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Updated October 28, 2024, at 6:17 p.m.

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We’re in peak spooky season, which means the spirits are floating around, ready to cause mischief. And Harvard certainly has a lot of spirits to its name. Almost 400 years of alumni means there are plenty of people to speak to from beyond the grave… So which ones should you go for? If you’re going to do a seance this spooky season — a ritual with candles to try to attract a ghost to speak with you — then you need to know who you’re summoning. Have no fear: Flyby has compiled a top-10 list of ghosts to attract.

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1. Robert Frost

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Starting off strong with the author of a very autumnal poem. Ask him if it really made all the difference.

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2. Cotton Mather

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Mather was an ardent defender of the Salem Witch Trials; say you’re a witch and watch the lights flicker!

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3. Henry David Thoreau

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You simply must clown him for how his mom did his laundry when he was at Walden.

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4. Any Roosevelt

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If you’ve talked to one, you’ve talked to them all. And they basically all went here, so.

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5. Hellen Keller

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Girlboss. Radcliffe legend. You can tell her how Harvard did Radcliffe dirty and rage together about it.

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6. Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Be sure to tell him how creepy you think the statue of him in Emerson Hall is.

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7. J. Robert Oppenheimer

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Ask him about Cillian Murphy! We’re sure he’d be super happy to discuss.

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8. John Adams

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No, not that one. No, not that one either. Yes, that one.

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9. Ted Kaczynski

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Definitely a scary guy. He’d probably be into the candle aspect of a seance since it’s luddite-core.

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10. Barack Obama

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He’s very much not dead, but everyone really seems to want him to be on campus. Maybe this is the way to do it.

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Be sure to ~summon~ us first if you try these out — we want to see what happens! Happy haunting!

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{shortcode-21ca5a900a90969457c7c1f9166cd4b10a51a886}

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After weeks of an on-again-off-again relationship with the sun — never really knowing when it was officially time to put my t-shirts away — it’s safe to say that sweater weather is here to stay. Along with cozying up in sweatshirts and sweatpants, it’s finally time to get into the spooky Halloween spirit (yippee!) by watching reruns of “Girl vs. Monster” and Amazon priming last-minute costumes. The only issue is… Halloweekend 2024 falls on family weekend… just like it did last year (not yippee). As you brace yourself to take a page out of Hannah Montana’s book on how to balance a double life, read our tried and true tips on how to scare your parents:

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1. Lie about having midterms to study for

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Look, being a college student is especially hard during midterm season. With paper after paper, and exam after exam, it can feel like there is no end in sight. Without a clear finish line to look forward to, the month of October, quite frankly, is a bit of a downer.

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So, if you want to scare your parents as much as checking Canvas during this month scares you, tell them that the bulk of your midterms miraculously falls on the week right after Halloweekend Family Weekend. Instead of grabbing dinner with your parents, you’ll unfortunately be stuck in Lamont on Friday and Saturday night being an academic weapon (you poor, poor thing). Bonus points if they get so scared that they buy you pity study snacks you’ll inevitably eat in your dorm at 2 a.m. with your friends.

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2. Cancel on breakfast plans and take them to the dhall instead

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Due to your long, long night of studying, you may unfortunately wake up late and miss family breakfast. But before you freak out as you check your phone and see a dozen missed calls from your parents, think of the silver lining that has presented itself to you: the opportunity to introduce your parents to the finest brunch on this side of the river. Yup, you guessed it, HUDS. As you give them a tour of our exquisite selection of fresh berries (...oh wait) and chicken options that are never slightly pink on the inside, make sure to stop by the Oatly machine to show them what a nutritious diet you have!

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3. Give them a room tour

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Once you finish up in the dhall, be a good child and invite your parents over to your suite. After all, since Harvard is your home away from home, it’s only natural for your parents to be curious about how you’ve utilized your dorm space. Make sure to show them your unmade bed, overpriced cans of Celsius that you bought at CVS during an especially vulnerable evening, and your laundry hamper that is definitely not overflowing with dirty clothes. Bonus points if the Halloween costume that you did not wear the night before is lying on the ground, or if your mother sighs or shakes her head at you at any point during the tour.

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4. Celebrate Harvard’s victory over Princeton

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What better way to spend quality time with your family than at the Harvard v. Princeton football game. You can shock your parents with how much school spirit Harvard students have as they check the score maybe one time from Lamont and say, “Oh, cool I guess.” You’ll make family memories that will last a lifetime and get mentioned at every Thanksgiving to come.

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While Halloweekend x Family Weekend may seem daunting at first, these tips are sure to make your experience all the more enjoyable. No matter what happened between Thursday and Sunday, what will remain true is the love your family has for you. So just sit back and enjoy the spooky ride.

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{shortcode-dd6eb7a10a690929b9adfb0b00b5471c3ae0dac1}In an ideal world, Family Weekend would be the perfect opportunity for my parents to recognize my newfound maturity as they witness me navigate campus and student life with ease. Instead, they’ll arrive on campus to find me in a state of derangement induced by the three midterms that magically chose to schedule themselves on the first two days of Family Weekend (awfully convenient timing, universe). As much as I would like to spend time with them this Family Weekend (and will during the weekend portion of it), I will desperately need my privacy to study (and cry), so I’ve started brainstorming places to deposit them while I face my academic strife. In the interest of not gatekeeping, here are the places at the top of my list.

