<p>I heard dorm life in Harvard is luxurious. Is this true? Which dorm house is the best? (I heard Wigglesworth is but others say Grays. I also heard Pennypacker is terrible.) Do you get to pick your dorm or roommates. Please enlighten me. As you can see I am completely clueless.</p>
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<p><a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/about/living/dormtours.html[/url]”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/about/living/dormtours.html</a></p>
<p>While Harvard’s freshman dorms have all been renovated in the last 15 years, the upperclass houses are currently undergoing renovations. And living in them is far from luxurious. Although this article is 7 years old, the conditions of most upperclass dorms remain the same. Hopefully that will change over the next dozen years. [Roaches</a> Rampant On Campus | News | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/9/20/roaches-rampant-on-campus-some-house/]Roaches”>Roaches Rampant On Campus | News | The Harvard Crimson)</p>
<p>Wow, really Gibby? My freshman dorm was built in 1720 and looked as if it hadn’t been renovated since about 1850. (Well, the first two floors housed the Office of the President. I’m sure that was quite cushy. But the top two floors…ugh!)</p>
<p>Of course, that was–er, more than 15 years ago.</p>
<p>^^ lol. Matthews, my daughter’s freshman dorm, was quite nice. The same can’t be said for her upperclass dorm, Mather (and it’s not in as bad shape as many other houses).</p>
<p>From my experience and that of the stories my friends tell, it doesn’t really sound like there’s much to choose between. Some people like Canaday, although it was designed first to be riot-proof and only second or third to be liveable, so that might have a reputation as one of the worst. Apley Court, the smallest, was for wealthy students back when there was choice. I haven’t bothered to go inside to check, but it probably has a reputation for luxury. Other than that, they seem pretty undifferentiated to me. All the Harvard dorms are probably a step nicer than your average cinderblock construction from the 50s at newer schools, sure, but they’re not “luxury.” Pretty nice I suppose and nothing I would rave home about. (Mine was quite pretty on the outside, though; that I appreciated.)</p>
<p>Pennypacker sidenote: I don’t know about Pennypacker rooms, but something about the setup of the whole building seems well-suited for fostering a sense of community. I think it’s the only Harvard dorm I’ve noticed having a sense of self after the year ended. People who were in Pennypacker are all like “hey! Pennypacker!” I liked my roommates, like keeping in touch with them, and my room certainly had more wood paneling than anything Pennypacker, but when I learn an acquaintance also lived in my older dorm, it’s more like “oh hey cool” than “what floor were you on? who was your proctor? wasn’t it great? do you know so and so?” So from what I’ve heard, it’s not one to hate!</p>
<p>There is so much information all around that I might end up just reading…all day…:).Thank you guys for such nice reviews.</p>
<p>^^as to what exultationsy said…</p>
<p>My son was in Pennypacker, and initially, he was mildly dismayed that he wasn’t in the Yard. Then he realized that it wasn’t all that far to Annenberg or the (horribly ugly) Science Center. It was later, however, that he realized how lucky he was. All of his blocking mates/roommates (7 people) for the following 3 years (with the exception of one honorary Pennypacker) were from Pennypacker, as were many of his friends later. They just had a 2-year reunion in San Francisco, and all but one attended. Every dorm/house is what you make of it. The rooms in Kirkland, for example, were antiquated (the steam heat made as much noise as a train), but the loyalty and group spirit was amazing. Basically, you don’t have a choice about what dorm or house you land up in (except I think that people with airborne allergies can avoid Canaday because of the curtains), but what is going to make you happy is the friendships that you make.</p>
<p>I know this question may be trivial and highly controvertible, but which is the BEST Frosh dorm and the BEST Upperclassmen house? Perhaps Wigglesworth/Grays Dorms and Adams/Kirkland/Eliot House?</p>
<p>Students don’t have a choice in the matter, so the “BEST DORM” is the one you end up in, as your entryway-mates will become your best friends no matter which freshman dorm you are in.</p>
<p>For pre-frosh who hasn’t applied yet, this may sound weird coming from a student from the university consistently ranked #1 in the country, but stop being so obsessed with ranking things. Seriously, stop it. Getting into Harvard is a much, much bigger problem than what dorms are “ranked” where within the university. If you do get in, they’re equivalent. The house with highest residential satisfaction among graduating seniors changes every year. I think two years ago it was Currier. Last year it was Lowell. That’s because the houses are all pretty much equivalent, and what you make of them. Like college, despite the importance this board attaches to the USNWR, and like life. Putting things so neatly in order does not help you at all, because such fine distinctions DON’T MATTER. Thanks</p>
<p>^^ Well said!</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that the housing was luxurious but they are very nice. And there is no “best” freshman dorm. While there are some that are nicer than others, people learn to love their dorm and become fiercely loyal to it. (I was in Weld and I really liked it but the singles in Hurlbut are killer :D)</p>
<p>The same can be said for upperclassmen houses to a degree. While they are all very similar to a basic degree, various houses are known for being better at some things compared to others. (Ex: Dunster has the best food, Eliot is the most convenient for athletes, etc). Most people learn to love the house they’re placed in. If not, they have the option to transfer to another one after a year of living in their original house (like I did - and even so I still love my original house). </p>
<p>Long story short, stop worrying about it. Nothing you can do to affect where you’re originally housed.</p>