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The bad news: in just a few weeks, the sun will set at 4 p.m., your Canada Goose will become a second skin, and you’ll question your decision to pick Harvard over Stanford. The good news: it’s not that cold yet. Don’t fall into the trap of only appreciating nice weather once it’s gone — like realizing how much you miss your health after waking up with a sore throat. Here are just a few of the activities you should squeeze in to appreciate these glorious 65-degree days before frostbite and Lamont captivity set in:

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Catch a Red Sox game

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Since you’ll probably be cursing Boston soon, you should do something that reminds you of what the city has to offer (other than doom and gloom for six months straight). Nothing says Boston quite like a late-season game at Fenway. The cold isn’t forcing you indoors quite yet, so grab a seat, a Fenway Frank, and a friend, and soak in the electric atmosphere of America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.

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Do your readings outside

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Swap your cramped desk on the third floor of Lamont for a spot outside in the sun. The fresh air and natural light will make even the densest text feel a little lighter, and it’s a great way to people-watch while you study. Bonus points if you grab an iced coffee with your Board Plus before it inevitably runs out by October.

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Watch the sunset on the Charles

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Before darkness hits while you’re in class, even though it’s only 4 p.m. (bottom three experiences ever), take some time to watch the incredible fall sunsets. Trust me, they’re better in person than on your friends’ Instagram stories.

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Get ice cream in the Square

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Harvard Square’s ice cream game is highly underrated in my humble opinion, and I think that’s in large part because the craving for ice cream dissipates in the winter — and it feels like winter a lot here. If you’re not sure where to go, here are two Flyby writers’ opinions of how the ice cream spots in the Square compare

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Wear cute outfits

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This is the fleeting era where you can pull off layered fall fashion without resorting to wearing three sweaters and a parka. Document it for later reminders that you do, in fact, have style. The sweatpants are highly circumstantial.

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Picnic in the Yard

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Gather some friends, a blanket, and some Trader Joe’s snacks for a simple but perfect afternoon in the Yard. Picnicking in the Yard is a classic Harvard student rite of passage, especially for seniors trying to take in every last moment of campus life. While you might leave this to do in the spring, remember that a “warm” day then is often just 50 degrees and windy. Take advantage of the actual nice weather now to create a truly idyllic afternoon with friends.

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This is all to say, go outside while it still feels like a gift rather than a curse. Your second-floor spot at Lamont will still be waiting there for you when it’s hibernation season, I promise.

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With your backpack freshly dusted off, pencils sharpened, and new back-to-school shoes, it’s finally time to contemplate all the pros and woes that come with the much less talked about week than her predecessor — the second week of classes, a.k.a. SWOC.

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Love It: Out of the First Week Funk

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You’ve finally settled in and know where your classes are — no more scrambling through my.harvard to double-check that lecture really is in Sever Hall, and that your section didn’t change in the past 24 hours. There’s a sense of familiarity gained — you’ve solidified the route that you take in between your classes, and now you know how late you can realistically wake up and still get to class on time, and just cut it close enough.

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Sections are also already fully underway. Any new section crushes? I bet so. After settling in, you’re now able to smile at people you recognize in your new classes, which just makes you feel so effortlessly cool to be so well-acquainted with your campus peers. And for my type-A GCal addicts, you’ve finally found yourself in a steady groove in which you can happily stay afloat. Overall, you’re well past the first-week jitters, and everything is falling back into place. The calendar is packed, but with fun catch-up lunches and nights out in the square to add some liveliness to the usual psetting and readings you have to do. Taking a stroll through the Yard is also still lovely, and you’ll find yourself taking photos of Widener and Memorial Church as you get to class. You are happy to be back. All is well with the world.

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Hate It: Homework… What the funk?

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The first week's whimsy has worn off, and being back on campus has lost its novelty. It’s fun to roleplay a cool Harvard student, but it’s not so cool to be buried in readings on the second day, psetting until midnight in (dare I say it) Lamont, and forgetting who exactly you have and haven’t caught up with yet. You may have forgotten over the summer just how much work it truly is to be a Harvard student, but don’t worry, this lovely institution only lets you forget for so long — welcome back!

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Speaking of which, you know that class you really liked the first week? Yeah, it’s awful now. The content is boring, and the lack of structure was only fun the first week when it didn’t matter what you were learning. Now you have a reading quiz in the second week on something you vaguely remember being briefly mentioned, because the students speak more than the professor. Oh, and you know that seat you sat on the first day that you so deliberately picked out and enjoyed so much? Some random person has taken it. Or worse, an auditor has taken it. She doesn’t even go here! So you sit a row back and gaze longingly towards where your crush was sitting the week before, only to panic and check the Canvas roster, discovering that they had already switched out of the class. But don’t worry; maybe you’ll find another section crush in the 9:00 a.m. section you were just placed in against your will. It’s okay, a routine will build eventually — just probably not this week. You’re still fighting for your life while adjusting to the Harvard lifestyle again.

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Whether you love it or hate it, you are back nonetheless. Your friends at flyby hope that the sectioning Gods (your TF) bless you with good times, and that the cluzz (class Huzz) is bountiful. And remember, no matter how gloomy the days are turning as midterms inevitably begin to creep into your life, there will always be a flyby article waiting for you to read in the morning — you’re welcome.

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Even though it’s only the second week of school, sections are already underway, and the semester is in full swing! That first section week can be a trying time of adjustment, as new dynamics and social norms are established, and section kids emerge after a summer of hibernation.

