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{shortcode-db7f9ecbc8bfd5a62ec8d3f15748c9ec5ab869a3}It’s Visitas. The sun is shining, the Yard is crawling with prefrosh, and your calendar has 19 overlapping events. You’re sweaty, overstimulated, and suddenly in a 45-minute convo with someone named Aidan? Or maybe Andrew? And they're also from New York? Hmm. Before you ask them to join your spring 2026 blocking group, here are some foolproof ways to verify that your new BFF isn’t a 30-year-old social experiment in disguise or a ~pathological liar~ with a deep love for free tote bags and a vendetta against the admissions process.

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The Lanyard

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If your new friend is also proudly wearing the Visitas lanyard around their neck, congrats, you’ve met another bright-eyed prefrosh. Bonus points if they also look lost. Because honestly, who else would willingly wear a giant plastic name tag around their neck unless they, too, were seeking attention? The lanyard is less of a fashion statement and more of a cry for help.

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Google Search

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The most basic option: the good ole trusty Google search. If you’re anything like me (nosy), you’ve probably already done this. Just type their full name and "Harvard" into the search bar. If you find any of the following, you’re in the clear.

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1. News articles about their college acceptance (bonus points if there’s a dramatic reaction video)
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2. A post on their high school’s college admissions Instagram page, usually featuring a baby pic
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3. Some kind of award listing that backs up their claim of being a national debate champ or whatever else they not-so-casually dropped into the middle of a conversation about the weather
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LinkedIn Stalk

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A (creepy and dedicated) step above the previous search, verify that they’re from where they say they’re from. Also, if their profile makes you catch a case of impostor syndrome, chances are, they did impress the admissions committee enough to be admitted. If their profile says “Incoming Harvard College Class of 2029,” you’re probably good. However, if it says “CEO at 17. Self-made. Believer. Dog dad,” be afraid. Be very afraid.

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Ask to See Their Reaction Video

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If your new friend is giving “I’ve already paid taxes” energy, ask to see their reaction video. We all filmed one. If they don’t have one or pretend they forgot to record it because they were “just so in the moment,” that’s a lie. Nobody was “just so in the moment.” We were all sobbing in front of a camera. Hysterically.

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Honorable Mention: Profile Pic

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If your new friend happens to have an obviously AI-generated profile picture, run.

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Visitas is chaotic. It’s a blur of info sessions and random people asking you where you're from, what schools you got into, what you’re going to major in, and other equally thoughtless questions every five minutes. And while most people you meet are just as overwhelmed and excited as you, a few might be... freeloading imposters. So, next time you meet someone who seems a little too perfect, a little too mysterious, or just too good at navigating Annenberg, ask yourself the only question that matters: Do they even go here?

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\r\nRead the rest of our Visitas 2025 feature here!

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{shortcode-216d1cc41e151454a229d52a88258601d66384a3}Welcome to Harvard’s campus, prefrosh! We know you’ve probably been eagerly looking forward to exploring all of the photo-esque parts of campus you’ve seen online. But there is so much more that Harvard has to offer… at least if your so-called tour guide (read: other prefrosh or overly invested current student) has anything to say about it. Unfortunately for you, their suggestions are a bit lacking. If you’d like to avoid walking ten thousand miles this weekend for no real reason, you’ll listen to us.

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Tasty Basty

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If you think this has something to do with turkey basters, you’ve somehow managed to fall behind on your readings before committing. Something will probably happen in the basement of Tasty Burger this weekend, but trust us, you don’t need (or want) to be there.

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Holworthy Basement

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If Tasty Basty wasn’t small or sweaty enough, boy, do we have something in store for you! Once you get access to Sidechat, you’ll undoubtedly scroll past posts reading, “roll Holworthy basement!” more times than any of us would like to admit; save being traumatized by visiting the basement till then.

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The Student Organizations Center at Hilles (SOCH)

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The name is a lie. No student group has ever met in this building. (Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but we’d never choose to meet anyone but our worst enemies here.) The only thing I’ve ever done in the SOCH is count down the minutes until I can leave. There are no redeeming qualities to this building. It makes us upset.

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The Charles River

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You cross this to get to the Harvard Business School. That’s about it.

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Harvard Business School

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Unnecessary detour. But now that you’re here, you can get ahead on McKinsey recruitment! Small mercies.

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MIT

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Undoubtedly, someone will suggest hopping on the T as a dangerous, rebellious excursion. Ah yes, nothing is more thrilling than leaving Cambridge to go to… Cambridge.

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Newbury Street

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Someone will find an aesthetic TikTok of places to visit in Boston, and Newbury Street will be the first to pop up. Is it basic? Yes. Is it overpriced? Yes. Will you still keep visiting over and over again throughout all your four years at Harvard? Also yes. At least you’ll be ahead of the game?

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Smith Rooftop Garden

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On the second floor of the Smith Campus Center lies a beautiful side quest venue where you can enjoy a late night or a casual brunch. Real plants exist here, and it feels like a true escape from the hustle and bustle of Harvard life. Unfortunately, you (or one of your Visitas “besties”) will inevitably catch sight of the infamous TikTok chairs while on the second floor, so good luck actually making it onto the rooftop.

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Smith Tenth Floor

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If you still can’t get enough of the Smith Campus Center, take a trip to its top floor! Here you’ll be able to view all of Harvard’s campus from a bird’s eye view — yes, this includes all of the prefrosh with their blaring red lanyards. (Seriously, you guys stand out like a beacon.) You’ll also be able to see other, more focused prefrosh attending the four simultaneous events you’d bookmarked on your calendar. If you love the feeling of FOMO, we suppose this spot might be worth the trip.

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The Harvard Crimson

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Jokes aside, this is a must-see part of campus during Visitas. How else would you be able to sign up to join the funniest and coolest and smartest and awesomest group of people as a writer for Flyby Blog? Comp Flyby.

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In all, there is so much more to Harvard’s campus than its beautiful red brick aesthetic. These places, though? Not it. You’re lucky you have us to save your time, steps, and energy so that you can fully enjoy your weekend!

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Read the rest of our Visitas 2025 feature here!

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{shortcode-0198e040645a16a0d91eeaf17e9c7fb201602bc9}Hello ’29ers! Are you hyped for Visitas? I know I was. But then the difference between my Visitas expectations and reality hit me hard. Real hard. Luckily for you, I’m here 2 tell you 9 things to know for Visitas. (See what I did there?)

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1. Adding your LinkedIn details to the spreadsheet someone made will not magically transform your life.

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My year, there was a spreadsheet circulating for people to drop their LinkedIns (cue jazz hands), and it eventually mutated to include LinkedIns from some school in New Haven and a few other colleges that don’t bear mentioning. This is, in fact, doing too much. Your life will be fine without the extra few connections.

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2. You’re (probably) not going to meet your next BFF within the next 1.5 days.

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I understand that Visitas is a nerve-wracking time, and if you didn’t go to one of the 21 major feeder schools (or just don’t have any friends visiting campus this weekend), it can feel like you’re a fish out of water. And that’s okay; there’s no need to force it.

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3. The likelihood of you (or anyone else) remembering everyone’s name is 0.0000000000001 percent.

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No matter how many times someone tells you their name, where they’re from, and what they’re thinking of concentrating in, it is near impossible to not forget everything they just said within the following 10 seconds to seven minutes. You could try composing a mnemonic device for every person, maybe, but you will forget. And so will they…

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4. Missing a club event will not screw you over for the next four years.