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Your Room

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I mean, it’s your room, so you make the rules. No one can tell you not to leave your parents unsupervised in your dorm room for extended periods of time… except the housing contract. And maybe your conscience. This Family Weekend, your parents can walk a mile in your shoes (read: pace back and forth in the jail cell you call home) and experience your living conditions firsthand. If Family Weekend is about parents “learn[ing] all that Harvard has to offer,” I can think of no better place to start than the living accommodations. However, you will need to dedicate some time before your parents arrive to sanitizing organizing your room, lest your parents find contraband spend the rest of the weekend questioning your ability to function.

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Your House Courtyard

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If you’d rather not leave the fam unsupervised in your room, consider depositing them in your House’s courtyard. Since many of the House courtyards require swipe access to leave (why), they’re incredibly secure, meaning that your parents won’t be able to escape will stay safe. We might be screenagers, but our parents’ childhoods were iPad-less and very focused on the outdoors, if my mother is to be believed. Sitting on the manicured lawn at the center of your House will allow them to reconnect with nature and reminisce about their younger days. If the weather is warm, they’ll have the perfect opportunity to enjoy the end result of the gazillion chemical treatments Harvard sprays on its grass. If it’s cold, they might be less inclined to romanticize campus, but you can use that to your advantage; after feeling the chill, they’ll be much more receptive to your arguments about your caffeine needs if you insist that you use the drinks as hand warmers.

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One of the Libraries

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Many campus libraries will allow parents to visit — even unaccompanied! — provided they come with their Family Weekend buttons pinned to their chests. (The same goes for the on-campus museums and gyms.) So drop your parents off and then, like, leave. At a run. (If I’m roped into providing a comprehensive tour of my reading period bunker, I might spontaneously combust. Never good when surrounded by flammable materials.) By design, libraries can occupy guests for several hours in a row, providing both distractions (i.e. books and computers) and basic amenities (i.e. restrooms and vending machines), but that honestly doesn’t matter much; my parents really just need a temperature-controlled space to find more motivational messages to spam me with on WhatsApp.

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Off Campus

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OK, you’re not leaving campus any time soon, but you can live vicariously through your parents. Boston and the rest of Massachusetts offer many attractions suitable for a day trip, especially if this is your family’s first time visiting and they haven’t yet visited the typical tourist haunts. From Cape Cod’s beaches and the historical monuments in the Charlestown Navy Yard, to food tours in the North End and a ridiculous number of museums, your parents will have ample opportunity to enjoy themselves (without you, unfortunately) once they leave the black hole of joy that is campus. (I love campus, actually. Truly. Totally.) However, if your parents are like mine, they will rely solely on you for recommendations and then will proceed to ignore 80 percent of them, so you might be better off devoting that time to studying for your midterm.

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Undefined

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Your parents are adults. So maybe, just maybe, it’s not on you to micromanage the hours you’ll have to spend away from them this Family Weekend. Let them explore! If the number of tourists is any indication, the Yard and the Science Center Plaza are enjoyable regardless of your familiarity with campus. Plus, your parents can try their hand at a new brand of Russian Roulette: seeing if the random people they greet in the Yard are other families of students or just another set of tourists.

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Your parents might be miffed at being unceremoniously abandoned in a corner of campus at first, but I’m sure they’ll come around eventually… most likely after you spend way too much time with them this weekend and thus doom yourself to the scariest of Sunday Scaries. No one said juggling parents and schoolwork was easy.

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{shortcode-d80dfacb0fca4398b0a02887fbaeeba4c46ba35f}Just as the air gets cooler, the leaves change to a golden brown color, and you finally unveil your sweater collection, you get the notification you least expect. And no, it’s not your ex breaking no contact. It’s your favorite app, Canvas: “Assignment Created - Midterm 1.” You look at your phone, stunned. It's midterm season? Already? You just finished decorating your dorm, and now this?

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You hope it’s a mistake – maybe even a glitch. But nope. There it is, in all its terrifying glory. But hey, no need to freak out. You tell yourself, I’ve totally got this. Right? (Spoiler: you don’t). Luckily, you have your favorite blog to help you prepare.

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Ask Past Students for “Advice”

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Start with the obvious: text everyone you know. It can’t hurt, can it? Obviously, others have taken the class before, sat through lectures, completed assignments, and still remember(?) the midterm. So it's fine to text your peers, studying for other classes, if they have any last-minute “advice” for you. After all, one little text to a Lamonster will do them a favor and give them a break from their hours-long study sesh. Hit them with the “Heyyy! You took Stat 110, right? ;)” and cross your fingers for a response.

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Avoid all Distractions

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In class, you were probably on your phone, scrolling through TikTok or “sneakily” checking group chats, praying no one notices how zoned out you are. That stops now. Throw your phone into the void that is the bottom of your backpack. Say no to grabbing boba with your friends (your bank account couldn’t handle it anyway). Ignore that Sidechat notification – Obama isn’t on campus. You need to focus, and distractions are your enemy. You're not just here to study; you're here to cram like your GPA depends on it (because it kind of does?).

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Calculate the Percentage

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It’s not worth that much of your final grade… probably. As you contemplate studying, remember that one midterm exam is just a chunk fraction of your grade, and you can make up your lost points by acing that final, showing up to lecture (starting now), and participating in sections from here on out. With that, you’ll be on the road to success in getting that A with a midterm grade that didn’t break you because you nailed everything else, hopefully. Realize that final grades are what count, no one sees what you got on that fall midterm of 2024, so don’t fret. It’s just 20 percent, chill.

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Face Reality

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Realistically, you are not retaining any information. You’ve got a mountain of readings to catch up on and you skimmed a Google document that hasn’t been opened since the second (maybe first?) week of class. Let’s face it — at this point, studying probably won’t make a difference. It’s too late to pull off some miracle, and stressing isn’t going to magically implant the information into your head. Don’t worry, you have so many more tests ahead of you to fail to pass. Maybe next time you’ll start studying before the night of?

