Cabot House

As part of our Housing Market series, we'll be posting reviews and rankings for each of Harvard's 12 residential Houses over the next few days. Click here to read more about the series.

Cabot is the only Quad House that offers the traditional "Old Harvard" feel. Though it's frequently panned for its inconvenient location and decentralized buildings, Cabot boasts some of Harvard's most spacious rooms and a close-knit community. Its suburban setting offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of Harvard Square.

Dining Hall: While the semi-subterranean positioning of Cabot's dining hall might not be so appealing, the cozy atmosphere and lack of overcrowding make it a comfortable spot for a meal. Large windows give House residents a panoramic view of Cabot's red brick residence halls that outline the Quad. If you miss a meal, don't worry: the drinks, cereal, and desserts are available outside of the servery at any time of the day.

Facilities: Each of Cabot's six buildings has its own living room adorned with beautiful portraits. The enormous Junior Common Room has a movie projection room right next door. The library, though small, is currently being redecorated by first-year House Masters Rakesh and Stephanie Khurana. When finished, the library's walls will feature quotations from famous House alumni such as Helen Keller, Radcliffe Class of 1904. A well-maintained gym offers convenient access to free weights, benches, stair masters, a stationary bike, rowing machines, and an elliptical trainer.

Rooms: Cabot is made up of six residence halls. Four of these are connected by a system of tunnels, which means you may not have to brave New England's icy temperatures to get to the dining hall in the morning. Two of these buildings boast large singles off of hallways, and the others offer a variety of suites, mostly for four residents. Sophomores who chose suites will probably end up with n housing, but juniors and seniors have their pick of much more spacious suites. If you request a single instead, you'll almost definitely get one.

House Spirit: Though Cabot's House spirit may have been lacking in the past, residents say that the community feeling has improved a great deal in the past few years. Residents are treated to a few special annual events, including Festivus, a holiday dinner catered by several Boston-area restaurants, and a Dutch Auction at which House residents sell everything from T-shirts to dates.  The annual musical—this year's performance is "Annie Get Your Gun"—is a great opportunity for House bounding.

Location: Yes, the Quad is at least a ten-minute walk from the Yard, but the shuttle runs frequently enough that you won't have to run if you plan accordingly. If you want to explore outside your House, fear not: Currier and Pforzheimer House are right next door. Quad life will also expose you to places that most River House residents never see, including a variety of interesting restaurants on Mass Ave and in Porter Square.

Quirks: A Business School professor and an entrepreneur, the Khuranas often host notable businessmen and women at Senior Common Room dinners. Recently, the founder of Samuel Adams brewery stopped by for a meal with Cabotites.

Rating: Due to its distance from the Yard and decentralized buildings, Cabot House is ranked twelfth out of 12.

Our rankings so far:

12. Cabot