Moving In Moving On Moving Out

FIRST-YEAR SPRING: Out of the Crib

A baby's first steps are tentative and unsure. The infant takes his time, feeling the weight of his body on top of his wobbly legs and the layout of the land before him.

A first-year student's fall semester is much the same. It is spent growing accustomed to college academics and life away from home.

Now, at the beginning of their second semester, first-year students are hitting their stride, just in time to make a series of decisions that will define the rest of their Harvard experience. With blocking groups and randomization, they will move out of the Yard. With concentration decisions, they will move into a department.

Celeste L. Ng '02 says she has settled into life at Harvard with relatively little pain.

"I feel much more at home and at ease this semester now that I know where to go and know who to ask when I have questions," Ng said.

Many of these questions second semester will be directed toward upperclass students and advisers in academic departments. The concentration first-year students choose in the spring will place most of them in intensive tutorials and introductory courses during their sophomore fall.

"I talked to the departments I was thinking of concentrating in," says Nicole C. Ruiz '02.

If first-year students opt for advanced standing, many departments require them to take tutorials this spring. While advanced standing allows students to graduate early or take time off, it also means choosing a concentration after a mere semester.

"Students are deciding on that right now," says Wigglesworth proctor Bruce Richman, adding that all first-year students will face the concentration decision later in the spring.

"It is important for students to take introductory courses in departments that they are thinking about for their concentration, but also to realize that [concentrations are] not something that is fixed," Richman says.

Beyond academics, first-year students must decide second-semester which friends will make the blocking group cut.

"Blocking can be very exciting but also very difficult," Richman says.

Most first-year students, according to Ruiz, have already begun thinking about their blocking groups even though the forms are not due until March. The up-to-16 people in the blocking groups will move to a House together.

"I think most people have started discussing it a little bit," she says.

First-year students' control over their blocking groups is important because their acquaintances may be scattered next fall.

"I'm kind of anxious to find out where I'll be, but there are no huge concerns," Ruiz said. "It's nice to have everything really close by and having all of your classmates nearby, but it's not a huge deal." William P. Bohlen

SOPHOMORE SPRING: Taking Over

After a year and a half sophomores know the ropes--they've chosen their concentrations and adjusted to their Houses. For many sophomores, spring semester is the time to assume leadership roles in student organizations.

"During sophomore year, it's easier to take on a lead role in an extracurricular, not only because you have more experience, but because you know what your interests are and you can dedicate more time to one or a few particular organizations," says Jamie H. Ginott '01, chair of the fellows committee at the Institute of Politics (IOP).

However, taking on a leadership role as asophomore student can be intimidating, says Anne L. Berry '01-'00, who is president of both the Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Club and the Catholic Students Association.

"I think you have more to prove when you're an underclassman, especially when you're running against upperclassmen who expect to get the spot," Berry says.

Michael A. Kay '01, chair of Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel, admits to feeling somewhat strange in his new post as well.

"It is a little intimidating to be running a meeting at which I am the youngest participant," he says.

Other students were more comfortable with assuming their new roles. Joseph N. Sanberg '01, president of the Harvard-Radcliffe College Democrats, says he was not intimidated by the responsibility.

"Everyone in the organization is really energetic," Sanberg says. "They'll accept anyone who shares that energy."

Despite their busy schedules, sophomores say they don't regret the amount of time that they pour into extracurricular activities.

"I sometimes feel like I could spend more time partying and doing schoolwork without these responsibilities, but then I realize that I would probably end up wasting it on television or video games," says Jonathan M. Vatner '01, vice president and financial manager of Harvard-Radcliffe Television.

Sanberg says balance and teamwork are key to managing classwork and a leadership role in a student organization.

"It's important to strike a balance and along with that, it's important to make sure you're not a one person show." Sanberg says.   Mary C. Cardinale

JUNIOR SPRING: Hope Springs Eternal

Juniors have a lot on their minds. There are thesis proposals to write and lucrative summer jobs to be found. MCATs and LSATs are just around the corner, and extracurriculars need experienced leaders. This spring, juniors will find themselves looking the real world in the eye.

Eliot House Senior Tutor Margaret Bruzelius acknowledges that juniors face opposing pressures to enter careers and excel in academics in their second semester, but says that's normal part of the Harvard experience.