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A lot of clubs will end up hosting events at the same exact time, each precisely planned to rope you into their pyramid schemes. You do not need to run yourself ragged trying to hit all of them (unless there’s some very lucrative free merch). Missing a club’s Visitas mixer or speaker panel will not result in your permanent blacklisting from said club (unless it’s a really weird club), so just come talk to us about Flyby.

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5. An Instagram post of a Veritaffle is not worth waiting in the massive line.

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I genuinely think this line was longer than the 57 miles of Widener stacks put together. Once you join the line, you’ll be committing to perhaps two and a half hours of standing awkwardly in the middle of Annenberg, so spare your soul (and the soles of your feet) and don’t bother. The story post of a multigrain waffle with whipped cream and a few berries is not worth it. You can pretty much have it every day once you choose our wonderful school.

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6. You don’t actually have to eat where your host lives.

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Speaking of dining experiences, I could not find the Lowell dhall (where I thought I’d have to eat) because my host was MIA for a very, very long time, but that didn’t affect me at all. I ate every meal in the beautiful Annenberg Hall, and no one questioned me once. (As a rising sophomore, I will miss it dearly next year.)

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7. Your host will probably be busy.

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Now, speaking of hosts, some might be really overly enthusiastic, but others will be shockingly cold. If your host is so aloof they might as well be the John Harvard statue, just know, it is almost exam season, and there are definitely other current students who are thrilled to spend time with you if you seek them out. Perhaps you’ll find them at The Crimson’s open house?

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8. Yes, the small talk really is that bad.

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Apologies. How often do you have to repeat the name of your hometown? Wait, sorry, what were you thinking of majoring — wait, sorry, concentrating — in? Wow, what a long list of words I don’t even understand. OMG, you’re so right, the weather is pretty. Roll Crim!

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9. The social media posts aren’t the full story.

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Okay, you’ve probably heard this before. But social media really shows you just the surface. Even if it doesn’t look like other people are drained or experiencing any emotion besides ecstasy, chances are, they also feel the anxiety or exhaustion you’re feeling. It’s perfectly normal. Just be yourself.

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Most of all, just don’t sweat it. It’s never that deep. Take a deep breath, relax your shoulders, and understand that this is just one taste of the chaos that will be freshman year. Hopefully, this will solve, at least temporarily, nine of your 29 problems.

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Read the rest of our Visitas 2025 feature here!

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{shortcode-04c6283050934a165ae28229418c36cbdcaec163}Visitas is almost upon us, which means the Yard will soon be swarming with prefrosh pretending to be Elle Woods, Mark Zuckerberg, or whichever main-character fantasy they associate with Harvard. But you may well find yourself with a home base beyond the gates of the Yard. If you’re wondering whether the Visitas gods have cursed you or blessed you with a halfway decent floor to crash on. don’t worry — we’ve got you. Here’s our very official, extremely accurate, and absolutely unbiased round-up of the upperclassman dorms you might stay in during Visitas weekend.

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Adams

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Adams House is a bit… unpredictable. You might end up in the Inn, Claverly Hall, or honestly, who knows where. The one thing we do know is that the dhall is at the Inn (for now, at least). The location is great — right in the heart of the Square — but you might find yourself dodging a horde of tourists (and other prefrosh) on your way out the door.

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Cabot

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Cabot is a place that can only be defined with slang like “aura” and “vibes,” despite being in the Quad. Their dhall not only overlooks the gorgeous, gorgeous Quad lawn through giant windows, but also has outside tables if you’d rather smell the roses while enjoying the first of many HUDS meals. With plenty of single rooms to go around, you’re sure to get a sense of the spacious living conditions enjoyed by quadlings. But the best of Cabot is also the real hidden gem of the entire Quad: Cabot Cafe. Grab your AP study materials — or whatever it is that high schoolers do these days — and lock in with a good matcha and lo-fi music like a proper Harvard student.

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Currier

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Currier House is the chillest House in the Quad (sorry, Pfoho). If you’re staying here for Visitas, consider that a win. You’ve been placed in a luxurious (retirement) home. Currier features a modern aesthetic, good vibes, and a great dhall (with a fountain?!). Yes, you’re in the Quad, but only a shuttle away from the chaos of the Square (and tourists who think Widener is a public library). Their rooms? Huge. Windows? Massive. Vibes? Immaculate. They have amazing living (and floor) space, lounges that people actually use, and more Mario Kart tournaments than they might care to admit. So settle in, enjoy the fresh Quad air, and know that Currier might not be in the center of the action, but it is in the heart of the Quad.

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Dunster

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With its charming amenities and gorgeous dhall, this dorm seems like something out of your wildest dreams, and honestly, there’s not a lot to complain about. You’re right by the Charles River, which means prime views and plenty of opportunities to daydream about some suitably try-hard future undergraduate pastimes, like running by the river every morning (even though deep down you know you won’t). Also, Dunster has elevators, which is (unfortunately) a luxury on campus, so five points to Gryffindor Dunster!

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Eliot

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Staying in Eliot? Congratulations, you’re one of the lucky few who’ll get to experience it before the renovations. That’s right. You’re stepping into Harvard (soon-to-be) history! Eliot is elegant with old-school charm, very tall ceilings, an even more gorgeous central courtyard, and one of the most stunning dhalls on campus. I (Daisy) stayed in Eliot when I visited as a prefrosh, and let me tell you — the floor space? Unreal. My suitcase did not have to be wedged between the bed and the desk. I stretched. I thrived. And I considered not leaving. Here, you’ll be in for a treat. With great views of the Charles River, make sure to enjoy the quiet luxury, the architecture, and your brief moment of Eliot glory before dust and hard hats move in. Because someday you’ll say I knew Eliot when…

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Kirkland

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Oh, Kirkland, our first love. It may not be the most renovated dorm, and yes, you might end up with some interesting roommates, but it definitely gives you all the classic college vibes. People hang out in the courtyard, lounge on hammocks, and embrace the weird. Plus, Kirkland is all about community <3. Kirklanders are proud of their House and its quirky traditions, so you’ll definitely feel that tight-knit vibe that will make you want to stay. Oh, and make sure to swing by their weekly cult meeting gathering on Sunday evening. It’s called The Choosening.

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Leverett

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Students staying in Leverett can find comfort in the fact that this is among the most pleasant housing wins for Visitas. With its dhall’s iconic checkered floors, it’s hard to not immediately be enamoured with the aesthetic of the House. If you’re not in the building that houses the dhall (McKinlock Hall), you’ll stay in one of the two towers, enjoying the second tallest views offered by the Houses. Their two courtyards sit right along the riverside, so be on the lookout for the cutest little bunnies scurrying around the block.

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Lowell

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Lowell feels like the Ritz-Carlton disguised as a dorm, with colorful modern furniture, generously sized windows, and spaces so pretty, you’ll forget you're on a college campus. The dining hall (dhall) is always buzzing with friend groups chatting, laughing, and not psetting (okay, maybe just a little). If you’re lucky, you might stumble into one of their weekend tea seminars — not the Boston Tea Party kind. Pretend that the Sunday afternoon bells aren’t making you go crazy, and you’ll be fine… trust.

