('

{shortcode-e4bbf158e6890d66b07832fc8d060c39fb8ebaa5}Since the Yard will soon be infected swarmed with ambitious 17-year-olds trying to make their way to Jefe’s and The Coop without using Google Maps, here’s Flyby’s ultimate guide on how to instantly recognize next year’s class of consulting group compers and HUA first year reps — oh wait, is that even a thing? Does anyone know? HUA reps — a little help here?

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The Crimson Letter (a.k.a The Lanyard)

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I can't say anything because I fully use mine, but any lanyard on someone who appears genuinely happy to be on campus makes them an automatic pre-frosh. Us real students have been hardened by the humbling experience that is college and HUDS food.

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Jefe’s Brown Paper Bag

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I know the whole point is to post on Snap with the caption “first of many jefes runs to come” at 1 a.m. but, please, save your money. The Mexican in me slowly dies every time I see one of these bags.

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Anyone Who Doesn't Have a Mask

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#keepharvardhealthy

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Excessively Heavy Winter Coats

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Yes, it's still cold but put the Goose away – don't you know it’s turkey time now?

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An Unnecessary Amount of Harvard Regalia

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POV: Someone's daddy gave them his credit card. FYI,^he didnt mean for you to buy a Veritas shot glass though. Looks like my IG feed is just going to be Coop sweaters soon - roll crim? I'm going to be seeing 192992 sweaters from the Coop on my IG feed soon

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Taking Pictures of/Selfies in Front of Everything

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Disrespectfully: get out of my way. Some of us have to trek to Northwest Building for their 9 a.m. LS1B section. Do you really need to take a picture of the trash cans outside the Science Center?

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Almost Getting Run Over by a Scooter

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You know who you are. We hate to break it to you, but this problem doesn’t get better as a real Harvard student.

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Excitedly Crowding Around the John Harvard Statue

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If you're gonna pee on it, just do it. We don't care. True overachievers finish the three Harvard traditions before they even become Harvard students.

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If you see anyone who meets these descriptions, feel free to have a little fun with them — with finals season approaching, we deserve any entertainment we can get our hands on. I’ll be telling them what I tell every tour group I come across: “Do not come!” “Save your money!” “It’s not worth it!!” After all, do they really want to commit themselves to four years of eating Red’s Best Catch? When you think about it, we’re really doing these pre-frosh a favor. You’re welcome.

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{shortcode-c0d434d9620c06eb9efdd29ac59372ff549746fa}In-person Visitas is back, bringing many lucky prefrosh to campus! Several pre-frosh will brave dorm life and stay with current undergrads, who will graciously host them for the weekend. Here’s Flyby Blog’s do’s and don’ts list for prefrosh and their hosts to avoid any and all drama.

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For the Prefrosh…

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DO: Ask your host about Harvard life

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If you’re still debating which college to attend or want to learn more about the Harvard experience, use your host as a resource! They can give you all the nitty gritty information admissions officers won’t. Questions to avoid: Do you like Tasty Burger Basement? What was your SAT score? Are you excited to live in the Quad?

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DON’T: Follow your host around.

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Your hosts volunteered to host you because they want to welcome admitted students to the Harvard community — but remember your host has finals soon, and their job is not to babysit you. Instead, ask for recommendations: which classic Harvard restaurants should you try? Are the coffee and pastries better at Tatte or Flour? Is Jefe’s better than Felipe’s? (though this might get heated).

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DO: Connect with other prefrosh.

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Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new best friend at Visitas (although we can’t guarantee that any Visitas hook-ups will last). Invite one of the people you awkwardly DM’d over Instagram because they had Harvard ’26 in their bio to grab Nochs with you!

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DON’T: Make your host’s dorm extra messy.

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There is nothing worse than a guest who flings their belongings everywhere. Harvard dorms are small to begin with, so try to keep your space neat and tidy! Make sure to clean up after yourself and leave the dorm exactly how you found it.

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For the Hosts…

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DON’T: Let your guest sit alone in your room, unsure of what to do.

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Help them choose the best events to go to or give them recommendations of which Harvard spots they need to check out. Help them connect with other prefrosh and be the host you would want to have had during Visitas!

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DO: Give them a personalized tour of campus!

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What is unique about your Harvard experience that only you could show them? Take your guest(s) to your favorite study spot in Cabot Library or Smith Campus Center, or perhaps show them the dance studio you spend hours in. Introduce them to the best latte at Pavement — show them the things that the admissions tour will not!

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DON’T: Act too busy for your guest.

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You signed up for this! I know we all have finals coming up soon, but make sure to set aside time to get to know your guest and answer any questions they may have about Harvard. There’s nothing worse than feeling like a burden or being ignored. You might be your guest’s first interaction with a Harvard student — try to make a good impression!
\r\nDO: Clean your dorm!

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While you want to show your guest an accurate representation of college life, week-old pizza boxes and stacks of empty Celsius cans are probably not the best look (or smell). Tidy up a bit and make sure your space is as comfortable as possible for your guest.

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No matter if you become bffs with your host or if you don’t 100% match each other’s vibe, Visitas is what you make of it! We promise you’ll be in for a non-stop weekend full of memories and new friendships.

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('

{shortcode-bacb7bf67983f5a023b81973ff13d39534428f20}Visitas is definitely one of the busiest and exciting events at Harvard. It’s a chance to meet the wonderful people you will potentially be spending the next four years with and an opportunity to get a glimpse of what life at Harvard is like. In hopes of providing some insight on things you might not want to forget during your stay on campus, we’re equipping you with a few things we wish we had or had done during our Visitas experiences.

