Harvard University is a private Ivy League research facility located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was first established in 1636 as the United States' first institution of higher learning and has since then become one of the wealthiest and most influential universities in the world. For example Harvard owns the world's largest academic and private library systems and also has the largest financial endowment of any other academic institution. Currently over 21,200 students are attending the university.
Harvard alumni include plenty of reputable people such as United States Presidents (eight to be exact), successful business leaders (ex: Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates) and others such as Matt Damon, Jeremy Lin, Natalie Portman, etc.
Harvard University's main campus is located on Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Boston. The main campus contains the central administrative offices and main libraries of the university along with majority of the freshman residence halls. Students and visitors can access Harvard by taking the bus service and the Red Line subway to the Harvard MBTA station.
Other than the area surrounding Harvard Yard, Harvard also has many academic and athletic facilities located in Allston, Longwood and in the Back Bay. Harvard has satellite facilities located in Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, Italy, and Shanghai.
For those who are entering Harvard as a freshmen, housing is guaranteed and most of the residence halls are located in and around Harvard Yard. Freshmen residence hall assignments are assigned to the freshmen by the Freshmen Dean's Office. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are not guaranteed housing but will be placed into one of the 12 Upperclass Houses using the housing lottery (The Upperclass Houses accommodate up to 500 students). Each House has their own unique personality and offers their own traditions and accommodations for the students living within it. Houses will even compete in Intramural sports against each other (these sports include ultimate frisbee, hockey, rowing, etc). Essentially, each House acts as a smaller community within Harvard's campus.
While Harvard is predominantly residential, there are some students who will not choose to live in College housing. Students who wish to move campus must submit a Housing Contract Cancellation form to the Office of Residential Life. Should students move off-campus they will be automatically affiliated with the Dudley House (which is the House affiliation for graduate students, married students, and essentially non-residential community for students who live off-campus).
Students who live off campus will generally still live close to campus in either Cambridge, Back Bay, Fenway-Kenmore, and Allston.
Harvard has real-time shuttle bus locations and routes located on their site.
For those interested in finding housing near Harvard. Check out our maps to find more information on average rental prices in each neighborhood.
For alums who continue staying in the city, most are spread throughout Boston. Popular neighborhoods for Harvard alums can vary depending on their career but the most popular neighborhoods seem to Cambridge, North End, West End, and Allston. Harvard alums can be found all over the country and world as well!
Looking to rent in Boston? Be sure to take a glance at the following resources. They may help you out with finding your dream apartment today!
Here are some other useful resources:
Transportation maps:
Real Estate Firms located physically around Harvard campus:
The Harvard Site
Harvard Admissions
Harvard College Residential Life
Harvard University Nonresidential Life