Harvard Final Clubs

Colleges & Universities Harvard University
1

<p>I am a current High School Junior, and I am considering applying to Harvard (it is pretty much my life-long dream/goal). I was wondering how much Final Clubs really affect the social scene at Harvard, and what other types of things there are to do.</p>

<p>Also, I’m sure this is really pre-mature to be thinking about (I haven’t even sent in my application, let alone been accepted!) but what is the best dorm?</p>

2

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<p>At Harvard (or any other college), reasonable people can disagree about what is the “best dorm,” since different people will have different criteria.</p>

<p>In any case, you might want to bear in mind that Harvard does not give students a choice about what dorm they will live in. Freshman dorms (and roommates) are assigned by the freshman dean’s office. In the second semester of freshman year, students form blocking groups of up to 8 students and those blocking groups are randomly assigned to a house by an algorithm which does not take student preferences into account.</p>

<p>As far as what other types of things there are to do (besides Finals Clubs), there are literally hundreds of student groups on campus–drama, music, public service, religious, political, student newspapers and magazines, student businesses, etc. Of course there are also varsity, club, and intermural sports. </p>

<p>Here’s a Crimson article about some campus groups with vibrant social life that do NOT revolve around alcohol:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=506864[/url]”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=506864&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Do a search, this topic has been covered.</p>

4

<p>There is no point in worrying over which is the best dorm, because you don’t get to choose. As wisteria said, you get assigned to your dorm.</p>

<p>Also, Final Clubs are a Big Deal for those who are interested in them and pretty much irrelevant to everybody else. My daughter just finished her sophomore year at H, and I don’t think I have ever heard her utter the phrase “final club”. They are important only if you want them to be.</p>

5

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<p>This is exactly right.</p>

6

<p>Are final clubs mocked?</p>

7

<p>I mock them. Does that count?</p>

8

<p>Ooh good, that’s the way it should be. Secret societies at Yale deserve even greater mocking, and their members should be bullied.</p>