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Actually Analyzing the Campus

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Yes, many people will tell you don’t judge a book by its cover, but it’s simply not true when it comes to college campuses. The weather, the atmosphere, and the vibes are all incredibly important in determining your happiness, especially because you will be attending classes, eating, and sleeping on campus for four years. While walking around the Yard make sure to note the layout of class and dorm buildings as well as the surrounding areas (i.e. Harvard Square) to figure out if the environment is right for you. Also, don’t forget to imagine these things walking through snow, ice, and freezing temperatures.

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Actually Talking to People

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We had a virtual Visitas, so that really influenced our somewhat shallow interactions with future classmates (cameras off, ALWAYS). Because your Visitas will be in person, make the most of your time here and reach out to people! Don’t feel pressure to meet your best-friend-for-life-til-death-do-you-part, but make an effort to talk to people at the club events you go to or even just getting to know someone better during a meal. And this applies to talking to upperclassmen as well! For the most part, all the upperclassmen you’ll meet, especially those moderating and holding club events, will be super happy to talk to you and give you frank advice.

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Actually Asking Questions

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Look, we get it. You don’t want to look stupid. You don’t want to ask a question in fear that everyone else will know the answer and you’ll receive some eye roll and a snide comment about pre-frosh. We promise you, no one will really care if you ask a basic question (and if they do, they probably have bigger problems to worry about). You aren’t expected to know everything about Harvard, and the point of Vistas is to learn more about it! If you don’t ask any questions, whether it be about a club or to your host or even to faculty, then it will be harder to get a true sense of what Harvard is actually like.

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Not Stressing Out About Extracurriculars

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Clubs and extracurriculars will definitely be a huge part of your life at Harvard and are a great segway to meeting new friends. You’re probably eager to search for organizations that suit your interests which is really great, but as you dive deeper and deeper into the sea of the many on-campus clubs, keep in mind that Visitas is not your only opportunity to get information. There will be another large club fair during your orientation period in the fall where you will be able to sign up for extracurriculars. So please, please, please don’t feel like Visitas is the end all be all in terms of finding your niche at Harvard. The point of the Visitas club fair is to give you a taste of what you will have access to for the rest of your undergrad experience. Take the time to explore your interests but don’t feel pressured to find all the clubs you want to be a part of during your short visit.

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It’s true, Visitas can be overwhelming and stressful at times, but remember that college is not only about what you can bring to the school but also what the school can provide for you. So, have fun, be adventurous, and we hope to see you soon!

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{shortcode-665dc7e8bc569bb3f4117715ba26c1075a3e9bb9}To the lanyard wearing, (hopefully) not Jefes headed, class of 26-er:

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Welcome to Visitas!

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You did it — hoorah!

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You made it into Massachusetts’s very own “small-liberal-arts-school-just-outside-Boston” school. your parents couldn't be prouder;your friends can’t stop posting you on their IG stories. And somehow your Tik Tok has finally blown up (spoiler alert: it definitely was your reaction video). You’ve been following people non-stop on IG, and have a draft of “Hey everyone! My name is….[insert name and hometown here]” in your Notes app for when you’re finally ready to make your debut on @Harvard2026. If you’re anything like I was, you’ve been cruising through second semester senior year since your decisions came out: aka showing up to first period 20 minutes late everyday with Starbucks in hand and no f*** left to give. Life is good and you “can’t wait for the next 4!” ;)

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But as a seasoned second semester first-year whose transition to college put them through hella character development, I will tell you this NOW (and save you some money on plane tickets —more on this later): it is OKAY to be unsure of going to Harvard.

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Not-so-surprising disclaimer: everyone and their mom (and maybe even your own) will tell you otherwise. Maybe not so directly, but with so many future “You can’t turn down Harvard!” and “You got into Harvard?!?!?” coming your way, the message is hard to miss: you just can’t get into the world’s best school and NOT go.

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Spoiler alert: it's not. The legend is true: it is SO important to consider your options and choose the school that is truly best for YOU.

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Harvard was my dream school. When I got in early, there was no way in HELL that I was going to a) give up my winter break to do a hundred other applications or 2) go crazy and give up a spot at MY DREAM SCHOOL?!?! So instead, I did the only sane, medically approved option: slept in till noon everyday, finally binge watched all eight Harry Potter movies, and went out for boba with my parents every night.

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Do I regret it?

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That's a difficult question to answer.

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Overall — key word here — I've loved my time at Harvard. I have great friends, the best roommate I could ask for, advisors and proctors who have done more for me than their paychecks probably require of them, and I've found classes and clubs I'm truly passionate about. Though I’ll be on the first flight to Los Angeles post-finals, I have to admit: I’ll miss my first year.

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But that doesn't mean it was easy. This is probably definitely oversharing, but in the spirit of complete and total honesty, I was ready to pack my bags two weeks into the fall semester. I was homesick, heartbroken, and depressed. What I had spent my entire life looking forward to — the dream I had dedicated nights and years and time and effort to — had let me down entirely.

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There's a lot of reasons for this — the culture shock, leaving home for the first time, adjusting to college life — but for the sake of brevity, I’ll only focus on one: I hadn’t allowed myself to have options besides Harvard.

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The minute I opened my acceptance letter and read the words “Congratulations!”, it had ended for me. All of the late nights and tears and sweat had finally paid off and transformed into a dream come true—how could I ever let it go?

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I didn't allow myself to imagine a non-Harvard future. I didn't give a thought to any of the other schools that had accepted me. When I was unable to visit other schools, I comforted myself with the idea that visiting was pointless. Like everyone around me, I thought to myself, What's the point? It's not like you're going to go anywhere else. From the very first day, I convinced myself that to go down any path other than the Harvard path was not only impossible, but incredibly silly.

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After succumbing to a crippling homesickness and visiting home after only two weeks of being in Cambridge, I realized that contrary to what the world around me said, I had been wrong. I should have considered and explored other schools. I should have visited the towns and campuses where I would commit to spending the next four years of my life. I should have given myself the chance to choose the school and future and life that was truly right for me, instead of just thrusting myself into a decision.