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Mather

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The term “concrete jungle” perfectly defines Mather. Though you may not get Harvard’s iconic red brick walls, the brutalist details kind of perfectly reflect the feeling of hauling it from the Yard to the very edge of campus. The House’s high-rise is the tallest of all the dorms (cope, Leverett), with truly goated views of the river and of Boston across the water. Yes, spaces are a bit tight here, but their network of suites gives you a replacement family for a weekend! Although the dhall and the main House pathways are extremely reminiscent of the confusing “Squid Game” stairs, it really only adds to the uniqueness of the House. But sadly, its location knocks it down more than a few pegs, so we suggest making friends with other Visitas Matherites and judging the other (shorter) Houses on your trek back.

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Pforzheimer

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There’s a reason Pfoho is called the Palace of the Quad. With an extremely sunny double-decker dhall and an extremely laid back atmosphere, no meal goes wrong here. Plus, they have fun little hidden havens like an in-House spa room and a newly-upgraded arcade. This House likes to flex with their ridiculous number of singles and very spacious common rooms, so you’ll likely get a makeshift room with your very own couch, which is more than any of the River Houses can say. Although you’re not directly in the Square, the walk between the Yard and the Quad will give you a chance to feel Cambridge spring in full bloom.

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Quincy

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The People’s House. Where the suites are sweet and the dhall sunlight hits different. If you’re crashing here for Visitas, you lucked out. Quincy has comfort and convenience that makes you think, Yeah, I could do four years here. As a temporary resident, you have easy access to hot breakfast, and it’s likely that your host will have a spacious common room; we’re thinking that you might get to sleep on a couch instead of the (beautiful) floor. Quincy’s location is never too far from the action, so hopefully you’ll only get lost, like, twice this weekend.

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Winthrop

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You can’t go wrong with a renovated House, which is exactly what awaits you at Winthrop. The hallway singles that make up most of your accommodations are decent enough to be a pleasant home away from home for the weekend, and with five courtyards (yes, five), you’ll have ample opportunity to go out and touch some grass. And late at night, when you’re tired after a full day of programming, Winthrop Grille is always there to welcome you with open arms and a warm plate of deep-fried goodness. If you really want to flex on your hometown friends, be sure to visit the JFK Suite and pretend (manifest) that you’ll be president one day.

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An Honorable Mention: Cronkhite

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If you’re staying in Cronkhite this weekend, congrats! You’ve officially unlocked the secret bonus level of campus housing. Where is it? Great question! So glad you asked. These dorm rooms are located on the second and third floors of the admissions office, which is poetic if you think about it. You got into the best college ever, and now you’re sleeping above the people who chose you. A true full circle moment. No, it’s not near the Yard, the river, nor the Quad. It’s hard to find but weirdly peaceful, with AC in the hallways and endless juices and sodas in the dhall (stock up, seriously). We must warn you, though, that the rooms are small. Like, “should-I-not-host-or-just-hope-they-like-crowded-spaces” small. If you’re staying here for the weekend, definitely leave for events early, ask your hosts for snacks, and say hello to the building’s lovely cleaning staff. Just know, if you can survive Cronk, you can survive Harvard.

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\r\nRead the rest of our Visitas 2025 feature here!

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('

{shortcode-768a4ec26aa7d8b2993d8c56bc74e25370ad466d}With finals just around the corner, you might think that this is the time for you to finally lock in. And perhaps it should be, but first, there is one much more pressing matter on the agenda: welcoming another class of students to campus. It’s time to roll out the red carpet and set the stage for another torrent of Visitas excitement. Whether you’re a current student reflecting on your first days on campus or a new admit just discovering the best blog ever, we know that you’ll love reading (and rereading) our takes on this beloved campus tradition in our Visitas 2025 feature.

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4/23: The grass has been subjected to chemical treatments for weeks. The sun has finally deigned to shine for more than an hour at a time. A ridiculous number of clubs have had to beg a ridiculous number of club members to host prefrosh for a coveted spot at the club fair. All of campus has primped and prepped for Visitas, so it’s only right that you bother to learn the etiquette. We’re not tossing you into the deep end, though; with our comprehensive vocabulary list, dress code guidance, and tips on organizing your weekend itinerary, you’re sure to make the right impression.

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4/24: Believe it or not, every writer on Flyby once was a prefrosh, full of life and ecstatic at the thought of spending a weekend strolling through campus. Now that we are dinosaurs jaded full of wisdom from our many years on campus, Visitas weekend is a time for reflection on our own introductions to campus and college life. If you’re wise, you’ll choose to learn from our experiences. We’ve been a little too invested in meeting everyone and doing everything. We’ve been sidetracked by ridiculous — though very fun — side quests. And we’ve been very, very confused about our hosts’ dorms. If you listen to us, your Visitas might be just that much better.

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4/25: While Visitas might sound like Veritas, not everyone will be in the truth-telling spirit when they arrive on campus. If you’re in the mood to search for the truth, however elusive it might be, we have some advice on distinguishing the true admits from would-be thieves of your free merch. Or perhaps you’d like to stretch the truth a bit yourself? (After all, first impressions are forever, and you really need this one to be perfect.) If you listen to us — as you should — you’ll be ready to debut a new persona or act like a local just in time for Sunday.

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4/28: Before you all desert campus and we all disappear into our Lamont cubicles, we have one last bit of wisdom to share with you…

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4/29: Now that the prefrosh have left campus, it’s time to gossip reminisce about their time in the Yard.

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('

{shortcode-faaf7e9059e9da752c54123311550e9455603768} Dear Class of 2029 (aka future Flyby writers),

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Welcome to Harvard! We are so glad that we get to be your linguistic guides for your Visitas experience, so make sure to pull out some of these terms to make you blend in as a true… Harvardian? Cantabrigian? Crimson? We might not have a word for a student of Harvard College, but here are 29 words that we know that the Class of 2029 definitely should, too.

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1. Berg — Short for Annenberg, where all the first-year students dine on meals ranging from one big boom to five big booms. You’ll make a lot of awkward eye contact here as you search for an open seat. It’s also the site for a much more enjoyable rite of passage: sitting down with random strangers and meeting your new besties!

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2. Block — Also known as a blocking group. The group of friends — or hodgepodge of acquaintances — you’ll enter the rising sophomore housing lottery with in the spring. It’s a twisted social experiment that sometimes ends well, sometimes not so much.

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3. Brain Break — Free nightly snacks, served from 9 to 11 p.m. on school nights, aka “emotional support carbs.”

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4. Cabot — A House in the Quad (see below), but it’s also a library in the Science Center. We know, it’s very confusing.

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5. Comp — Allegedly short for either competition or completion (or both!) — the ritual that crushes dreams and builds résumés.

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6. Concentration — A fancy word for major. Also a reminder of what you lose during midterms.

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7. Consulting — Where half of you will end up, no matter what your concentration or dreams once were or are at the moment.

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8. CV — Your résumé, constantly evolving and never emotionally fulfilling.

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9. Dhall — Abbreviation for dining hall. Each upperclassman house has its own dhall, though… Some are definitely better than others.

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10. Entryway — People who share your door to the outside world (read: brick sidewalks) and your suffering. 20 to 40 souls, one shared WiFi router.

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11. Flyby — Misspelled as “FlyBy,” refers to grab-and-go food in the basement of Berg, but it really means the best board of The Harvard Crimson.

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12. Gem — A great class you take when your GPA is falling faster than your hopes of a relationship. Low commitment and low effort but high reward.

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13. House — Your upperclassman home. Comes with friends, tutors, and more networking opportunities.

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14. HUDS — Harvard University Dining Services. Serving food, feelings, and an occasional identity crisis.

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15. Lamonster — A creature rumored to live on Lamont Library’s third floor, fueled by sheer desperation and LamCaf (Lamont Café) coffee.

