<p>What is Harvard's social scene like compared to Yale's? I have seen Yale brag about their social scene, but is it really any better? I hear that the Freshman party life sucks because all the parties get broken up at 2am, is this true.</p>
<p>I know this question has been asked a million times but I have never really seen an answer.</p>
<p>Harvard is anal regarding the issue of alcohol consumption. Yale won't crack down on you for drinking at parties. The Yale officials are more concerned about students drinking within the limits that their bodies can handle than about students drinking at all in general.</p>
<p>That's not true at all. Harvard is INCREDIBLY liberal when it comes to enforcing the drinking age, etc. Ginny Weasley, do we go to the same Harvard????</p>
<p>^^Ginny doesn't go to Harvard. As I recall she is a high school student headed to Yale this fall. Which points out the futility of the OP's question: almost no one can make a direct comparison between Yale's and Harvard's social scenes because no one ever attends both colleges as an undergrad. The most anyone can say is what they have observed about their own college and what rumors they have heard about the other.</p>
<p>I love it how people bash other schools just because they don't go there.</p>
<p>Harvard will buy you beer if you register a party.</p>
<p>My opinion (biased: Yale) is that Yale has traditionally held the lead, but Harvard is putting Herculean efforts into playing catchup. I think Harvard was tired of getting articles like this <a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=350153%5B/url%5D">http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=350153</a> and of that much-maligned survey which said Harvard students were less happy than those at peer institutions. To correct such things they have hired a "fun czar" who is actively promoting social life, have poured money into their student life budget (they just had an entirely free Ben Folds concert for undergrads), and convinced Cambridge to agree to extend party hours from 1 to 2 am.</p>
<p>I've heard freshman party life at Harvard is kinda rough not because of the 2 am shutdown but because because the rules about alcohol in the yard are enforced, and so kids have to go to the Houses to find good parties. All too often this degenerates into groups of freshmen wandering around Cambridge on cell phones. I think kids organized websites like harvardparties.com and hahvahdparties.com to help let people know where the good parties are, but I can't get either of those websites to work.</p>
<p>I chose Yale because, among other things, I did think the Yale social life was better... but I think if you talk to most Harvard kids, you'll find they're quite happy where they're at. Especially with an undergraduate population as large as Harvard / Yale, you're likely to find a healthy segment of population who share the same social predilections that you do.</p>
<p>I guess my final advice would be to stay over at both and see for yourself!</p>
<p>Best,
DMW</p>
<p>I love how "social scene" always boils down to alcohol policy - like it's the only way undergrads can enjoy themselves...</p>
<p>Actually, Harvard recommends green tea.</p>
<p>My only experience with Harvard social life (prefrosh weekend) suggested that all the speculation about the undergrads not having fun and not being able to drink was total BS. If you want to get boozed up, it's not that hard. Plenty of parties, too.</p>
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all the speculation about the undergrads not having fun and not being able to drink was total BS. If you want to get boozed up, it's not that hard. Plenty of parties, too.
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<p>This is exactly right. Beyond parties, there are tons of things to do every weekend outside of drinking/partying. Many people don't realize that at a lot of colleges its often necessary to go to another school's campus in order to find a party. This isn't ever the case at Harvard. You don't ever have to leave the campus for anything alcoholic or otherwise. Boston is an amazing resource that's always available, but you never have to actually leave campus for anything you need.</p>
<p>Apparently they care more about alcohol than soft drugs. A guy from my school threw a party for the people on his corridor (18th birthday) and the dean (I think?) broke it up. Later he said he would have turned a blind eye if they were doing soft drugs.. hmm.. maybe they're worried about the students' livers, or damage to property.</p>
<p>So basically, harvard freshman are screwed in the alcohol department, while yale turns a blind eye.</p>
<p>I would have to entirely disagree with that statement. </p>
<p>When I was at prefrosh weekend in April, the alcohol was readily available. From what I experienced, the alcohol policy there is fairly liberal. We just walked right into a party and there was tons of alcohol, no questions asked. I chose not to drink, but all of my friends who were under age got very drunk. And from what I heard from fellow prefrosh, there was lots of alcohol available to prefrosh all over campus. Getting drunk every weekend doesn't really appeal to me, but if that's what you want... it's certainly available even if you are under age. It's really more of a personal choice than anything. Obviously Harvard has policies on underage drinking (like any other college), but they certainly did not seem strict and provided no barriers to alcohol consumption.</p>
<p>With that said, I think the party scene at Harvard is really great. Like I said, I don't enjoy drinking myself, but I do enjoy parties. And I guess it's fun to see everyone else get a bit tipsy lol. I didn't feel any pressure to drink and I still had lots of fun with my <em>drunk</em> friends, even though I chose not to drink.</p>
<p>From my limited knowledge and perspective, the social life at Harvard is only what you make of it. If you are an anti-social hermit who stays in his/her room all day doing math proofs, then of course you won't have a great social life. The resources are there, it's just up to the individual to decide. I know that there were probably more activities during prefrosh weekend than normally would be the case, but there definitely seems like there is something fun to do on campus all the time.</p>
<p>During prefrosh, I met a really great group of friends and we all promised eachother that we would make sure that no one in our group forgoes the social experiences at Harvard. </p>
<p>Personally, I can't wait. For me, the social life there was just as appealing as the allure of the stellar academics. Harvard is amazing--- don't believe the stereotypes. I gave into most of them and I was happily shocked to find out that 98% of them were not true during my visit.</p>
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So basically, harvard freshman are screwed in the alcohol department
