r/Harvard

Hi, incoming freshman here. I'm curious in how Harvard students move themselves around campus - walking, cycling, scooter/Segway, something else?

For out-of-town ALM students/graduates, is it worth it to apply for membership and pay the initiation dues now, or wait until membership is offered at graduation?

I want to add that I could utilize the facility at least 3 times between a summer course, this fall, and the spring. The reciprocal club availability is also enticing.

Good early investment? Opportunities to attend networking events while in town?

Happy to hear any advice and suggestions.

I have experience up to Calc BC (5 on the exam in all likelihood. A both semesters).

I was convinced I was gonna do Math 22 but I've been hearing cautionary tales and been told not to take it, but I have no proof experience so I'm scared of 25--forget 55, I'm not that delusional.

I plan on doing CS + Math.

Incoming freshman here---I'm potentially interested in taking HUM 10. I feel like it's one of those courses I'll look back on in 50 years and be glad that I took it. Beyond that, I just generally enjoy art and literature.

I'm aware that HUM 10 is a big commitment, but I haven't really found any information online (I know it varies, but something like an hr/week estimate would help) that gives me an idea of exactly how much work it'll be, besides that it's roughly one work a week.

In comparison to other humanities classes, like expos 20 or your standard freshman year lit/phil course, how much work would HUM 10 be? Is the overall workload twice, or even three times higher? What do the class assignments look like?

Would appreciate help!

hi all, for an incoming freshman from Southern California, I’d love some advice on clothes for adapting to winters in Cambridge.

I have two main questions: shoes and legs

for shoes, do people wear water proof trail shoes or do you need full-on Sorel-type boot?

for legs, I’d guess just jeans and long underwear will get you soaked. any advice on pants for Boston winters?

thanks very much!

Does anyone know how an incoming freshman can see ap scores early? I’ve heard school portals have an academics section to look at, but I can’t find it for harvard. No big deal if i cant see them (i can wait a few days). I’m just wondering since i saw a few posts online from other schools.

Hi all, I'm a new grad student at HGSE. I'm from Penn State, which has a really large volleyball community, and I loved playing both beach and indoor. I'm here for the summer and looking to see if people are interested in playing or where I could find courts to play at? Any insight helps :)

Graduated about five years ago. I work in institutional investments now (came up through tech), and one thing nobody warned me about: the further you climb in a prestige-driven field (especially like nyc finance), the denser the room gets with the top-1-whatever %. Every step up, I noticed the mental bar quietly resets and the scrutiny ratchets higher. I really wanted to make this post to get some thoughts about it because one thing that's helped me is realizing everyone actually struggles with this in some way.

I saw a post in here a while back — "how are people at Harvard so perfect?" — and it genuinely stuck with me, because here's the strange part: I didn't really struggle with imposter syndrome that much at Harvard for some reason. It came and went, sure. But coming in first-gen, from a crappy high school, minority, LGBTQ+ — you name it — I was mostly just inspired to be in a room with people that incredible. I remember I met this seriously gifted kid in one of my CS classes (who was 16) and I literally had to call my mom after and tell her how much of a genius he was. He solved something I struggled with for about 3 hours in 12 minutes. But I've found more into alum life the imposter feeling has gotten louder for me, the further I've gotten from graduation, not quieter.

TMI, but it's Reddit, so: I've been doing some work with my therapist using IFS (Richard Schwartz's "parts" framework — his book No Bad Parts is worth it if any of this resonates). What clicked for me is that there's a part of me that's a genuine double-edged sword, and I think a lot of people here will recognize it. It holds me to an impossible standard, and I've realized it's the actual engine behind how hard I work — I've (through a lot of work) come to be grateful for it. But it's also the thing that tortures me, replaying old grades and old roles that by any objective measure went fine, or stacking me up against someone who's seemed effortlessly perfect since birth. I gave that part a name and started treating it as a voice I can thank without obeying. That alone helped more than I expected — because there was a stretch recently where it genuinely crippled me. I'd never experienced anything like it. It was wrecking my performance, and not in the way pressure sometimes sharpens you. Going to Harvard in my field can feel like a dime a dozen — so the bar just moves to the next thing, and the next.