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16. MBB — McKinsey, Bain, and Boston Consulting Group. The Holy Trinity of consulting that you will want to sell your soul by sophomore fall, if you don’t already. Or Mind, Brain, and Behavior.

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17. Meese — The (non-grammatically correct) plural of “moose.” Also Dunster’s mascot. Don't question it.

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18. Noch’s — Short for Pinocchio’s Pizza. Open late, judgment-free, and tastes like salvation at 2 a.m.

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19. PAF — Peer Advising Fellow. Paid to be your friend… and somehow (sometimes) actually are.

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20. Prehab — Drinking electrolytes before setting out to fight the Sunday Scaries like a champ.

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21. (Freshman) Quad — The Radcliffe Quadrangle is for upperclassmen, but the so-called Freshman Quad is composed of three dorms that sit outside of Harvard Yard: Greenough, Hurlbut, and Pennypacker, also known as the Union Dorms. Harvard’s version of exile… with charm.

\r\n\r\n

22. SEC — Science and Engineering Complex. Sleek, shiny, and a soul-sucking Wi-Fi vortex.

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23. Section — A mini-class where participation counts for 50 percent of your grade and confusion multiplies.

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24. Smith — The Smith Campus Center, the only place where tourists, students, and locals all (at times) peacefully coexist under a single roof. You can find a rooftop garden, a cityscape view, and like five different places to get coffee — the side quests are endless.

\r\n\r\n

25. Stacks — The 57 miles of rows of books and catalogues in Widener Library (or the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, if you ask Google Maps). Come for the books; stay for the silence that screams.

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26. Tasty Basty — The legendary basement of the Tasty Burger establishment in the Square, where the most frighteningly sad epic parties are thrown.

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27. TF — Teaching Fellow. Roughly equivalent to a TA at less pretentious other institutions. Knows everything and also nothing. Honestly more helpful than the professor…

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28. Tutor — Fancy word for RA. They're your guide, therapist, and emergency printer all in one.

\r\n\r\n

29. When2Meet — A scheduling tool. Also the reason you now have three overlapping meetings on Wednesdays.

\r\n\r\n

Read the rest of our Visitas 2025 feature here!

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-faaf7e9059e9da752c54123311550e9455603768}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2025/04/23/025401_1378560.png.1500x1000_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=]>)])

('

{shortcode-ea32d9641fc084859917d5cc2a0d156eddf8ea10}Welcome, prefrosh! Whether you came to Visitas to help decide whether or not to commit to Harvard (spoiler alert: you should), to dream about the next four years, or to shamelessly show off on your Instagram story, chances are you’re now trying to figure out how to make the most of this elusive weekend. And while we can’t give you a step-by-step guide (or can we?), we can lay out some of the tried and true strategies for winning at Visitas.

\r\n\r\n

Download every event onto your Google Calendar.

\r\n\r\n

While I’m not quite sure how to do it myself, I do know it is possible to download the entire calendar of (registered) events during Visitas onto your GCal. For those wanting to make it to every single open house and event during Visitas, this is the strategy for you. Be warned, this strategy is not for the faint of heart, as it’ll drown your entire weekend under layers and layers of multi-colored events that leave you without room to even breathe. You may not lose track of all the events going on across campus, but you may just lose your sanity…

\r\n\r\n

Fill your camera roll with event flyers.

\r\n\r\n

I may be biased here because this was my Visitas strategy, but filling your camera roll with photos and screenshots of all the event flyers you encounter is a lower commitment version of the GCal strategy. This strategy can be tailored to your specific interests while also giving you a wide list of events to drop by on a whim. Plus, it gives some appreciation to the Canva heroes behind those flyers. The only caveat to this strategy is that you may lose that Crimson open house flyer in the hundreds of pictures of the Yard you’ll inevitably take. Proceed with caution!

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\r\nMake a to-do list.

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If you’re already thinking of Visitas as a series of smaller prefrosh adventures, the to-do list might be the way to go for you. Whether that be a list of buildings to visit, clubs to see, or lectures to attend, you know what you want. So make that to-do list — but be flexible with it. In order to truly win at Visitas, you need to embrace your inner overachiever and explore the unknown. Take some detours! Add some whimsy to your weekend! Breathe in all of the intellectual vitality!

\r\n\r\n

Wander aimlessly across campus.

\r\n\r\n

For some, the best Visitas strategy is no strategy at all. In the spirit of a liberal arts education and trying not to overwhelm yourself, the ‘aimless wandering’ strategy involves exploring campus without a specific roadmap and seeing where you wind up. This strategy really has no limits and could lead you to discover a future favorite study spot on campus or even make friends you otherwise never would have met.

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Regardless of how you decide to take on Visitas, remember that you’ve already won by being here! Enjoy yourself and get excited for everything!

\r\n\r\n

\r\nRead the rest of our Visitas 2025 feature here!

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-ea32d9641fc084859917d5cc2a0d156eddf8ea10}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2025/04/23/025654_1378562.png.1500x999_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=, ]>)])

('

{shortcode-cfd5fa62751d06d730ac4e0db1a5ed9d30cc1e26}First impressions matter, especially when it comes to Visitas. Whoever you meet here will be your life-long friends and potential future love interests, so setting yourself up for success is crucial. I, for one, still talk to every single person I met during Visitas, and I credit this networking success to one thing: my cute fit that shone through the Zoom screen during virtual Visitas (way back when that was a thing). Here’s a guide to being voted “Best Dressed at Visitas” in your future yearbook (or in Fifteen Minutes Magazine).

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Harvard Merch

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Leave the people with no doubt that you are either a Harvard student or an overzealous tourist. If you’re a walking ad for the Harvard Shop, they might pay you partial commission.

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Business Formal

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Recruitment season is so early lately, might as well start the moment you step foot on campus. Who knows, maybe your Visitas host is a newly hired OpenAI software engineer who can give you a referral down the line.

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Couch Potato Fit

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Exam season is approaching, so you’ll fit right in with the students.

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Yale Merch

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Heck, recreate the Khurana dog picture. It’s a rite of passage.

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Turkey Fit

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Welcome to New England. Maybe they won’t attack you if you look like them. (Probably not, but one can dream.)

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Joe Biden Fit

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For people who didn’t get an invite to the exclusive Institute of Politics event last week.

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Future Final Club Member Fit

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Carry around a plank of wood.

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Remember, people always judge a book by its cover.

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\r\nRead the rest of our Visitas 2025 feature here!

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-cfd5fa62751d06d730ac4e0db1a5ed9d30cc1e26}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2025/04/23/025502_1378561.png.1500x1000_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=]>)])

('

{shortcode-ba131ddf9c3daa68ea9d19f77acb754a4577caa5}If April showers bring May flowers, what should Harvard students do in the meantime? Most trees are dead. Most days are gloomy. The wind is lethal. Sometimes it’ll even snow in the morning if you wake up early enough to see it… (a rare occasion with finals around the corner). As a Floridian, I’m extremely disoriented. I’m usually in the pool by March (if not earlier). Without the warm days of 80-degree weather back home, I’ve slowly come to appreciate the semi-nice days Cambridge blesses us with every now and then. The high of 59. The sun shining on my cold, paler-than-it-was-a-year-ago skin. The indecisiveness of it all: rainy in the morning, sunny in the afternoon, rainy in the evening all over again. I enjoy the semi-nice days for what they are — and something I’ve learned is that you have to. Otherwise, days or weeks could pass by before you get a semi-nice day to enjoy again. That doesn’t have to be you, dear burnt-out Harvard student. All it takes is a couple of easy steps.