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Do I blame myself for being unable to do so? No, for the same reason I could never blame any pre-frosh for doing the same. This may sound like the epitome of “first world problems,” but saying “No” to Harvard is hard. The world tells you you're crazy and ungrateful and that to do so would be not only foolish, but the biggest regret you’ll ever have. No instruction manual exists on how to tell your parents that you’re rejecting the dream you spent your entire life working for and that they sacrificed so much for.

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But as I quickly realized after setting foot on campus last fall, maybe I should have. It's hard to say “No” to something a) you love b) have worked your entire life for and c) is objectively an amazing academic and professional opportunity. But if there's anything I learned last year, it's that the right choice is too, too often the most difficult one.

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As someone who didn’t think they’d make it past September 2021, trust me when I say that things get better, they do. Have I loved my time and the relationships I’ve created at Harvard? Absolutely. Will I most likely (knock on wood here) continue to do so? I know I will. But do I know that I’d just be the taddest bit happier at UCLA or Stanford—somewhere not literally across the country from home? Yes. Can I say Harvard was without a doubt the absolute best choice for me? No.

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We all make our own decisions and choose our own paths. I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and that it all works out at the end. My path has brought me to Cambridge and it seems like I’ll be — happily, don’t worry — spending the next three years of my life here. But the best advice I can give any indecisive pre-frosh is to do what's right for YOU.

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The world may tell you you’re crazy and your mom may cry and you may hate yourself when you look in the mirror for a while, but at the end of the day, who’s life is it? If you’re going to be stressed over adulthood and fighting for your life in chemistry courses, why be so in a place you hate? If you’re going to go through the character development that is college, at least get that character developed in a place like California, where the palm trees sway and the temperature never drops below 70 degrees. As I say to myself prior to making too many life decisions, you only live once—make sure to make the most of it.

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{shortcode-8b2fb0b7fc4ab769dcab7afeaee00318f620358f}With the return to campus, we’ve seen the return to our favorite Harvard lingo that we know and love (and hate). 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. If you’re a pre-frosh or even just a Havard student who’s a little lost, look no further — we’re proud to present to you Flyby’s annual Harvard lingo breakdown: Class of 2026 edition.

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Important Places

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The Yard

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An abbreviation for the famous Harvard Yard. As a first-year, you’ll be randomly housed in one of the dorms facing the Yard, greeted with a beautiful view of the greenery and slightly less beautiful view of the tourists each morning.

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The Houses

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While first-year students reside in the Yard, upperclassmen at Harvard live out their next three years in one of the 12 Harvard Houses, each complete with their own dhall (see below), gym, library, and amenities such as art studios and gaming rooms.

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The Quad

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Home to three of the Harvard upperclassmen houses, the Quad boasts a beautiful lawn, cute dogs, and great eateries. Oh, and a fifteen minute walk to the Square, which Quadlings (Quad residents) will tell you really isn’t that far, no seriously, especially if you take the Shuttle or that shortcut.

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The SEC

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Short for the Science and Engineering Complex, the SEC is located across the Charles River and houses many computer science and engineering classes and labs. Though the distance can be daunting, Harvard provides shuttles to and from dorms to the SEC and there’s even a Trader Joe’s (<3) across the street to make up for the distance.

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Berg

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An abbreviation for Annenberg, the first-year-only dining hall. Imagine paying hundreds? thousands? hundreds of thousands? to have a building named after you, only for students to give it a heinous nickname. Oh well, we do it anyway.

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Dhall

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Short for dining hall, staffed by Harvard University Dining Services workers, some of the nicest folks you’ll meet on campus!

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Quoffice

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Located in Thayer basement, the Quoffice is Harvard’s official resource for queer students. The Quoffice strives “create a community where BGLTQ students can thrive and where all students are well-equipped to engage knowledgeably and compassionately with regard to gender and sexuality.”

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Women’s Center

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Located in Canaday basement, the Harvard College Women’s Center puts on awesome programming related to women and gender and is also home to very cozy couches, incredible staff, and a wide collection of teas for when you just want to relax!

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Campus Libraries

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Lamont

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Harvard’s most famous 24/7 library. At any hour, you’ll find students cramming problem sets, writing essays, or enjoying a cup of coffee at Lamont Café.

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Widener

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Harvard’s most famous library, period. For those aspiring to the dark academia aesthetic, Widener’s got your back with beautiful art, marble floors, and people who will glare at you for checking your phone.

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Cabot (AKA NOT CABOT HOUSE)

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The 24/7 Cabot Science Library is located within the Science Center and is the home of late night group psetting (see below), not to be mistaken for Cabot House, one of the upperclassmen houses located in (see above) The Quad.

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Entryway

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15-30 students that are your main residential community your freshman year – typically either a portion or floor of a first year dorm. You’ll be getting oriented together and have frequent study breaks with lots of free food and your first year advising network (see below)!

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First Year Advising

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PAF

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Peer Advising Fellow. PAFs are upperclassmen who don’t live with you but offer great advice about classes, extracurriculars, and general Harvard life.

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Proctor

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Proctors, usually graduate students who live with you, lead your first-year entryway, hosting orientation events, study breaks throughout the year, and can continually serve as a great resource for all things Harvard.

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Class-related Stuff

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Office hours / help room

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A place to gawk at your hot TF A place to get help on your homework or get your questions answered by course staff

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MQC

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Math Question Center. Your social life if you take any math class. Typically a classroom with about 1 desk for every 3 people where you can ask all your questions about your pset (see below) due tomorrow.

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Psets

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Problem set. A series of questions assigned by STEM classes that will probably be significantly harder than any homework assignment from high school.

