The Co-op is a wonderful space for students looking to be part of an intentional, hands-on community. Every Thursday evening, residents gather to democratically make decisions about the Co-op’s overall operation. Day-to-day chores like cooking, baking bread (my favorite!), and keeping the house clean are all done by students.
Because the Co-op is self-sustaining, living in the Co-op is significantly less expensive than living in a Harvard House. (For reference, the cost to live in the Co-op before factoring in financial aid for the 2017-2018 school year was $8,471, whereas Harvard House rent was $15,951.)
The Co-op is a 20-minute walk from campus (it’s right by the Harvard Law School), and when you’re living in the house, you can really feel how different off-campus life is. Co-oppers establish good separation between their home and school lives — the Co-op is for people who want to be present and engaged in the going-ons of the house.
Some notable aspects of Co-op community: Everyone eats dinner at the same time (6:30PM) in our dining room, where we all sit at one huge table. In addition to the dining room, shared spaces include the library, the kitchen, the community garden, and the “Den of Iniquity,” where frequently Co-opers can be found doing work, watching TikToks, and hanging out. Furthermore, we have weekly socials for residents, special events at the end of each semester, and parties twice a semester that are open to the whole College.
Above all, my favorite part of living in the Co-op has been coming home after a long day of class and always being greeted by so many warm, caring people. I didn’t love being in the Housing system, where the stress of the school day seemed to carry over into the dining hall and people rarely had time for each other. The Co-op couldn’t be a more different reality from that world. I love the Co-op and highly recommend it for students who want their college experience to be defined by the friendships they form.
Paul serves as Community Outreach Steward for the Dudley Co-Op.
Image Credit: Chloé-Rose Colombero