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<p>That's not true. Whether or not you can have alcohol or an alcoholic party in a freshman dorm depends entirely on the proctor. Some proctors (like mine) had no problem with students throwing alcoholic parties in the entryway. It wasn't encouraged, but when parties flowed out into the hallway and students had drinks in their hands or when she walked into a room and saw alcohol, she turned a blind eye. Other proctors were more strict. </p>
<p>Regardless of the temperament of one's proctor, in no sense are Harvard freshmen "screwed" in the alcohol department. Harvard freshmen who want to drink have no problem doing so.</p>
<p>here's how i've always seen it: if you're drinking at a freshman party that gets broken up, there's a chance of getting in trouble, whereas if you're drinking at an upperclass party that gets broken up (for overcrowding, etc.) there really is no chance of you getting in trouble, even if you're a freshman. i would recommend that if you're really freaked out about getting in trouble, just steer clear of frosh parties and you'll be fine, although the worst i've heard is that a friend of mine who was at a frosh party that a proctor broke up got a stern lecture from her proctor - and that was it. college administrators aren't out patrolling or anything and hupd really isn't around to arrest students for drinking. in fact, the police are completely willing to help out if a friend is sick from drinking too much, and have been known to turn a blind eye to obvious underage intoxication in such a situation. and yeah, college parties end at 2, but if you still want to party, the final clubs parties don't usually end until like 4 or 5.</p>
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<p>stern lecture from her proctor - and that was it.</p>
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<p>Yep, this is really the direst punishment you're going to face for drinking unless you do something really dangerous and stupid (like throw rocks off the roof of a building like some of my classmates did when they were wasted). Don't make trouble for others and there won't be trouble for you.</p>
<p>Thank you knight_miler! </p>
<p>Yes, I'm biased because I go there, but I also come from a university town that is home to one of the biggest party schools in the nation, and I really think Harvard has just as good a party scene, especially if you know the right people to call. In general, there are parties in Quincy (3rd floor) every weekend, as well as the Quad and Kirkland and some of those. There aren't really any in the yard, unless you count the crappy Wigglesworth parties, but it's worth it to go to the upperclass Houses, and as long as you don't act like immature freshmen, they don't care. </p>
<p>As far as I can tell, the only real policy is that you don't make so much noise that the police come (as happened one night just as we were arriving at the party), and the only official "rule" is that the bartenders have to put up a sign that says "No drinking under 21". It's very don't-ask-don't-tell, and exceedingly liberal. I haven't been to Yale, but judging by stories I heard about the Harvard-Yale game (a very, very drunk kid from my dorm hugged a police officer, beer in hand), I don't think it's really an issue except health-wise at both schools. </p>
<p>The actual alcohol policy aside, the parties at Harvard are great. Ironically, one of THE most fun--because you get dressed up, drunk or not, and act stupid--is the Leverett 80's Dance, held twice a year (the first one was the best)...it's amazingly fun, even if, like me, you think (wrongly) what you don't know/like any 80's music :) Of course, there are "normal" dances too, and just about every party manages to find an excellent sound system and some pretty decent vodka. I'm not really a partier in the sense of getting really drunk, but I don't mind being tipsy, and usually I just go sober and watch out for my friends who do drink a bit more. There really (honestly!) is no pressure <em>at all</em> to drink, but it's quite readily available if you want. Of course, the entire nightlife of Boston (including all the colleges there--64 I believe) is about 15 minutes away and costs $1.25 for transportation; go with a big group of friends and split the cab fare, max about $7/person, on the way back (T stops running at 12:30 am). </p>
<p>"From my limited knowledge and perspective, the social life at Harvard is only what you make of it. If you are an anti-social hermit who stays in his/her room all day doing math proofs, then of course you won't have a great social life. The resources are there, it's just up to the individual to decide. I know that there were probably more activities during prefrosh weekend than normally would be the case, but there definitely seems like there is something fun to do on campus all the time." Yes...exactly. There is a small population of these "anti-social hermits" on campus who probably do complain about the social life, but that's because it's very easy to sit in your room all weekend and do nothing. However, it's even easier to go out with people and find something to do, be it alcoholic or non- (playing pool in Loker if that's what you want to do...it's open until 1:30 or 2:00 am, I can't remember). Just as with everything else at Harvard, I fully agree with knight_miler's statement that "The resources are there, it's just up to the individual to decide." Yes, there are substantially more activities during prefrosh weekend, but the number of activities isn't greater, it's the number of <em>free and widely advertised</em> activities. The things to do are still there. You just have to find them. That's why you go to Harvard--or Yale--they expect you to find things for yourself.
And now having done what I never thought I would do--write an essay on partying in the summer (!)--I bid you all farewell! <em>Dramatic cloak swish</em> hahahaha ;)
~lowellbelle</p>
<p>From a visitng perspective (staying with friends on various weekends). Harvard's social scene is fine. From what I saw more students at yale "party" but Harvard isnt really lacking compared to yale in any way.</p>
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Yes, I'm biased because I go there, but I also come from a university town that is home to one of the biggest party schools in the nation, and I really think Harvard has just as good a party scene, especially if you know the right people to call.
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I dont know what party school you lived by but compared to ASU Harvard is nothing....Penn supposedly has the "best party scene" of the ivies and it cant even compare to a public school. I think the ivies have a fine social scene, its not an overdose of partying, but it cant compare.</p>
<p>Hahaha...I meant relatively speaking (within the Ivies). I'm from (near) WSU. At one time I think it <em>was</em> the biggest party school...now it's like 7 or 9...I can't remember. And yes...ASU...pretty much nothing else compares, lol.
I'm happy with the social scene...idk...besides, I really wouldn't want anything like here or ASU. We have enough people go to the hospital every weekend, and that many drunk frat guys just doesn't sound like a good thing to me, haha.</p>