Winthrop House
If you’re looking for the quintessential Harvard House experience (one with rich history, unbeatable views, and a tight-knit community), Winthrop might just be your perfect match. Sitting pretty along the Charles, this recently renovated House has some of the best river views on campus — perfect for golden hour Insta stories.
Where Everyone Knows Your Name
The House is more than just the building itself; the people in it are what truly make Winthrop House, Winthrop Home. The resident tutors are incredibly engaged, hosting events with chocolates for Valentine’s Day or special treats for Chinese New Year. Beyond their snack-providing talents, they’re also a great resource when it comes to academic help and mentorship. Basically, they’re like fairy godparents… if fairy godparents also proofread your essays and reminded you about grant deadlines.
From study breaks to themed events, there’s always something happening in the House. Steins usually happen biweekly, and they’re a great way for the Winthrop community to come together. Some past steins have included the “Bifurcated Bash,” which was hosted in the Lion’s Den, a common area in the House’s basement, and the Grille right above the Den; “Demure or Brat,” inspired by some key phrases of summer 2024; and “The Wild West,” which is pretty self-explanatory. Other popular events include Throptoberfest, during which Winthropians gather in Gore Courtyard for a barbeque and games, and the Super Bowl watch party, which the House hosts in the dhall with snacks and beverages.
Intramural sports, commonly referred to as IMs, are also a crucial component of the Winthrop community. They bring everyone together, regardless of skill level, to join a fun and inclusive environment wherein Winthropians can bond over friendly competition and team spirit. Even so, House Committee (HoCo) chair Henry Chen ’26 hopes to foster more involvement and heighten the stakes for the Winthrop community. In order to get the whole House excited about IMs, he adds that hopefully “there’ll be one person who has a jersey retired [displayed in a place of honor] at the end of [future seasons].” With this new reward scheme, you could be the next to go down in Winthrop athletic history. In other words, if you’re willing to risk mild bodily harm for the glory of Winthrop, you might just earn yourself a spot in the rafters! One of the most impressive athletic feats that Winthrop has seen was by Angelina Ng ’26, who, as Chen described, “booked it on a sprained ankle down the field and then she caught [the lob] right at the corner of the end zone.” At another game, the House Winthrop was supposed to play forfeited after 25 Winthropians showed up to play basketball — so did the valiant Winthropians just go home? No, they played basketball together anyways, showing their community spirit as per usual.
Sophomore Housing and Beyond
Let’s get to maybe the largest selling point of Winthrop: the housing. When it comes to dorm rooms, Winthrop possibly has some of the best options for sophomores. While this year about 50 percent of Winthropian sophomores lived in Fairfax Hall (overflow housing located on Mass Ave.), next year all students should fit in Winthrop proper. Most sophomores will have suite-style dorms with doubles, most commonly in groups of four or six. Both HoCo chairs Chen and Kevin Lin ’26 gave the sophomore housing a whopping nine out of ten, a solid endorsement.
After sophomore year, there are even bigger suites to look forward to with even more singles and more space to make your own. The nine-man (or nine-woman this year) is the biggest suite in Winthrop, perfect for those who want the social life of a frat house with the personal space of a monastery. With nine singles, two floors, two bathrooms, and one massive common room, this dorm is perfect for all your hosting or hermiting needs.
More than Just a Roof Over Your Head
Throughout Winthrop you’ll find beautiful common spaces, including cozy lounges that are perfect for spending time with friends or studying between classes. Whether you’re hanging out in the Lion’s Den or Winthrop Grille, you’ll always be able to find a space that allows you to take advantage of the community that calls Winthrop home. Winthrop’s variety of common spaces cater to everyone’s needs, whether you’re socializing, studying, or simply relaxing. Winthropians can even pursue hobbies in various, function-specific rooms throughout the House, such as the art studio or meditation room. And if your hobby is just taking really long naps, well, any couch in Winthrop can double as a nap room.
The dhall isn’t just another place to grab a bite — it’s a favorite gathering spot for Winthrop residents. Lin acknowledges that it’s “not a rumor” but “more like a fact” that the Winthrop dhall has a bit of a smell, but he says that they have “really huge air purifiers right now.” With those air purifiers running at full throttle, they’re doing their best to clear the air, one (hopefully fresher) breath at a time.
If you ever find yourself missing dhall hours on a Wednesday night, never fear, because you can stop by the Winthrop dhall for CS night. Each Wednesday evening Winthrop hosts CS office hours for all CS classes and has lots of pizza! Even if you’re more of a humanities person, no one will make you code to grab a slice. You can also check out the Grille, which serves up everything from chicken quesadillas to milkshakes and fries.
Talk to Throp
Still curious? Take a listen to what the HoCo chairs have to say!
Which three words would you use to describe your House?
KL: I think we’re pretty sassy…there’s not beef, but it’s a friendly competition between, like, Currier, Kirkland, and Eliot [in IM sports].
HC: Resilience… I think Winthrop has gone through its fair share of tough times, highs and lows, and shaky communities sometimes, especially during the COVID years, and I think people have really come through that and really want to bring Winthrop back to what it was.
KL: Committed. Everything we’ve been talking about is, like, the whole House is very bought in — the same with the Strauss Cup in IMs.
What’s the biggest misconception about your House?
KL: Bad community… I think it’s been the best community I’ve been in. I think you don’t even have to try to be part of it; we’ll just be there and welcoming you. Regardless if you like it or not, you’re part of us.
HC: I think a lot of people say going to Winthrop is like soulless but… I feel like there’s so much community. People actually really love being involved, and it differs person to person, but I think overall people seem to be getting more and more bought in.
If you had to liken your House to a fruit, what would it be and why?
HC: Mango… I feel like you can’t hate on a mango. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like mangoes.
KL: Pomelo… I just like it… Pomelo isn’t that hard to eat. I mean, it’s low-effort, but also, [Winthrop] is a very low-effort community to become a part of — it’s a low barrier [of entry] to become part of the community.
What’s one thing you would want freshmen to know about your House?
KL: Steins are Thursdays! ... When you get sorted, you’re part of the House, so come to IMs; we need all the help we can get to keep our number one spot!
Winthrop combines old school charm with modern comfort, making it a solid win in the Housing lottery. So, if you’re looking for stunning river views, a built-in community, and a House that knows how to have fun (and win IMs), Winthrop is calling your name. From steins to CS nights to the massive suites, life in Winthrop is anything but boring. Throp stays on top!
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