<p>Wait, are you trying to send up more than 1 suitcase for your dorm crew week or for the academic year? If it’s the former, be careful because on your last day you’ll have to move your items into storage while they clean out your temp room (while you work your last day) so if there’s some limit to how much they’ll take, I wouldn’t exceed it. If it’s the latter, just should just wait until you get your Harvard mail address.</p>
<p>Hey, if the calendar on the FDO site says that dorms close on may 13th and that all frosh have to vacate dorms by 1pm, does that mean that we can get a flight for the day before without any risk of it clashing with any exam or is it possible that there may be an exam on the 12th?
Is it sensible to book one for the night of 12th , or would that leave very little time for packing (if an exam ends on the 12th that is)?</p>
<p>I’m not booking a flight for so far off (yet), but I was just wondering and since you guys just finished you exams I thought I’d ask.
Thanks!</p>
<p>A flight on the last day of exams is possible but it would have to be pretty late. You could have an exam that will take you up to 5 pm. You’d have to allow for travel time to Logan and assuming you get there a safe 2 hours early, I wouldn’t book anything before 8 pm.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice! so the last day of exams shall be the one before the move out day?
I don’t know because it’s not given anywhere. I thought maybe Harvard gives a day or sth for packing and idk…enjoying the weather lol?</p>
<p>Both years I’ve been there you have to be out by noontime the day after the last day of exams. I suppose it could change but without information to the contrary I’d assume it’ll stay like that. I wish there were an empty day too!</p>
<p>DE is correct. They kick you out the day after exams end, and storage actually closes at 4 on Saturday (the last exams end at 5).</p>
<p>Well, most people don’t have an exam on the last day, let alone the last afternoon, so most people have plenty of time to pack. I had an exam on the morning of the last day this year, but I still had plenty of time to pack. I was easily able to put the stuff I was putting in storage at my upperclass house there that afternoon, then pack the rest of my stuff and drive home with my dad the next morning. I even took the time to have an extended picnic with three or four friends the night before I left. If you really must pack and haul your things to storage before your last exam because of a flight, that would suck, but it’s often avoidable.</p>
<p>^Yeah but the issue is her booking a flight ahead of time when she doesn’t know if she’ll have a last day-last afternoon exam. Though you’re right the chances aren’t great that she will.</p>
<p>I had a question about shipping your stuff over. Since I’m pretty sure that I can’t take all my stuff over in one suitcase on the plane, do you recommend shipping the stuff I need to bring, or just waiting to buy things in Boston? I’m just worried the shipping prices will be exortibantly high :P</p>
<p>These pearls of wisdom are from the mother of a Harvard 2011 and a Northwestern 2014.</p>
<p>If you are really planning on booking a flight for May move-out, I think that you should wait for the Saturday after your last possible final. Even if your last exam is a few days before, this will give you a chance to pack up in peace and actually enjoy some time in Cambridge/Boston with no stress. Are airlines already booking for that time? Jet Blue isn’t booking past January 3rd right now. BTW, Saturday flights are usually cheaper than Friday flights. Are you involved in any kind of singing or band instrument playing? Many of those students stay through graduation to perform in the commencement choir or band. They have to move out of their rooms, but they are given temporary housing and meal cards for the two-week gap.</p>
<p>As for shipping (this is where my Northwestern experience comes in), having a car is really useful. If your parents come out with you and rent a car, or if you get a cab, you can buy things when you reach the Boston area. You can go to any Bed, Bath, and Beyond (if there is one near you) and go to the place in the store (near the wedding registry) where students can make their own shopping list. You walk around the store with a scan wand, and you scan items that you want to buy for school. They will help you find the closest BB&B to Harvard (there’s one in Somerville and one in Kenmore Square near Fenway Park), and the staff at the store you choose will assemble the items that you have chosen before you get there. Sometimes they are out and substitute something else, but it worked pretty well for us. We did a combination of shipping things from home, ordering through Bed, Bath and Beyond, and buying on the spot when we went out to Evanston. Make sure to get bedding for an XL twin. UPS is your best bet for shipping because they will tell you exactly when things will arrive. An 18"x18" box cost us about $35 to send from Boston to Evanston. Shopping immediately around Harvard Square is expensive. The COOP is usually top dollar, but make sure to join the COOP (is it still $1 a year?) to get your rebate (usually 7%-8%) before you buy anything (always give the cashier your COOP number). Dickson Brother’s Hardware on Brattle Street has a lot of dorm needs as well (but not bedding). </p>
<p>Hope this was helpful.</p>
<p>What makes Hardvard so special???