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Section

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Also known as “recitation” at other universities. Held for larger lecture classes, section is a smaller group setting led by a TF to review or expand on lecture material.

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Section Kid

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That one kid in high school who corrects the teacher when they’re talking? In college, we call them Section Kid. The respectful ones may have pretty strong triceps from raising their hand all the time. The less respectful ones won’t raise their hand at all. They’ll always say a lot without saying anything at all and they’ll have something to say about everything. Don’t be Section Kid.

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ARC

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The ARC or Academic Resource Center is Harvard’s peer tutoring center, offering one-on-one support in most big classes at Harvard, many of which you’ll take your first year. And if you do well in a class, you can get paid to work at the ARC as a tutor too!

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Canvas

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The app that ruins your day when you find out your midterm scores have been released. Canvas is a central platform (both a website and a mobile app) where your instructor will post course-related documents including assignments and syllabi and where you turn in your homework (and find out how well you did on it).

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TF, CA, PSL

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TF: Teaching fellow. Can be a grad student, sometimes a fellow undergrad, responsible for grading homework, hosting office hours, and teaching section bailing you out when you’re lost about what’s happening in class after you decided to skip every lecture that week.

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CA: Like TFs, but they only grade your homework and host office hours. Make use of them.

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PSL: Not your favorite Starbucks drink. Short for Peer Study Leaders, who are undergrads who previously took the course, did well, and now volunteer to spend their time answering your questions about the pset the night before it’s due.

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Other Useful Terms

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Comp

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The Harvard-way of saying you have to do some stuff (attending events, meeting members, and doing small projects or assignments) before you can officially join a club. A “completion” comp means you can join a club as long as you finish the comp! A “competitive” comp means that a club only takes a certain number of people and may make cuts during the comp process. Don’t worry, most comps are completion-based, and for the ones that aren’t, you can always try comping again if it doesn’t work out the first time!

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When2meet

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A futile attempt to coordinate students to schedule a 30 minute meeting that probably could have been an email

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HUDS

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Harvard University Dining Services. Pronounced “Hudds”. Harvard students secretly don’t mind HUDS but will pretend not to like it.

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Tasty Basty

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Abbreviation of “Tasty Burger Basement” Some may call it “lit,” some may call it “cursed”. Regardless, you’re guaranteed a good time if you’ve got an event there.

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"Are you rolling Tasty Basty tonight?"

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"Maybe."

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"LAX is throwing tonight."

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"Maybe not."

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Flyby

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Shameless self-promo: The people who wrote this article. Flyby is The Blog of The Crimson (Harvard’s student-run daily newspaper), which means we’re like Buzzfeed, but for Harvard. So make sure to check out the rest of our Visitas feature and other #relatable content! And if you want to join us in the fall, our comp (see: comp) is a chill, completion-based process!

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The UC / HUA (?????)

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Sorry for all you incoming class presidents hoping to continue your legacy at Harvard with starry eyes. Here’s the trainwreck that is Harvard’s student government: until a few months ago, we had the UC, a.k.a the Undergraduate Council, but people always complained that IT didn’t really do much. So this guy, Michael Cheng, ran for president on the campaign of “defunding the UC.” And what do you know, he won. So a few days ago he not only “defunded” the old student government, but annihilated it and started a new one — the HUA or Harvard Undergraduate Association. And then he resigned. Most people are either amused or enraged, but that’s where we’re at.

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Consulting

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The profession that roughly one in seven Harvard undergraduates end up in immediately after graduation. Basically, it involves working at one company that works for a bunch of other companies. In the process, you make a lot of money and travel a lot. No one knows what consulting is as a freshmen, but everyone eventually learns. When someone who has plans to change the world decides they want to do consulting instead, we call it selling out.

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“Hey man, I wanna tell you something but you can’t judge.”

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“What? Is everything okay?”

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“Yeah.. I just realized…I wanna do consulting this summer.”

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“But what about your big dreams of educating children?”

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“...Nah I’m selling out”

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“...”

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The time has come for pre-frosh to once again ~descend~ upon Harvard’s campus. As a result, I’ve compiled some of the most common shared traumas experiences during Visitas. Godspeed younglings.

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With a return to campus comes a return to in-person Visitas, an exciting weekend for all involved! Whether you're a prefrosh looking for advice on Visitas and Harvard, or an upperclassman confused about what Visitas is, Flyby Blog is here to answer all of your questions with our Guide to Visitas 2022!

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4/19: For the first section of Guide to Visitas, find out how to make the most out of your last time on campus without real responsibilities Visitas experience with Fun Reads for a Fun Visitas! With tips on spotting campus celebs, an insider's guide to first-year housing, and fun classes to audit, you'll be the most prepared one in the Yard.

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4/20: Our second day brings Quizitas, testing all the possible ways your Visitas will go. See where life, love, and Dean Khurana takes you this weekend!

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4/21: Day 3 of Guide to Visitas will give you all the advice, guide to Harvard lingo, and comforting words you'll need from our very own staff!

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4/22: For our last day of Guide to Visitas, we tell you exactly How to Visitas, with tips for upperclassmen and pre-frosh alike!

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{shortcode-a3b004bf697bf10d07ddc5cf24e8b9b1fac7a468}We know you’re all asking yourselves the same questions: where exactly do freshmen live? How do they get assigned dorms? Which dorms are the best? And, what is ~The Yard~? Prefrosh, we’ve got you covered. Welcome to Flyby’s first-year housing guide, where we’ll spill the deets about the housing process and dorm life during your freshman year!

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Early in the Summer, you will fill out a housing application, indicating your lifestyle choices (how clean you are — don’t lie, how noisy you are, your sleep schedule, the essentials). You can also write a page elaborating on your preferences. Around mid-August, Harvard will send an email announcing your Yard (a group of dorms), dorm, entryway (20-40 students you live close to), and suitemates! Be prepared to see many (many) Instagram stories of people announcing their dorms. But before that, check out our rundown of the perks of living in each of the first-year dorms.

