While many people often liken Harvard’s campus to Hogwarts, the magic is not hidden in the hallowed halls, but in its people. 

As first-year students transition to college, it can be daunting to meet new people, or even to take that first step, but as Harvard College students Dustin, ’28, and Liz, ’28, quickly learned, that first step can lead to serendipitous growth. Through living, learning, dining, and more, Harvard develops the conditions for first-year students to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. From discussions at Annenberg, to the late-night laughter echoing through Harvard Yard, to the time spent at entryway meetings, connections can be made throughout campus, providing students with infinite opportunities to learn more about themselves and each other. 

One such entryway community created a cherished friendship between Dustin and Liz. A proctor challenged students to introduce themselves to someone new, a “Prickle Pal”, playing on the name for a group of hedgehogs, the mascot of Hurlbut. Dustin looked around the room, searching for his Prickle Pal, and saw Liz sitting on the opposite side. As he confidently strode across the room and arrived at Liz, they began their conversation with the “Harvard Introduction”, a preliminary exchange of personal and academic facts about themselves. Although they didn't share similar academic pursuits or life experiences, it proved not to be an obstacle to building a friendship. Instead, they were delighted to discover that they had many other shared interests than they originally perceived. 

“Without the entryway meetings, we would not have been able to make that kind of connection,” Dustin acknowledged. This unexpected introduction was just the beginning of a blossoming friendship, as the two soon continued to meet outside their entryway, taking trips to Boston or going for walks to the Charles River. From discussions of the architecture of the Boston City Hall to being a listening ear, Dustin and Liz appreciated sharing their passions and also the opportunity to learn from one another. 

This unlikely friendship was formed through Harvard’s dedication to cultivating meaningful personal and academic connections for first-year students. Led by a team of Resident Deans, Proctors, Peer Advising Fellows (PAFs), and Pre-Concentration Advisors (PCAs), first-years in a common entryway are guided by a Harvard network eager to support their transition and assist them in all aspects of campus life. 

The entryway communities are made up solely of first-years living in Harvard Yard, offering a unique opportunity for the class to not only get to know one another, but also interact with their classmates whom they may not have met otherwise. Due to Harvard’s commitment to being a residential campus, first-years are required to live on campus, allowing them to start their adventure at Harvard together and navigate through as a close-knit group. Unlike other Ivy League universities, Harvard does not use a computer algorithm to assign its incoming class into residential dorms. Rather, Resident Deans assign the incoming class by hand, carefully reading the housing questionnaires students fill out to personally match roommates and entryways. Not only does the questionnaire require students to fill out a short essay detailing their personality and hopes for their rooming situation, but its series of questions also gives Resident Deans a detailed look into students’ habits, sleep schedules, and relative tidiness, all to ensure they make the best match. 

The unique and personable aspect of this sorting process creates rooms filled with students from all across the world, each with a distinct background and story to share, as well as entryways that foster a diverse community of students to get to know and learn from one another throughout the year. 

In addition to living together, connection touchpoints can also be found in first-year-exclusive spaces throughout campus, including communal dining in Annenberg Hall, as well as academic programming such as First-Year Seminars, Expository Writing, and other introductory courses aimed to set first-year students up for academic success. 

From the moment first-year students set foot on campus, they experience the transformative power of their entryways for connection within the residence halls and across the Harvard community.