Move In/Move Out

Upcoming Deadlines

Move-In Day

Move-In Time Slots

You must select a time slot for your arrival on campus, which helps in controlling traffic during each move-in day. Time slots are available between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm in two-hour increments on your assigned arrival date as most events on your arrival day will begin around 5:00 pm.  If your travel does not permit you to arrive by 4:00 pm, please select the latest move-in time slot on that day. 

If for some reason your schedule changes after you sign up for a move-in time slot and you need to arrive at a different time on your assigned move-in date, you can return to the form and change your time to an available time slot and there is no need to contact us. If there is an emergency situation and you have questions about your move-in date, please contact the First-Year Experience Office.

The form itself will be live starting at noon EST on Monday, July 31. Times will be available on a first come, first serve basis. The deadline to select a time is midnight on Sunday, August 6.

Fall Athletes and Bridge Housing Students

  • For fall season athletes, your coach will notify of your arrival date to begin practice. You do not need to sign up for a move-in time slot. You will move into fall term housing on August 19.
     
  • All bridge housing students will move into fall term housing on August 19.

The First-Year Experience Office will email you in August regarding your arrival date, move-in time slot, key pick-up location, and driving directions. This email will also inform you if you need to: report first to Harvard stadium, whether you can drive directly to your dorm, or whether you can proceed directly to Harvard Yard.

Once you're on campus:

  • Pick up your Harvard University ID and room key at your assigned key pick-up location, and remember to bring a government-issued photo ID (e.g. passport, driver’s license, state ID, military ID)
     
  • Unload quickly at your drop-off location after parking outside your dorm – you will have a maximum of 20 minutes
     
  • Retrieve mail and packages from Harvard Yard Mail Center (your package notification email will tell you where to pick up your package)
     
  • Unpack after you and your roommates have agreed on bedrooms
     

Arrival and Drop-Off

View Key Pick-up and Move-In Locations 

First-year move-in for the Class of 2027 is scheduled for three dates. Your arrival date depends on whether you are participating in a pre-orientation program:

  • August 22 (FOP participants)
  • August 24 (FAP, FIP, FUP, FYRE, and LIFE participants)
  • August 30 (students not participating in a pre-orientation program)

August 22 and August 24
 

  • Students living in Pennypacker, Hurlbut, or Greenough: Proceed directly to Prescott Street for drop-off
     
  • Students living in Apley: Proceed directly to Holyoke Street for drop-off
     
  • Students living in all other dorms: Proceed directly to Harvard Yard for drop-off:
     
    • Students living in Wigglesworth A–Wigglesworth I: Enter Harvard Yard through Widener Gate
       
    • Students living in all other dorms: Enter Harvard Yard through Johnston Gate

August 30
 

  • Students living in Apley: Proceed directly to Holyoke Street
     
  • Students living in Pennypacker, Hurlbut, or Greenough: Proceed directly to Prescott Street
     
  • Students in living in all other dorms should first proceed to Harvard Stadium (Athletics Staging) to be directed to the below locations
     
    • Once directed to do so, students living in Wigglesworth should proceed to Harvard Yard the following locations:
      • Wigglesworth A–Wigglesworth I: Proceed to Harvard Yard through Widener Gate
      • Wigglesworth J–Wigglesworth K: Proceed to Harvard Yard through Johnston Gate; drop-off by Boylston Hall or Lehman Hall
         
    • Once directed to do so, students living in all other Harvard Yard dorms should proceed to Harvard Yard through Johnston Gate

Parking

Free parking will be available in the 52 Oxford Street garage

Late Arrivals

If you arrive after 4:00pm because of travel delays or other unforeseen circumstances, pick up your key from the Securitas staff at the Widener Gate. Meals will not be available until the following morning for late arrivals, so plan accordingly.

Information for Parents and Families

Limited family activities will be hosted during move-in by the Parent and Family Engagement Office, to allow your family to spend time with you, assist with your move, and explore campus. Parents and families should only be on campus for their student's move in date and should plan to depart campus by 7pm to allow students to attend dinner and mandatory evening meetings

First-Year Family Weekend  Family Weekend is scheduled October 26-29, 2023 and is the perfect time for a longer visit to experience academics, dining, and life on campus.

Students can subscribe parents and families to communications through the Family Information Form (please note that this only subscribes family members to communications from Parent and Family Engagement in the Dean of Student's Office, the Harvard College Dean's Office, and the Office of Undergraduate Education).  

Getting to Campus

Traveling by Car

  • Apley Court: Drive directly to 16 Holyoke St., Cambridge, MA 02138 (one-way running south to north) and park on the street. 