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Here’s Flyby’s breakdown of the kids that you will meet in your section this semester:

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1. The Section Kid™

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The apex predator of the section ecosystem, the classic section kid measures their self-worth in raised hands per minute. They genuinely believe their thoughts are so profound that silence is a crime against humanity. They’ve weaponized the word “juxtaposition” and will deploy it at least once every week. If you manage to get a word in edgewise, pray you’ve done the readings — they can smell academic blood and fear from three seats away and WILL go in for the kill to call you out.

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2. Just a Chill Guy

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The sweetest golden retriever of section participants. Beloved by all, they somehow manage to say exactly the right thing in exactly the right amount of time. Their contributions are not too much, not too little — they are just a perfect gem overall.

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3. It ain’t much, but it’s honest work

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The true hero of section. When your TF asks everyone to share their thoughts about the reading, and the room falls into silence, this brave soul steps into the breach to break the ice. They might not have the most groundbreaking take, but they’ll take one for the team to fight the awkward silence so the rest of us don’t have to.

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4. Can I borrow a pencil?

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Harmless in lectures, but a completely different person when group work is mentioned. They haven’t done the reading, they forgot about the assignment, and they don’t even have a pencil. It’s giving group project PTSD from high school, and we’re not here for it.

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5. This is a little unrelated, but…

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The endless yapper. The master of the humble brag disguised as class participation. The discussion could be about 18th-century French poetry, and suddenly, we’re hearing a twenty-minute monologue about their “totally relevant” and transformative summer as an intern at Goldman Sachs, where they “learned so much about human nature,” just like, you know, Voltaire said.

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6. The Devil’s Advocate

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The final boss of section. This person has never met an opinion they couldn’t oppose, a consensus they couldn’t shatter, or a flow they couldn’t stop. They preface every bad opinion with “I’m just playing devil’s advocate, but…” as if that absolves them of responsibility for their terrible take. There’s no need to be an antagonist constantly; for our sake, please just go to therapy.

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It’s going to be a good year for me.

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Freshman year, I was still learning how to navigate this institution. Now, I can confidently say that I know the names of at least 60% of the buildings affiliated with the College, and respond to forgetting application deadlines with shrugs instead of panic (if it were important, I would’ve put it on my G-Cal).

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Sophomore year, I was settling into my college identitiy. Though I still don’t know exactly what the future holds, I feel ready for whatever comes next. I’m taking classes I enjoy, doing research that excites me, and making memories with friends both old and new.

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Junior year? I’m eating breakfast.

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~~~~~

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It was the evening after I had moved back onto campus.

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As an avid checker of the “This Week’s Undergraduate Menu” page on the HUDS website (frankly, more out of habit than anything; I already have the menu sent to me via Flyby’s incredibly informative Harvard Today newsletter), I was already aware of the layout- and design-related changes they’d been making.

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What I didn’t expect was a new “Misc” heading under the Breakfast section, which included items that took my breath away. Namely — baby spinach, red onions, and tomatoes.

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Was I dreaming? Could it be that there were vegetables available in the morning?

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Like many of you, dear readers, breakfast in the dining halls has not sparked joy for me in a long time. Personally, I find little appeal in too-sweet pastries and the hardest-boiled eggs known to man. Plus, one can only make eating oatmeal feel whimsical in so many different ways. When I started imagining myself as a medieval peasant eating gruel, I knew that I couldn’t do it anymore.

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It was refreshing to see a diverse array of colors in the morning with varied tastes and textures, rather than the usual beige continental fare. I began looking forward to waking up in the mornings and making myself a sandwich (which had the added benefit of ensuring I had the energy to pay attention during my 9 a.m. lectures). In fact, I shifted my sleep schedule to do so.

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Let me say that again: one menu change by HUDS was the catalyst for improving both my eating habits and sleep schedule.

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I know that I am not the only person to feel this way, as evidenced by the fact that my house’s dining hall is now populated by more than about three people at a time before 11:30 a.m.

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Furthermore, the topic of “breakfast sandwiches” has organically emerged shockingly often between the standard conversation starter of “how was your summer?” and complaints about increased laundry prices.

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This is, not to mention, that there are many other points of change for which HUDS deserves praise, including the unexpected-but-appreciated presence of pre-mixed Caesar salad and the genuinely life-changing nature of the Pickle Bar (yes, a simple crunch can make that much of a difference). Though I will personally mourn the loss of Bistro Bowls and Build-Your-Own nachos, I feel positive about the direction HUDS is headed in.

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As much as I like to joke around, I am being 100 percent serious when I say that I (and every other undergraduate at the College) deeply appreciate the hard work HUDS puts in to not only feed thousands of college students three square meals each day, but to keep improving while doing it.

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We might not express it as often as we should (everyone better start texting positive messages to the number on our napkin dispensers), but none of us can imagine what it’d be like without you all supporting us every step of the way.

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Thank you, HUDS, for everything you do.

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P.S. HUDS, since you’re on a roll, may I suggest a congee bar at breakfast? It’s about the same difficulty to make as oatmeal, and toppings are already on hand (e.g. anything from the pickle bar and maybe scallions from the chili bar). Plus, I feel like congee appeals to a much larger audience than chili. Yes, I’ve been thinking about this since I stepped foot on campus.

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I see Flyby as, in a sense, a source of upperclassman advice. I don’t mean this in terms of the age of our staff writers, but in the sense of our authenticity. Flyby will tell it to you how it is – however raw it might be. But now, as a senior, here I am as the actual upperclassman. So, naturally, I am all the more certified to offer some more unsolicited advice.

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You might be thinking – slow your roll, the semester just started. And yes, you’d be right. I don’t deny being preemptively nostalgic, nor can many of my classmates (I mean, I genuinely visited Widener steps five times on the first day of classes to take as many pictures with my friends as I could (as if we don’t also have the spring semester… LFDOC, LFWOC? Now we’re just throwing letters together)). Looking past this, though, I’ve truly had many jump scares formative realizations despite my short tenure as a senior this year.

