<p>Google “I am Fine” in last year’s Crimson…suicide (and cries for help) can, and does, happen anywhere. Agree such a tragic story! Hard to believe no one saw him for a week before he was found. For freshman you would hope RAs expected to touch base with each charge at some frequency especially early in the school year. But as said above, at Harvard one can be upperclassman and not know anyone in your entryway. DD hasn’t seen her entryway neighbors all year-- just different schedules, never runs into them. At least she has great suitemates.</p>
<p>[I</a> Am Fine | FM | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/2/17/harvard-many-feel-out/]I”>The Harvard Crimson)
This is the I am Fine article referenced above – it is very moving piece!</p>
<p>D is a frosh… I am wondering about the characteristics and unique charms of the various upperclass houses. All input welcome!</p>
<p>See: [Houses</a> Office of Student Life](<a href=“http://osl.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k65178&tabgroupid=icb.tabgroup94703]Houses”>http://osl.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k65178&tabgroupid=icb.tabgroup94703)</p>
<p>Scroll down to the bottom of the first page and click on the icons of each house. BTW: students do not get to choose their houses, but are assigned a house randomly with their blocking group.</p>
<p>nyu - there are allot of great housing videos. IMO Leverett has the best video, but the building isn’t the best in person IMO. Youtube search “I just got Lev”</p>
<p>But as a non resident tutor i can tell you we have a great master/co-master and some amazing tutors–our fellowships committee has had more marshals and rhodes in the past 10 yrs than all but three universities (inc Harvard). a house is more than architecture --it in the end is about the community.</p>
<p>I thought I’d bump up the Parents Thread since EA decisions went out last night. Congratulations new Harvard parents if you’re out there on the CC Harvard board! Come and join the Parents Thread.</p>
<p>It’s always amazing to read the stats of all the deferred applicants.</p>
<p>As a parent of one of those deferred students with amazing stats, you realize just how many very accomplished kids there are out there competing for a very limited number of spots. Congratulations to all those parents of newly accepted students. I was in your position four years ago and it is a very exciting place to be! It is tough trying to tell one’s deferred child that there are so many other wonderful options out there when he has his heart set on Harvard.</p>
<p>This is such a difficult time for the students and parents!! Congrats to all new Harvard parents!! Harvard is such a wonderful place!!</p>
<p>As the parent of a newly accepted student, I was very happy to see that this thread has been going since 2008! Thanks for making it clear, Gadad, that it was open to new parents. We feel very blessed for our daughter’s acceptance and for knowing that we already have a way to connect to with other “seasoned” parents. Happy Holidays to all!</p>
<p>Hello to all the proud parents out here, Merry C!</p>
<p>I just got accepted EA and I’m really excited to attend, however I’m worried my more-than-fragile health will become a liability in my studies. Is there any info you could give about how the College’s medical services work and what they provide? Any advice for finding a good ophthalmologist and E.N.T doctor around Boston?</p>
<p>Love you all,
J.</p>
<p>D is a freshman and has used the university health service multiple times (knee problem from a fall and strep throat). Excellent urgent care service. Wonderful, caring nurses and doctors. The 24/7 urgent care is just incredible. No waiting! Don’t know much about the care for serious medical conditions though.</p>
<p>^Thanks, 5amriser. Did your daughter get treated in the Medical School facilities? Or is there a separate center close to the Yard?</p>
<p>J.</p>
<p>4GY - I think your screen name says it all - enjoy the ride! Joon Bug, congratulations! I’d guess that the Harvard Disability Services office would probably have a goof bit of information for making referrals. You can e-mail them at <a href=“mailto:disabilityservices@harvard.edu”>disabilityservices@harvard.edu</a>.</p>
<p>It’s HUHS at Holyoke Center on Auburn St. Very close to the yard.</p>
<p>Congrats to all of the parents of the '16 EAs. I wish you the best of luck in making the difficult decision --as I am sure you will have other choices, if you decide to send in those RD applications–for your kids as they figure out where to go to college. Harvard is an amazing place, but it certainly is not Xanadu and not for everyone. Get a sense of the “personality” of the institution–cuz remember colleges are like shoes-- it doesn’t matter how chic if they pinch your feet they will cause blisters.<br>
Ask us “old timers” (I have a frosh in Math 55 and music so can tell you about those fields) whatever you like-- you will probably get a whole variety of absolutely certain answers–frequently wrong but never in doubt is a Harvard trait, after all!<br>
Again, well done to your offspring–and to you. Welcome to the Harvard family! :)</p>
<p>Wow…the parents’ thread has so much information–it will take weeks to get through it all! I got accepted EA and I have already replied yes. 
</p>
<p>My parents,younger sister, and I are planning to go to VISITAS in April; what activities are there for parents? </p>
<p>I also have a question about the housing process…Were your children happy with their roommates, how detailed exactly was the survey? Also, how were the pre-orientation sessions? I am really interested in participating in FUP (first-year urban program), but my second choice is the FAP (the arts program). Can you provide any insights to your child’s experiences? </p>
<p>Thank you! I am definitely going to be a “Happy Harvardian!”</p>
<p>^ Well done, you! The housing process is in a word inscrutable. While like any process with as many moving parts as this has, there are bound to be some screw ups–and some are real doozies–but by and large it works pretty well. My S, while his roommate is not his best friend, is someone he very much likes and they are rooming well. I don’t know the percentage–perhaps another poster does–of frosh roommates that continue rooming together in the houses–but in the end that doesn’t matter as much as the chance to be with different people and to learn to live with someone else.
As for the pre-orientation programs I can’t speak to FUP or FAP but the Dorm Crew is grab so my S told me-- lots for bonding-- and a good way to feel a part of the fabric of the University. You aren’t international but he was less than pleased with FIP and thought that it needed to be better thought out-- too much time wasted with material that many of them already knew and much less interactive time (the most information driven of the programs-- perhaps they could give the FIPsters multiple choices in which those who want/need the didactic material have that available and the rest get more hands on introduction to American and Bostonian life…
Enjoy the rest of this year–
oh btw, i’m sure you saw and probably merely glanced at the article on gap years in your admission packet. My S read it and like many English educated students decided to take one-- he said it was one of the wisest decisions he could have made-- he came to harvard, more rested and a bit more mature than he would otherwise have been and than some of his classmates. He had a better sense of what and why he wanted to study what he wants to to study. Think about it. It is a rare chance to take stock–because once you get on the Harvard/grad school/job roolercoaster it is very tough to get off --even for a respite.</p>
<p>For those who want to participate in Visitas, book your hotel as early as possible. Finding a room within walking distance would be difficult. Parking would be expensive at commercial decks nearby. Free parking is available near the Stadium which is across the Charles River, so it is not very convenient.</p>