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{shortcode-ddd9e79d085461e999e72b7f0238b6d00b691166}

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Imagine this: it’s 3 a.m. on a Tuesday and you’ve finally finished your Hum 10 essay, except all you have to come home to is your sad, empty, tiny hallway single. Now imagine it a little differently: you’re coming back from a long night at Lamont to your suitemates gathered in your common room yapping over some late-night snacks. Not only do you have a space filled with laughter to come home to, but if you have a single (or even a double), you have a little space to yourself at the end of the night.

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As the proud member of a four person suite who will likely be moving into a hallway double next year, I can’t help but look back at my year in my suite and be grateful that I hit the jackpot. Not only was the common room a great place to meet friends of friends at the beginning of the year, but it was the perfect spot to do work in between discussing me and my suitemates’ latest section crushes.

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Suite-style living provides the opportunity for built-in friendships and access to a whole new network of people. Some of my favorite memories are coming back from a night out to a debrief on the floor of our common-room-turned-secret-society (“but don’t tell anyone this” has been said countless times in my room).

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The benefits of an n+1 common room cannot be overstated. Are you in a double that is just not working out? Is one of you a super light sleeper? Does your roommate snore sometimes? Or… do you just simply hate each other? The suite life solves that problem. Luckily, my suite’s transition from one double and two singles to four solo rooms was amicable, but sometimes you’re not as lucky. With an extra built-in single in your suite, instead of having to move to the quad for some alone time, you can do it from the comfort of your common room.

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Also, you’re only in college once. What better way to bother meet new people than living with them? Some people may say, “Yeah, but with my hallway single in Pfoho, I never have to worry about being sexiled or my roommates having people over when I’m deep into midterms.” To that I say, you’re missing out on a vital part of the college experience. Sometimes conflict builds character. From occasional fights with your suitemates, you can learn valuable life lessons about living with people and conflict resolution. And besides, everyone needs a first-date anecdote about your “crazy suitemate.” So, the next time you get in a fight with your roommate, thank them for helping you fill that last 10 minutes of therapy when you’ve run out of things to talk about.

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I wouldn’t trade the suite life for anything… but unfortunately, I don’t have a choice. Although I’ll have air-conditioning next year, I would much rather be hanging out in my 100 degree Thayer common room with all my suitemates and our friends.

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{shortcode-22874802540f060daa55cd51301059937fe69a42}Congrats freshmen! You’re officially entering the end of your first school year at Harvard and entering hell sophomore year. Let’s recap all the things you’ve said during your two semesters on campus, through Bingo!

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{shortcode-db989d5dbf2a6e8b727d0e0a08a41eec369d760a}

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Hi, Class of 2028! Welcome to Harvard, both figuratively (you got in) and literally (you are on our campus for Visitas right now)! Let us introduce ourselves — we're Flyby Blog, the best and only student life blog on campus. We know there's a lot going on, but we've been where you are. So, we wrote a ton of articles to help you out. Here's a breakdown of what we have to offer:

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How to Make the Most of Visitas: Do's and Don'ts

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Follow these ground rules to avoid a major faux-pas and/or a minor fashion emergency.

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28 Vocab Words for the Class of 2028

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Harvard students through a lot of lingo around. Use this guide to get caught up.

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We're Not Really Strangers: Visitas Edition

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Use these conversation starters to avoid extremely awkward small talk with other prefrosh.

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Don't Be Fooled by Visitas

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Harvard's putting its best foot forward this weekend, but we'll give you some other helpful tips to help you decide about entire semesters.

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What Makes Harvard Unique

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It's not all fun and games... but some of it is — find out what!

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Best of: Flyby's Visitas Features

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Still curious? We do one of these Visitas features every year (maybe you'll help us write next year's!). We have tips on making friends, not getting lost, and even making the most of Visitas if you can't make it to campus.

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Best of luck this weekend, Class of 2028! We'll see you in the fall.

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{shortcode-f89154fe48f27189b30dd712889d795760c31d6c}

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Class of 2028: let us be the millionth to say, welcome to Harvard! Here in the ivory tower, we have a lot of lingo that we will immediately throw around without explaining anything. We, that is, meaning people other than Flyby Blog, the best/coolest/most fun section of The Harvard Crimson (the school newspaper you’re currently reading — we’ll give you that one for free). So, trust us to give you everything you need to know to not be lost, literally and figuratively, during this weekend and the next four years!

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1. The Yard

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The historic home of the freshmen (unless you’re in the Quad of the Yard Crimson Yard), the not-John Harvard statue, and flocks of tourists.

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2. The Houses

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Like Harry Potter, first-years are sorted into one of the twelve upperclassmen houses. Each House has their own Deans, advising team, dining halls, libraries, gyms, and special amenities such as massage rooms and student-run grilles. What’s the best one, you ask? The one you get randomly sorted into.

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3. The Quad

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Located on the old Radcliffe campus, the Quad is home to three upperclassmen houses, some of the best food on campus, and the best dogspotting. Quadlings (Quad residents) will tell you it isn't that far, but the fifteen-minute walk says otherwise (please don’t come for me).

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4. The SEC

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Short for Science and Engineering Complex, the SEC is the cheese-grater-like innovation hub on the Allston campus. There, you’ll find a majority of engineering and computer science classes, state-of-the-art technology, free (!!) acai bowls and coffee, and a plethora of Trader Joe’s snacks, a student-favorite grocery store right across the street.

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5. Berg

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Annenberg (Berg) is the freshman-only dining hall. As a first-year, this is where you’ll experience heartbreak, tourist break-ins, the best friendships and the worst fights. Fun fact to share with your family: Berg is the inspiration for Hogwarts’ Great Hall and has the largest collection of secular stained glass in the country.