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1. Turnover is Rapid

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While Harvard has a strong institutional memory (She is OLD. Like before the United States old), the turnover of ideas on campus runs more quickly than you’d imagine. Take the new Adams buildings, for instance. While I, too, am impressed by the fact that the new Adams buildings are beautiful, I am more taken aback that this is everyone's, besides the Class of 2026’s, first time in these buildings at all. And, next year, there will be two classes that only know The Inn as The Dome. Things move fast, so it’s truly not worth getting hung up over something from the past. People won’t remember– that embarrassing moment from your freshman year is probably about as relevant as the old Adams dhall.

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2. Classes are Cool!!

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Even though I understand the gem-hunting expedition, I honestly think that there are so many awesome classes at the college that so many people miss. Yes, having gemmier classes would be in my interest this semester – I actually have to write my thesis rather than just tell people “I’m thesising!” and the MCAT will still not study for itself (unfortunately). But, even if a class is “easier” per se, being bored will make the work feel just as long. Take something for funsies, even if you have no business being there, because after eight quick semesters, you won't be able to anymore.

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3. Everyone Somehow Gets Old?

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Somewhere along the line, you and all of your teenage peers morph into fully fledged adults. You’ll end up in your twenties, and discussions about what clubs you’re excited to comp will morph into ones regarding return offers, recruitment, fellowships, and everything in between. Senior year is a ticking time bomb to a dispersion of all of the people you’ve grown to love over the last four years. So savor every moment along the way! Embracing the nights in Holworthy Basement is a rite of passage that should not be skipped for “cooler” upperclassmen spots (looking at you, Grensdays).

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So yes, I may only be three days into senior year, but if Harvard time has taught me anything, it’s that three days is basically three months, which is basically three years (into a fourth!). If nothing else, take my few days of wisdom, five Widener photo ops, and a million different acronyms as a reminder that nothing is truly ever that deep. And if that sounds like unsolicited advice — well, that’s what Flyby is for.

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It’s the start of September. The summer sun is shining, glistening off the deep blue of the Charles. Harvard’s Georgian brick beckons me as my mom drives our SUV to my new dorm. We pull into the Quad parking lot and I smile, excited for what the new school year will bring me.

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I grab my moving boxes and skip up my three flights of stairs to my six-person suite. I fling open the door and decide the layout’s not too bad. Certainly a little smaller than I expected, but the fire escape is an added bonus, and the window seats look like a rainy day’s dream aesthetic. But, unfortunately, it is not raining right now, and the suite feels a little too cozy. No longer am I smiling at the summer sun but cursing it for making my room feel like the inside of one of those solar pizza cookers. I hurriedly open the windows, only to find some obstructed by safety panels of plexiglass. While I try to supplement this snafu by turning on every fan in the suite, I trip over a large poster board. Looking down to face my assailant, I see a PAF poster with the words “DeWolfe” emblazoned across the front. DeWolfe? I ask myself.

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Now, I’m no expert on Harvard’s more obscure freshman dorms (I did once ask someone what school they went to after they said they lived in Lionel), but I could’ve sworn DeWolfe was overflow River housing — and nice overflow housing at that. I rush to Google to find out that no, DeWolfe was not supposed to be freshman housing, but here it is, providing freshmen with all the luxuries Harvard has to offer. Twenty lucky first years live in their suites, decked out with kitchens, bathtubs, and — oh my goodness — AC! And, just like that, I learn that first-years are living in better housing than I could ever dream of as a proud (but disgruntled) Cabotian.

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I sulk my way to sleep, tossing in my sweaty sheets, and awake with a maddening hunger and a busy schedule. So, I trek my way to the Cabot dining hall and am pleasantly surprised by the fried eggs awaiting me. After centuries (?) of student complaints, HUDS finally acquiesced to demands and gave us Quadlings some semblance of a hot breakfast. Perfect, I think. I’ll take this right back to my dorm and get on with my day. So, I meander to the swipe station to get my to-go box, only to find them nowhere to be seen. They’ve been abducted, gone like a thief in the night. Only that thief is an environmentally-conscious HUDS who cares more about their ESG rating than my ability to eat yucca fries in the basement of Lamont. So, pressed for time, I trudge across the quad lawn to go do my laundry.

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Yet, even this mundane task has been poisoned by new Harvard policies. After lugging my monstrously full hamper down three flights of stairs to the two washing machines in the building, I prepare to swipe my card only to be confronted by a warning sign stating “Crimson Cash is No Longer Usable.” Well, there went the $11.55 I had left on that app. Fine, I think. I can get yet another app for this school. And “One Tap Away” — or however many taps it takes to download Harvard’s new payment system from the App Store — I’m ready. But instead of convenience, I find myself confronted with highway robbery as my Apple Pay is charged a whopping TWO DOLLARS. Now, my eyes must be deceiving me. Harvard announced that it was raising laundry prices, but not to $2, to $1.75! Well, I can assure you that all four machines in the basement of Bertram Hall in Cabot cost $2. Since experiencing this initial shock, I have been unjustly charged twice more. I cannot fathom that a university to which my tuition costs nearly $90,000 each year and whose peer institutions (Dartmouth, Brown, Princeton…) offer free laundry, needs my EIGHT DOLLARS A WEEK to foot their water bills.

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I slide down to the floor of Bertram basement, aghast at what this university has come to.