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So, midterm season is here, and the harsh truth? It never really ends. Once one midterm is over, another is lurking right behind it, ready to ruin your weekend plans. Honestly, we wrote this article to procrastinate studying for our own midterms, so we totally get you. Sure, this one might feel like a setback to your winter arc, but hey, it’s all part of the journey (or so we tell ourselves).

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Let’s be real, though — maybe this blog post wasn’t as helpful as you hoped. No amount of last-minute advice will save you (or us) if you keep putting everything off until the night before. So, stop procrastinating, close this tab, and go actually study. Your GPA (and future self) will thank you.

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{shortcode-2da4bdb8ec0ffe25a6a5ac8144b9e2cef1aebef1}Head of the Charles: a weekend full of fun, energy, and excitement as we watch people of all ages compete for glory on the Charles River. There's a massive influx of people on campus, as I’m sure you felt this past weekend, with tourists from all over the globe coming to Cambridge and the greater Boston area to experience this famous event. However, in addition to attending to support the Crimson’s teams, I had another goal in mind: brand pop-ups. I love to try new things, especially for free, and if you didn’t know, the Head of the Charles is the perfect place to do that. Here’s a ranking of the items I received for attending:

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1. Barebell Hoodie

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My absolute favorite item I received this weekend was a beautiful white hoodie from Barebell Protein Bars. The material was of excellent quality, and the design is actually something I like to wear. Plus, it allowed me to wait to do laundry another day, so it’s a win-win all around.

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2. Barebell Hat

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Since my friend was not a hat person, I was also able to obtain a matching hat from the same vendor. It's a nice hat, perfect for bad hair days.

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3. Barebell Protein Bars

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I received 18 of these, a solid steal since 12 retail around $30. They’re actually pretty good. My favorite flavor thus far is cookie dough —it’s like candy disguised as a protein bar.

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4. 5 Cans of Reign Clean Energy Drinks

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I really liked the Reign stand. It was impressive with its two-story setup. I was able to secure five cans, which I will give out to my friends when they are in the trenches. Very happy to aid my friends in need.

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5. 22 Bags of Cheese Puffs

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Though they came in tiny bags and took up a lot of space in my bag, preventing me from obtaining other items, these cheese puffs were delicious.

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6. Five Gold Tea Bottles

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They have the same vibe as the Reign energy drinks, except they don’t have caffeine, which places them further down on my list.

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7. Barebell Stickers & Regin Hand Sanitizer

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They're nice but aren’t very exciting. They're the kind of items that end up tucked in a drawer somewhere.

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In summary, I was extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to go and experience this event. All of the brand booths I went to had immaculate setups and were incredibly generous in giving out free products. I am sure I will be stocked for the next few weeks going into midterms.

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{shortcode-5af40ccb86da7d3053baf6783ac71c53e73f4e2e}Hello Harvard! My name is Maya, and I’m perfect. I hear a lot of you have been overwhelmed lately, and while I can’t relate to literally anything you’re going through, a lot of you have been asking what it’s like to be thriving, happy, and gorgeous every single day. Honestly, I’m really glad you asked. Growing up, I always felt like we didn’t have enough perfect role models to look up to. I want to change that. I think it’s really important to recognize that while some of us suffer from stress or anxiety, others of us suffer from success, and that’s okay, too. I just thought I would share a day in the life of the perfect Harvard student as a reminder that perfect people do exist, and we deserve to be seen and heard!

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6:30 a.m.: I wake up to my alarm. The tone plays only once, for one second, because I wake up at the very first ring.

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6:45 a.m.: I wear my clothes that were laid out the night before.

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6:47 a.m.: I take the dentist’s recommended two minutes to brush my teeth. I don’t get to have a skincare routine like you all do. Unfortunately, since I’ve never been stressed, I have perfect skin and hair every single day.

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7:00 a.m.: I walk into Lowell House dhall, where I make the difficult choice of choosing which one of my multiple friend groups I will sit with. Ultimately, I decide to split time between all seven groups, who equally demand my attention.

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7:15 a.m.: As I eat my well-balanced, nutritious meal, I get a “good morning my sunshine pookie bear” text from my 6’ 11”, basketball player boyfriend who is also a Rhodes Scholar. I don’t text him back, because he’s just another 6’ 11” athlete boy I’ll date for like a summer and leave when I’m bored. If I ever got bored. Which I don’t.

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7:30 a.m.: I go for a light, ten mile sprint around the Charles, avoiding the track coach who waits there every morning to try and recruit me for the team. People often ask how I have run ten miles for the last seven years without skipping a day. It’s simple: perseverance!

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8:30 a.m.: After showering in my spotless communal bathroom, I blow dry my hair in my 250-square-foot single.

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9:00 a.m.: I show up to my nine a.m. lecture, for which I have read every single reading, taken notes, and remembered the key points for at least one day in advance. I raise my hand no less than seven times and get called on each time to give a thoughtful response which incorporates my own opinions backed by several pieces of evidence from the readings and lectures, cited appropriately.

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10:15 a.m.: I decided to enjoy the sunshine until lunch. Me and my multicultural group of friends sit on the grass in the Yard and talk about social issues, life goals, and our friendship. We’re all wearing Harvard gear, representing our pride in the school and the community we share. This is all captured beautifully in a candid, laughing photo taken by Dean Khurana.

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12:00 p.m.: My boyfriend buys me food, and we share it on the steps of Widener. We walk back to Lowell, hand-in-hand, discussing our future and feminist ideals.