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Ivy Yard

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Ivy Yard consists of eight small but mighty dorms, most of which are located in the heart of the “Old Yard.” If you’re in Ivy Yard, you’ll never have to wake up before 8:50 a.m. for your 9 a.m. class. Although, you may occasionally get tourists peering through your windows.

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Holworthy

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Typical housing style: Holworthy suites consist of two doubles and one (very large!) common room. Residents share a bathroom with the other suite on the floor.

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Nearby: The Science Center, Annenberg (food!), Hemenway (the Law School gym)

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Amenities: Arts and crafts room, party space basement, music practice rooms, kitchen

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Missing: Laundry room (many Holworthy residents have been seen lugging their clothes to Stoughton or Thayer), trash room

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Fun facts: Holworthy has vertical entryways (a.k.a. no typically long college hallways), so you have to make an effort to get to know students in other entryways.

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Stoughton

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Typical housing style: Two roommates to a very, very large room. Doubles for days!

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Nearby: The Science Center, Annenberg, Hemenway, Johnston Gate

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Amenities: Laundry room, kitchen

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Missing: Singles (a.k.a. bring your roommate a gift on the first day)

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Fun facts: The Hasty Pudding Club held its first performance on the top floor!

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Hollis

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Typical housing style: Like Stoughton, doubles so large you won’t know what to do with yourself!

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Nearby: Johnston Gate, The T stop

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Missing: Laundry (sorry friends, it’s a short walk next door to Stoughton)

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Fun Facts: Hollis was built in 1763 and is super historic. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau both lived in Hollis, but we promise them fleeing to the woods had nothing to do with the dorm.

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Apley Court

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Typical housing style: Apley has singles, doubles, and triples (the works)

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Nearby: Smith Campus Center, Farkas Hall, Clover Restaurant, JP Licks, the MAC (gym)

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Amenities: Laundry, bathtubs!!

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Missing: Relevance

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Fun facts: Marble… marble staircases! marble floors! And, most importantly, marble bathtubs!

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Lionel

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Typical housing style: Triplets and quads, all with their own in-suite bathrooms

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Nearby: PBHA, the Science Center, Annenberg, Pokeworks, Felipe’s

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Amenities: Lionel shares its own courtyard with Mower

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Fun facts: We’re not really sure if anyone actually lives here.

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Mower

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Typical housing style: Triplets and quads, all with their own in-suite bathrooms

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Nearby: PBHA, the Science Center, Annenberg, Pokeworks, Felipe’s

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Extra perks: Mower shares its own courtyard with Lionel

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Fun facts: Like Lionel, we’ve genuinely never met someone who lives here. But Al Gore did at one point.

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Massachusetts Hall

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Typical housing style: Doubles and singles

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Nearby: Johnston Gate, The T

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Amenities: President Bacow’s office ???

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Missing: Windows

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Fun facts: If you’re placed in Mass Hall, Harvard thinks you’re a goody-two-shoes who won’t throw parties in your room (and you probably shouldn’t). Mass Hall is the oldest building on campus and the only dorm that housed soldiers during the American Revolution!

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Straus

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Typical housing style: Suites of quads, with some doubles and triples. All rooms have in-suite bathrooms

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Nearby: Widener, Boylston, Felipe’s, Source Restaurant

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Amenities: Common room, kitchen, tiny courtyard shared with Matthews!

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Missing: Laundry!

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Fun facts: Straus is known for its old-academia style common room - perfect for discussions of Bridgerton season two.

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Elm Yard

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Elm Yard is also in the heart of the Yard. If you live in this yard, you’ll undoubtedly be in the middle of students running to class, tourists, and many friendly squirrels and dogs.

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Grays

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Typical housing style: Suites of four with en-suite bathrooms and huge common rooms!

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Nearby: Smith Campus Center, Boylston Hall, Widener Library, Harvard Square

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Amenities: Serenity space in the basement.

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Missing: Laundry!

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Fun facts: Grays has an unofficial reputation as the “Hilton of Harvard” but we’re not really sure why. It’s not even that much nicer than Matthews or Weld, though it does have in-suite bathrooms. The suites on the fifth floor are great for hosting parties. Notable alumni include Malia Obama and Natalie Portman!

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Matthews

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Typical housing style: Suites of three students with hallway bathrooms.

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Nearby: Smith, Harvard Square, CVS, and the T!

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Amenities: Multiple study spaces in the basement, cute library nook, two music practice rooms and a kitchen!

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Missing: Matthews has literally everything — except an elevator.

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Fun facts: Many Matthews do and have in fact lived in this dorm, including Matt Damon. Matthews also stands in the location of Harvard’s Native American College.

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Weld

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Typical housing style: A suite with doubles and singles! You may have an in-suite bathroom or use the communal bathroom.

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Nearby: Widener Library, Lamont Library

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Amenities: Weld Solarium, Yard Ops and Dorm Crew, laundry, an elevator!

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Missing: Large common rooms.

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Fun facts: Weld has it all, with extra Covid-19 tests and cleaning supplies in the basement. And, although we’ve been told you can’t really see stars from the Weld solarium, it’s the perfect study nook or late night date spot.

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Oak Yard

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Oak Yard is the part of Harvard Yard that is furthest from the Square, but closest to the Science Center, Annenberg, and basically all of your classes (unless you’re an engineering student). If you live in this Yard, you will endlessly appreciate the ability to wake up three minutes before class and still be on time.

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Canaday

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Typical housing style: Some hallway singles and a lot suites with a common room and four bedrooms that are mostly singles!