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The first week of the semester is a trying time for everyone involved. It’s that special blend of optimism and chaos where you convince yourself that this will be the semester you have your life together — only to immediately prove yourself wrong in spectacular fashion. From professors who think assigning sections before you’ve even decided if you want to take their classes is reasonable, to exploding bathrooms, FWOC is basically a case study of how everything that could go wrong, will indeed go wrong.

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Despite the ups and downs, we’re all just doing our best out here. So grab your backup laptop charger (you’ll need it) and settle in for some of our flops from the FWOC.

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1. Finding a rotten banana at the bottom of your backpack

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Nothing quite says “I’m ready for a new semester” like reaching into your trusted backpack for a pen and instead discovering that what was once a banana has now reached a new state of matter in your bag. The smell hit our blogger first — and then the realization that their entire backpack was a biohazard.

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2. Having sections during the first week

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So many classes started having sections the first week of classes, after a single lecture — especially for courses we were merely shopping. For instance — enrolling in a Gen Ed after the second day of classes, only to find out that we already missed the first section.

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3. Living by Severance (managing the commute from the Quad to the River)

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The newest Quadlings have started to learn how to build their routines around commuting between the Quad and the River. The trek becomes a daily cardio workout, as they master the art of sprinting back and forth between their two homes.

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4. Showing up at the wrong building for section; getting caught up in a funeral procession

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The classic “I’m in the right place at the right time, but somehow everything is wrong” scenario. Our blogger arrived confidently and on time to their section, only to realize that they were in CGIS instead of Sever Hall. Then, in their sprint across campus, they were caught up in a funeral procession. Maybe section wasn’t worth going to anyway that day…

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5. Forgetting to bring everything to class for FDOC

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Our blogger had their outfit planned, did their skincare routine, and was ready to start the first day of classes strong. But when the day actually rolled around, they accidentally showed up with literally nothing (no pencil, no paper, no laptop), but good ~vibes~ and hope.

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6. Emailing a professor about enrolling in the wrong class

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A blogger was just trying to be proactive and responsible by confirming that they were enrolled in the class… but accidentally used the wrong class name in their email. We guess it’s a little too late to back out now.

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7. Everything in the bathroom is clogged

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Only hours after moving in, a blogger discovered that nothing in their bathroom was functional. Sink: clogged. Toilet: clogged. Shower: somehow also clogged. They’ve become intimately familiar with the work order system, hoping that PRESTO isn’t as backlogged as their toilet.

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8. Having to share a bathroom with sophomores

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The age-old question: how do people who’ve survived an entire year of college still not understand basic bathroom etiquette? Hair everywhere, mysterious substances in the sink, and ankle-deep puddles on the floor.

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9. Accidentally waving to strangers

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Nothing is more embarrassing than waving to someone you think you know, only to realize that they were waving to the person behind you.

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10. Spilling coffee on your computer…

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We’ve found that this is the best way to take these new tech-free policies seriously.

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Sometimes the best you can do is show up with nothing but vibes and hope for the best. Consider this your reminder that you are indeed not alone out there <3

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Welcome back, everyone — and may your second week be slightly less chaotic than your first.

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What is Crimson Jam?

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Harvard’s beginning-of-the-year celebration to welcome you back on campus. Does this slightly make up for the fact that you had a Pset 0 due this week? Not completely, but it’s a good start!

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What should I wear?

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This is Harvard Yard, not Coachella. Do whatever you want. There’s no need to Care At All. Whatever you wear, it’ll be Classic and Perfect.

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Do I need to bring anything?

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Maybe a picnic blanket if you want to sit down. They’ll have WATER everywhere if needed.

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How early should I get there?

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Early enough to be there for the student bands, late enough that there’s already a good amount of people in the Yard. It’s a delicate social balance.

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Who is performing?

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Bryce Vine!!!

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Who is that?

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We will all learn together on Friday <3

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Why should I go?

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All the dhalls are closed, so you’ll have to trek to the Yard for dinner.

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And anyways, we’ll Miss You a Little if you don’t show up and Stay for a bit.

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In all honesty, it’s one of the few events in the year that almost everyone on campus attends — it’s fun to run into people you know but may not necessarily see all the time. Like your Ec 10a section buddy from freshman year, or that friend you made plans to get a meal with last semester, but never followed through with. Live in La La Land for one more day with us before the semester starts to pick up and it’s time to trek to Lamont.

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Dear freshly hatched future Flyby writers freshmen,

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Welcome to Harvard — where people form seven separate Google Calendars just to schedule their own emotional breakdowns, the turkeys have vendettas, and your confidence will go from “I got in!” to “Do I need a LinkedIn?” in about three days.

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But fear not! I, a fellow human who has survived (and even thrived through) the ritual sacrifice known as first semester, come bearing knowledge – not in scrolls or stone tablets, but in the form of 10 articles of superb investigative journalism that could save your life. Or at least save you from crying in the Holworthy Basement bathroom (again).

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To save you from a path of darkness, here are 10 essential Flyby articles that will make your life easier, your decisions slightly smarter, and your vibe significantly less panicked. Read them. Bookmark them. Maybe even pretend you found them on your own and impress your friends.

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1. Your Dictionary (If You Don’t Already Have These Words Down, You’re Screwed)

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Harvard has its own language. And if you don’t speak it, you’re going to get lost fast. This article will help you decode terms that all sound like BS but unfortunately are not. Read this before someone casually says they’re going to “the MAC after section then to Brain Break” and you pretend to understand.

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2. To Fuel Your Caffeine Addiction (if you don’t have one, you will)

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Harvard is powered by coffee and denial. This guide shows you where to get the former for free. The sooner you figure out how to secure caffeine without spending half your bank account, the better. Bonus: you'll look put together and cool holding an iced coffee in section, even if you’re crying inside.