\r\n\r\n

Make the World Your Stage

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Don’t know if you should wear short sleeves or a jacket? Jeans or jorts? Put it all on. Everything. Dress in layers when it’s cloudy and cold — and rip it all off the moment the sun starts shining (cue the dramatic outfit reveal). Cambridge is your runway, and you’re the model! Plus, if it happens to rain, you can always cover yourself up with your old layers. Stylish and super logistically sound. You’ll be prepared for anything.

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Ditch the Puffer

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More importantly: ditch the puffer. When was the last time you cleaned it anyway? It’s okay, you can be honest. (It’s not like you’re the only one.) Do us all a service (please), and give us a new (clean) outfit to praise and compliment. The best part about semi-nice weather is that you’re not confined to only hot or only cold weather-appropriate clothing. In the summer, you’re wearing the bare minimum. In the winter, you’re wearing the absolute most. If you really think about it… semi-nice weather is another form of freedom. Get creative and experiment!

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Listen to Mother Nature

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My proposed thesis is that a semi-nice day is actually nature’s way of helping you improve your work-life balance. To all my Lamonsters out there, it’s time to turn over a new leaf. Lock in when the clouds cover the sky and the weather is iffy. But the moment the sun comes out? It’s time to go outside and touch some grass. Read a book while lying in the Yard. Get a sweet treat. Life is worth living, and you’re so back. Mother Nature is begging you to restore balance to your stressful life (and to stop sleeping in the library basements). All you need to do is listen — with a little bit of romanticizing, of course.

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Embrace the College Postcard Aesthetic

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If the sun is out and you’re not out on the lawn having a picnic or doing homework, are you even Harvard-ing correctly? After the dreadful weather we had to endure this winter, 60 degrees is the new 80 degrees. Does that make sitting outside a little bit unconventional? Sure. Will the sun only be out for an hour? Well, yes! And, you know what, that’s okay. For an hour, you could become the next face featured on the admissions website (or one of Dean Khurana’s final Instagram features). You’ve already dressed the part. Now lock in!

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Run While You Still Can

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Listen, you could go to Boston on the weekend when it’s rainy and nasty, or you could go now when it’s semi-nice. Make your choice! Alas, if you’re scared that your window of sunshine will be wasted during the commute, fear not. Put your headphones on, walk along the Charles River, find a bench to sit on, contemplate life, and pretend you’re the main character in a coming-of-age movie. Forget about that pset for just an hour! Or more. Those come around three times a week. Semi-nice days, however? Those are a rarity.

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While semi-nice days might not be perfect, they do give you the best (semi-best?) of both worlds. Why have just April showers or May flowers when you can have both? When summer brings you its first heat wave, part of you will miss these semi-nice days — as awkward and confusing as they might be.

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-ba131ddf9c3daa68ea9d19f77acb754a4577caa5}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2025/04/22/073548_1378525.png.1500x999_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=, ]>)])

('

{shortcode-c12efa854171c5ce79a07168b71ee6aa5f6e8ca9}If you live under a rock and didn’t already know, Biden was on campus last week at an exclusive Institute of Politics event. Around 50 bright-eyed and bushy-tailed students had the opportunity to see him talk, while hundreds of others took to Sidechat to voice their complaints (as they often do about IOP events). The decision process was confusing at best, so we decided to take the liberty of proposing better — and more fun — ways to decide on the shortlist for meeting the former President next time.

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Running at Full Speed (In Dress Clothes)

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TikTok has me curious about what people look like when running at full speed (seriously, we need to bring back dead sprinting). What better way is there to decide than choosing invitees based on who can run the fastest — or the funniest — while dressed in their Biden-meeting outfit? Plus, we’d learn who we can outrun in the event of a bear attack. (Spoiler: IOP kids aren’t known for their athleticism.)

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Ice Cream Eating Dropping Contest

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We’ve all seen the videos: Biden loves his chocolate chocolate chip… right up until he drops it (like when he was here). In order to meet the former president, you need to be able to adapt to any scenario. When he drops his ice cream, everyone should be prepared to (gracefully) do the same.

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Fashion Show

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I can admit that some IOP kids are fashionistas when they’re not waylaid in Littauer Room 166 (and I’m lowkey jealous), so let's organize a “Dress to Impress”-esque runway show and have Biden sit on the judge panel. If you aren’t top three on the podium, you’re cut.

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SAT Scores

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Since your test scores were once used to decide if you could attend this school, they of course should dictate whether or not you can attend this highly sought-after event as well. Yes, that test you took anxiously at 16 years old will never lose relevance in your life.

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Survivor Challenge

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If we can get Joe Biden, we can surely get Jeff Probst, arguably the expert in challenges. Let’s see how long IOP kids can last in a Survivor-inspired endurance challenge (... probably not that long).

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Whether They Think the Dress Was Black/Blue or Gold/White

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Harvard has a reputation to live up to, and we have to keep this in mind when choosing who gets to meet the former President. If you’re still team gold-and-white after all these years, we hate to break it to you — you are NOT invited.

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Number of Instagram Followers (LinkedIn Connects, Perchance?)

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Since selfies with the former President will be circulating on attendees’ Instagrams, it’s only natural that those with the most followers should be the ones posting these!

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Three-Round Comp and Interview Process (Don’t Forget Coffee Chats)

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Lol, this one sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

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Whether or Not They Have Their License

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Nobody who cannot operate a motor vehicle should be meeting the former President of the United States. I don’t care if you’re from New York — this is a life skill, people.

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Whether or Not They Have a Summer Internship

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If you have a summer internship, why do you need to network with the former President of the United States? Save some for the rest of us, and enjoy your employment.

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Concentration, Category Is… Politicians!

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Washington, Adams, Jefferson… you fill in the rest. Do you even know the preamble song? You don’t just get to pop into government things when it’s convenient; prove your political knowledge!

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Number of Dean Khurana Instagram Features

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If you haven’t been featured on the beloved Khuranagram before, how can you expect to have what it takes to pose for a selfie with Biden? Why would you go if you can’t even get a picture with him?

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See, IOP, was it that hard to create a fair attendee selection process? All jokes aside, Flyby appreciates all of your hard work and efforts to bring speakers to campus; if you ever need any more, we’re right here (we don’t charge)!

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('

{shortcode-c2f65f8215a16f9e3c2ff201334de0ab2a42459d} It’s 11:45 a.m. You’ve just finished your two morning classes without any breakfast, and you’re STARVING. The idea of lunch is fueling your every step; your stomach is grumbling, mouth watering, and your brain foggy. Images of velvety macaroni and cheese, of glistening, crisp brussel sprouts, of flavor-bursting potatoes still warm from the oven flash through your head. Stepping out of the Science Center, dreams of the endless possibilities at the dining hall consume you as you barely refrain from breaking out into a sprint (what you’d give to have a scooter right now).

\r\n\r\n

A fishy odor hits your nose like a garbage truck. The image of a seagull preying on a dead fish on the beach overcomes you. The scared, wide-eyed fish staring at you from the tank while you eat at seafood restaurants replaces it, followed by several other equally disturbing visions of inedible seafood. You groan, your excitement ruined. Today, you will be making a sandwich or a trusty salad bar bowl instead. Such is the reaction that “Catch of the Day” invokes in us. The smell permeates a 500-foot radius from the dhall, allowing tourists, VIPs, and students to enjoy the fish even if they do not intend to eat at Annenberg. How wonderful!

