Haverford College Top Questions

Almost all Haverford students are involved in some sort of athletics, either varsity or club. I'm on the tennis team. I love the tennis team because all of the girls on it support each other both on and off the courts and we have become really good friends. However, while each athlete supports their individual sport, athletic events are not one of the most common. The most common events are definitely acappella concerts and we have over 5 acapella groups on campus. Because of the Honor Code everyone in the dorms leave their doors open whether they are in their rooms or not and I will often wander into the rooms of my friends to study or just to hang out. The party scene at Haverford is very much whatever you make it. Their are concerts by Haverford bands and outside bands at least once every weekend and most times 2 or 3 concerts a weekend. The special events committee also organizes dances such as 80s dance, 90s dance, dragball, snowball, and sundance. Students also create their own parties, often revolving around other events going on on Campus. While many students drink because of the lenient alcohol policy I have never felt any pressure to drink and it is perfectly fine to hang out with people who are drinking when you are not. Also, before game days athletes are not allowed to drink so you will usually find other people who are not drinking. Because there is so much going on around Campus people tend to stay on campus but it is also possible to go into Philly, or to go to parties at UPenn or bryn mawr.

The track team is... an unusual entity on campus. It has long been the case that the men's team is widely regarded as cult-like, but in recent years the women's team has been adopting a more group-think mentality as well. Unless you live and breath running, stay away. Stay very far away. Generally nice people, but something to be warey of.

Basketball games tend to be full for the guys games. When it comes to the date scene i would rate the girls a C+ and a majority of cute girls tend to be taken so its not like you can do what you want. I met a lot of my closer friends either through basketball, class, or though my friends. If I'm up at 2 am on a weekday chances are im doing some late night paper with some friends so I'm half playing around. The honor code helps you be able to feel free to drink on campus but it also states that there is somewhat of a buddy system so no one gets out of control.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BI-CO (with Bryn Mawr) AND TRI-CO(with Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore). When there are 1200 kids, sometimes you just need to get out, and it's nice to take a class or join a club elsewhere.

Haverford parties are some of the worst parties on the east coast, hands down. Thanks to the honor code, they could be amazing. You can drink and smoke almost anywhere on campus. But most people are content to stand around a few kegs of natty until 1 in the morning and call it a night.

Haverford has a lot of different ways to be social. A third of the people here play a sport. I do sound crew and lighting for band's shows, theater performances, speeches, and pretty much anything else that needs sound and lighting. People here have total trust in each other and their doors are open all the time.

The sports teams are always throwing amazing parties. There is so much going on every weekend, life is a blast.

The most popular groups on campus in terms of partying are the men's lacrosse team and the men's baseball team. That pretty much arises from the two groups of guys having housing together (a place to party) and a total absence of fraternities and sororities at Haverford. People generally go out on Saturday nights, and also on Thursdays (no Fridays because all the athletes on campus have meets/games on Saturdays). Those of us that are 21 love to go to Brownies, the best bar scene on the Main Line, on Wednesday nights. The sober activities are pretty well covered at Haverford, too. Most weekends there's a recent movie (not yet out on dvd) showing on a big screen in one of the auditoriums twice nightly Friday and Saturday. There's also Haverfest every year the first weekend of finals, with bands on the green all day and djs in founders at night. They bring in tons of musical acts and other fun things like a huge foam pit. Philly is nearby, but most people stay on campus. Also, the dating scene is pretty pitiful. It's a small school and since not everyone goes out, there tends to be a lot of overlap, which can make the school seem even smaller. Get tested.

The most popular groups are the sports teams and the Honor Council (responsible for dealing with the Honor Code). I played squash all four years and wouldn’t have given it up for the world. My coach was absolutely amazing – really relaxed about everything, and yet he instructed us and we were so dedicated to him. We have lots of sports fans: I was just talking to someone and she said that she hasn’t missed a lacrosse game yet this season. We have a lot of a cappella groups, and I’m in one this semester. Dating? It’s a bit awkward, but I’ve gone out with 3 guys during my time here. Mostly they’ve been really good experiences, and I’ve learned about myself. Half the guys here are mature and datable, half are a-holes who think too much of themselves. Haverfest is the biggest tradition here. It’s the weekend before spring exams, and there are lots of fun outdoor activities. Other people party a lot, including drinking and hookahs; me, I stay away from that kind of thing, but I know that they go on. We don’t have any fraternities or sororities, and that’s part of why I came here. Last weekend my friend from Maryland came to visit, and we went to an a cappella concert with some of my Haverford friends, and then we had a slumber party of sorts (just girl talk, you know). Other things that Haverford offers are movies in the auditorium and game night. I don’t go off-campus much because I don’t drink and Haverford brings lots of stuff to us here so that we don’t have to go anywhere.

There's a lot to do and so little time to do it! Fords Against Boredom (FAB) organizes trips to see shows in Philly, go rock climbing, whatever. I am involved in a lot of stuff around campus and Haverford's proximity to Philly and all the cute little suburbs nearby means you're right in the midst of civilization! Also we're a $20, 2-hour bus ride from New York City!