How are houses assigned at Harvard?

Throughout February, the “housing gods” will sort blocking groups randomly into one of the 12 houses. This process, at one time, wasn't randomized, which meant that houses tended to harbor certain reputations. Today, all houses are diverse because of the randomized housing process.

Do you choose your house at Harvard?

The catch is that you are randomly assigned to one of twelve upperclassmen houses: Adams House, Cabot House, Currier House, Dunster House, Eliot House, Kirkland House, Leverett House, Lowell House, Mather House, Pforzheimer House, Quincy House, and, last but not the least, Winthrop House.

How does Harvard sort houses?

First-year students are sorted into the Houses in a randomized lottery process. In the weeks before Housing Day, first-years can form a “blocking group,” a group of up to eight first-years who will be housed together.

How are roommates assigned at Harvard?

Sometime at the end of the spring of your first year, you'll enter a rooming lottery with whomever you choose within your House. This lottery determines what sort of room or suite you'll be assigned to within your House. You might choose to live with members of your blocking group, but you don't have to!

What is the House system at Harvard?

The House System

The Houses serve as the foundation for the undergraduate experience at Harvard College. Ninety-eight percent of all undergraduates live in one of the twelve residential Houses. Additionally, Dudley Community serves non-residential students who live off-campus and those living in the Dudley Cooperative.

The TRUTH behind Harvard College Dorms + Housing System 🏠🔑

What House did Bill Gates live in at Harvard?

Gates also described during his 2007 commencement address at Harvard how he initiated one of his first software deals while making a call from his room in Currier House.

Which is the best House at Harvard?

Notably, this year's top three most desired houses (Lowell, Winthrop, and Dunster) have all been renovated within the past five years. Additionally, 58% of respondents ranked Lowell as their number one choice and no student ranked Lowell as their 11th or 12th pick.

Can a boy and a girl be roommates in Harvard?

Gender-inclusive housing gives you the option of living together in a room or suite irrespective of your suitemates' genders. This option is available to all students at the College, though the process differs for incoming first-year students and for upper-level students.

Does Harvard let you pick your roommate?

Incoming first-years do not choose their roommates.

How does Harvard assign dorms?

The Harvard Housing System

All Harvard freshmen live in one of 17 freshmen dorms located in Harvard Yard. They are paired with roommates based on their preferences, which they enter on their roommate application form. For their remaining three years at Harvard, however, they will live in one of 12 upperclassmen houses.

Can you switch Houses at Harvard?

Because we want students to spend some time getting to know their new house community, students who matriculated to the College as first-year students may only apply to transfer houses after living in their assigned House for two full terms.

Which Harvard House is the biggest?

Leverett House is one of the largest Residential Houses at Harvard College, first established in 1931. For roughly a century, Leverett has offered its residents more than just a place to live.

What is the largest House at Harvard?

Leverett House also has two 12 story towers and the award-winning Saltonstall Library building, all completed in 1960. Leverett has the largest student body of all of the Harvard Houses. Leverett House was named after John Leverett, who was President of Harvard from 1708 to 1724.

Where do most students live at Harvard?

First-year students live in residential neighborhoods called Yards, which are located at the geographic and historic center of College life.

What is the best freshman House at Harvard?

Apley Court

Full of marble and people you'll never see, Apley is right outside the yard and offers some of the country's best freshman housing. If you have T.S. Eliot's room on floor four, you have the best room for first-years, no question.

What is the difference between a dorm and a House at Harvard?

Your freshman year you live in a dorm in Harvard Yard, and the next three years you live in your House. A House is essentially one big dorm complex.

Are Harvard dorms singles?

We assign students to suites rather than to specific bedrooms. In almost any suite, you should expect to share a bedroom for at least part of the year. Some dorms contain doubles, usually one fairly large room with a shared bath. Very few singles are available.

Does Harvard have a meal plan?

As such, Harvard College requires all undergraduates living on campus to have an unlimited meal plan. That way, you are able to eat all meals and participate in dining hall activities with your peers in every House.

Is it easier to get into Harvard if your parents went there?

The application process is the same for all candidates. Among a group of similarly distinguished applicants, the children of Harvard College alumni/ae may receive an additional look.

What are quiet hours at Harvard?

In the residences for college-age and older students, weekend quiet hours begin at 2 am on Saturday and Sunday mornings, ending at 7 am Saturday and Sunday. Quiet hours for Pre-College students begin daily at 11 pm. Voices, music, and other sounds should not be audible outside of student rooms and suites.

Are Harvard dorms unisex?

Residential Buildings and Rooms

All buildings are coed. Most buildings have suites, typically featuring a common room, two to four bedrooms, and a shared bathroom. Other buildings have rooms off a hallway with a shared bath.

Where do first year students live at Harvard?

First-year students live in dorms with shared suites adjacent to Harvard Yard and eat the majority of meals in Annenberg Hall. This is a place of far-ranging conversations where you'll get to know fellow new students. The dorms are grouped into larger clusters called Yards (Crimson, Elm, Ivy and Oak).

What is the oldest House at Harvard?

Originally constructed in 1720, Massachusetts Hall is the oldest building still standing on Harvard's campus. In the more than three hundred years since it was built, Massachusetts Hall has been used for a variety of purposes, including as an army barrack during the Revolutionary War.

What does Harvard look at the most?

While academic excellence remains paramount, the university also values intellectual curiosity, leadership, personal character, and a genuine passion for learning.