\r\n\r\n

“Catch of the Day” (while it is also you, my reader) is “locally sourced” fish served in Harvard College dining halls. But with such a potent odor, where is this fish really caught? We’d like to take you through a couple of our ideas.

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The puddle below the EXTREMELY HIGH pressure water fountain on the first floor of Greenough Hall

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While one might have the expectation that filling up a water bottle is a relatively dry experience, this water fountain will make you reconsider. It has a really small bladder; constant awareness is key because if you leave your water bottle under it for more than two seconds, it will overflow, and your shoes WILL get soaked unless you hit a spread-eagle position that will garner weird looks from your proctor or entryway neighbors. Nevertheless, there’s enough water below this water fountain for thirsty Greenough residents that “Catch of the Day” fish probably live there. Yum!

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The lake between the Science Center and the Yard

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It’s monsoon season in Cambridge (April), and apparently it didn’t rain in the seventeenth century when this school was founded because holy sh*t! Does anything suck more than the bottom of your jeans being drenched in dirty water as you try to leap over the small pond, around an inconveniently placed pole? Short answer: Yes. It’s jumping to the side of the influx of tourists who are annoyingly well-prepared for the weather in their thigh-high rain boots (why do they have to stunt on us and rub their foresight in our grumpy faces?!). This month has taught me that brick is infiltration’s final boss, and that any drain grate you see on campus is, truly, just for decoration. Surely, this pond is capable of housing a school of fish (Cabot, we’re looking at you).

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The puddle by John Harvard

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Does the fish look like a battery today? Nope! It’s just the faint remnants of an acidic substance that didn’t evaporate in the fryer. We are sure that the puddle under our right-hand man every weekend is the peak ecosystem for life to thrive! So, if anyone sees HUDS staff on Saturday morning with gloves and a net, scooping your lunch off of the concrete, let your friends at Flyby know.

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The tears of the new Quadlings

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“Tears! Of! Joy!” chanted roughly twenty polar bears as they stormed into my, Christiana’s, room a few weeks ago to announce my new home. A couple of (manly) tears were shed by my blockmates and I as the reality of our situation began to sink in. Cry me a river (House) all the way to the Quad, my fellow cubs — we better start qualking now! Maybe we’ll catch the new Cabot fish swimming on down too.

\r\n\r\n

The best thing about Harvard is the intellectual curiosity, persistence, and tenacity, not just of its students but of its staff as well. So, even if the surrounding waters of the Cambridge area are so cold the fish are encased in ice, and even if there is some uncertainty surrounding where it comes from, if the menu says there will be a local catch for lunch then, by all means — HUDS staff will make it happen! So, to help our friends out, take your pick of the alternatives we’ve offered if supplies ever get low and the bossman (the menu) is knocking at your door. But, in the meantime, if any HUDS staff would like to report where, in fact, the “fresh local catch” is coming from, you know where to find us.

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-c2f65f8215a16f9e3c2ff201334de0ab2a42459d}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2025/04/18/075327_1378421.png.1500x1000_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=]>)])

('

{shortcode-fd989dfc1438a9509739cd0eed2c61ccc34789ef} What’s worse than being stuck behind a slow walker while rushing from Vanserg to the SEC, while simultaneously trying to pick up FlyBy, all in the span of 15 minutes? Probably an athlete scooting by you at Mach 10 and spilling your FlyBy soup everywhere, hitting you with a “Whoa, my bad, dude.” I have definitely never been that person before… ever. Hypothetically, though, if I were to be that scooter-er-er, this is how I would rank things I have or have almost annihilated (from oopsies to Remy).

\r\n\r\n

1. Remy — Almost

\r\n\r\n

I’m doing a cool 16 on Quincy St., about to pass that crosswalk from Barker to Lamont. Oh no! A creature has darted into my path! I break a millimeter before disaster and watch Remy run into the Barker Center courtyard. Mind you, this occurred at high noon on a Tuesday. There were many witnesses, and had I not clutched up, I would have been on the first plane out of Boston. My life — over. Thank goodness for my amazing reflexes, or I wouldn’t be here to write this amazing piece for Flyby.

\r\n\r\n

2. Cars — Hit

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Technically, they hit me. Technically, this has also happened more than once. Regardless, it was not a good President’s Day. This is your sign to wear a helmet and to get really good insurance. Blinker? I hardly know her!

\r\n\r\n

3. Potholes — Hit

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Imagine, if you will, a sunny October day — no coat weather. Hair flowing, inhibitions releasing, Natasha Bedingfield playing while scooting to the Northwest building. Boom. The wind is knocked out of you as you hit the pavement in front of a large number of your peers and a professor. This, unfortunately, does not fall under the almost hit category, but rather the full-on — riding your scooter like Jennifer Gray in Dirty Dancing — category. No one puts Baby in a corner.

\r\n\r\n

4. My Professor — Almost

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Okay, this one wasn’t even my fault. I wasn’t the one jaywalking. The only reason this isn’t higher on the list is because I was wearing a ski mask. Although now that I think about it, maybe he did know it was me. That’s probably why I struggled in the class. Yeah. That’s definitely it.

\r\n\r\n

5. Rats — Almost

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Surprisingly, I have yet to hit (knock on wood) one of the rodents that terrorize this campus, lurking in the shadows, waiting with a death wish. While I have only almost hit them, if they did end up on my scooter hit list, I’m pretty sure I’d be doing everyone a favor. But it’d be like… super gross. I don’t think I’m going to be able to take one for the team this time. Sorry.

\r\n\r\n

6. Turkeys — Almost

\r\n\r\n

Why are they here? Where did they come from? It had to have been upwards of 35 pounds. Dear God, can you imagine…

\r\n\r\n

Thanks for reading about my greatest hits. Here are some honorable mentions:

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- Pedestrians (I’m so sorry. I know I deserve everything that has happened in this list.)

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- Speed bumps and cobblestones (uhuhuhuhuh uhuhuh uhuhuh uh uhuhuh)

\r\n\r\n

- Ice (Hey, where’d my shin go?)

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- Other people on scooters (instant karma)

\r\n\r\n

Now that we’ve established my terrific track record, I think scooter licenses should probably be a requirement. If you’re reading this, remember to be a thoughtful scooter-er-er, yield to road rules, wear a helmet, and maybe cross the street when you see me coming.

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-fd989dfc1438a9509739cd0eed2c61ccc34789ef}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnails.thecrimson.com/photos/2025/04/17/071505_1378340.png.1500x1058_q95_crop-smart_upscale.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=, ]>)])

('

{shortcode-730a62359f20fc2bf0ece99a8a77c5be1568ceec}

\r\n\r\n

After spending the past few weeks suffering through a bleak New England winter, it seems like things are finally starting to warm up. The sun doesn’t set at 3 p.m. anymore, I can hear birds chirping in the morning, and best of all, summer is near!

\r\n\r\n

It’s a welcome reprieve from midterm season, which I spent in concrete boxes of varying size (read: Lamont, my dorm room, etc.) doing practice problems and trying to stuff information into my brain like a second load of laundry into the washing machine. This aspiring academic weapon was worn down by the grind, and from overheard dining hall conversations, I’m sure many of you dear readers share this sentiment.

\r\n\r\n

Well, if you still want to salvage the latter half of the semester, what better solution is there than to “touch grass”?

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I present to you: my opinions on which locations on (and off) campus are the best for reconnecting with nature and safer than bush jumping, after visiting (almost) every Harvard-affiliated green space in one-and-a-half days.