  • Greenough: Drive directly to 10 Prescott St., Cambridge, MA 02138 (one-way running south to north) and park on the street. 

  • Hurlbut: Drive directly to 2 Prescott St., Cambridge, MA 02138 (one-way running south to north) and park on the street. 

  • Pennypacker: Drive directly to 387 Harvard St., Cambridge, MA 02138 and park on the street. 

  • Wigglesworth: Drive directly to 1211 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138 and park on the street.

For all other dorms:

  • Drive directly to the “First-Year Staging Area” at the Harvard Stadium parking lot located at 65 North Harvard Street; Boston, MA 02134. Note the address is Boston, not Cambridge.

  • The “First-Year Staging Area” opens at 8:00 am.

  • At the staging area you will receive an entry pass and directions to Harvard Yard; an entry pass is required.

  • Wait time varies depending on traffic and time of day and sometimes takes up to 2 hours.

Traveling by Public Transportation

From South Station (Amtrak, MBTA subway, Greyhound, other buses):

  • Go downstairs in South Station to the red line subway and take train toward Alewife to Harvard Station (sixth stop)

  • The fare is $2.40. 

From Logan Airport: 

  • Via subway: board Silver Line subway bus to South Station (see South Station above); free fare. 

  • Via taxi or car service: proceed to the Johnston Gate (1465-1483 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138) which is the main entrance into Harvard Yard or proceed directly to the street address for your dorm/hall; no entry pass or stop at Harvard Stadium required; taxi fare can be up to $50 with tip. 

Early Arrivals

You are not permitted to move into academic year housing before your designated arrival date. 

You should have received an email with your room assignment and arrival date on Thursday, July 27 – it was sent to your college email address. If you did not receive your housing assignment email, please contact firstyear@fas.harvard.edu

Members of the Class of 2027 who have applied and been accepted to participate in the First-Year Outdoor Program (FOP) will be invited to move into their term time housing on August 22 during an assigned time.

First-year students who have applied and been accepted to participate in the First-Year Arts Program (FAP), First-Year International Program (FIP), First-Year Urban Program (FUP), First-Year Retreat and Experience (FYRE) Program, or Leadership Institute for the First-Year Experience (LIFE) will be invited to move into their term time housing on August 24 during an assigned time.

Students who are not participating in a pre-orientation program will move into their term time housing on August 30 during an assigned time.

Moving Out

To facilitate move-out, the Yard gates will be open to vehicles at designated times.

Sending boxes home early will make move out easier. If you prefer not to take all of your belongings home with you, the College recommends private storage services such as collegeboxes.com. With these services, you can select a pick up date and the provider will come to your room to collect your items for summer storage. These services cost approximately $45 per box (rates are higher for furniture items) and belongings are insured against loss or damage.

Please forward your mail upon moving out as there is no House or Yard mail service during the summer.

View the move out checklist

 

Sumner Tunnel Traffic

The The ’s first full closure continues through Thursday August 31, 2023. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation encourages all colleges to inform their students, faculty, and staff of potential delays traveling to and from the East Boston / Logan Airport area. MassDOT offers the following options to navigate the closure:

  1. Travelers from Logan Airport are urged to use public transportation, including the Silver Line, Blue Line, Logan Express, or ferries to reach Boston.
     
  2. Get real-time traffic updates by dialing 511 (toll-free) or visiting Mass511.com.
     
  3. Use MassDOT's Sumner Tunnel Travel Time Dashboard to plan trips and avoid congestion.

Additionally, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), MassDOT, and Massachusetts State Police (MSP) remind individuals about height restrictions on parkways such as Storrow Drive, Soldiers Field Road, and Memorial Drive in Greater Boston. These roads have limits as low as nine feet, unsuitable for taller vehicles like moving trucks. For inquiries or concerns about the project, please reach out.

 

Move-In Timeline

Required Athletes and Students Supporting the College

If the College requires you to be on campus before August 30 (e.g., athletes or students working to support first-year orientation and move-in), you will be contacted directly to move in early. You do not need to reserve a move-in time slot in the Residential Portal if you are part of these groups, as your move will be coordinated independently. 
 

Returning Students

Returning student move-in is scheduled for five dates between August 30 and September 3. To ensure a smooth and organized move-in process starting August 30, reserve a move-in time slot in the Residential Portal. You can select a one hour period between 8 AM and 4 PM on one of the upper-level move-in dates:  
 
  • August 30 and August 31 
    If you are an upper-level student or sophomore and wish to arrive in advance of the standard move-in dates below.
     
  • August 31 
    Standard move-in date for sophomores participating in a Sophomore Orientation.
     
