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Harvard University
  • 4 Year
  • CAMBRIDGE, MA
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CollegeGrad School
Harvard University
#2 in Colleges with the Best Professors in America
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • 4 Year
  • CAMBRIDGE, MA
  • 837 reviews
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    Harvard University Campus Life

    Housing

    Dorms
    A minus
    Based on housing cost, capacity, student reviews and additional factors.
    On-Campus Housing Available
    Yes
    Freshmen Required to Live on Campus
    Yes
    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    100%
    Undergrads in College Housing
    98%
    Average Housing Cost
    $11,705 / year
    Poll
    67%
    of students say overall dorm quality is great. 322 responses
    Poll
    82%
    of students say the dorms' social atmosphere is great. 89 responses
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    Food

    Campus Food
    B
    Based on meal plan cost and student reviews on the food.
    Meal Plan Available
    Yes
    Average Meal Plan Cost
    $7,236 / year
    Poll
    What are the best food options on campus?
    Based on 75 responses
    • Anywhere in Harvard Square
      40%
    • Upperclassman dining halls
      33%
    • Annenberg
      13%
    • Just not the 'Berg ;-(
      7%
    • Mather House
      3%
    • Free food at sporting events
      1%
    • Hillel
      1%
    65%
    of students highly rate the dining facilities. 81 responses

    Campus Quality

    Campus
    A minus
    Based on quality of housing, food services, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Student Life
    A+
    Based on campus diversity, social scene, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Poll
    What is your overall opinion of your school and the campus community?
    Based on 49 responses
    • I love everything about my school and have a lot of campus pride.
      55%
    • I like mostly everything about my school, but there are some things I wish were different.
      37%
    • The school community is okay-we're all just here for an education, nothing more.
      2%
    • I hate my school and have no school spirit.
      6%

    Safety

    Safety
    B+
    Based on crimes on campus, local area crime rates, and student reviews.
    Poll
    94%
    of students say they feel extremely safe and secure on campus. 64 responses
    Poll
    How does peer pressure affect students' use of drugs and alcohol?
    Based on 39 responses
    • You can have a great social life without drugs or alcohol.
      38%
    • Most people partake in some form, but no one treats you differently if you don't.
      36%
    • You'll definitely feel a little awkward if you don't drink.
      15%
    • If you don't partake, you're left out.
      10%
    Poll
    How visible are the campus police on campus?
    Based on 54 responses
    • Extremely present and willing to assist students.
      35%
    • There if you need them but not overbearing.
      54%
    • Not very visible.
      6%
    • We have campus police?
      6%

    Sports

    Poll
    How popular are varsity sports on campus?
    Based on 96 responses
    • Almost everything on campus revolves around them.
      5%
    • Varsity sports are a big part of campus life.
      22%
    • Varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.
      54%
    • No one pays attention to varsity sports.
      19%
    Men's Varsity Sports
    All Track Combined, Baseball, Basketball, Fencing, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Sailing, Skiing, Soccer, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling
    Women's Varsity Sports
    All Track Combined, Basketball, Fencing, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Other Sports, Rowing, Sailing, Skiing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Volleyball, Water Polo

    Clubs & Activities

    Clubs Offered
    Campus Ministries, Dance, Drama/Theater, International Student Organizations, Literary Magazine, Model UN, Radio Station, Student Government, Newspaper, Film Society, Television Station, Yearbook
    Music
    Choral Groups, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Music Ensembles, Musical Theater, Opera, Pep Band, Symphony Orchestra
    Poll
    What are your favorite campus events or traditions?
    Based on 64 responses
    • Harvard-Yale Game
      30%
    • Housing Day
      16%
    • Yardfest
      14%
    • Primal Scream
      13%
    • Three Things Every Undergraduate Must Do
      11%
    • Eleganza
      8%
    • Snowball fights!
      8%
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    Party Scene

    Party Scene
    A minus
    Based on access to bars and student reviews on the party scene.
    Poll
    What is the party scene like on campus?
    Based on 77 responses
    • Tons of raging parties almost any night of the week.
      4%
    • Lots of options Wednesday-Saturday.
      26%
    • Some decent frat/house parties, weekends only.
      45%
    • Good parties are few and far between.
      10%
    • Parties? What parties?
      14%
    Poll
    What is the biggest social event of the year?
    Based on 49 responses
    • Harvard-Yale Thanksgiving Game
      43%
    • Yardfest, Harvard-Yale, Garden Party Season, Punch
      24%
    • Graduation
      8%
    • Yardfest
      8%
    • Homecoming
      6%
    • I don't know
      6%
    • Food Festival
      2%

    Greek Life

    Men in Fraternities
    Women in Sororities
    50%
    of students say Greek life is pretty low-key and has little effect on the social scene. 82 responses
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