\r\n\r\n

The Arnold Arboretum

\r\n\r\n

If there’s anywhere to touch grass, this is the place to do it.

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About 281 acres of not only grass, but shrubs, bushes, and trees as well! It’s a beautiful bit of nature removed from the hustle and bustle of campus culture. The moment you step inside its gates, you’re transported to another place — a better place, a place where you don’t have to think about the pset, essay, or project you have due in less than two weeks’ time.

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The only catch is that it’s not the most convenient grass to get to (20 minutes away by car and 50 minutes by public transportation). Still, if you ever get the chance to go, I could not recommend it enough!

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The Harvard Business School Campus

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Yes, it’s in Allston, and so yes, you have to go across the river, but if you’re a stressed-out engineering student or swamped student-athlete, you’re probably spending a lot of time nearby anyway.

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There’s so much green space to enjoy, and you’re surrounded by pretty classic *Harvard* architecture. There are tons of options for seating and shade, and the open lawn in front of Baker Library has a lovely view of the Charles (though the sound of cars driving by disrupts the vibe just a tad).

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Plus, there are vanishingly few tourists, and I assume the Business School students are all inside busy working on cases or something, so you’ll have plenty of space to yourself.

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Also, if you’re up for a treat, check out the Class of 1959 Chapel. There’s a koi pond in there!

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The Harvard Law School Campus

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Other than serving as the site of countless Instagram posts with the caption “What, like it’s hard?” the Law School also has a ton of nice, quiet green spaces to enjoy. The lawn in front of Langdell is lovely, of course, but I personally enjoy the smaller courtyards behind Hauser.

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For some more specific options actually on the College campus, we have:

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The Radcliffe Quadrangle

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As much as it pains me to say this, I have to admit that the Quad is the best place to physically touch grass amongst all of the undergraduate Houses. The Quad Lawn is expansive and surrounded by the beautiful brick buildings that make up Pfoho and Cabot. You’re located in the platonic ideal of suburbia, so the only noise you’ll hear is from your fellow students also enjoying the experience of touching grass.

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Radcliffe Yard (which is different… crazy, I know)

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Do you want to enjoy a somewhat park-like setting but feel unsettled by the haunting flatness and lowkey sterile vibes of Cambridge Common? Your solution is one street away, nestled in the Radcliffe Institute’s flovely yard.

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It’s secluded but convenient to get to, and earlier this week, a bird made direct, unbroken eye contact with me as it ripped a worm in two. So, if you want an oddly profound yet ineffable experience, you know where to go.

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The Courtyards at the end of Divinity Avenue

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When you hit the Herbaria at the end of Divinity Avenue, turn left or right to enter my new favorite spots on campus. On one side, you’ll be surrounded by stately brick museum buildings. It’s a cozy, shady place with a large tree to sit under, and you’ll feel very academic there, especially as the weather warms up.

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On the other side, you’ll be surrounded by the Biological Laboratories. Personally, I think it’s one of the more whimsical places on campus, with carvings of various animals decorating the top edge of the surrounding building’s face and a pair of bronze rhinoceros statues guarding its main entrance. There’s also a volleyball court in the middle, which is fun.

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The Yard around Holden Chapel

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When you’re a first-year, it’s hard to get any privacy away from the camera-wielding hordes, who are somehow always ready to catch you at your worst angle. I mean, you’re probably never going to see the photos, but it’s the principle of the matter.

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There are unfortunately few places within the Yard where you can escape them, but the best place I found is the Ivy Yard “courtyard” (the one with Holden Chapel smack dab in the middle). I saw the least tourists there, and it’s got a nice, peaceful vibe.

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The Eliot Courtyard (not taking renovations into account)

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Probably the largest of the River House courtyards, Eliot’s has a fun triangular shape and allows one to appreciate the outdoor seating patio that acts as a transitory space from the dining hall to the courtyard. People are always playing volleyball (on the grass) when it’s warm out; plus, you’ve still got a view of the Charles without feeling too exposed.

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The Mather Courtyard

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CAUSE I’M CONCREEEETEEEE. Even if I weren’t a Matherite, I’d still have immense gratitude for the grass in the courtyard of Mather. What can I say — it’s a Good House! The courtyard is minimalistic, the trees are well-placed, and there’s always enough people passing by that you feel a connection to the community (but not so many that it’s annoying). And if you get hungry, there’s a dining hall with no restrictions right there (except for Thursday’s Community Night dinner, of course).

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Here are a couple honorable mentions:

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- The lawn behind CGIS Knafel

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- The lawn in front of Leverett Towers

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- The sunken courtyard in Quincy, when it’s not a slipping hazard

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- One of Lowell’s two courtyards, but you have to be with a friend or you’ll feel like you’re going to slip into the Backrooms

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- Any one of the parks by the Charles

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- The lawn in front of Harvard Medical School

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- Harvard Forest

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Hopefully, this comprehensive guide was helpful. I wish all of you dear readers a lovely rest of the semester and the opportunity to touch grass like I did.

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('

{shortcode-3c82725209ca852d73e1d5c8acd5058ffa9ad616}With Visitas right around the corner, I started reminiscing about my first impression of Harvard’s campus when I arrived for my class’s Visitas. It was a little underwhelming, to be honest. But the one thing that continues to make me kick my feet in glee — like trust fund babies talking about clawing their way to the top despite all odds — is the ever-intriguing fever dream that is the tourists: easily my favorite Harvard NPCs. Through all my interactions with tourists, I’ve noticed that they tend to fall into specific spawn types, which I’ve decided to rank in order of how much I love them.

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Number Five: The Gate Wanderers

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Coming in at number five, we have the honestly not-so-common Gate Wanderers. These spawn types just appear, asking you where they can find “the Gate.” The thing is, I’m honestly not entirely certain which gate they’re referring to (there’s like 25 of them). I’d like to think it would be Johnston, but one spawn I encountered made it known that it was not, in fact, the correct gate. Maybe Widener? Or maybe not, who knows? I kind of enjoy not knowing (#outofsightoutofmind, or whatever Facebook moms say). I usually just end up directing them vaguely toward Widener and going about my day — just a 4/10 experience.

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Number Four: The Statue Touchers

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In fourth place, we have the one we all know and (don’t) love, the Statue Touchers. Every time I pass by a group of Statue Toucher spawns with their small toddlers, I shudder at their ignorance to the various forms of precipitation experienced by the statue. I always think about telling them… but never do, and I just think that’s so fun. I give them a solid 5/10.

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Number Three: The Videographers

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At number three, we have the Videographers. This spawn is separated into two subtypes: the Silly Videographers and the Freaky Videographers. The Silly Videographers are the ones who walk around with GoPros or have their camera on a 20-foot tripod for no real reason. They don’t even take that many pictures (they’re not like other girls), they just record as they amble around. They’re so odd. Maybe it’s a special interest. While their antics are entertaining, they tend to be a little overshadowed by the other type of Videographers — 7.5/10.

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The second group is the Freaky Videographers. These are the Videographer spawns that go out of their way to specifically record students. As with most tourists, they are completely unapologetic and unbothered. While walking through the Yard one time, this guy just pointed his camera at my friends and me, panning it across and following us as we walked by. I was so confused. It was so blatantly obvious and nonchalant that I actually questioned if it had even happened. Brother freaked so hard, I started gaslighting myself. Anyways, 8/10.