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6. D-hall

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“Dee-hall”. Short for dining hall.

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7. HUDS (“hudds”)

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Harvard University Dining Services, with the nicest staff in the dining halls!

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8. Blocking

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Don’t worry about it yet.

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9. Punching

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Don’t worry about it yet, part 2.

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10. Entryway

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The first community you will have at Harvard! An entryway is composed of 20-30 first-years in the same dorm, overseen by a live-in proctor (see below) and a peer advising team who will organize delicious study breaks.

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11. Proctor

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The equivalent of an RA at other colleges. Typically a graduate student or Harvard employee who lives in the freshman entryway and can support you with anything from laundry to life advice.

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12. PAF (paff)

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Each freshman is assigned a Peer Advising Fellow, an upperclassman who can share unique insights about any and all things Harvard student life.

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13. Widener / Lamont / Cabot Science Library

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Harvard libraries! Each has their own vibe, which you can read more about here!

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14. The Mac

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Gym bros and professors alike frequent the Malkin Athletic Center (dubbed ‘The Mac’). Go there to get your anger out or see your history professor sweating over Ally Love’s 45-minute pop Peloton ride.

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15. Tasty Basty

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The basement of Tasty Burger. Absolute rock bottom for your social life. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a promoter in disguise. And yet, even the shuttle couldn’t stay away…

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16. Sidechat

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Harvard’s app-only anonymous student forum that you’ll probably use more than actual media outlets for your daily news. (Except, obviously you’ll read The Crimson every day.)

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17. Rakesh / Dean Khurana

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Legally, this is not a Rakesh fan account. But also, go follow our favorite dean on Instagram. Bonus if you can make it on feed during Visitas!

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18. Concentration

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Harvard’s (and Brown’s) word for a major.

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19. Joint vs. Double vs. Special Concentration

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Joint: You’re multidisciplinary.

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Double: You’re multidisciplinary and willing to take more classes if it means you don’t have to write a senior thesis.

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Special: You’re so multidisciplinary that even Harvard’s 50 undergraduate concentrations don’t cover your multidisciplinary-ness.

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20. Secondary

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Harvard’s (not Brown’s!!!) word for a minor.

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21. Comp

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You thought college applications were the end of it? SIKE! Grind never stops. Comps are applications or initiation processes for clubs. It can stand for competitive, completion, and/or competition.

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22. Google Calendar / GCal (Gee-kal)

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What seemed to be a slightly better user-friendly alternative to iCal will soon run your social and academic life. Once you start scheduling meals with people, you’ll know you’re truly a Harvard student.

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23. When2meet

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GCal’s ugly cousin. The last resort when the tenth “that time doesn’t work for me” text has been sent. If you’ve resorted to when2meet, you might as well ditch the friendship already.

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24. MCS

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Mignone Center for Career Services, because we all know you’re here at Harvard to make bank and sell your soul to consulting and investment banking to pursue fulfilling intellectual enlightenment and better oneself as a lifelong learner.

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25. TF, PSL, CA

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A course’s Teaching Fellows (TF), Peer Study Leaders (PSL) and CAs (Course Assistants) are graduate and undergraduate assistants who have usually taken the course before and can help you answer questions about the course and its assignments.

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26. Animals of Harvard:

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Remy: The cutest orange cat. Despite all Sidechat rumors, he is still alive!

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The Turkeys: At first you’ll think they’re cute. Then you’ll realize they’re three feet tall. Then you’ll realize that they can fly.

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Goose: The jackets worth more than your Macbook Air, or the rabid beasts by the River.

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That Guy That Goes Too Hard to “Mo Bamba”: Avoid at all costs.

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27. The T

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He loves me, he loves me not. The T works, the T does not — it’s different every day! Run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the T is Boston’s subway system that services the metro area. Take the Red Line from Harvard Square into downtown Boston for much-needed getaways from campus. Or, take the extremely slept-on 1 bus!

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28. Flyby Blog

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Harvard’s premier student blog. Publishes a daily newsletter that is a must-subscribe for all Harvard students. thecrimson.com/subscribe and choose Harvard Today! You’ll get an email every morning with the menu, the weather, and events with ~free food~...

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('

{shortcode-82a324f04131860e58330c80144cbc81378d48e8} Hello, perspective prefrosh! First and foremost, I would like to congratulate you on stumbling upon the best piece of public service journalism you will find during your time as a Harvard student. But I’ll cut to the chase; here’s why you should attend this red-brick-road school that some call a “small liberal arts college outside of Boston,” instead of other colleges that are small OR liberal arts OR outside of Boston.

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The Housing System

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When you arrive at Harvard, it might be your first time away from home, but don’t worry; its support networks will always have your back!

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When you’re a freshman student, you have the opportunity to participate in close-knit pre-orientation groups and you will receive a Peer Advising Follow (PAF) based on your entryway. A PAF acts as your upperclassman guide to the Harvard bubble.

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Better yet, you will look forward to being sorted into one of our 12 upperclassmen houses on a magical campus holiday called Housing Day. You create groups of up to eight freshmen students, known as a “Blocking Group,” and you get to live in the same House for the next three years.

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Each House has its own traditions and quirks. Maybe you’ll fall in love with Lowell tea or Mather’s monkey bread or even get lucky enough to secure a ticket to Eliot’s spring formal known as Fête.

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The current housing system is a completely randomized lottery, but back in the day, freshmen students ranked upperclassmen Houses, so they had distinct personalities.

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What if your House doesn’t turn out to be your perfect fit? You can transfer to another one. Whether you enjoy the Quad or the River, you will find your home here.

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The Math Lounge

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One of our biggest academic buildings on campus is the Science Center, which is home to all the premed introduction classes, random Gen Ed lectures, and probably all your 9 a.m. classes.