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1:30 p.m.: I go to my second class of the day, where I piggyback off of four ideas and raise my hand thirty seconds before class ends so I can keep everyone an extra ten minutes while I share a vaguely related anecdote.

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3:00 p.m.: I meet with my academic advisor. Once I clearly lay out my visions and goals, she tells me clear steps on how to organize my remaining semesters to achieve them. I’ve learned that help will always be given at Harvard to those who ask for it.

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4:00 p.m.: I call my mom and dad, who are extremely supportive of my philosophy concentration. They encourage me to take a semester off and travel through Europe so I can discover who I really am. They also inquire about my boyfriend, who they consider family at this point.

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5:00 p.m.: I go to my first club meeting of the day. I’m the president of four large clubs, so I stack the meetings back to back. (A lot of you have been asking how I manage so much, and my best advice is to try harder.)

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9:00 p.m.: Because I finish my psets and assignments ahead of time each week, I go out nearly every day. I get ready with the girls, taking deep breaths as I turn down most of the invites on my phone. I hate disappointing any one of my hundreds of friends!

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10:30 p.m.: Me and the girls get several perfectly posed photos for the Instagram story, hinting obviously that we’re in a final club without overtly specifying which one, although you can tell by the brick wall and the blurry guy walking in the back wearing a tie with the club insignia.

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11:59 p.m.: I head back to Lowell to get just seven hours of sleep before my busy day tomorrow!

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And just like that, I’ve survived another day of perfection. For those of you that are tired of being ugly and lonely, I highly recommend 1) doing better 2) improving and 3) succeeding if you’re looking for a place to start your journey. It’s really hard, and this life is definitely not as easy as it looks, but I highly encourage you to believe in yourself. You’re the only one who will!

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{shortcode-3c728e6541f7e184f617f654703e82640f386671}Sweet treats are a necessary part of life, throughout the good, the bad, and the in-between.

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Midterm went terribly? Sweet treat.

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You secured a thesis advisor? Sweet treat.

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You had a really mediocre date? Sweet treat.

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No matter the occasion, you always deserve a sweet treat. Here’s a little guide to finding a sweet treat for every mood, from yours truly. All of these places are in Harvard square or nearby, so you’ll never have to look too far ;)

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Feeling like romanticizing your life? Give an arm and a leg for L.A. Burdick's hot chocolate.

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Yes, I know it’s almost $7. But can you tell me it’s not worth it? No. Especially on a chilly day, this purely melted chocolate bar is life changing. But you can’t go wrong – if the cookie or some other chocolate delight calls your name, be my guest. I promise you’ll leave feeling like Rory Gilmore, ready to tackle whatever’s on your plate.

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Feeling down in the dumps? Stop by Union Square Donuts.

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I don’t have much rhyme or reason to this one. All I know is that one time I got rejected from not one, not two, but THREE jobs in one day, so I knew I definitely deserved a pick-me-up. Union Square Donuts just happened to be close by, but boy did it do the trick. That Boston Cream Donut really empathized with my rejection and put a smile on my taste buds, even if I was not.

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Feeling sleepy? Grab a latte with any type of sweetener.

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Sorry, I know this is unoriginal. We all know the cure for the ceaseless yawns is simply caffeine. But… don’t be too hard on yourself and get drip coffee (icky) or even Cold Brew (too harsh). That’s why a sweetened latte is perfect – gives the caffeine kick, but is still cute and YUMMY.

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I’m not even going to tell you where to get your latte from, because Harvard Square abounds with coffee shops, and most of them are pretty good. A notable mention, though, is Pavement’s Maple Latte.

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Feeling like you’re on top of the world? Head to Lizzy’s.

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I think this is the most underrated ice cream in the square. It’s WAY cheaper than J.P. Licks or Amorino, far away from the clamoring tourists, and you get way more bang for your buck. On top of that, the ice cream flavors are simply. So. Good. If you’re already having an amazing day, why not make it even better with some really good ice cream and a really good deal?

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Feeling ravenous for a late-night snack? Chip City.

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Wow, am I glad Chip City just opened in the Square. Craving an ooey-gooey classic chocolate chip cookie to fuel you for a long night in Lamonts ? Look no further. Insomnia also suffices, but I find their cookies a bit wimpy in comparison to Chip City

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And there you have it. Happy munching!

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Dean of Students Thomas Dunne said a few days ago that we would have a Harvard-Yale tailgate “that is attractive to students and fun and feels like what they imagined Harvard-Yale to be, but it’s also safe.” Well, Flyby Blog has the scoop and he’s right! Here’s a look inside what this attractive tailgate will be like:

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Food: Grape Pizza for All

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We must share the experience that put HUDS on the map. Yale won’t be so smug about their “gourmet food” now.

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Drinks: You Think It Is Diet Coke But When You Press The Thing It’s Gross Sparkling Water Without Any Syrup In It

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Aw, man! It’s almost as disappointing as the game against Brown.

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Tents

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Silly students, tents are for camping, and that’s not allowed. What do you mean, it’s daytime? Look at the campus use rules!

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Alcohol!

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Hahahahahahahahahahahaha just kidding. If you’re really looking for a buzz, just save all the toppings from your pizza and wait. A few years should do the trick.

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Location

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You will need to swipe three times to get in. And no, it’s not a tap. A swipe. Then it will be a field with no cars in sight.

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Decorations

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Not chalk, that’s for sure.

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Who

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Any student (admission fee: $0) or alum (admission fee: $151 million).

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Special Guests

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Zuck is coming… and what’s this? He’s the linebacker?!

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Sponsors

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Truly Seltzer. (Come on, it’s literally veritas. How has this not happened?) Also Ken Griffin.