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3. For your first real study sesh!

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Lamont: the place where time stops, your productivity dies, and someone is always coughing aggressively on the quiet floor. This article has everything you need for your first academic all-nighter: where to sit, how to snack, and how to make peace with your past decisions (like taking 5 classes “for fun”).

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4. How to Choose Which Clubs to Comp

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Picking clubs at Harvard is basically speed-dating with spreadsheets. Some are intense, some are chill, some will ask you to submit a résumé, and some your Social Security number. This article will help you figure out which ones are worth the effort and which ones might accidentally take over your life (literally).

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5. How to Not Stress About Lunch

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Lunch shouldn’t be a high-stress event, but somehow, it always is. This article breaks down how to get in, get food, and get out — especially when your next class starts in five minutes and you still need to pretend you’re not living off Annenberg Powerade and vibes.

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6. Harvard Traditions

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Think Harvard traditions are all about secret societies and the stacks? Think again. This senior reflection gets real about the actual “traditions” you’ll experience: panic-comping, finding your place, and navigating the weird mix of ambition and identity that defines your college years. Surprisingly heartfelt. Soon-to-be relatable.

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7. For the Homesick Freshies

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You may be tough, smart, and independent — but nothing hits like missing your bed, your dog, or a home-cooked meal. This piece is for the nights when you’re quietly losing it over FaceTime. Read it when you need a hug in article form.

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8. How to Reconnect with Nature

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Yes, this is real. Yes, we’re suggesting you go jump into a bush. This piece is a spiritual guide, and 100% proof that Harvard students still care about nature and not only the library. Go outside. Touch a leaf. Yeet yourself into the greenery.

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9. How to do your first away Harvard-Yale

\r\n\r\n

Harvard-Yale is like college spring break meets academic rivalry meets everyone pretending they care about football. This article will teach you how to survive the weekend, talk trash with class, and maybe (just maybe) make it to The Game.

\r\n\r\n

10. Take this now, then again in December

\r\n\r\n

The Flyby Purity Test: a time-honored tradition where you track your personal descent from wide-eyed freshman to slightly unhinged upperclassman. Take it now, then again at the end of the semester or year. If your score drops significantly, congrats — you’re doing college right.

\r\n\r\n

College is weird and Harvard is weirder, but you’ve got this. These 10 articles won’t solve everything, but they’ll help you avoid rookie mistakes, navigate the chaos, and maybe even enjoy yourself along the way. Read them, send them to your entryway GroupMe, bring them up when you comp Flyby this fall, or even quote them in the dhall like you wrote them yourself. I won’t tell.

\r\n\r\n

Welcome to Harvard. You’re gonna be fine.

', [])

('

{shortcode-1fcc26599bceef46089488f4c09c35b3a330d306}

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About a month ago, the housing overlords handed down your fate in an email, complete with move-in times, a mailing address, and the names of your roommates. But somewhere between the packing tips and the photos of smiling students in Harvard Yard, that message holds the key to your future — or at least, how far you’ll have to lug your laundry every week. At Flyby, we’re here to help you read between the lines.

\r\n\r\n

Apley Court

\r\n\r\n

You’ll spend half of your summer reasoning with yourself that it’s not “that bad” you aren’t in the typical Yard dorm, and then you will spend the entirety of the school year reasoning with every person you meet that you live in the best dorm. Well, we can’t argue with marble bathtubs.

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Canaday Hall

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You’ll spend most of your time defending the dorm against rats. Even in the absence of the rodents, you will still have to deal with crowded doubles and carpets that belong in a doctor’s office (no, pre-med students, spending time in Canaday does not count as clinical service hours). You won’t admit that Canaday sucks, and we appreciate your valiant efforts to somehow redeem its honor.

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Grays Hall

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You have probably been deluded into believing that you live in the Harvard Hilton, but you don’t. The Harvard Hilton would have elevators, and preferably not shoebox bedrooms. You need to stay humble. This being said, your peers will forever be jealous of your massive common rooms.

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Greenough Hall

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You are way too humble. You have all the pros on the best Yard dorms without being too far. Big common rooms, beautiful windows, ensuites, and best of all—no tourist traffic. Be more proud.

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Hollis Hall

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Congratulations! As the calendar pages are turning toward final exams, you’ll get a close-up view of a certain… tradition. What tradition, exactly? Wait and see! If you and your roommate have somehow found a way to bond across the cavernous expanse of your giant double, maybe you guys can even watch the view together?

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Holworthy Hall

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You are incredibly in shape, as you have to find a way to carry your illegal microwave up about four flights of spiral staircase steps during move in, enough to compensate for the stone’s throw you are to Annenberg. You are also incredibly patient, as you are the only dorm destined to share a Jack-and-Jill style bathroom with another gaggle of suitemates you undoubtedly hate. You are a good person, Holworthy resident.

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Hurlbut Hall

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You probably pronounced this as hurl-butt when you first got this assignment, and you would be correct. Start getting used to that embarrassment now.

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Lionel Hall

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You are Straus’s sad little sister, and you’re probably deeply sad to say where you live because no one will know. It’s alright, little one.

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Massachusetts Hall

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You don’t exist. I’ll believe it once I see you in person!

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Matthews Hall

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Your back hurts because your bedroom is the size of a storage closet, or because you are leaning against the wall of Matthews’ front patio, trying to romanticize your life. Whatever gets you through the day.

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Mower Hall

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You probably pronounced this as ‘mower,’ like ‘lawnmower,’ when you first got your housing email. Save yourself the embarrassment of not doing that — it’s bad enough people don’t know who you are, so you can’t also not know who you are.

