<p>To current or recent Harvard students:</p>
<p>What's your experience with the stereotype of Harvard students being more inclined to find things to do (i.e. parties) at the many Boston-area schools as opposed to staying on campus? Is this just a stereotype or is there truth to Harvard kids flocking elsewhere to take advantage of that?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>The vast majority of students are on campus every night. I’d say the average student heads off to Boston once or twice a month. Some kids are very well connected to another school (MIT, BU, BC, Wellesley, etc) and spend more time there, but they’re a small % of campus.</p>
<p>That’s primarily why I didn’t want Boston to influence my decision… because I knew that I, personally, wouldn’t be using it that much.</p>
<p>The pattern j<em>f</em>m describes fits my two students.</p>
<p>S and his friends don’t go into Boston for college parties. There are enough at Harvard. They do go into Boston for other things: dim sum in Chinatown, birthday dinners in the North End, concerts or shows, and so on.</p>
<p>I think Boston also makes a wonderful “safety valve” - if, for whatever reason, you need to get away from Harvard - there’s a beautiful park, wonderful museums, etc where you can spend a day or a weekend. And if you’re really not fitting in at Harvard, there are a ton of universities you can “socially transfer” to, if you so desire.</p>
<p>My son’s experience is like Marite’s son’s, except that he has been to see friends at MIT a few times.</p>