Tomorrow's the BIG DAY!!!!!

<p>Grr...can your roommate please convince him to stay another year next time they have dinner? :p</p>

<p>oh, and:</p>

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which is the bestest house? the worstest?

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</p>

<p>Depends completely on you. </p>

<p>Many people love the river because you're so close to the square, and because you're so close to classes that are held near the yard, aka most of them. Many people seem to think, though, that river houses weren't made equal. Adams is v. popular, as is Eliot. Winthrop is the Kennedy house, if I'm not mistaken. People hate Mather and Dunster because they are the river houses furthest from the square, and people seem to think they're ugly. But those are two of my favorite houses; it seems like the houses people reject most--Mather, Dunster, Quad houses--have the best house spirit when the residents find out how awesome thoses houses are.</p>

<p>People at the Quad, similarly, tend to love it there. There are only three houses there, with (usually) great rooming and good food. The 90's Dance is held in the Quad, as is Heaven and Hell. the Quad is apparently party central (which excites me to no end.) I would also imagine that famous students end up being quaded, like Rivers cuomo and Natalie Portman (I think?), because it isn't in the square and is thus further from tourists and the hustle and bustle of Cambridge. The quad isn't nearly as far as people want to complain that it is--plus, the shuttle system is really great, and you incoming freshman will be relying on it heavily when you want to party quad-style.</p>

<p>Where you like being really depends on you. =)</p>

<p>
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on a more seriouster note, is picking your blocking group awkward at all?

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</p>

<p>Short Answer: Yeah, it commonly is. </p>

<p>Longer Answer: Potentially. It really depends on how you handle it.</p>

<p>"Depends completely on you."</p>

<p>Yes, yes, yes.</p>

<p>My first-year son was initially disappointed when he found out that his dorm assignment for this year was Pennypacker, as he'd envisioned living in the Yard. (Heck, until he got his room assignment, he thought that all of the first-year dorms were in the Yard - the fact that some freshmen live a few blocks away sure wasn't mentioned on our campus tour.) But living at Pennypacker has worked out wonderfully well, largely, of course, because of the people. And being a little ways away from the center of things - and all the commotion - hasn't turned out to be all bad, either.</p>

<p>Now he's learned that he and his blocking group will be living in Eliot House, which I gather is regarded by some as one of the more desirable houses, in part because of its location. It, too, will be fine, I'm sure. But I'm also sure that things would have worked out well if he had again been "exiled," as he was this year, to one of the more distant houses. Obvious, yes, but also true: It's all what you make it.</p>

<p>I know that the house selection process is supposed to be completely random, but does it seem that way to all of you current students? For example, my parents and two older brothers all attended Harvard, and all happened to be in Adams House. This should officially have no bearing upon where I will be placed at the end of next year, but is there a chance that it will?</p>

<p>Okay. Here goes.</p>

<p>Housing for upperclassmen is supposedly random. Yes. </p>

<p>But--
It seems that all of the houses that are currently considered to be shall-we-say "homogeneous" have been flooded with minorities, ie the quad, Kirkland and I think one other house. It's kind of funny that Cabot, for example, who took the second fewest number of freshman, happened to take FOUR blocking groups of hispanic students. And when you read the Black Men's Forum and Black Student Association's mailing lists where freshman announced what houses they were placed into, the number of students that were quadded is nothing short of hilarious--so much so that I don't know of too many people who didn't notice. Not making any accusations--in the first place, i think it's a very good thing to stir the pot a little bit--but it doesn't seem completely random.</p>

<p>And, on a non-racial note, Adams still seems to be living up to it's "artsy" reputation.</p>

<p>That said, when you pair it with the fact that the housemasters (according to a proctor) can apparently "request" certain (kinds of) people for the sake of house diversity or something (I've heard this may be where family connections also come into play), it would make sense if housemasters in certain houses did this and Harvard willingly complied.</p>

<p>Of course--warning: disclaimer--it's very possible that the only minorities who were are visible/vocal from my perspective happened to be placed in those houses, even though I have spoken to quite a few and we've all noticed. It should also be taken into consideration that I know of quite a few single-race blocking groups, and I'm sure that must have had an effect.</p>

<p>But I still think it's great/hilarious. =)</p>

<p>Hi Marite and 1moremom, My son is in Winthrop. Had mixed feelings: likes the location and the feel and look of the place, but the rooms tend to be smaller than his current dorm (Grays), and singles are only guaranteed for seniors. BTW, are your boys home today? Just picked mine up from the train with his gf, who's staying with us for the week.</p>

<p>Donemom:</p>

<p>Just called S to find out when to pick him up and his laundry bag. He's busy doing something with chums right now.</p>

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<p>He'll like Winthrop - a beautiful river house. A couple of days ago my D was one of those who painted her face and went down and yelled and cheered for two hours to welcome the new frosh to Winthrop.</p>

<p>Plus John Winthrop was the founder of the city of Boston.</p>

<p>"My son is in Winthrop. Had mixed feelings: likes the location and the feel and look of the place, but the rooms tend to be smaller than his current dorm (Grays), and singles are only guaranteed for seniors."</p>

<p>I'm in Grays, too. Grays has spoiled us all.</p>