’ve worked hard for. Be proactive in finishing your work and making end year plans. You may feel stressed or anxious, but instead of getting upset, just treat yourself (late self-birthday present!).

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Leo

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Firstly, get off TikTok. Working for ten minutes then scrolling on your phone is just not productive. Take some time for yourself — the stars say you may have an epiphany, followed by many strong emotions. Sit with them, before posting about it, at least. The movement of Mars indicates that an end-of-year fling is also in the air for you. Truly no one can study as glamorously and confidently as a Leo.

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Libra

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No, your most recent Sig Chi hookup will not turn into a real relationship by the end of the school year. Instead, focus on some self-care: listen to Harry Styles meditations, do a face mask, maybe even finally decide between your two summer plans options because you’ve been too indecisive to pick. We’ve heard pros and cons lists work pretty well.

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Aquarius

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Have you checked your finals schedule? If not, check. If so, check again. We don’t trust you. If anyone’s going to sleep through a test... We’re not saying it’s you, but it’s you. Even though you may not have your organization skills down, you certainly have the creativity and savviness. Plan some fun outings with your friends. Write the coolest, most out-of-the box paper your CS professor has ever seen. Take risks! Use this time to follow the money — interpret that however you want.

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Gemini

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Spend the last few weeks doing what you do best: talk to that one section kid you’ve never spoken to before, reach out to your pset partner from last semester, and connect with your friends before everyone scatters for summer. You’ll have a great last hurrah! Just remember to take time to rest and recharge. And, as you wrap up your work, don’t let your energy scatter — make sure to prioritize what’s most important.

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Scorpio

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You may be finding yourself in an uneasy situation with one of your relationships. Sucks. However, as Pluto enters your sixth house in the upcoming weeks, you’ll be ready to confront the issue. Never settle and don’t hang onto something out of sentimental attachment. Yes, a horoscope as cryptic and mysterious as you.

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Pisces

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Look forward to fun and friendships in the final weeks of school (just try not to think too much about all the work you have). You may be feeling sad about the end of the year. Transitions are never easy, and thinking about leaving campus might have you on the slippery slope to emotional wreck. Just know that… We don’t know, we’re sad about the year ending as well.

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Cancer

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For the last few weeks, prioritize engaging in group activities while still setting healthy boundaries. A situation could arise that needs some investigation. Stay vigilant. You’re also probably feeling overwhelmed about the amount of work you have. Allow yourself to cry it out. Don’t feel too embarrassed.

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If you read this and related — cool! If you read this and didn’t relate — juuuust you wait. Some say that astrology doesn’t mean anything, but seriously, have you ever met a Scorpio that didn’t self-sabotage?

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{shortcode-9879a33c3e89a8df3c5fecafe219f985e4a4480f}Visitas: Your first chance to make a good impression with the people who you’ll be seeing in the dining halls, doing group projects with, and living with for the next four years. If you play your cards right, you could meet the people who will become your best friends for the next four years, or at least the people you go to all the Visitas events with over the course of the weekend! We know the pandemic has killed everyone’s social skills, so we’re here to help you with what to do and what NOT to do.

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DON’T: Turn every conversation into a list of your achievements

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What is this new feeling? Could it be… imposter syndrome?! We know it’s tough to feel like other people might be cooler/smarter/more deserving of the Harvard Brand than you are, but the way to alleviate that is not to try to intimidate them. You’re here to make friends with people, remember?

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DO: Talk about the stuff you’re actually interested in

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That said, we know you have cool, unique interests! If you talk about these (in a “I like this thing” way, not a “I have won awards in this thing” way), you might just meet someone who shares that interest. Conversation: achieved.

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DON’T: Talk about the other colleges you got into

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You may have spent the last year fixated on *prestigious* colleges, and you’re still probably riding the high of getting into a few of them — maybe even ones that aren’t the objectively best one (a.k.a. Harvard). But not everybody you meet will have been accepted by those same schools. Not a single person cares if you’re deciding between Harvard and Y*le. Save that conversation for your guidance counselor.

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DO: Talk about what’s exciting about Harvard

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There is literally one thing that everyone at Visitas has in common, and there’s no way you will ever exhaust that subject. Every time you want to say, “St*nf*rd has a better *insert department* department,” instead say, “I actually think it’s really cool that you have to take a shuttle to get to the SEC.” Easy!

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DON’T: Collect LinkedIn connections

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Just don’t.

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DO: Collect people’s social media (AFTER you have a conversation with them)

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If you think someone’s nice and you want to keep in touch with them over the summer, they probably think the same about you! Don’t be afraid to go for it.

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DON’T: Campaign for the UC as a prefrosh

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Especially right now, you do NOT want to open that can of worms. You can be president when you’re 35. Calm down.

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DO: Be a normal person who is trying to have normal conversations

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This is it. This is the secret. Not too difficult, is it? If you’re really struggling with figuring out some conversation starters, don’t worry — we got you covered! Ask your peers: Where are you from? What are you thinking of studying? What events are you planning to visit this weekend? Do you have any plans with friends back home for the summer? What did you eat for breakfast? What Disney show did you binge last? No? Yes.

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DON’T: Expect to be BFFs immediately.

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You’re going to meet INSANE people. Maybe you’ll fall in love at first sight and just need to be friends with that one really amazing person. We get it, but that’s exactly the moment where you need to tell yourself to take a deep breath and slow down. Strong bonds form over time. During Visitas, everyone is trying to meet as many people as possible. When you meet someone you like, make sure to find a way to stay connected and then take your time getting to know them at a comfortable pace! You have four years together, after all.

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DO: Keep an open mind!

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You’ll be surprised to see where you end up making friends — will it be in line while waiting to get checked in for Visitas? Perhaps in the Zoom chats? Or maybe you bond with someone also awkwardly leaving an event early, free food in hand. The truth is, no one knows where you’ll find the person you’re destined to stay friends with during your first year and beyond. Be patient with yourself and enjoy your time on campus!

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We believe in you, Class of 2026!!

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Best Wishes,

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Class of 2025 (now officially old enough to give advice)

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