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But many don’t realize that it is also home to a free espresso machine on the fourth floor in the Math Lounge. Do yourself a favor and learn how to use it; your sleep deprivation and wallet will thank you.

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Apart from the free caffeine, the lounge is also a lovely place to study and do homework, especially if you're in need of a blackboard. It even has a spacious balcony if you want to people-watch or pretend you’re the main character and romanticize the view of Harvard Yard.

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Being Boston-Adjacent

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Cambridge is around half an hour away from anywhere you’d want to visit in Boston. Spend a Sunday morning visiting the Museum of Fine Arts or window shop on Newbury Street — there’s plenty of good food and shopping just a short MBTA ride away.

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The good thing about not being truly in the heart of Boston is that you can always escape the chaos. Go thrifting in Central Square, explore the food court in Porter Square, or maybe even take a class at MIT. Cambridge has the duality of being integrated into Boston and living in its own little world.

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Extracurricular Obsession Passion

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Harvard students are just as passionate about their extracurriculars as they are about their studies, if not more! You’ll meet people creating startups, pursuing activism, or even working on presidential campaigns (yeah, that presidency). The passion people have here for their life outside of class makes for mind-blowing and motivating stories. But also, please chill sometimes.

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Brain Break

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Every school night, there’s this lovely thing called Brain Break! Harvard knows its students stay up until strange hours studying or binge-watching Netflix, so each dining hall offers an assortment of late-night snacks for students to refuel themselves or take a break.

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The Jefe’s vs. Felipe’s Debate

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Harvard students judge you on which Mexican restaurant you prefer, so you better make your choice wisely. These two spots are right across the street from each other, with one being known for giant portions while the other has a lively rooftop bar. You will most likely pledge your allegiance to one and grab it every time you need a late-night snack or miss dinner.

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Never-Ending Supply of Cafés

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From Pavement to Blank Street to Peets, you’ll find your favorite quickly. You can always count on Harvard Square for a caffeinated beverage that’ll fulfill your craving. We have coffee, tea, a CVS with a wide selection of energy drinks, and, of course, boba!

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Sundae Sunday

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Each Sunday night at dinner, you’ll find ice cream and a plethora of toppings to create your own ‘Sunday Sundae.’ Need I say more?

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Myriad of Research Opportunities

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Science? Social Science? Engineering? The Humanities? It doesn’t matter what interests you; Harvard probably has the perfect research assistantship or summer program for you. With dozens of stipend opportunities available to undergraduates, if research is your thing, dive right in. And Boston’s truckload of hospitals aren’t only great if you manage to break a bone tripping on the brick sidewalks: they have labs, too!

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Cross-Registration

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Have you ever wanted to cosplay as a law or medical student without all the loans? Or maybe you got rejected from MIT but don’t know how to break it to your grandparents. Do not fear, cross-registration is here! Harvard students can take classes at the majority of the graduate schools or even at MIT to count towards their degree by petitioning their academic department for credit.

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Proximity to Trader Joe’s

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You might not know it yet, but you’re going to fall in love with a grocery store named Trader Joe’s. With niche snacks, seasonal flavors, and prices that won’t leave you feeling robbed like CVS, you will become obsessed with it.

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There’s a Trader Joe’s near the ~new~ Science and Engineering Complex in Allston, and a secret second one 15 minutes down Memorial Drive from River East. I promise you will find grocery shopping such a treat, and you will love trying all of their new snacks to find your favorites.

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Unlimited D-hall Swipes

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We may not beat Boston University for their top-ranking d-hall, but we do have unlimited swipes. It’s nice to never have to worry about which meal plan to choose or if I have enough on my card to grab a meal. While Harvard University Dining Services is not always the fanciest (cough, cough, Yale), it’s reliable and stress-free. Also, you will become besties with your House d-hall swiper, the member of HUDS who greets students as they enter the servery!

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Flyby Blog (of The Harvard Crimson)

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Come back and read Flyby for all the life hacks you need to know as a Harvard student, or maybe even join us! Rumor has that we are also part of a 150-year-old newspaper that has scooped the New York Times multiple times… Maybe you’ll make your own list of Harvard quirks. :)

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('

{shortcode-e6bbd223fd36fb13f4904fdcaab2e33d61d7083b}

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Dear Class of 2028,

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Visitas is fast approaching, and you’ll soon be surrounded by your fellow admits as you revel in finally standing in Harvard’s (so they say) hallowed halls. Amidst the chaos of Visitas and a gazillion club info sessions, academic fairs, and late-night events, making quality conversation with your peers, let alone remembering the names of the 300 prospective Economics and Government concentrators you just met, will be more difficult than trying to recite the names of all the near-identical red brick buildings in the Yard.

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Before you commit immediate friendship transgressions by asking questions like “What other colleges did you get into?” or “Are you going to Bulldog Days after this,” let us be your guiding star. We’re Flyby, your trusty navigators through the treacherous waters of small talk. Because let’s face it, you’re not here to only collect LinkedIn connections and merch you’ll never use; you’re here to get to know the Harvard ~community~ and meet other members of the Class of 2028.

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So buckle up, dear prefrosh, as we unveil our expert-approved, mildly concerning, and certainly memorable conversation starters for Visitas. And don’t worry, if you accidentally blurt out that you’re concentrating in “Quantum Basket Weaving,” we’ve got your back.

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The Weather Gambit: “Isn’t this New England breeze invigorating?” you’ll say, as if you’ve just stepped out of a Jane Austen novel. Bonus points if you can mention something about the torrential downpour and your hands being cold.

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The Literary Lure: “I’m currently reading Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason for fun.” You’re not, but it’s a power move to establish your intellectuality. They’ll either be impressed or question your sanity. Either way, you’ve got their attention.