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Nearby: The Science Center, Annenberg, Memorial Church

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Amenities: Harvard College Women’s Center, vending machines, air hockey table, laundry room, kitchen

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Missing: Elevators.

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Fun facts: The top floor has skylights and really tall ceilings! Canaday is riot-proof which is why the entryways don’t connect and there are locks to both the hallway and rooms inside it — so rest assured, no one will break into your room. Living in Canaday can feel like being in a fortress, but the good news is it makes living in an upperclassman House feel like the Ritz.

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Thayer

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Typical housing style: Doubles! Singles! Small suites that hold 2-3 people.

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Nearby: Memorial Church, The Science Center, Annenberg

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Amenities: Kitchen and common room space decked with a pool table, T, and laundry. Also, a functional elevator.

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Missing: In-suite bathrooms — everyone uses hallway bathrooms (but they get cleaned for you!).

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Crimson Yard

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Crimson Yard isn’t in the traditional Harvard Yard, but if anything, that makes the community stronger. Crimson Yard is located a few minutes away from the Yard across Quincy street and has more of a neighborhood feel compared to the other freshman dorms. A plus is that you won’t have any tourists sticking their phones up to your window, trying to snap a pic of your dorm room.

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Pennypacker

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Typical housing style: Suites of four arranged in two doubles around a common room with in-suite bathroom.

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Nearby: Food!! (Zinneken's, Berryline, Kung Fu Tea), The Barker Center, Lamont Library

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Amenities: Home to WHRB, Harvard’s student-run radio station.

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Fun facts: Pennypacker only has one central staircase, so you will be running into everyone. At all times.

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Hurlbut

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Typical housing style: Suites of typically six people with an in-suite bathroom.

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Nearby: Food!! (Hong Kong, Santouka), Lamont Library, Barker Center

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Amenities: Laundry room, it’s very own ~lawn~

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Fun facts: Everyone in Hurlbut is really close since there’s a backstair case that connects the suites together. We’ve also heard it has a particularly noteworthy vending machine.

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Greenough

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Typical housing style: Big suites, typically of six, with in-suite bathrooms. Also has singles, doubles, and triples that share a hallway bathroom.

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Nearby: Barker Center, Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Harvard Art Museum, Lamont

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Amenities: Laundry room

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Fun facts: Greenough has giant windows in common rooms with lots of natural light. You might have a beautiful view of Harvard Art Museums!

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Wigglesworth

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Typical housing style: Suite style, typically of 4-5 people, with an in-suite bathroom.

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Nearby: Basically every interesting store and restaurant on Mass. Ave, since Wigg takes up a large portion of the street. Particularly noteworthy is the proximity to J.P Licks (ice cream!!), the Smith Center, and a Harvard Shuttle stop at Widener Gate.

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Amenities: Music practice rooms, printer in the basement of Wigg-let, laundry room in Big Wigg, air hockey & ping pong!!

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Missing: Quiet — the T runs under Wigg so sometimes students can hear/feel the train.

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Fun facts: Wigg is the second biggest of the first-year dorms, composed of three buildings: Wigglet, Mid Wigg, and Big Wigg. It is also the former home of Bill Gates.

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Maple Yard

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Maple Yard is the newest and coolest (literally true given that it has air-conditioning) Yard. It was created to house first-year student overflow, and contains some of the most coveted dorms. Unfortunately, all of Maple is away from the Yard like Crimson Yard, but the large rooms and numerous amenities make up for it.

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The Inn

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Typical housing style: Doubles with in-suite bathrooms

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Nearby: Food!! (Tatte, J.P. Licks), Lamont Library

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Amenities: Several large study and social spaces, laundry, and practice rooms

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Missing: The coveted ~old and traditional~ Harvard vibes, since it looks like (and used to be) a modern hotel

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Fun facts: Everyone will make fun of you when you tell them you’re from the Inn. But don’t worry, they’re really just jealous of your air-conditioning.

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Prescotts

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Typical housing style: Apartment style rooms with bathrooms, kitchens and many singles along with large open common rooms.

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Nearby: Next door to Starbucks, Broadway Marketplace (a small grocery store), and Harvard Art Museums.

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Amenities: Your own bathroom AND kitchen, printers, and singles.

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Missing: Proximity to the Yard. Once you leave your dorm for the day, you are probably not coming back for a while. Even Prescott NARPS have an excuse to get a scooter, but this is just good preparation for upperclassmen House Life.

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Fun facts: A full sized fridge?? A bathtub?? A literal monster sized room?? This is peak housing.

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While there are pros and cons to each first-year dorm, we promise that each offers a unique experience and will serve as a warm welcome to your new Harvard home. Here are some Youtube videos (Straus, The Inn, Wigg) that we found helpful when scavenging the depths of the internet for dorm information the summer before moving onto campus — you might too!

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{shortcode-6687a205829af444f2c1b4c5398e816f8a8e690d}One of the best things about Harvard (and college, generally) is that you can finally escape the rigidness of only being able to take certain classes in high school, whether they are APs, IBs or A-Levels. As prospective Harvard students, you may have heard of some of the classic introductory classes offered here — Economics 10a: “Introduction to Microeconomics,” Computer Science 50: “Introduction to Computer Science,” Psychology 1: “Introduction to Psychological Science,” or Life Sciences 1a: “An Integrated Introduction to the Life Sciences.” Yes, these classes are fundamental and you will probably have to take some of them depending on your concentration, but, a) all colleges have an equivalent of these intro classes and b) I think it’s safe to say that these classes are not what make Harvard fun.

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Harvard has so many cool departments and funky classes that you can take during your time here. As you are making your college decision, scroll through the course catalog and check out departments that may seem random relative to your interests at first (I’m looking at you, Folklore and Mythology). You never know what you’ll find or what new interests will be sparked. I’ll get you started: here are some fun classes to consider looking into!

