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Harvard University
  • 4 Year
  • CAMBRIDGE, MA

Harvard University Campus Life

Housing

Dorms
grade 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

Food

Campus Food
grade 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

Map

Campus Quality

Campus
grade A minus
Based on quality of housing, food services, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Life
grade 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%

Get Recruited

Safety

Safety
grade 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%

Scholarship

Party Scene

Party Scene
grade 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
No data available  
Women in Sororities
No data available  
50%
of students say Greek life is pretty low-key and has little effect on the social scene. 82 responses

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