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When

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Right now! You’re missing it!

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So get excited! See you on the field!

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{shortcode-35faff1578af8d20078042f96759df205d9a02ef}

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In case you didn’t receive a million emails about it, let us remind you: this weekend is Head of the Charles. In other words, 200,000 people will descend upon the Charles River to watch a bunch of high schoolers and college students, and professionals row row row their boats. Chaos will reign and Satan will be nigh. And by Satan we mean a lot of Vineyard Vines shorts. The only way to prepare is to prepare for the worst. Here’s how to get ready for the zombie apocalypse: a.k.a. Head of the Charles.

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Gather Provisions

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If you think you will need anything other than dhall food this weekend, get it now: stores will be swamped. Nowhere is safe. Hordes of scarf-wearing blonde women and the skinniest teenagers you’ve ever seen will cram the aisles of all retail establishments, leaving you no choice but to fight until you’re begging for surrender. Pick up your prescription now, not later.

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Figure Out Who You Can Trust

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High schoolers and people from lamer colleges than ours will be trying to force their way into any party happening between Friday and Sunday. If you and more than one friend are hanging out, they’ll be banging down the doors, begging for drinks instead of brains. Don’t let them win! Keep gatherings ~intimate~ and/or ~guarded~.

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Go on Group Raids

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Brands like to give out free stuff during Head of the Charles. You can take advantage of this if you have a strategy and an escape plan. Get in and get out; don’t get distracted by the action or mowed down by the swarms of people. Only examine your spoils once back in the safety of your dorm.

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Find High Ground

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If you want to watch the regatta, it’ll be difficult to see anything from the banks of the river unless you get there first thing in the morning. Luckily, dorms with river views have a great vantage point. Find a friend and post up in their common room. But don’t let anyone see you! (See point 2.)

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Don’t Try to Rationalize What’s Happening

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It’s actually scientifically impossible to understand how a regatta works, so don’t try. “It’s just a race,” you say. To which we say, “did you know they all start at different times?” How many miles is it? How many people are in a boat? Why is coxswain pronounced like that? Trying to comprehend what’s happening wastes valuable energy you could be spending cowering in fear.

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With these tips, you’ll be ready to survive the scariest weekend of the semester yet. But don’t get too comfortable: next weekend is Family Weekend…

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{shortcode-c3c1e05aed35fe5c34d7b5266371b43dfee5e381}

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The Harvard admissions pamphlet told me a lot about all of the incredible opportunities for enrichment and success I would have here. What it forgot to mention was that there are even more chances for humiliation. One can experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows all in the same day at this prestigious university, so I decided to create a guide to get the most bang for your buck, and maximize your ego deflation. Without further ado, here’s six things you can do to get thoroughly humbled at Harvard:

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1. Getting mistaken for a tourist

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Undoubtedly, every Harvard student’s greatest fear is being mistaken for a tourist. As we wade through swarms of eager tourists in front of Widener Library or the John Harvard statue, it’s easy to evade accusations as long as you have the telltale signs of a student — a backpack and a purpose. However, in the rare moments that you are without your shields, the risk sets in. Especially when you’re caught in a moment of weakness, like Google mapping your way somewhere, you have to be vigilant about not blending in with the tour in front of you.

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2. Almost getting hit by a scooter… or actually getting hit

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As “Top Gun” says… Highway to the danger zone. There is a certifiable danger any time you leave your dorm, but you need to exercise extreme caution on the crowded yet not-wide-enough paths of Harvard Yard. Nothing brings you back down to earth better than a near collision with a defensive lineman on a scooter going 45 mph, but actually getting hit? Transfer. I promise that the money you spend on medical bills will not be worth the two seconds you saved not looking both ways when you cross.

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3. Being seen at any Harvard party

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As Harvard students, it’s almost an inevitability that you will attend a party bad enough that you consider abstaining from all nightlife. The worst part of the experience isn’t the trek to and from the basement of an upperclassmen House (or worse, a freshman dorm), it’s when your presence is noted. It’s sobering — literally — to see someone from your Justice section in the crowd of a poorly lit, poorly ventilated ‘party’, but it’s even worse when you are forced to relive it at 9 a.m. the next day.

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4. Shuffling through desks after being late

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Arriving to class on Harvard time (two to three minutes late) is nothing short of humiliating. It may be a standard college experience, but something about ‘excuse me’-ing and ‘I’m sorry’-ing your way through the packed seats of Sanders Theater triggers your fight or flight response. Not only do you feel the judgment and scorn from your punctual peers, but you also have to bear the weight of being an actual nuisance to everyone in your vicinity. At least you're not alone: there will always be someone later than you.

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5. “Fake” IDs

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The great equalizer on campus should be that we all have IDs (preventative measures for no. 1), but unfortunately this isn’t always the case. Our Harvard IDs, or rather, the scanners, have a tendency to stall at the most inopportune moments. Sometimes, it’s just when your hands are full and you realize you’re holding up a train of people, or when you’re called back because your swipe didn’t go through in the dining hall — embarrassing, but you’re not to blame. However, in the moment when you’re looking the cashier in the eye after your Board Plus declines for the second time, you should feel the weight of responsibility, and the burn of shame.

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6. Getting kicked out of the library

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Harvard students bring this upon ourselves, since only we would stay in a library to the last possible minute. That being said, a security guard forcing you to leave the building where you’ve practically built an ecosystem is not the most pleasant experience. It isn’t just frantically gathering your belongings and starting the walk of shame that does it, it’s also the knowledge that because the library’s closing, it’s likely a weekend, and this is the best thing you had to do. The first time, it's cute — you’re a dedicated student. After that… find some hobbies.