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ANTHRO 1201: “Human Osteology & Bioarchaeology”

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What’s cooler than pretending to be Indiana Jones for an entire semester? Over the course of the semester, you put together a “bone notebook”–which is basically a collection of sketches of bones. Plus, if you’re looking to live out your crime drama fantasies, you get to handle actual human and animal remains.

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AFVS 53AR: “Fundamentals of Animation”

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Moana. Encanto. Coco. Inside Out. Soul. Need I say more? Imagine being able to create something that falls in the same category as these movies! No, you don’t need any prior experience to take this engaging and hands-on Arts, Film and Visual Studies course.

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PSY 980AH: “Psychology of Cults”

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While you may not be able to take this as a first-year, this class will be waiting for you as an upperclassman. It will equip you with everything you need to know about -how to start your own cult , how cults work, why people decide to join them and how cult leaders come to be.

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MUSIC 1: “Introduction to Western Music, from Bach to Beyonce”

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This class is easily the best class I’ve taken at Harvard and made me consider concentrating in Music. Not only is the teaching staff phenomenal, but the assignments are genuinely a great time — you get to listen to beautiful pieces of music, research interesting and often overlooked musical figures and patrons, and look at really cool, old pieces of music. Take this class, take this class, take this class!

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FOLKMYTH 150: “Internet Folklore, Online Communities, and Digital Storytelling”

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What do Twitter, TikTok or Facebook have to do with ancient storytelling? What sort of relationships are people hoping to find through exchanges of memes, DMs and snapchats? What stories get told in a world of fake news and internet trolls? Not convinced by how cool this class is yet? The readings for this class range from Tweets to ancient Greek myths!

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Exploring your interests is part of what makes college so exciting! Harvard is a melting pot for renowned professors and faculty in almost every academic corner–so why not try a little bit of everything and see what you find?

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{shortcode-ea078820d114e156b6eca4f1139cfd0c648d8588}One of the best parts about Harvard (in addition to the world-class liberal arts education that it very much offers) is the opportunity to meet really amazing people (some people more amazing than others). Even over the couple days of Visitas, you’ll have the chance to experience a little bit of what makes Harvard so special. Here’s a list of our favorite people, places, and things around campus that you should keep an eye out for during Visitas!

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Remy

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He’s handsome, he’s a little mysterious, and he catches everyone’s attention when he struts into a room. His name is Remy, and he’s sure to be the main star of your Visitas visit, if you’re lucky enough to spot him. Have I mentioned he’s a cat? Known for frequenting the Barker Center for the Humanities, Remy is Harvard’s unofficial mascot (since our real mascot is literally a color). He’s even been known to even enter students’ dorms (he once entered both our respective dorms, but neither of us were in our rooms at the time and we live with eternal regret). You can check out Remy’s instagram (@remy.the.harvard.cat) before Visitas so you know who to look out for.

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John from Annenberg

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We stan all the Harvard University Dining Services workers for feeding us, but a special shoutout to John from Annenberg for being there for us first-years when we need it most. And since every student at Harvard has eaten at Annenberg at some point in their Harvard life, John literally knows every single one of us. There is no better feeling than walking into Berg after a really hard test or an especially boring section and getting greeted by John. He once complimented my hair and I still smile from his kind words. Unfortunately, John now works in the Dunster Dining Hall, incoming first-years may have to look a little harder to find him. Regardless of where you are, John, we appreciate you!

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Rakesh

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How does one describe Dean Khurana — Rakesh, if you will? He is, simply, The Moment. Officially the Danoff Dean of Harvard College, most students recognize him more as an influencer. His famous Instagram page (@deankhurana) features photographs of students he meets across campus, and if you’re lucky, you might even be featured during your Visitas visit.

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Red (and his best catches)

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Who is this man, and what does he look like? We may never know. Whoever he is, Red is always offering his best to the dining hall menu. Every time I see that the dhalls are serving Red’s Best Catch, those fluffy mounds of fish flesh covered in breadcrumbs, I’m just thrilled. Just wait, you will be too!

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Turkeys

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Who knew turkeys weren’t just for Thanksgiving dinner? I didn’t! Until I came to Harvard, that is. The campus turkeys are everything I want to be: confident, fearless, and constantly defying people’s expectations. Not only are they capable of holding up traffic and intimidating students and tourists alike, these lovely turkeys are also capable of soaring high and far. If you can’t see any turkeys at ground level, look up and you’re sure to see these majestic creatures perching on the many trees on campus.

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Yard Chairs

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Thanks to a groundbreaking Flyby article investigating everyone’s favorite useful Yard decoration, the Yard chairs have become a sensation. Feeling overwhelmed by how beautiful the Harvard buildings are and need a place to rest? Have no fear, these exquisite chairs will always be there for you (unless, of course, it’s winter, then the chairs won’t be there or else they’ll get cold)! Aside from their seasonal presence, look forward to these incredibly colorful and comfortable chairs.

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As you can see, there are so many things to look forward to at Harvard, so get hyped and make sure to take tons of pictures with our favorite campus celebrities!

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{shortcode-ff02db75b0ef69f99b17a2481763ce9bb919e87e} Love It: April Showers Us With Smiles - Rhea L. Acharya

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Walking through the Yard these days makes me happy. Long gone are the days when it would already be dark when I walked into my 4:30 p.m. section in Emerson. Now, as I leave class at 5:30 p.m, I am greeted by music playing from speakers or guitars, a game of frisbee, and the most adorable dogs in Cambridge running in front of me. Spring makes me want to be more efficient in my work and appreciate these simpler pleasures.

