Editor's Note

Dear Reader, We close out our last regular issue of the year with an excellent scrutiny by HCC and NURC about the college consultant industry. As the college application process gets more competitive year after year, private consultants promise a path forward for their clients. But as HCC and NURC demonstrate, the effectiveness of college consultants is still unclear. So why does the industry continue to proliferate, with a number of Harvard affiliates founding their own firms? Elsewhere, VDR, DGM, and AWS write a retrospection on the Q, amid never-ending grade inflation discourse. AF and AA talk to James Poolner, AICI and AS explore the first-year librarian program, and SEA and ASHA chat with the Coop’s artist-in-residence. MAB, VO, and KT talk to retirees taking Harvard classes, AICI and SC talk to alumni who fill the Harvard band’s ranks from time to time, and HSE and AS sit down with the new Kirkland faculty deans. WNM explores the impacts of Harvard’s dorm architecture on freshman experiences, while SOG, AS, and MBF take us to the Farnsworth reading room and SOG and HGL explore Harvard Library’s Judaica Collection. ASHA pens a levity about lost ballots and other voting mix-ups, and VO, AA, and CMO chat with Harvard’s bird-lovers and bird-watchers. CEB, KC, and OJ head to the antiquarian book fair. In our introspections, AICI writes an introspection on haircuts and identity, while JBR pens an ode to The Crimson’s metro desk. AA writes about being vulnerable, CL explores her relationship with producing and creating, and CX offers some insight into the life of an international super spy. FMLove, MTB + YAK