Dear Class of 2028: Here's What Makes Harvard Unique

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.

The Housing System

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

The Math Lounge

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.

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.

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.

Being Boston-Adjacent

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.

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.

Extracurricular Obsession Passion

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.

Brain Break

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.

The Jefe’s vs. Felipe’s Debate

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.

Never-Ending Supply of Cafés

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!

Sundae Sunday

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?

Myriad of Research Opportunities

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!

Cross-Registration

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.

Proximity to Trader Joe’s

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.

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.

Unlimited D-hall Swipes

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!

Flyby Blog (of The Harvard Crimson)

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. :)