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This list may seem daunting, and you may wonder if your self confidence can handle any one of these experiences. Don’t worry, you can! In fact, you probably will check every single one of these off before your 10:30 a.m. class in one day. If you’re still recovering, look at the bright side — any one of these will make a great topic of conversation for your debrief at dinner. And if you still need something to make you feel better, think about how much worse it could be: any of these could have happened to you in New Haven.

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{shortcode-ef53c437bd51fae6aba7e735b45374bc2b35918f}

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Under most metrics, I wouldn’t consider myself an out-of-control spender. Or even a slightly extravagant one. I probably spend money only about twice a week on average: once every week or two weeks to feed the beast (read: my perpetual but often starved Jefe’s craving) and slightly more often to grab a quick meal via Board Plus (not real money) or one of the vending machines in the Science Center (Crimson Cash and therefore not real money).

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Still, even if I don’t spend often, every time I am forced to contend with the concept of money, I feel a little bit guilty. Campus and the Square are so, so expensive — and feel doubly so when I’ve left Massachusetts for a minute — so every expense feels like an extravagance… even when said extravagance is a single granola bar. Plus, most of my expenses feel like they could be avoided with slightly better planning (i.e. waking up five minutes earlier for dhall breakfast). So, in the spirit of self improvement and personal growth, I decided to try not spending anything for a week. (Let’s ignore the fact that I was informally dared to do so for the purpose of writing an article; this was totally an entirely personal decision made not for the purpose of cannibalizing my life for content.)

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Honestly, my week of no spend felt shockingly mundane. (Again, I don’t actually spend that much in a given week.) That’s not to say that it wasn’t a challenge, though, or that I didn’t miss the privilege of spending. The thrill of treating myself. The joy of tapping my card against a register. The dread of choosing a tip percentage based on a two-minute interaction. The freedom of choice, of spontaneity.

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Instead, I had the dubious pleasure of eating the same bagged lunch four days in a row — thank you, HUDS — a real throwback to freshman year when I didn’t rely on the Northwest Labs vending machines for 30 percent of my nutritional needs. I also felt eternally grateful to my clubs and part-time job for feeding me my weight in Frito-Lay products. I felt thankful to past me for having the foresight to leave just enough on my T pass to get me to lab and back (twice!). (Yes, this article has now turned into an acknowledgements section; do you have a problem with that?) I felt slightly less than ecstatic with Flyby (read: my own, very hastily made decisions) for forcing me to avoid a boba outing with my friends.

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Small inconveniences aside, choosing not to spend anything for a week was not as tortuous as I’d expected. It probably saved me about $12 max, most of which I spent within the following week out of sheer spite. I suppose it never hurts to reign in your spending, but there’s no sense in overthinking it; unless you’re embarking on multiple shopping sprees a month, I doubt your personal spending choices are less economical than purchasing the random textbooks on your syllabi. Winning the no-spend challenge shouldn’t come at the expense of the freedom to live your life as you please. Plus, if you switch up your spending habits too quickly, your credit card company might suspect fraud, and that sounds like more trouble than it’s worth.

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{shortcode-8f530711d7402593d8b8c783cb6294d7fdc75103}Love it

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Convenience, speed, and cost-effectiveness. I am obsessed with Blank Street's caffeine and business model. I never have to wait more than 5 minutes for my order, even on the busiest weekdays, and I am always greeted with a kind smile by the baristas.

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Why do the baristas know my name, you may ask? Because I am constantly in and out of their shop, getting the most out of my subscription. It eliminates my need to decide if I want to spend five dollars on coffee that day because I already paid for my consumption of coffee that week, and by unit, each cup only costs me a little over a dollar. As an economics major, I can confirm that this is a good deal in the tragic economy we are all living in.

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Also, paying a dollar per coffee means that I can justify trying new flavors I might not like. Although I love most of the flavors, the strawberry and cream iced latte is forever calling my name. This perk has also encouraged me to shift from my typical caffeine choices and try healthier options like tea or matcha.

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Blank Street: please never close. I just won’t be able to get over you.

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Hate it

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Listen, when I say hate it, I don't actually hate Blank Street. I hate that I don't understand. I don't understand how almost every other week, I walk down Mass Ave and see a sign for a new promotion where I can get a coffee for a fraction of its normal price. I don't understand how almost all of my peers can pay $20 upfront and get practically as much coffee as they want for the week. How do you do it, Blank Street? What are you hiding?

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I do pop into Blank Street every once in a while to try the new seasonal flavors, I must admit. I am not above the fun flavors that they promote; I too, am interested in what watermelon matcha would taste like. But whenever I tap my card, I just feel skeptical. With all of these promotions, they’re obviously doing well enough not to need my money. Blank Street, where does it go?

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Maybe I am the one funding those “unlimited” coffees, or maybe there is more to the story. Or maybe I’m thinking too deeply about something that doesn’t matter. Either way, I don’t care. Coffee shouldn’t make me think this hard.

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Blank Street: You keep me on my toes. Let me off of them.

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{shortcode-0d02297c474d03e40a9b05598729ff77c8dff2b7}I cannot believe we’re in midterm season already. Suddenly the bright-eyed, optimistic version of me is long gone and has been replaced by a sleep-deprived, Celsius-addicted shell of a human being. My friends don’t know where I am or how I’m doing because I’m in my room 24/7, stuck in a loop of suffering through psets, studying for midterms, and taking naps that accidentally turn into 6 a.m. panics. So, I’ve come to the decision that I don’t only need to practice self-care, I deserve it. As someone who just came out of her midterm, here are some ways that I am practicing self-care (in the lone hour of free time I can afford), that you might be able to take inspiration from.

