Living It Up, Racking It Up

Harvard tuition is expensive, but student life extracts even a higher price from the annointed few in Harvard’s highest social echelons. The cost of club dues, cover at the right nightspots and the proper attire can be exorbitant. As a public service to aspiring socialites, FM presents this buyer’s guide to glitter and popularity at Harvard.

Social club

With the growth of female clubs, membership is rapidly becoming a must for both sexes. These exclusive groups provide a core group of close friends, a place to hang out and invites to some of the best parties on campus. Also included are opportunities for bonding through extreme drunkenness as well as a networking circle for life.

Cost: The price of membership ranges for the male final clubs from less than a $100 per month to more than $1,000 per semester. The female clubs and coed Hasty Pudding have relatively lower dues—the Pudding is $185 for a semester and the Seneca costs $250 per semester. In the name of equality, most of these organizations offer some form of financial aid for their members if they are having trouble paying their dues.

Attire

Clothing is key for the social butterfly. Students can spend hours scouring their closet for the perfect outfit to wear to the Fly’s Calypso party or to a wine and cheese soirée. The most glamorous at Harvard hit the parties clad in hip jeans, sporting preppy button-downs and swinging designer purses.

Cost: Diesel jeans $120. Louis Vuitton Evening Bag $495. For formal occasions, which are quite frequent at Harvard, men must have a tuxedo. Rental price for a tux for one evening ranges from $89.95 to $200 at Classic Tuxedo. But guys in demand need tuxes up to 10 times a semester, so most purchase their own, costing between $200 and $800. Tuxedo dry cleaning is $12.50.

Cell phone

Every student on the go needs to have a compact mobile. How else can one keep track of the deluge of dates, parties and appointments and the whereabouts of scattered friends?

Cost: Cell phones range from approximately $100 for the utilitarian to $300-plus for the most fashionable models. An average service plan is about $30.

Bars

The hottest places to see and be seen are the various high-class drinkeries around the Square. Although the younger set can occasionally be seen at the Hong Kong, the choicest locations are the far classier Daedalus and newly opened Red Line.

Cost: Nights at the bar can lead to huge tabs. Just a few rounds can be quite costly at these prices. Scorpion Bowls at the Kong are $12. Cocktails are $7 each at Red Line and $4.75-$7 at Daedalus.