Harvard UniversityCampus Housing Summary

Written by Dominic Hood

Dominic Hood

Hometown

New Orleans, La.

Major

Psychology

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When more than 95 percent of undergraduates at Harvard prefer to live on campus, you know there must be something attractive about the housing opportunities. From its rich history and beautiful architecture to the close-knit house communities and central location, Harvard campus housing is matched by few, if any, universities in the country. Freshmen live in the Old Yard and the Union, while upperclassmen move toward the river and out toward the quad after their first year. But regardless of location, Harvard's rooms tend to be spacious, and almost all rooms feature common rooms and private bathrooms. Many of the houses also offer features like darkrooms, music practice rooms, workout facilities, and late-night grilles.

However, all dorms have their pros and cons, and you will hear undergraduates living in the river houses complain about smaller rooms, while students in the quad complain about the long trek to classes. These complaints are rare, but they do exist. The general sentiment of the Harvard undergrad is resoundingly in favor of campus housing at Harvard. House communities are integral parts of student social life, and because of this, few would relinquish their campus housing just because of a long walk or smaller room.