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The Uno Reverse: If you’re ever asked about your academic prospects (or if your mind has gone completely blank), reply with “What do you think I should concentrate in?” Let your new friend think that you actually will let their answer dictate your entire undergraduate career. It’ll make them feel special and perhaps even convince them to give you their number instead of their Insta that they are never active on. Don’t ask them to pick your major, though; that’ll just show them that you don’t know your Harvard vocab, and that’s embarrassing.

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The Pre-Existing Connection: “Hey, do you know John Harvard?” You know absolutely nothing of substance about John, but you did suffer through one very awkward text conversation with him right after Decision Day, so you might as well make use of it.

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The Heart-to-Heart: “I think my Visitas host hates me,” you’ll confide, and your new acquaintance will automatically jump to reassure you or (if their Visitas host signed up to house them for the express purpose of securing a spot at the club fair) respond with their own tale of woe. There’s nothing like a few tears to solidify a friendship.

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If all else fails: “When’s the last time you felt happiness?”

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Even if these conversation starters fail — though, trust us, they won’t — just remember: some of these kids are destined for St. Anford, but you, my friend, are on the Crimson Express to greatness.

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('

{shortcode-126b56168a69a9b15ca1dcda03dd72b82df5ee53}

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Dear prospective prefrosh: we hope you enjoy Visitas, but it’s time we told you the truth…

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While Harvard arranged events with rose-colored glasses, the grass truly did seem to get greener for the weekend…and HUDS was slightly better than usual. Let’s talk about some realities of going here that will reveal themselves to you if you choose to drive into the Yard in August.

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The Boston Cold

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April in Boston may seem cold, but the chill you experienced this weekend is actually known as extremely mild weather. Sometimes in January and February, the stars will align and the weather will even drop to negative numbers (and no, I don’t mean in Celsius).

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Remember to buy a winter coat, and brace yourself for five to 30 minute-long walks in the freezing cold weather with ice and snow all around you. You’ll have to brave through these conditions for class because the last time Harvard gave us a snow day was my freshman year (almost three years ago).

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The temperature isn’t the only thing that drops during Boston winters. Prepare yourself for a drop in motivation to leave your warm, cozy bed whenever it’s freezing. And I’m so sorry, but when you live in the Yard, chances are your heating situation may not be up to par and you’ll need to have (at least) three blankets on your person.

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It’ll be cold, but at least you’ll have a million assignments to keep you distracted!

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Harvard University Dining Services

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Our HUDS workers are fabulous, but you will never see a shred of fresh fruit or berries in the d-hall once you're an enrolled student here. Strawberries will indicate some kind of campus holiday, or if you’re lucky, you’ll have it during your (upperclassman) House’s community nights. I will never understand why, but once or twice a semester, HUDS chooses to make gourmet meals that leave us day-dreaming of bread, cheese, and fruit every other day. When did berries and bread become such a treat?

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Even if you didn’t like fruit before coming to Harvard, you’ll suddenly find yourself at Trader Joe’s buying mangoes and grapes. What happened to your taste buds, you ask? You miss fruit, and you don’t even know it.

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It’s more than likely that you will be served chicken entrees every other day, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll rotate between the pasta station and the grill more than you'd like to admit. BUT, at least you’ll learn to appreciate home-cooked meals much more when you go home for breaks.

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Club Comps

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Remember all those clubs whose events you attended this weekend? Yeah… they will actually email you in the fall. Everything’s great until you realize that instead of handing out cool swag to convince you to join their club, you will now have to convince the club that you are worthy of being dubbed a member of their organization. Thus begins comp season: a typically semester-long process of completing tasks for club membership, Survivor style.

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Harvard’s social scene revolves around clubs and extracurricular activities, so they tend to hold many shiny things in front of their compers’ eyes to motivate them to work harder to become a member of their organization. And yes, I might be talking about our many consulting clubs with fancy formals and member gifts such as Apple Watches at the end of every semester.

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Comp processes can become just as rigorous as classes and can last weeks, or even a whole semester as you work to earn your place in your organization of choice. Always remember that the opportunities meant to find you will find you. Trust the (comp) process!

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Comping organizations can definitely help you meet people and make connections, but it can also become pretty stressful, pretty quickly. However, most people find something that fits, so do not fear that you’ll find your favorite homework procrastination option soon enough, whether it’s the Crimson (we hope), the IOP, PBHA, or breaking into the world of ~business~.

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Workload

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During Visitas, you spend two magical days at Harvard without a pset floating above your head, an essay just waiting to take you out, or a mountain of 200 pages of reading.

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Enjoy the feeling of freedom before you’re hit with the prefrosh virtual orientation modules and a million assignments as soon as courses start. The difference between these two things is that one has consequences, while the other at most warrants an annoyed email from your proctor. My advice: prioritize where you must!

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This might be the reality of going to Harvard, but let me remind you that this is the reality of going to any other college, just at varying degrees!

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So, Class of 2028, I hope this article helps clarify some of the realities of being a college student, but please don’t let this stop you from coming here in the fall. Harvard is a wonderful place, but you also deserve to know what you’re signing up for!

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So, you got into Harvard, but what now? Visitas! Here’s how to maximize your experience at Visitas as a pre-frosh from a current freshman. Warning: these tips may cause you to fall in love with Harvard and immediately commit.

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DO: Pack for all types of weather

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During my Visitas weekend, it poured the entire time. Needless to say, my crewneck and jeans were completely soaked through, and I was freezing the whole weekend. I’m pretty sure a few students ended up picking Y*le because of the sun on their admitted students days. Don’t be an amateur like me — pack for all types of weather! Considering the unpredictability of Massachusetts weather, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that it could snow one day and be seventy degrees and sunny the next.