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Number Two: The Library Edgers

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Coming in at number two, we have the Library Edgers. Yes, you read that correctly. These desperate spawns are so fun to watch. They go up the stairs, try to enter Widener, and are immediately turned away. I love them and I hope they never change – 9/10.

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Honorable Mentions:

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Before we get to number one, I wouldn’t be fulfilling my journalistic duties if I were to have left out some very prominent but ineligible-via-technicality spawns. Here are some beloved honorable mentions.

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The Influencers

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These spawns either show up, talk in an overexcited 2016-YouTube voice about their mentoring business, or interview students to post on their TikTok for their followers to comment either general Harvard glaze or that the student must have been a diversity admit, aka “How did THEY get in, and not me?!!” The Influencers would have been on the list if it weren’t for the fact that the majority of the time, they’re other students. Anyways, just an average day in the life of a Harvard student ranking tourists by how silly I think they are!! — 3/10.

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The Bourgeoisie

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Have you ever taken a casual weekday vacation to visit Ivy League schools in the middle of October? No? Brokie. They spend their time doing sophisticated things, like showing their first grader what school they’re going to when they’re older and scouting out the location of the building they’re donating to the university. They also just kind of look at you funny sometimes. Like, you’re the one having your kid touch the golden bronze foot of someone who isn’t even John Harvard, calm down. The only reason they’re not on the list is that they also tend to be students. Top 1%/10.

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Number One: The Illiterate

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Finally, at number one can only be the Illiterate. These spawns like to stand right outside of Annenberg, taking pictures right next to the sign informing them that they aren’t allowed to go in any further. Once they walk past the sign, they either decide to just look around and stand randomly, or they try to make their way inside. The brave spawns will ask students to hold the door so that they can get a peek inside, while others will skip that step and head right in. It is always quite enjoyable to see the Illiterate endure the mighty wrath of Annenberg staff, who are quite sassy in their dealings with them. Always a pleasure to watch, 10/10.

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\r\nWith all the new victims first-years (and prefrosh!) who will be arriving on campus soon, I hope this article helps them set their expectations for life in the Yard. The three or so first-years who might end up reading it before getting here, that is. To those three, I hope you find as much joy in the tourists as I do. Unless you go to Boston Latin; then I’m almost 90 percent certain you were, at one point in time, one of the spawns on this list.

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('

{shortcode-de54c6dd998b56802013a053d763fd9f31ca0d5f} If I’ve learned one thing from my time at Harvard, it’s that I am but a humble servant to my Apple ecosystem. My iPhone, MacBook, iPad, and AirPods are my life support devices: If one dies, I die. Recently, for the sake of my mental health, I had to turn off the weekly screen time notification. (Ignorance is bliss. Denial is the cure to everything.) If your weekly screen time is a source of shame (or smugness), don’t worry — you’re not alone. Here’s what your screen time says about you and what you do on campus.

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0-2 hours per day.

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Honestly, this is crazy impressive. I’m not sure what you’re studying, but you definitely get a pat on the back from your eye doctor. I’m picturing the Folklore and Mythology or Hum 10 kid with a Moleskine notebook and an actual, physical book (crazy) weighing down their backpack instead of a computer.

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3-6 hours per day.

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Totally respectable. You already hit two and a half hours from classes alone if you take notes on your computer for two or more classes. If you’ve managed to plan your schedule so that you only have an additional three to four hours of work per day, I applaud you. This could also mean that your computer is only used for work — no texting, watching shows, or online shopping. Either you’ve achieved the true work-life balance we all crave, or you secretly use your iPad for all your scrolling.

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6-10 hours a day (I’m looking at you, CS kids).

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These are the people you see with blue light glasses on (someone, please let me know if they actually work), much needed after staring at a screen all day. Their life exists on their computer, ranging from class notes to psets to Stack Overflow. This could also mean that you’re taking an excruciating class that makes you LaTeX every pset (might be speaking from personal experience). Honestly, if you’re spending this much time on your computer, maybe we should applaud you for not participating in endless social media (doom)scrolling… or maybe you’re spending all that time logged into Instagram on your Mac. I guess we’ll never know.

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Anything more than this… I’m worried for you.

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Spending more than 10 hours a day on your computer either means you’re taking insane classes or that your ability to focus on a single task is questionable (real, though). I would tell you that you need to touch grass, but we both know that’s not happening. Maybe try taking a walk or reading a book? I don’t know, dude, maybe your situation is too dire to bounce back from.

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While your peaceful Sunday morning might be ruined by a screen time notification, you’re not alone! We’ve been conditioned to spend every waking moment tethered to a device. All those wellness influencers who make “8 a.m. productive morning!” videos and preach the importance of not going on your phone right away have never felt the joy of waking up to Canvas notifications with new assignments or grades released. Pure bliss.

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('

{shortcode-6d1077dacce1cd6793f5ebc044f1bcd2aecbe9c2} As an aging senior who survived the senior thesis slump, I could think of no better parting gift to the lovely readers of this blog than sharing everything that I wish I knew before thesising.

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It isn’t a normal essay.

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I’ll be honest, for most of my papers I just buy a giant bag of Jolly Ranchers to give me the sugar rush I need to stay locked in. I hate to break it to you, but that won’t work for your thesis.

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I fear that if I consumed as many Jolly Ranchers as I did during a day while writing an essay over the many months I spent writing my thesis, my health would be in shambles. I traded Jolly Ranchers for cinnamon caffeine gum, a sweet coffee, and Trident orange gum. If gum or coffee isn’t your thing, maybe try your go-to HUDS fruit instead.

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Write first, format later.

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I spent more time thinking about the structure and presentation of my thesis than I did actually writing it.

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Between reading papers and collecting data, it’s quite easy to procrastinate on putting ink on the page. I know it’s daunting, but I beg you: Begin writing your thesis as early as possible. It will save you so much stress as graduation comes racing closer on your calendar and you suddenly also need to focus on mapping out your post-grad life.

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You don’t even need to write your sections in order! I was determined to write my thesis from introduction to discussion to ensure its cohesion, but it was really just my procrastination talking. You can write your methods section (or at least a draft of it) before you even start data collection, and the introduction can be written as soon as your proposal is approved. (If you’re optimistic, you could even write your introduction before your proposal is approved…) No excuses.

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Your future self — and your editors — will thank you for being so proactive!

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Secret emergency extensions exist.

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Some top secret information for you all: Some departments offer automatic emergency extensions if you’re in a true bind. I did not use mine, and I don’t recommend that you do either, but hopefully knowing this may be an option for you in the future is comforting. But do not — I repeat, do not — bank on this; your thesis isn’t the sort of project you can complete in one night.

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Buy a monitor.

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I spent way too much time split-screening my MacBook and it just didn’t cut it. My roommates and I got monitors specifically for thesis writing and data analysis; they are game changers.

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Find a commiseration buddy. Or several commiseration buddies.

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You need people who will suffer with you until your thesis deadline. People who will feel your pain as you scroll through Instagram stories of those free from the shackles of Lamont. Simply put, you need friends who will sit in the library or dhall with you in silence (and take laughing breaks).

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Find some discipline.

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Let’s be so real. The most important thing for any thesis writer is discipline, so try your best to learn some. Your other coursework won’t magically disappear come March, and you’ll still have midterms and other papers even as your thesis deadline approaches. Even if your professors are the nicest people in the world, there’s only so many extensions you can take.

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Good luck to all the future thesis writers, and may you have enough discipline senior spring to power through to the finish line. You got this!

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