"I think people just deal. Every year has its problems and people deal," Bruzelius says.

She adds that, as a whole, the junior class does not seem anxious. "The people who worry start worrying when they're freshmen, and the people who don't worry don't worry," Bruzelius says.

Jamie L. Jones '00 says that the real world has always lurked in the background of her Harvard life.

"Graduate school and/or my future career have always been part of my thoughts and decisions since my first year at Harvard," says Jones, who is a former Crimson executive.

Juniors say, though, they are increasingly structuring their time around preparation for their careers.

Jones, an English concentrator, says she has always sensed that her time as a Harvard undergraduate is finite.

"I am as focused as ever on spending my time at Harvard wisely, but I just cannot worry myself into a state of panic over my impending graduation." Jones says. She is taking career preparation in stride, saying that "LSATs, MCATs, these and fellowship applications take time, but they are a necessary--and not always a miserable--part of the Harvard experience."

James Y. Ko '00, a biology concentrator says a lot of his energy these days is directed towards his medical school plans.

"For junior pre-meds like myself, it really is a make-or-break semester," Ko says. "Most of us are taking the MCATs in April, and it's our last chance to bring our GPA up [before applications)."

Some juniors have lightened their course load in order to prepare for standardized tests like the MCAT.

"This is the first semester that I am not taking either a biological sciences or chemistry class, and the major reason is to prepare for the MCAT, which I consider to be like another class," says Shearwood "Woody" McClelland '00, a biology concentrator in Eliot House.

Summer can be a time to relax from these academic pressures. It is also a chance to build experience that can turn into a career. Juniors in particular, may feel pressure to use the "last summer" to pad their resumes before the search for a real job.

"The need for a dazzling junior summer experience on your resume is overrated and often misunderstood," says Nancy E. Saunders, assistant director of the Office of Career Services. Many students look for summer jobs that will give them a chance for a lucrative offer the summer before graduation.

"There are so such quick fixes that I know of," Saunders says.   Mary C. Cardinale

SENIOR SPRING: Separation Anxiety

Seniors are now in the dusk of their time at Harvard. Three and a half years ago, members of the class of 1999 had four years to decide what to do with the rest of their lives. Only one semester remains to figure out how to manage life in the "real world."

"It'll all come to a close so fast," said Courtney A. Ermler '99. "I'm looking forward to moving on, but I'll miss comforts of having friends here."

Ermler is not alone. Many seniors agree that while they are excited about the future, whether it involves Wall street or professional school, they are also apprehensive about leaving the security of college.

"It's scary to be going out into the real world," Ermler said. "It's scary to not be coming back. Things won't be the same next year."

Seniors say their Harvard education had not necessarily prepared them for the rigors of daily life. While Religion 1520, "Introduction it Hermeneutics," is intellectually stimulating, it will not necessarily help graduates navigate the aisles of a supermarket.

Although coursework may not help seniors with the transition, there are resources available for seniors outside of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

For the first time, Harvard University Dining Services is offering cooking classes to seniors this year. Four sessions in February, March and April will allow seniors to learn the basics, from separating an egg to cooking full meals.

The Office of Career Services (OSG) is also responding to seniors' concerns about everyday life after graduation. Later this semester, OCS plans to offer a program that will prepare seniors to find a place to live and handle their personal finances.

Seniors will have ample opportunity to escape from their worries about the future, at least temporarily. The College will sponsor activities for seniors, making the 99 days before Commencement a time for celebration.

Senior traditions, such as the kick-off at the Hong Kong restaurant and the last chance dance, will allow seniors to spend their last days here with classmates and friends, said Class Marshal Baratunde R. Thurston '99, a former Crimson executive.

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III, who will usher out his last class of seniors this spring, says he hopes the soon-to-be graduates will begin to feel differently about Harvard this spring.

"I hope that they are growing a feeling that the College belongs to them in an important way as a link with continuing education," Epps said. "To quote T.S. Eliot, "You may get to know the place for the first time."'

A sense of separation may give seniors a new appreciation for the College, he added.

"I think also people begin to get an inkling of what it might feel like not being at Harvard," Epps said.

Thurston agreed that seniors will face many challenges next year.

"It's crazy, all these things you don't have to think about here," Thurston said. "The most important thing, though, is how to maintain my Internet access."   Tova A. Serkin