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DON’T: Spend all your time talking about the other schools you got into

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Just don’t. Everyone admitted to Harvard is amazing in their own right, and there’s no need to try to one-up each other by sharing your acceptance to Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, etc. Take it from me — during Visitas I was added to a group chat called “Crimson Cardinals” (as in students accepted to both Stanford and Harvard). I’m not sure why I was added considering I didn’t even apply to Stanford, but it was still cliquey and weird.

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DO: Know your limits

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Take this one as you will. As a pre-frosh, please don’t make a fool of yourself by going out at night without knowing your limits. This is not the time to find out what your limit is! You DO NOT want to be “that person.” Also, it’s important to know your socialization limits. Visitas is an exciting and rewarding weekend, but it also has the potential to be extremely draining if you don’t know when your social battery might run out.. If you need to escape the crowd for an hour and read a book in the law school library/scroll on TikTok to recharge, do that!

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DON’T: Stay confined to the Yard

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This tip will come naturally to those who are hosted by upperclassmen in the houses. However, if you’re being hosted by a freshman, make an effort to leave the Yard and explore other parts of campus. Walking by the river is a great way to see some of the upperclassman houses and romanticize your next four years at Harvard. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, check out the Quad! After all, it could be your future home.

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DO: Try food in the Square

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In my opinion, a huge draw for Harvard is the city of Cambridge. If you’re already sick of HUDS, check out places to grab food in the Square. Make some new friends (or enemies, but hopefully not) and settle the ongoing Jefe’s vs. Felipe’s and Noch’s vs. Joe’s debate!

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DON’T: Plan out your four years

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I’m as guilty as anyone for doing this, but refrain from crafting your class schedule for the next four years — or even for the next year. Chances are, you aren’t going to end up taking LS 50, Math 55, CS 50, and Stat 110 all in your first semester. This isn’t high school anymore!

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DO: Attend a lecture

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One of the most important things I did during my Visitas was attend two lectures: one in the Government department about US-China foreign relations and the other a Gen Ed about Ancient Egyptian civilization. Sitting in on these lectures allowed me to get a real idea of what taking classes as a Harvard student would be like. Pro-tip: attending a lecture is another great way to meet future classmates who are interested in similar topics as you.

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DON’T: Have imposter syndrome

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Easier said than done, I know. You got into Harvard for a reason! You belong here! It may be intimidating to be surrounded by your future classmates who are Olympians, published authors, and cancer researchers, but, trust me, they’re all just as impressed by you. Except for maybe the Olympians because they are, in fact, the coolest.

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DO: Allow for spontaneity

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Visitas has a seemingly endless list of programming to attend. I’d recommend picking a few key events that you prioritize attending, but allow for spontaneity in the rest of your schedule. Some of the best times I had during Visitas were those spontaneous moments — a Gong Cha run where I met people who I’m still friends with today and a pre-med information session (I am not pre-med and never will be, yet I was amazed by the breadth of resources and research opportunities available for undergrads).

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Hopefully these tips ease some of your anxieties about the weekend! Ultimately, trust your gut and be authentic. When you get on campus in the fall, Visitas will be a distant memory, and your ~transformative experience~ will begin.

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Let’s face it: there’s nothing new under the sun, and that includes Visitas. Every year, various upperclassmen (and several second-semester freshmen that feel like high school was forever ago) reserve a five by two rectangle on their floor for an overeager adorably excited prefrosh. Every year, prefrosh schedule 50 events on their calendar and successfully make it to 10 of them in between getting lost between the Science Center and Thayer Hall and oohing and ahhing at the Charles River. Every year, prefrosh are misled (but sadly, not that much) about the quality of HUDS. Every year, Flyby channels nostalgia and trauma from their iterations of Visitas into articles that are poetic, hilarious, or both. So, since there are only so many Visitas-related one-liners we can write without repeating ourselves, here are a few timeless classics for you to reread instead of having us rehash prior years’ jokes for you (though we’re amazing at that). You’re welcome.

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How to: Not Get Lost During Visitas

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I’m sorry, but this article is required reading before you step foot on campus. I’ll have a hard enough time getting to class on time with the Class of 2028 monopolizing my shower; I don’t need you loitering on the sidewalk to delay me further. Download PassioGo, switch your Google (or Apple) Maps default travel setting to walking, and plan your commute well enough to not interrupt mine.

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Making Friends at Visitas: Do’s and Don’ts

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You think you know social etiquette, but you don’t. Just trust me. Please read this article, and please don’t commit one of the mentioned social faux paus, or you will end up in one of our infamous overheards.

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What We Wished We Had Done During Visitas

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Do you want to have a suboptimal Visitas experience? Do you want to have paralyzing nightmares for the rest of your life because of your Visitas regrets? Yeah, I thought not. Learn from us older (not that much!!!!!) and wiser students, and consider these tips to make your Visitas memorable in a good way.

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Things to Do During Visitas That Aren’t on the Programming

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I know you’ve already planned your entire itinerary on whichever mildly defunct platform the admissions office has chosen for event scheduling this year, but you should take another few minutes (which is like 5 percent of the time you spent making your original itinerary) to pencil some of the items in this article into your schedule. Your visit will be better for it!

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Visitas Bingo 2023!

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I already told you, there’s nothing new under the sun. Despite the title, this bingo card is not 2023-specific. It is just as applicable (and fun!) in 2024 (and 2025, or 2026, or 2027…if you’re reading this in the future). Have this handy for whenever you make the mistake of attending a speaker session and realizing five minutes into the hour-long event that you’re bored out of your mind.

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How to: Visit Harvard Without Visiting Harvard

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If you can’t make it to campus this Visitas, this article is the (year-old) miracle you’ve been waiting for. If you are visiting in-person, you might as well still read it and weep in preparation for your arrival on campus. It’ll make campus landmarks a little bit more familiar and clue you in to campus culture. You wouldn’t visit France without learning to say Bonjour, would you?

