<p>So every time I hear/think about final clubs a couple of things keep popping up: Sexism (Surprisingly, and yet not Surprisingly, Rape), Parties, Outrageous Membership Fees, Elitism, and a few times Network/Connections. Ultimately, I just wanted to know the true story about Final Clubs before i get to Cambridge, ie "What lays behind the booze". Can anyone help me out?</p>
<p>People who are similar tend to attract. It’s a fact. This fact explains everything else you may have heard about Finals Clubs. They are nothing fundamentally unique in terms of their social dynamics, though they may be more visible than other elements of the social scene.</p>
<p>It’s truly irrelevant unless you want to be a part of them. I know lots of people who have never even been to one, and only a few who frequent them regularly. They by no means “dominate” the social scene at Harvard, but they definitely represent a group of people whose primary interest is, in fact, getting drunk, having sex, and “networking”. Mind you, the only time I’ve ever heard of anyone “networking” was as part of a friend’s excuse as to why she was out till 4 AM the night before we had a lecture.</p>
<p>“They definitely represent a group of people whose primary interest is, in fact, getting drunk, having sex, and ‘networking’.”</p>
<p>No need to malign an entire group of people by painting them with such a broad and derogatory brush. I knew plenty of people in clubs both male and female, joined one myself, and visited them fairly often. The things you mention were by no means the “primary interests” of these people. In point of fact, the few students I did know at Harvard who focused mainly on those things were the ones who tried and failed to join final clubs, having likely been rejected for being uninteresting, socially inept, and/or having no significant extracurricular accomplishments to recommend them. </p>
<p>In short, students in finals clubs are pretty much just like all the other students. Don’t believe the hype.</p>
<p>They’re like everyone else, except cool enough to go past the first room in the A.D. And everyone else isn’t cool enough. But don’t worry, they’re just like everyone else…</p>
<p>Eh, all they do is drink natty ice while carrying axe body spray and certain other objects inside backpacks.</p>
<p>Try reading The Harvard Crimson’s article entitled “The Isis Crisis” for a first hand look at the petty/catty judgemental process of selection at this woman’s final club. Also there is a copy of the Owl’s club handbook available online (try the Ivygate blog) with all the details of that men’s club.</p>