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This time of year might seem fleeting, with the end of school sight. But because of this, spring encourages spontaneity and forces us to make the most of the time we do have left. Instead of rushing to the warmth of my dorm or my next commitment, spring makes me want to linger. I now meander between classes, taking in the cheerful scenes all around me. I want to eat lunch outside in the Yard or the Law School Library picnic tables, and I want to romanticize my life through walks along the river and pset sessions outside. I even want to skip the shuttle and walk to the SEC, feeling the wind in my hair and the sun in my face as I cross the Charles. Nature is a grounding presence in my life, forcing me to slow down and reflect, and spring brings added introspection.

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As flowers start to bloom (Winthrop Courtyard, anyone?) and the grass gets replaced, this spirit of growing inspires me. I wonder what new adventures will come my way, what new friends I’ll make, and what new perspectives I’ll gain. Who is the person I’m growing to be? With the brighter days, I want to be more confident in reaching out to and making plans with friends, and I want to cross more items off my Cambridge-and-Boston bucket list. These are the moments we’ve dreamed of ever since opening up those picture-perfect college brochures and I’m here to make the most of it!

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Hate It: April Showers Us With Summer Denial — Hailey E. Krasnikov

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You know what I really hate? That feeling when you have a word stuck on the tip of your tongue and just can’t remember what it is. It’s beyond frustrating. And in my eyes, that is exactly what spring is. Sunny days and students hammocking in the Yard continue to remind me summer is coming upon us, BUT it’s not here yet. Springtime is just a reminder that I’m still stuck in class and buried under mountains of psets, while the sun shines outside and I dream of riding the Blue Line to the beach. Spring just means that we’re almost at the end of the semester as everyone chugs Red Bull, crams for finals, and wishes they didn’t have to.

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Along with the nice weather fueling my pain that summer isn’t here yet, massive tourist groups have emerged in the Yard. The warm weather has enabled the tourists to crowd in the Science Center Plaza and block my path when I’m walking past John Harvard. But that’s not even the worst part: I will never understand why tourists take pictures of ~Harvard students~. I understand that I’m pretty cool, but I would rather not be subjected to being treated like a rare species in its natural habitat. The least they can do is not capture my post-3p.m.-chemistry-lab hair in a long-treasured photo.

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There’s also the typical things that people hate about spring, like seasonal allergies. While I personally do not have allergies, I’ve seen enough red eyes and stuffy noses in the past week to know that I am truly blessed to not have them. And don’t forget about the bees. I know bees are important for the planet, but I would rather take four pset classes than be stung by one. In just a couple of weeks, I’ll probably be dodging the buzzing bees more often than I have to dodge athletes and their electric scooters on the way to class. I’m willing to co-inhabit this campus with the bees while they do their pollination work, but I hope they decide to stay far far away from me.

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The warm weather is nice I’ll admit it, but I can’t say the same about everything that comes with it in the spring. I’m just counting down to summer.

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{shortcode-6597554da4d3444c2ac92b1a0f36dbf220cb3887}If you’re more fortunate than me, you may have saved your $65 of BoardPlus on your HUID designated to use at specific HUDS and House-operated dining. If you find yourself thinking BoardPlus? What’s that? Stop everything and read the only FAQ you need. The most important thing to note is that if you haven’t spent your $65, it’s not too late — but it will be! If you don’t use it up before the last day of exams, it’s gone forever — yep, that’s right, money down the drain.

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To make sure you make full use of Daddy Harvard’s money, here’s a list of places you can use your BoardPlus dollars.

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Buckminster’s/Laboratory for Integrated Science and Engineering (LISE) Café

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Exit your PHYSCI11 or Math 1B lecture and head on over to the LISE Café located conveniently next to the Science Center in the LISE (11 Oxford St.). Open every weekday from 8 a.m. to at least 3 p.m. — the brightly lit cafe has delicious pastries, snacks, sandwiches, Peet's coffee, and best of all, Robert the barista. We recommend not going around 10:30 a.m. when the café is the most busy!

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Northwest Café

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If you’re over by the science buildings, make sure to visit the Northwest Café in the Northwest Science Building (52 Oxford St.). You can get Peet’s coffee, baked goods, and grab-and-go snacks here, too. The café has seating indoors, but you can also venture outside to sit in front of the Museum of Natural History.

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SEC Café

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If you’re heading to CS51 office hours or have the joy of all your classes being at the Science and Engineering Complex — make sure to check out the SEC Café on Level 1, West of the main atrium. With baked goods, soups, and sandwiches, this place offers breakfast, lunch, snacks, and Peet’s Coffee. Enjoy your food with their indoor or outdoor seating.

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HLS Harkness Dining Room, Grill, Pub, Harkbox & Catering

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Walk into the Harvard Law School’s Caspersen Student Center and find multiple places to both get food and eat. With pool, ping pong, Peet’s Coffee, grab-and-go sushi, a large variety of pastries on every floor, and a huge selection of world foods, why would you want to go anywhere else for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? There’s also a pub open from Monday to Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. with Pub Trivia on Wednesdays.

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Still Not Satisfied?

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Check out Lehman Hall for the Graduate School of Arts and Science Commons, the Harvard Divinity School Commons in Swartz Hall (45 Francis Ave), the Harvard Kennedy School (19 Eliot Street), or Sebastian’s in the Kresge Building at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (677 Huntington Ave).

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Don’t wait to spend the last thirty days of this semester having delicious pastries for breakfast and sandwiches for dinner. Bring your friends and enjoy the comfort of eating anywhere but the dining hall. Treat yourself — you deserve it!

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{shortcode-f89fd28f39fb2b44cfcf0856e51571e49ecb1e05}It’s getting warmer and the sun is shining (for the first time in months). It’s time to stop checking PassioGo and opt to walk — even if it means you may be late to section. Here’s a playlist to keep you company in your galavanting and rompings around campus and beyond. Pop in your headphones or put this on blast.

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