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Hopefully this suggested reading list will help you arrive on campus ready to explore all that Visitas has to offer, but if the articles above don’t quite answer all your questions, don’t forget that Flyby has many, many more articles just waiting to be read. The world is your (Flyby-described) oyster!

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{shortcode-dd2cb8d231571828dacee6ec54e1dcb9776052f5}We at Flyby are not immune to propaganda. Search “section kid” in Flyby’s archives and you’ll find countless posts insulting the overzealous academic archetype. Yes, section kids, a.k.a. the people who talk wayyyy more than anyone else in a section, can be annoying. But it’s time for me to come out of the closet (for the second and far less serious time): I am a section kid.

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That’s right. If there’s a moment of silence in my section, I will be filling it with a question, an observation, or a quote from the reading. I don’t raise my hand with the pen in it, but I do raise my hand with my elbow still on the table, which is almost as bad. And if I know the answer to a question, I will be saying that answer. But here’s the thing: you can hate on me all you want — but at the end of the day, who’s keeping you from having to do the reading? Because it sure as hell isn’t the TF.

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Do you want to answer that question? No? Yeah, I didn’t think so. And you know who does want to answer that question, because I can’t stand silence and get bored if I have to go ten minutes without hearing the sound of my own voice? Me. So I don’t understand why we can’t both just acknowledge the symbiotic relationship we have going here.

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We section kids have feelings too. Shame, for instance, at not being able to keep ourselves from voicing our thoughts (which are, of course, God’s gift to academia) whenever we have something to say. Embarrassment, when the TF inevitably goes, “Anyone else…?” instead of responding enthusiastically to our insightful comments. Yes, you feel boredom and irritation because you’re tired of hearing the admittedly slightly nasal sound of my voice. But I feel betrayal that you don’t understand that we’re on the same side.

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So, next time you find yourself complaining about the section kid (without first making sure you’re out of earshot… you know who you are…), remember: we are the engine that runs this campus. We are the mitochondria of this cell. And if you’re here at Harvard, you were probably the section kid in high school, so get off your high horse.

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Now, “devil’s advocates,” on the other hand? Absolutely inexcusable. Just stand behind your (bad) opinion already. We section kids do NOT claim them. And kids who wear suits to class can stay, but they’re on thin ice.

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-dd2cb8d231571828dacee6ec54e1dcb9776052f5}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.thecrimson.com/photos/2024/04/05/010654_1370155.jpeg', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=]>)])

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{shortcode-66c0a54fa103b3a74b2214320deaf5633eceabd7}PSA: Course registration is open! As you use your last remaining brain cells to juggle both your midterms for this semester’s set of tortures classes and looking for classes to take next semester, here are some of Flyby’s recommendations for the best classes that they have taken that might just save your GPA (and your sanity).

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English 90B: James/Baldwin with Jesse McCarthy

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This is a class full of people who truly love novels. If you truly love novels, take it.

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Gen Ed 1104: Science and Cooking

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After taking my p-set classes, I thought maybe I did belong in the kitchen, but after this class I apparently don’t belong there either. :,) \u200b\u200bGreat free food, though!

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FYSEMR 40D: The Transformation of Marketing

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Yes, this was a freshman seminar (and therefore the majority of people reading this article will never have the chance to take it themselves). Yes, I did take this pass-fail. Yes, this was my favorite class! That said, this seminar was a crash course on marketing, taught through the HBS case study method (read: lots of reading and lots of arguing). The professor is incredibly enthusiastic, and I looked forward to class every single week!

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Gen Ed 1179: Psychotherapy

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Sending all my love to this class. I never fell asleep in lecture, and it was a very wholesome vibe for such a big lecture. You leave feeling mentally rejuvenated and ready to tackle the next breakdown that comes your way.

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21W.758: Genre Fiction Workshop for Young Adult Literature

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Ever dreamt of being the next Colleen Hoover? The class provides a wonderful, low pressure space to learn about the craft and practice your writing while bonding over your love for love triangles and the enemies-to-lovers trope. The professor is so supportive and enthusiastic to see the students explore and work on their work. It’s taught at MIT but it’s without a doubt one of my favorite classes ever taken during college.

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Stat 110: Probability

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Your life will be changed. Your eyes will be opened. You will contemplate your existence and life choices. Just try not to fall into despair when calculating the odds of surviving finals week.

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\u200b\u200bESPP 180: Climate Change, Health, and Environmental Justice-Focusing on Solutions

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I never thought I’d consider concentrating in anything environment-related, but this class changed my entire outlook on public health, climate change, and enacting public policy that better serves local communities. I can’t say enough good things about Kari and the amazing guests she brings in weekly to talk to us about the environment, medicine, and government.

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Take this class to embrace the crunchy granola lifestyle and become an even bigger fan of king Noah Kahan!

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ESPP ♾️: Reconnecting with the Earth Through The Art of Bushjumping

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Get ready to leap into the unknown. This course, only for the brightest of minds (so much so that only certain people can even find it on my.harvard), allowed me to truly open my eyes to the world around me/escape the matrix. Jumping into a bunch of bushes around the Boston area was something I never knew I needed in my life, but now it’s part of my daily routine, and I’m thankful for Sensei Shrub’s work. It’s a must-take!

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Now that we’ve equipped you with such a comprehensive list of classes guaranteed to entertain, enlighten, and possibly confuse you, go forth, get those holds lifted, and good luck!