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Become a rock.

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If reincarnation is real, what would you reincarnate as? My answer is a rock. Lay down somewhere comfortable and just exist for a moment. Have no thoughts in that brain of yours (you’ve used it enough today) and no obligations for the next few minutes. Just imagine you are a rock, existing on the bank of the Charles, perhaps, and embody that energy.

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Embrace your inner yapper.

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Call your parents/friends/anyone who can listen to you complain, and just yap. Complain about anything and everything. Talk about the most random things. Get your brain off of academics, and do NOT talk about how you did in that midterm.

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A sweet treat can literally solve world peace.

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Not really, but it can fix the part of me that slightly died while I studied for this exam. Even science agrees with me. Did you know that carbohydrates stimulate serotonin release, which makes you feel happier?

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Take a walk.

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… to Cabot or Lamont Library and revel in the stress permeating through the air of people who still have a midterm (or midterms) left today. You are superior to them in every way.

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Ignore your problems

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Maybe the true act of self care is to simply… stop trying! Switch to pass-fail, drop out of that class, heck, drop out of school! The ultimate form of self-care is making rash decisions based on momentary peace and happiness. (For legal reasons, Flyby does not endorse recklessly dropping out and cannot take responsibility for any of these actions if you choose to participate in them.)

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Congrats on finishing that midterm (or paper, pset, whatever else you have going on). I’m proud of you for making it through another heinous week in this dreadful season of the semester that will only end once winter break rolls around. Stay hydrated, remember that the FDA advises that healthy adults only drink up to 400 mg of caffeine (two cans of Celsius, for reference), and good luck out there <3.

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{shortcode-1c0b2a9a0db81293f1edd6203bc23bc0d9ebcddb}Every season has its pros and cons, and both are never felt more than during the transition from one to another. So, as Harvard welcomes fall and says goodbye to summer, there are bound to be some growing pains for those of us on campus. My remedy for these pains is simple: picnics! They’re the perfect opportunity to soak in every last bit of sun and celebrate with your friends before rain and midterms drive them away. To make sure that you take advantage of every sunny day or over-70-degree hour, here are all the necessary details to plan your very own picnic — no planning on your part required!

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Location

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Clothes make the man, and an aesthetic setting makes the picnic! Luckily, we have an abundance of grassy areas around the Yard. Some of the most popular picnic spots are along the Charles River, near Dunster and Winthrop. Said location is great for its river scenery, convenience, and general Harvardness. Just grab a picnic blanket and pop a squat. Warning to those scared of bees though.

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Another alternative is the Harvard Business School! It’s a little more manicured and offers a ton of outdoor event-hosting spaces, including pavilions and sheltered outdoor seating areas, in case the weather turns sour. You can even take a turn in the greenhouse/chapel, although there isn’t any seating there.

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Last but not least, for those who are nature-averse or maybe just allergic: The balconies on the upper floors of the Science Center make a great outdoor gathering space. They’re located on every floor above the third and are outfitted with picnic tables and other seating. Plus, if you choose one on the fourth floor, you can even filch coffee from the Math Lounge!

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Food

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With the location set, the next most important factor of the picnic is the food. The most obvious and classic choice is Trader Joe’s. But even within Joe’s walls, there are many other sub-themes to choose from — I offer you three.

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The first is, as you might expect, charcuterie! Take the picnic as the perfect opportunity to try out the store's cheese and meat section. I promise you won’t regret it. To spice up the selection even more, I recommend something from the dried fruits section, like apricots, mangoes, or cranberries or even actual fruit! Grapes, strawberries, and cherries are always a crowd pleaser.

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The second theme is what I like to call bread and spread. Trader Joe’s offers a nice selection of bread, including sourdough, focaccia, and many other dessert breads. They also offer a ton of different spreads — do you see where I’m getting the theme name from — which you can mix and match to your preferences. I recommend the cocoa-almond spread and jams for those with sweet tooths and olive oil and balsamic vinegar for those who favor the savory.

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The third theme is similar to the previous one, but this time, it is called chips and dip! This theme focuses on the many types of hummus and dip that Ole’ Joe provides and people’s general love of chips and crackers. My favorite pairing is the spinach and artichoke dip with the Crunchy Curls! But, generally, following one’s heart will work out.

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The Invitation

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The last step to planning the picnic, the invitation, is often overlooked. However, there’s a subtle art form to inviting someone to your picnic. After all, the type and style of your invitation sets the tone of the gathering. Will it be casual? Boozy? Will it have a dress code? I recommend you hone the wording and graphics of your invitation to convey exactly the theme you want. I also recommend using tools like Partiful, which lets you stylize invitations in any way your heart desires. Plus, as opposed to group chats or individual text blasts, everyone can see who's coming and who’s not (very helpful to snoopers).

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And with that, I hope I’ve made your future picnic planning seamless and easy! Picnics are also just a nice excuse to catch up with friends, an activity always much needed during the hectic times of the semester. So grab your blanket and go!

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{shortcode-3f99849d512244d5596157a1472fa1fe1ee10ef2}As fall quickly approaches and mindsets change from missing summer to counting the days until Thanksgiving break, I thought I would round up some common phrases you may start hearing around campus.

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1. “There's a mouse in my room!”

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Same!! There has been a mouse in our room for a week now. One of my roommates seems to really have a problem with it, but honestly, it's getting cold, and I don't really blame him.

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2. “Wow, this is miserable.”