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Pennypacker Hall

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You were happy when you realized you got an en suite bathroom, then you were sad when you realized you were so far away from the Yard. But then you were happy that everyone you know also got Penny! And then you were sad again that there’s no elevator.

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Stoughton Hall

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Easy access to the most popular part of the Yard, and you have a laundry room. Cool? It’s not cool when you realize that you are sharing said laundry room, which in itself is tiny, with almost every single irrelevant dorm in Ivy Yard that you didn’t even know existed until its residents stole your dryer.

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Straus Hall

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Yeah, you’re excited because Zuckerberg lived in your dorm, and that is the first thing that’ll come out of your mouth as you exchange dorm assignments with your Annenberg buddies. You’re excited because you have a common room, and that will undoubtedly come next in your conversation about dorm assignments. But what won’t come, is that you are the exact same dorm as Lionel and Mower. Please stop bragging? I hope you know Zuckerberg doesn’t still currently live in your dorm? You do, silly.

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Thayer Hall

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You are cool. You don’t know what I mean by this yet, but you will soon. Congratulations, and have fun being the first to wake up on Housing Day.

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Weld Hall

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You are slightly less cool then Thayer, but you have that same sort of vibe. Except Thayer residents won’t have to fight their way into an elevator that is out of order more often than it’s in service. But it’s alright, you quite literally have everything else you could possibly need all in this dorm, so you’ll live.

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Wigglesworth Hall

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Your freshman experience will peak when during Convocation the entirety of Crimson Yard is asking to stand and “make some noise,” and your dorm alone sounds like a small army. Appreciate this moment, because this is where your community will peak. Hate this moment, because all of your amenities are underground, your rooms are tiny, and the Red Line keeps you up at night.

\r\n\r\n

I hope this gave you some much needed clarity on your living situation for the next year. At the end of the day, you must remember that no matter what dorm you are living in, you will have a great experience. But you must never forget that no matter how great of an experience you have, no one is having a better experience than you than some random guy living in Apley Court. But don’t worry, you’ll never forget! He won’t let you.

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{shortcode-372112ca4344273dae2c89894ccc12ecf67eb262}

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As an incoming first-year, you will have no shortage of ‘firsts’ at Harvard ( it’s almost like it’s in the name). To prepare you for this inevitability, we here at Flyby have decided to expedite some of that process and provide you with an ironclad list of some of the famous first words you are guaranteed to hear in your first few weeks — and, with any luck, will stop hearing soon.

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“I’m pre-med”

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Aren’t we all? Kidding — but it will definitely feel like our campus is aspiring to take over five whole floors of Massachusetts General Hospital until the first LS1a PIE (an examination known to kill the hopes of future doctors). If it isn’t pre-med, it’s pre-law, or pre-business, or pre-pretty much anything that sounds like it guarantees you a career.

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“Greenough isn’t that far.”

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It’s this or an aggrieved Pennypacker resident insisting that they’re at least an extra three minutes further from the Yard than everyone else. The union dorms — a.k.a. the freshman Quad — will be a source of some controversy until people find out about the actual Quad.

\r\n\r\n

“I’m double concentrating in... with a joint and secondary in….”

\r\n\r\n

This is not unlike the pre-professional conundrum, but no one is more confident that they can complete an extra concentration or two than a first-semester freshman. Academic ambition stops being all the rage around October, coincidentally right when midterm season begins..

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“Party in Holworthy Basement tonight”

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These are some first words you’ll wish were your last. Unfortunately, basement hopping for the first two weeks of school is a rite of passage that all Harvard students must undertake. My best advice? Have Flyby open to dull some of the pain while you’re sweating in the confines of your first college party.

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“I’m not getting Quadded”

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Saying “the Quad” to a first year is like cueing a black cat, dramatic music, and lightning all at once. Anti-Quad propaganda spreads early and it spreads fast, so while you’ll hear this mantra throughout the year, nothing hits the same as those first horror stories of the treacherous 15-minute walk to Cabot.

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These happy phrases will echo through Berg as you begin your days at Harvard, but remember not to take them too seriously. Life would look very different if we were all held to our first words on campus, so at most, these should give you some emergency conversation starters if you’re in a pinch. (Or, let’s be real, conversation enders.) Good luck, and remember that Flyby is here to guide you through all the canon events you’re sure to experience during your first year.

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{shortcode-5199a775c563aa2341bbb96af1423ea3ba5b31bf}

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Dear Dean Deming,

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Don’t be scared. Being name-dropped in Flyby is a good thing, I promise. In fact, this probably certainly takes the cake when compared to your recent appointment as Harvard College Dean. Sorry! Speaking of, I should probably introduce myself before making any more lofty claims about you or your new role as a campus celebrity.

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I’m Ava, Flyby’s self-proclaimed expert on all things Danoff Dean: from mastering the perfect Harvard-Yale photos (which may or may not include kneeling on all fours next to two furry friends) to spotting a photo op miles away (#beenfeaturedontheKhuranagramfivetimesbutwhoiscounting). With the changing of the guard on the horizon (did I say congrats, by the way?), it’s finally time for me to ditch my Khurana mood board in favor of a new era of intellectually vital dhall run-ins and transformational Housing Day cameos (Kirkland HoCo is currently plotting their 2026 comeback, I’m sure).

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Now, I’m sure you’ve heard everything under the sun since being appointed in May. Curate a well-loved social media presence like Khurana. Take awkward selfies with students like Khurana. Become a meme-able staple at sporting events or dance performances like Khurana. However well-intentioned these pointers are, they often miss the mark, because — as any younger sibling can tell you — living in someone else’s shadow is unfulfilling and frankly boring. So, while I’m sure you already have a detailed game plan in place, I figured I’d take a stab at lending you a few suggestions that are actually fun and can help you become the most beloved person on Sidechat.