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{shortcode-7c57696693704d8d60793ffa3fa59852bd301122}In one of the best decisions Harvard has made since turning spring break into wellness days, course registration for the Fall 2024 semester is now due on April 17th. If you’re anything like the typical Harvard student, you’re probably really happy about this change because mid-April is famously one of the least busy times of the semester for students. But, if for some unfathomable reason you find yourself being uncharacteristically busy during the course registration period, here are some tips to speedrun the entire process.

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Schedule an advisory meeting ASAP

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Your advisors are busy, busy people, and while it depends on your concentration, they probably have a lot of people requesting them for meetings to lift their holds on my.harvard and for advice on classes. If you have no idea where to start, your advisor is probably your best bet to make sure you graduate on time with all your requirements completed. Alternatively, you can try checking out your concentration’s website and see if they have any sample course plans.

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Copy an upperclassman

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Log onto the Harvard College Facebook directory. Filter by your concentration (or intended, if you’re a first-year). Look through the photos of all the upperclassmen in your concentration, and choose the person who looks the least dead inside. If their email is available, shoot them an email and ask them what classes they’re planning on taking or have already taken. And just copy all of them. Make sure to also enthusiastically wave “Hi!” to them every time you see them in class to express your gratitude.

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Take advantage of the “Have you considered?” section

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You know what, I actually haven’t considered taking Flyby 101: How to Provide Unhelpful Advice Under the Guise of a How-To Article. That’s a really great suggestion. In fact, it’s such a great suggestion, I think it would be an amazing idea to just select four random classes from the “Have you considered?” section of the course catalog and see where life takes you. Four credits is four credits.

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Ask the spirits

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There are a lot of really great spots to communicate with spirits near Harvard (i.e. the Weld Hall elevator, Tasty Basty, the Lampoon Building). They’ve been here for so long and have seen so much of Harvard history, so they have a lot of quality insights into which classes are the best and most life-changing. It might be difficult to get them to talk, but I’ve found that a gentle tone and bribing them with the d-hall chicken sandwich usually works.

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Skip course registration

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And just register for four MIT classes. You wanted to break out of the Harvard bubble, right?

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In conclusion, good luck.

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{shortcode-cb980a4d1ebbd5e357ca4f24393ca9a68f95250a}Oh, holiday candy aisle at Harvard Square’s beloved CVS, how you tease me so. With your Halloween candy that appears in August and your October candy canes. And your latest endeavor: Easter candy. Just as Boston weather has teased us with the approach of spring for months, you, CVS, have dangled the promise of chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies since before the snow had even had the chance to fall. I first caught a glimpse of the decadent sweets while I strolled by to grab a new bottle of shampoo. That was in January. I was in shock, mesmerized by the bright spring greens of the packaging, the golden foils, and the flower patterns on the variety packs full of Reese's cups and Hershey’s kisses. Spring is here, I thought, but one step outside and the thought left with the blistering winter winds.

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I held out as long as I could. I avoided you altogether, thinking that if I didn’t browse your captivating shelves, my bank account would be safe, and I would only partake in the celebratory candy when society deemed it appropriate. But it was an uphill battle. And eventually, I lost. The search for one simple dorm room necessity brought me back within your walls, and I was done for.

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The Lindt bunnies got me first, on display in an array of different sizes, stationed right by the side entrance where I walked in. The greatest of all chocolate bunnies, they sat there looking at me, wrapped up in shining gold foil with a pretty red bow. Elegant, classy, delicious — how could I resist? The mini Cadbury eggs were next — arguably the best of the Easter candies, with their crunchy shell, their smooth center. I have two bags of them in my dorm now. How did you convince me to get two? The elusive company made its iconic appearance for the spring months, and I foolishly fell for the bait because I knew that Cadbury would soon retreat into hiding until the next year, leaving us craving more.

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The Peeps caught my attention once I’d managed to pull myself from the chocolate. The colorful marshmallows added little temptation, but they served the Easter aesthetic with each and every brightly colored sugar grain. Beneath them, the M&M’s were being sold in pastels, and the Hershey’s kisses were packaged in an array of green, pink, and blue. Everything was egg-shaped, and, against my better judgment, I was living for all of it: Hershey’s cookies and cream eggs and Reese’s eggs, whose peanut-butter-to-chocolate ratio is arguably better than the classic cups’. Even Ferrero Rocher was participating in the festivities, with their giant chocolate eggs that sat high on the shelves almost beyond my reach, all done up in gold foil. But we never go for the Ferrero Rocher — not during Easter time, because let’s face it, Ferrero will always be there, egg-shaped or not. Instead, I had to go for the limited options, the ones I knew would disappear in another week (or go on discount because you’ll inevitably be overstocked), never to be seen again (until next year).

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You’re truly a wonder, CVS. You’ve cracked the code: everybody loves holiday-themed candy, and you are milking that fact for all it’s worth. People don’t even have to celebrate the holiday because we all want the same thing: an excuse to eat chocolate, judgment free. And you, with your aisles full of bright spring packaging, have given it to us. Thank you, CVS.

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Yours truly,

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A Lindt chocolate bunny enthusiast

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Do you have a midterm this week? Are you currently working on a p-set or essay? Are you a Harvard student? Are you a human being? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s likely that it’s time for you to touch some grass! We here at Flyby Blog tried to regain some of our brain cells back by touching grass… wherever we could find it.

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Tenderly touching grass to not scare it away.

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Touching grass… drinking grass…

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Two-in-one deal: tissues for my tears and opportunity to touch grass

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{shortcode-f7cb372fd36db489b19eb24a76bf203e4a83848c}

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Yes. This is grass.

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No doubt, this is grass.

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{shortcode-cfdf584a6654083b1068f9532ca3bdd221482a2e}

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Is this… grass?

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{shortcode-da6808ced502014f604f139d65c10690bcaf434d}

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The real question is why that grass is so dry and yellow.