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Are you referring to the spitting rain or the two-hour-long lecture you're about to sit through while completely drenched? Because I would have to agree on both fronts.

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3. “Where are all the people?” Said in reference to the dwindling in-person attendance of Ec 10a

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I have no idea, but I'm starting to think they know what’s up.

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4. “I'll meet you at 8 for breakfast before class, and we can do the reading together.”

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While in theory a very ‘college-y’ and wholesome idea, by the time we get to fall, the follow-through rate on plans like this begins to plummet. Sadly, tomorrow morning, your alarm is going to go off at 7:30, and you will then proceed to snooze it 20 times until suddenly it's 8:45, and there just isn't quite enough time to grab a Veritaffle before your 9 a.m.

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5. “Leafing”??

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Idk, the other day, I overheard someone say they wanted to go “leafing” in response to being asked about their favorite fall activity. I did everyone a favor and looked it up, and it's basically like going bird-watching but without the birds…

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6. “I'm so tired of Berg food.”

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This should serve as a warning to all of the upperclassmen out there; the freshmen are coming for your dining halls. Specifically those of you at Dunster — I fear you are at the highest risk. However, if you’re in the Quad, I think you’re good. That 17-minute trek is quite a turnoff.

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7. “Are you going to hit a brain break at some point?”

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Unfortunately, yes. It may be a Thursday night, but it's also one of the best bets for social interaction four weeks into freshman year.

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8. “Ugh, I've had the freshman flu for a week now.”

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I'm so sorry to hear that… Please scoot away from me now. Sanders during Justice is far too packed for you to disclose this. I am trapped with you and three old people (what are they even doing here, anyway?) between me and my escape from you and your illness.

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9. “I'm so excited for Harvard-Yale!”

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Considering half of my friends applied early to Yale (and are now attending various other universities…you can connect those dots), I'm extremely excited to support the revenge effort and also to experience what I have been told is the best weekend of freshman year!

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10. “I have midterms next week.”

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How is that possible? We literally got here a week ago.

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But newsflash, you didn't. It has actually been over a month, and now fall is here (whether we like it or not), and you need to be ready! I hope these phrases were as relatable as I hoped they would be; or conversely, if you haven't heard any of them because you are never caught without your AirPods in, I hope you feel all caught up on the season's chatter.

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{shortcode-ac03c79323aceedf17965eeef7d7a433d6a7b995}Harvard websites: love them or hate them, you have to use them. Unless you plan to enroll in only MIT classes and hack the laundry machines (which, for the record, Flyby does not condone), Crimson Cash and my.harvard are unavoidable parts of the college experience. For a school with a computer science professor on the payroll for over a million a year, we do not seem to have the website area smoothed out. Read on to count down Harvard’s clunkiest websites, and maybe find one to redo for your CS50 final project (I’m begging, please!).

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4. Harvard Syllabus Explorer

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Have you ever wondered if you could take a class about a really specific topic? Maybe you were looking for an English class that could justify your purchase of the new Sally Rooney book, a class where you can learn to paint, or a class that talks about memes? Well, the Harvard Syllabus Explorer should be the right place for you… except for the fact that syllabi are often missing, classes don’t always show up properly, and the information you can find is frequently out of date. At the same time, this website has so much wasted potential, so I’m placing it 4th.

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3. HUHS Patient Portal

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Whether dying of strep throat, booking a flu shot, or trying to upload all your vaccine information before freshman year so you can actually register for class, the HUHS patient portal is always an unpleasant experience. Coupling that with the fact that if you make a mistake filling out the intake form, it makes you go all the way back to the start, the HUHS website could definitely use some revamping.

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2. Crimson Cash E-Accounts Portal
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This website looks supremely unofficial. It is not a place I visit for fun but only against my will when I try to do laundry and my card comes up short. Filled with anger for a college this expensive charging even more for laundry, this website will not be missed when Crimson Cash is fully phased out. If you’re looking for something scary this spooky season, this website could be for you. Every time I use it, I’m frightened that my credit card information is about to be stolen!

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1. my.harvard

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As a supremely indecisive liberal arts college student, I have a very love-hate relationship with my.harvard. For a site that serves so many important uses, I do not understand why I have to erase my browser history once a week to be able to log in. At the same time, I love browsing random classes and creating 10 different semester schedules, so at least I’ll be ready when Crimson Carts open on OCTOBER 23????

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Despite my daily grievances against these websites, hating my.harvard might be the most unifying take one can have on this campus. So maybe it’s not about the classes you sign up for, the medical appointments you make, or the money you waste on laundry but the friends you make along the way by complaining about the unnecessary difficulty of these tasks.

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-ac03c79323aceedf17965eeef7d7a433d6a7b995}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2024/10/07/002331_1373337.png.1500x718_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=]>), ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-2bbbd8e70591869bb76841b424cae858aedbd758}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2024/10/07/002805_1373339.png.1500x253_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption='Rank 4: Syllabus Explorer', hovertext=None, contributors=]>), ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-b11c5d555016469a0158c3597a2dd5b2bc09ca9a}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2024/10/07/002852_1373340.png.1500x630_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption='Rank 3: HUHS Patient Portal', hovertext=None, contributors=]>), ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-0b4ae0bd658c4ba3a7252b63e5b8122359956705}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2024/10/07/002934_1373341.png.1500x661_q95_crop-smart_upscale.jpg', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption='Rank 2: Crimson Cash', hovertext=None, contributors=]>), ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-88b6bdfff4fa7f6a5cb17bb35d9ae624c4530002}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2024/10/07/003015_1373342.png.1500x687_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption='The Winner… my.harvard', hovertext=None, contributors=]>)])