how does the addmission process work???
do you have to be a genius to get into Hardvard??
how can you stand out nationally???
what should your ACT score be???
what do they interview you on???
is Hardvard fun???
is hardvard any better than any other university out there i mean dont you get the same education???
what should students do to increase their chances of getting into Hardvard???</p>
<p>First off, they should learn to spell Harvard. (Only one d.) Second off, they should go Google Harvard and get their basic questions answered from Harvard’s websites, then come back here with more specific questions.</p>
<p>@enoughalready: thanks so much for the information 
unfortunately, my parents are unable to come with me because of plane costs, so I’ll be going there alone. Knowing that, would you still recommend going to Boston to buy things? I don’t want to wander around the city alone >.< and the lack of a car is also a problem. But is it worth it getting a taxi…sigh. </p>
<p>I think one question that is vital to whether I ship or buy, or bring three suitcases is what do we need to have the few days we’re in the dorms? What is strictly necessary and what can wait a few days, according to your experience? For example, bedding should be brought or bought the first day, right? But what else?</p>
<p>Thanks again I look forward to meeting all of your current students in the fall ^_^</p>
<p>You can order bedding through a linen service-you will receive info in the summer before freshman year. It is adequate, though a bit pricier and duller than that which you can buy in Boston. If you want to buy in Boston, you can take the redline T from Harvard to Park Street or Downtown Crossing , and TJMaxx (discount clothes and home/bath/bed supplies is right there, as well as Macy’s, where you can find everything.) Also, in Cambridge, there is a hardware strore and The Coop which sell lamps, wastebaskets, bulletin boards, pillows, carpet pieces, etc.</p>
<p>If the choice is between expensive shipping and shopping in Boston, and Cambridge, I suggest you go for the latter. It is perfectly safe to wander Boston alone in the day, and you can surely find other students to accompany you.</p>
<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing so much. I’m an incoming freshman, so all of this is extremely useful.</p>
<p>Are we ever allowed to register for courses aimed primarily at graduates? Under what conditions?</p>
<p>Also, does anyone have any experience with the “Supervised Reading and Research” courses? I understand they’re limited to Juniors and Seniors, but I’m really curious and would appreciate any comments :p</p>
<p>Don’t you just wish they were so thoughtful as to give us a few free days after the finals 
!</p>
<p>haeunchang-
Have you considered buying everything online and have them shipped to school? You can then pick up the packages in the Science Center when you arrive. As for wandering around Boston, it should be perfectly safe during the day. In addition to what fauve mentioned, there is also a Target nearby that is easily reachable by bus should you find yourself needing anything else once you’re there. (Use Google Maps to find the best public transportation options)</p>
<p>59sound-
I’m pretty sure it’s possible to register for grad level courses as an undergraduate student, but I don’t know how feasible that would be for freshman year… once you find out who your academic adviser is, this can something good to ask him/her :).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Undergraduates definitely can but like Calico said I wouldn’t recommend it as a freshman. Better to make sure you have a handle on the normal undergrad workload first.</p>
<p>Iwas just wondering, what happens the first few days of orientation?</p>
<p>@haeunchang, I’m not sure where you would be sending things from, so that makes a difference in shipping costs. You are right - basically, you need your linens, towels and some clothing at the beginning, and you can shop for other things later. The Bed, Bath and Beyond near Fenway Park is easily accessible by T (Take the Red Line to Park Street and then take the Green Line D train to Fenway). It’s the carrying that can be a pain, but lots of people do it. And try to avoid going there when there is a Red Sox game starting or ending. </p>
<p>And don’t forget about Dickson’s Hardware right on Brattle Street. They have lots of dorm items.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Gross. Taking the T from Harvard to Fenway takes like 45 minutes one way.</p>
<p>Take the 86 bus to Target in Somerville. Brings you right there and takes like 15 minutes max one way.</p>