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Starting off strong, it will be key for you to find your niche early on. To that end, before you completely swear off having a social media presence like Khurana’s, may I suggest implementing a weekly “D(e)M-ing with David” Instagram story segment? Rather than following in the steps of taking selfies with students, you can put a punny twist on a classic Q&A session and have students respond with any questions, reflections, or photos from their week. This low-stakes option may very well have you becoming the only Harvard influencer people care about in no time.

\r\n\r\n

If you are really against using social media at all, don’t fret. Another great option would be to put your passions to use for all to bear witness to. And no, I don’t mean your interests in economics or political science; I’m talking about your prowess on the stage. As a singer. Start taking vocal warm ups more seriously, because you might need to belt Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On” again if you’re not opposed to hosting a talent show or karaoke night for students to bond with you. Just saying…

\r\n\r\n

Instead of continuing to throw more ideas at you, I’ll leave you with this. I have the utmost faith that you will end up finding your schtick and making students feel seen and valued. After all, with Kirkland House fiercely by your side, I know for a fact that you must have a stellar personality. So it’s hard to imagine that other students won’t come around to you soon.

\r\n\r\n

Congratulations, again, and keep Flyby updated on what you end up deciding to do!

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Sincerely,

\r\n\r\n

Your 16th Instagram Follower #og

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\r\n{shortcode-6f3f4c84c4e989e3d93a43e617989ddb21727e05}

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('

So, it’s Aug. 26 and you’ve finally made it back to campus from the great outdoors — or maybe you’ve been here for a week putting on your first of many theater shows, serving the community, or learning how to register an American SIM card. Whether you’re navigating dorm logistics or deciphering HUDS menus, you’re learning to survive the lovely world we call the Harvard bubble.

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But let’s zoom out for a second. Because really, underneath these events, you’re also stepping into the real world – living alone for the first time, making choices that impact your daily survival (laundry or sleep?). In other words, welcome to your very own version of the Hunger Games. Who in the theoretical game is most likely to survive? Hear me out.

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1. FAP

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Fappers, oh, Fappers! You have to be some of the most impressive new students on this campus. Not only are your social skills keen from being able to interact with and share ideas with such a large, unfamiliar group of your peers, but you have ENERGY. Your rehearsals are long and unforgiving — a show does not just put itself on overnight! You would definitely make it to the center and grab the most materials for survival, and wouldn’t be afraid to create alliances or work into the wee hours of the night to ensure your success.

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2. FIP

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This one is almost a given. Our dear friends in FIP are not only navigating adulthood for the first time, they are navigating the entire United States for (often) the first time! Many of us lifelong ’Mericans don’t even know how to manage our own bank accounts or how taxes work – your survival knowledge and street smarts are unmatched. You have the upper hand from knowing people all across the world, so your alliances will likely run strong.

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3. FOP

\r\n\r\n

Alright. FOP definitely focuses on the hard skills of survival, like backpacking and surviving on simply tortillas for a week. But, you also get all of the soft skills of survival, like emotional processing, and how to make cheesecake in the woods! What places you at rank number three, you might ask? Overconfidence, and slightly worse hygiene than your peers. A week without a shower is not normal. Don’t keep that habit during the school year.

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4. LIFE

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Where this program finds its strong suits is its ability to wrangle leaders! You are trained in serving your peers, so you will definitely have no problem finding your way around the Hunger Games arena through and between alliances. I don’t think that there’s really any electricity in the ring, though. No PowerPoint access might pose a problem here – after all, you can only project your voice so far in the great outdoors.

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5. FYRE

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What I admire about this program is that among the others, it is truly focused around understanding what it means to transition into college! You have been best equipped with all of the skills necessary to succeed on campus. We just hope that all you’ve thought about is not school, though! There is much more to survival, as you will soon learn!

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6. FUP

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FUPpers. We know that your Pre-O has taught you to be well prepared to serve those around you, which is very admirable! You know how to follow directions, and have a genuine care for those around you. This might lead you astray in the games, as your empathy could be taken for weakness. The games are unforgiving!

\r\n\r\n

All jokes aside, no matter what pre-orientation program you’ve engaged with this year, you have the best challenge ahead of you: your first semester of college! Nobody is here to volunteer as tribute and take your place. So the games begin! As long as you can survive the HUDS fish, you’ll probably survive.

', [])

('

Picture this: I’m moving into Mather House sophomore year, just as excited as I was the year prior. Maybe more — because now I know what I’m doing!

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I know which days I should spend my Board Plus and which days I should head back to the dining hall, I know at least 20 of the gazillion esoteric acronyms people here use, and I know to trust any shuttle’s timing as far as I could throw it.

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As I struggle to lug the first of many densely packed suitcases up three flights of stairs that sweltering summer day, I hear a set of words I will never forget: “Are you a freshman?”

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The statement seemed absurd. I was very clearly moving into an upperclassman house. We both were!

\r\n\r\n

Not understanding her train of thought at all, I respond with a questioning “No?”

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Seeing the incomprehension in my face, she gestures vaguely to my neck.

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Ah, right. My lanyard.

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The lanyard everyone gets on the first day of freshman year.

\r\n\r\n

I manage a quick “oh, it’s just convenient” before continuing on my journey. As soon as she’s out of sight, I take it off and stick it in my pocket.

\r\n\r\n

So, my first piece of advice for not looking like a first-year?