  • September 1–3 
    Houses open. Standard move-in dates for returning students.

Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are otherwise not permitted to move into academic year housing before August 30 unless they meet the unique circumstances for emergency early arrivals.

If you have a personal safety emergency and need to move in before August 30, you can apply for an emergency early arrival. We will review your case on an individual basis and do our best to accommodate you if the situation warrants it. Such exceptions are strictly limited to cases of personal safety or medically-related needs. Well-being and safety remain the utmost priority, and granting early move-ins outside of emergency situations could compromise the necessary preparations and resources required to welcome everyone smoothly.

Sophomore House Orientation

During Sophomore Orientation activities, each House will hold events to help you meet each other, connect with staff, and learn about the traditions and perks of your House. The orientation activities and schedule will vary for each House, and include unscheduled blocks of time for unpacking, running errands, and impromptu socializing. Contact your House Administrator for more details.

Parking

Harvard College reserves parking meters in the areas around the Houses for drop-offs and pick-up (no more than 20 minutes). We reserve these meters on days when we expect a high volume of students to arrive on or depart from campus. Ordinarily, Harvard University Police Department and Parking Services will direct traffic and provide instructions on-site. If you have questions about specific parking logistics, please contact Harvard Yard Operations.

Key Pick-Up

You may pick up/drop off your keys at your House's building manager office.

Packages

Important Changes in Parcel Receiving Process for House Residents, Move-In 2023.

Residents of the following Houses will see changes in the way that they receive their packages from 8/16-9/26/23.

  • Adams
  • Eliot
  • Dunster
  • Kirkland
  • Leverett
  • Lowell
  • Mather
  • Quincy
  • Winthrop

Beginning on 8/16/23, Harvard University Mail and Distribution Services (HUMS) will receive all parcels for these Houses at a satellite location. HUMS will then transfer these parcels to Olympia Moving and Storage for delivery direct to students’ rooms.

Students in these nine Houses will receive an email from HUMS when a parcel has been received on campus and processed for them. Olympia Moving and Storage will then deliver these parcels to student rooms within 24 hours of HUMS sending the email.

Students or other House residents that have questions about the status of a parcel as it arrives on campus via a carrier should contact HUMS@harvard.edu or 617-496-6245. House residents can also track the status of a parcel.

Students or other House residents that have questions about the status of parcel delivery to their House or room once it has left HUMS possession should contact Olympia Moving and Storage at packages@olympiamoving.com or 617-415-5166. More information is also available on Olympia Moving website.

Residents of the following Houses will have the same experience as previous years:

  • Cabot
  • Currier
  • Pforzheimer

Beginning on 8/16/23, Harvard University Mail and Distribution Services (HUMS) will receive all parcels for residents of these Houses in the Gilbert Living Room on the first floor of Currier House. Residents will receive an email alerting them when a parcel is ready for pickup. All inquiries for these three Houses can be directed to HUMS@harvard.edu or 617-496-6245. Quad residents can also track the status of a parcel.

Hours of operation are 8am-5pm, Monday through Saturday, and 8am-5pm Sunday, 9/3/23. Closed on Labor Day, Monday, 9/4/23.

Mail & Distribution Services - 28 Travis St. Allston, MA 02134

Moving Out

Students in the Houses who are not participating in the Commencement exercises must move out on time. Only late-staying students approved for the commencement housing period and seniors participating in senior week and commencement are permitted to remain on campus after this date. 

View the move out checklist

Seniors

Seniors (or "social seniors" participating in Senior Week and Commencement Exercises, with permission from their House) are permitted to remain in residence for an extended period. Information about upcoming dates if forthcoming.

Sumner Tunnel Traffic

The The ’s first full closure continues through Thursday August 31, 2023. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation encourages all colleges to inform their students, faculty, and staff of potential delays traveling to and from the East Boston / Logan Airport area. MassDOT offers the following options to navigate the closure:

  1. Travelers from Logan Airport are urged to use public transportation, including the Silver Line, Blue Line, Logan Express, or ferries to reach Boston.
     
  2. Get real-time traffic updates by dialing 511 (toll-free) or visiting Mass511.com.
     
  3. Use MassDOT's Sumner Tunnel Travel Time Dashboard to plan trips and avoid congestion.

Additionally, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), MassDOT, and Massachusetts State Police (MSP) remind individuals about height restrictions on parkways such as Storrow Drive, Soldiers Field Road, and Memorial Drive in Greater Boston. These roads have limits as low as nine feet, unsuitable for taller vehicles like moving trucks. For inquiries or concerns about the project, please reach out.

 

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