amb3r

If you're a current student, please shed some light on the social life at Harvard. I've already heard the 'it's what you make of it' generalities. What I really want to know is - how are the parties? How frequently does the average student party, and where? No finals clubs talk... I'm not interested in that. I know the typical Harvard kid is not a hardcore partier, but I can't see why Harvard doesn't have a healthy party scene (which in my opinion even MIT has). Or does it?

Rosh420

Contrary to what you might have heard, I think Harvard has a very healthy social scene. If you go to the Pre-frosh weekend, you might be able to experience that yourself.

h-bomber

Harvard does indeed have a healthy party scene, and yes final clubs are indeed a part of it but only a part. Most students still go out on weekends, and even freshman year if you want to party you can definitely find some.

just_forget_me

Social people @ Harvard typically go out on Fridays + Saturdays... maybe once a week if you have a huge paper due, and a lot more during "reading" period and freshman week.

During freshman year (if you're a guy, or a non-finals clubbing girl) a typical night might be a pregame in a freshman dorm (this is technically against the rules, but rarely punished), then going to something like "The 90s dance" at one of the Houses (which are dry). Another night might have a party for an extracurricular group you're in, or you might catch word of an upperclassman's dorm party. Or maybe you'll just be having a good time with your pregame, and decide to make a night of just hanging out in the room.

When you're an upperclassman, you (and your friends) are allowed to throw parties in your room... the local bar scene starts opening up (seniors tend to go out 3 or more nights/week)... etc

harvard1636

I second what just_forget_me said..if you're looking for thirsty thursday, you by and large won't find that here. However, there are definitely groups of people who go out more than two nights a week, although Fri & Sat are definitely the big nights to go out. It's really what you make of it--if you want to go out and party, you'll be able to do that, no problem. If you want to stay in one night and write a paper, no one is going to mock you or anything. I think people don't give Harvard's social life enough credit--I've had people from other schools come stay with me and they all said they were surprised by how social it was, since they expected much less.