Two things I keep coming back to. First: the people with the no-cracks resume, the perfect roles, the perfect life — I've learned getting to know some of these folks a lot of them are carrying something you can't see. Everyone is struggling with something, and if you actually reach that "perfect" spot, the pressure there is heavier, not lighter. I put myself in the shoes of being completely perfect and I realized it would never be enough for me. Second: nobody gets through a life without failing at something. It isn't possible. Some seasons it's just harder to remember. I got rejected from a scholarship program over a decade ago that still haunts me, which tells you how much the brain holds onto.

I know how this reads to anyone who didn't go here — "you went to Harvard, what could you possibly have to complain about." Fair. But comparison doesn't care where you started; it just finds the next person ahead of you.

So I'm asking the people who actually get this: how do you deal with never feeling good enough? What's genuinely worked for you — not the platitudes, the real stuff? Please drop it below. I'd rather this turn into a thread people can come back to for help than just me talking.

Hello ! I am looking at organizing a bbq for a summer school we re hosting in the physics department. Does anyone know if we can get access to BBQ through the uni / (or have any other recommendations for this ) ? Thanks !

At HGSE, are finals usually in-person exams during finals week, or are they usually projects that end before finals period? Figuring this out for planning winter break. Thanks!

Hi everyone! Incoming freshman here and I've been playing casual outdoor pickups with my friends throughout HS and I'm looking to continue playing pickups/IMs when i get on campus. (even though i'm highkey 5'5 and ahh) I'm planning to get some new shoes since I've just been playing with sneakers right now, but i was wondering if the courts at Harvard had basketballs I could use while I play if I want to work on myself/train, or if i have to bring my own? i don't mind dropping the money for an Evolution/Evo NXT, but at the same time if Harvard's courts already have them I don't want to spend if I don't have to. In addition, what's the culture like regarding pickups? Are there a lot of people and is it inviting to people who might not be that good? Thank you all so much!

Hey, so I want to build a career in finance and be an entrepreneur later on, so I want to get into harvard for an undergraduate program. Does anyone know what program they offer which is the best to learn a lot... After all learning matters.

Hi everyone,

My friend is starting his LSAT journey and wanted to hear from people who have already been through the process.

If you scored well (or improved significantly), what did you actually use to study?

Some questions:

• What prep course or platform did you use? (7Sage, LSAT Demon, Blueprint, PowerScore, LawHub, etc.)
• Which books were worth buying?
• How many full-length practice tests did you take before the real exam?
• Did you follow a structured study schedule or make your own?
• What was your diagnostic score and your final LSAT score?
• If you could start over, what would you do differently?
• Were there any YouTube channels, podcasts, or free resources that were surprisingly helpful?

I'm trying to avoid wasting money on resources that don't make much of a difference, so I'd really appreciate hearing what actually worked for everyone.

Thanks in advance!

Does anyone know where I can buy the VERITAS T-shirt (just “VERITAS” in crimson, no big “HARVARD” logo) around Harvard Square?
Hoodie?
Thanks

I've heard about meal swipes, but I don't really get how they work , do they only work in dining halls, or can you use them at campus cafes too? Also, how do you buy coffee , do you pay out of pocket or can you use the meal plan for that too? Just trying to understand the whole system

Incoming freshman here! I've heard a lot of people complaining about tourists that kind of just wander around campus, take photos of students, etc. I can't really say for myself though, since the only time I've been on campus was Visitas when the campus was packed anyway. What are yall's thoughts on this? How common/annoying are the tourists?

Current Harvard first-year student. Over the past year, I've realized that the school may not be the best fit for me, and I've been exploring whether continuing my studies at a different institution might make sense.

I'm interested in hearing about cases where students have successfully moved between peer institutions after their first year. I understand that opportunities to do so are limited, but I'm curious about how common or uncommon this path is for students already enrolled at one of Harvard's peer institutions.

How are these attempted moves generally viewed? Do they happen occasionally when a student has a strong reason for seeking a different environment, or are they uncommon enough that most students remain where they started regardless of circumstances?

I'd appreciate any perspectives from students who have gone through a similar transition or have insight into how these situations are typically approached.