\r\n\r\n

1. Ditch the lanyard

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If you’ve got your keys around your neck, people will know that you’re a new arrival (the horror!). Never mind that it’s genuinely convenient, making an essential item hard to forget, thereby ensuring that you don’t suffer the greater embarrassment of being locked out of your room. But at least it’s not just freshmen who find themselves dialing Securitas for a key at 2 a.m.

\r\n\r\n

Instead, put your key in that weird little pocket in the back of your phone case that’s also your wallet. Surely you won’t develop a constant, gnawing concern that it’ll fall out of its increasingly smooth container.

\r\n\r\n

At the very least, put your key on a more tasteful (and forgettable) keychain. No one will notice you patting your pockets like you’re trying to remember how to do the Macarena in the middle of a lecture. They will notice a lanyard.

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That being said, both the Swiss Army phone case and the keychain I mentioned should have something in common:

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2. No Harvard branding

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We go to a school in Boston. Well, a little outside of Boston. You get the picture.

\r\n\r\n

Wearing (or even owning) Harvard merch is often considered to be a tad… gauche. We don’t want to seem elitist, do we?

\r\n\r\n

That’s why you must avoid displaying anything that’s clearly Harvard-related on your person. In fact, try not to mention Harvard, even when it would be natural. People will think much better of you if you make a big deal out of being “humble” instead of just treating the topic like it’s a regular one.

\r\n\r\n

The advice above mostly applies to when you’re off campus.

\r\n\r\n

On campus, you have a far more important reason to avoid the branding — you might get mistaken for a tourist!

\r\n\r\n

3. Don’t ask for help

\r\n\r\n

Everyone wonders what the “holistic admissions process” actually selects for. Since you’ve joined the club, you finally get the truth: we can all smell weakness.

\r\n\r\n

To survive here, you have to do it all on your own. After all, it’s not like your various advisors, teachers, and miscellaneous mentors are here because they care about you and want to see you succeed. It’s not like our university’s greatest strength is its dedicated, passionate, and supportive community. And it’s certainly not as if every major contribution someone has made to society was done standing on the shoulders of giants!

\r\n\r\n

“It’s not impostor syndrome if I’m actually an impostor.” — a thought only you have had in the entire time the human species has existed.

\r\n\r\n

4. Enjoy yourself.

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The primary thing that distinguishes freshmen from upperclassmen is their collective preoccupation with being freshmen. And we get it—we really do! We were all freshmen once, as impossible as that may seem.

\r\n\r\n

We know what it’s like to worry about having already wasted the opportunities that Harvard offers before we’ve even been here for a month.

\r\n\r\n

We also have the privilege of hindsight and know how silly that kind of thinking is, and how hard it is to convince you otherwise. So I’ll leave you with a quote, a fridge-magnet standard often misattributed to Mark Twain:

\r\n\r\n

“Worry is like paying interest on a debt you don’t owe.”

\r\n\r\n

And frankly, as undergraduates, we all have real debt to worry about.

', [])

('

It’s the start of a new school year — and Harvard students had a lot to say. Thankfully, Flyby was there to eavesdrop on all the conversations you missed as you sprinted to lecture in Emerson. Here is our collection of our favorite quotes from Harvard students as they prepare for another semester of long Lamont nights, glum Science Center auditoriums, and ~transformative~ intellectual inquiry.

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“I accidentally tripped and fell into the petting zoo cage... It’s going to be a great semester.” — student in Mather House courtyard.

\r\n\r\n

“I like your boots!”

\r\n\r\n

“Yeah, they were made for walking.” - two girls by the John Harvard statue.

\r\n\r\n

“Oh they don’t take attendance? This is definitely the last time you’ll see me here.” - student in a lecture that they will never attend again.

\r\n\r\n

“I’m going to try the flybys today.”

\r\n\r\n

“The flybys?”

\r\n\r\n

“Yeah, the basement thing.” - freshmen by the Science Center.

\r\n\r\n

“How was your summer in Asia? You’re GLOWING.” - student who then proceeds to walk away before hearing the other girl’s response.

\r\n\r\n

“You need to be more high maintenance, like me.” - two guys, very mysterious.

\r\n\r\n

“I’ve only overheard screaming down the hall.” - anonymous member of Flyby Blog.

\r\n\r\n

“Is it kosher to pet a pig?” - students at another petting zoo.

\r\n\r\n

“I called you last night because I knew you would still be awake trying to pick your classes” - friend to anonymous member of Flyby Blog (ouch).

\r\n\r\n

“It’s my last time seeing everyone for the first time.” :( - pre-nostalgic senior taking photos on Widener Steps.

\r\n\r\n

Best of luck with classes, everyone, and we hope this is the best semester yet!

', [])

('

Dear Professor ______ (insert name here),

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I hope you are doing well. My name is _______ (your name) and I’m a ______ (class year) concentrating in _______ (concentration). I know it’s ______ (current time and its relation to add/drop), but I am ______ (adverb suggesting barely contained desperation) interested in taking your course.

\r\n\r\n

This class will allow me to explore topics such as ______ (something you copy-pasted from the syllabus without reading) and ______ (another syllabus bullet point) that shape our world. It would be such a(n) ______ (flattering adverb) opportunity to take your class as it aligns exactly with my interests in _____ (made-up career path) and what I hope to pursue in the future.

\r\n\r\n

I should mention that I have ______ (impressive but irrelevant experience) and once ______ (humble brag disguised as relevant experience). I'm particularly drawn to this course because ______ (lie) and I believe my ______ (personal quality you’re overselling) would contribute to class discussions.

\r\n\r\n

Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to secure a spot in your class. I’m willing to ______ (desperate measure) if necessary.

\r\n\r\n

Thank you very much.

\r\n\r\n

Sincerely,

\r\n\r\n

_____ (your name)

', [])