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Grass — edible!

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Not sure what’s going on here but we’ll take it.

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{shortcode-9a431e0c0a19296ab36491b4d7833f3a85b65234}

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A grass-ception

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{shortcode-87d07dd5828fb668d7b97e067648767483f7a93b}

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{shortcode-9472688c8646f6f2c889093c1ff54260a445678b}

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The only kind of grass Harvard students actually know how to touch.

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{shortcode-dd23151194aa8b5548a1b5fbafcb34e7ed823508}

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From the ruminations of Flyby’s very own Bush Jumper: is a bush grass or is grass tiny bushes?

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So many opportunities to touch grass! Now that we’ve tried it, we can conclude that it is an enlightening experience that we urge you to try. So go forth and touch some grass, dear readers.

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{shortcode-9ec812dcd8a85fb31e602a31d1c727fe550f21c3} Ahh midterm season: otherwise known as midlife crisis season, or the season that marks the beginning of your GPA’s downfall. Maybe your latest chem midterm did a number on your grade, or perhaps it was those absences from your attendance-required lecture adding up. Whatever the case, before you seriously contemplate adding some W’s (we’re talking withdrawals, not wins) to your transcript, consider this: an academic comeback is possible (or, if you ask the delulu optimist in me, probable)! Here are our tips for healing your relationship with Canvas.

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Cry it out.

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Avoiding time spent crying in the shower or into your pillow to spend a few more hours studying might seem logical, but failing to process your emotions about worse-than-you’d-hope grades can only be counterproductive. Negative emotions fester, and — even if the PS11 course heads are determined to make their class as grueling as possible — learning is meant to be fun. (It’s a cliche, so it must be true.) If you don’t allow yourself a moment to feel down in the dumps, you risk developing an overly antagonistic relationship with your coursework, and you’ll miss out on the chance to have a fulfilling classroom experience.

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Actually look at your grades.

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Open Canvas. Click on the “Grades” tab. Feel frustrated because your professor decided to enter only two of your assignments on Canvas. Open Gradescope. Flinch. Calculate your grade. Calculate what you’ll need on the final to salvage your grade. Wince. (But, seriously, it’s probably much, much better than you think. And, if not, it’s only up from here!)

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Form (new) study habits.

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As unfair as it is, studying should not be left to the night or even week before your midterm; truly productive studying happens as you learn and consequently should happen all the time (or, since you have a life, as often as possible). Make flashcards after each lecture rather than in a torturous cram session the night before your midterm. Complete each week’s optional practice questions. Write (or at least outline) your essays far in advance of the due date, not least so you won’t be juggling a five-page paper with studying for a test worth 30 percent of your grade. Above all, study to learn rather than to ace a test (though that would be a happy accident).

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Use class resources to your advantage.

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Most likely, there are at least a few class or campus resources — ranging from office hours to practice problems to peer tutoring — that you have yet to use. One of these might be the last tool you need to attain academic success! If you feel like you’ve exhausted every possible resource, consider scheduling a meeting with your professor or a TF to discuss your experience in the class. Learning is often frustrating, but you never have to navigate that frustration alone.

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Hopefully, these tips will help you achieve the grades of your dreams, but remember that even if your semester feels unsalvageable, odds are that everything will be alright. At the end of the day, you are a human being first, and you deserve a break every once in a blue moon while. Mute your Canvas notifications, and practice some self care. Do your laundry, vacuum your floor, or clean your water bottle. Watch a movie with your friends or FaceTime (or even visit) your family. Let yourself breathe. Let yourself be more than a student. You are so, so much more than a number on your transcript. Good luck!

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{shortcode-ddf9863cf5c451fb9db944b1a068c3677841b112}

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What’s the typical “day in the life” of a Harvard student? For me, it’s a never ending cycle of waking up, eating, studying, more studying, and repeating. The only way of peppering up my day is going to a lively study space and spending time finishing up my long list of assignments, but where does this get done?

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In my opinion, the best study space on campus is the Smith Center. It’s the closest escape from my dorm, Straus Hall, which may or may not be currently infested by mice. When I hear a mouse squeak in my common room, Lamont or Cabot Library seem miles away compared to Smith, so why would I waste my energy going there?

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Now, you may be thinking, why not Widener, the most archaic and grand structure on this campus? Well, rumor has it (it’s not a rumor) you can hear a pin drop while students are studying at Widener, and if you dare to make any noise you’ll be forced out on a walk of shame. Personally, that’s not for me! That’s what brings me back to Smith — its modern architecture, vibrant furniture, and acceptable noise levels, create the perfect environment for me.

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Specifically, I am an avid 10th-floor-goer, like many others.

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It’s love at first sight when I scan my Harvard ID at the card reader that opens the heavily-guarded gray elevator. With restricted access, the 10th floor allows students to study next to their beloved peers. This allows us to be protected from tourists, which I appreciate as I get tired of them eyeing us down or asking silly questions like, “How do I get into Harvard?” (Spoiler alert: there is no secret formula — see today’s acceptance rate.)

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Once you take the quick trip to the 10th floor, you’re greeted with adequate noise levels for collaborative work and blissful study music playing at all times. Nothing makes me more comfortable than hearing pop songs edited to classical tunes, especially when I have to finish a tear-stained p-set. As I walk to my designated couch, I pass rows of vibrant couches, geometric chairs, board games, and pool tables, all of which add to the laid-back college student aesthetic with a fancy Harvard twist.

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It would be a crime to not also mention the beautiful views of the Charles River! On the 10th floor, I am able to catch amazing vistas of the upperclassmen houses, the Charles River, and Cambridge. No matter what time of day, the ~real world~ out the window is an extra source of motivation to finish assignments.

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It’s easy to say that the Smith Center has my heart <3.

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