The Harvard Crimson

Katie M. Vinton and Courtesy of Wordle

As of Wednesday evening Flyby officially released the rankings of all 12 Houses. Now that freshmen have been informed of their respective Houses, it's important to remember that rankings don't tell the whole story. This gallery shows that there is a lot to love about every House. Each image contains a word cloud of a respective House's answers to the question "What is the best thing about your House?" With the word "community" appearing prominently on every image, it seems clear that House life is what you make of it. Get excited, class of 2015!

Keren E. Rohe

As part of our Housing Market series, we'll be posting reviews and rankings for each of Harvard's 12 residential Houses over the next few days. Click here to read more about the series.

Laying claim to the number one spot in this year's rankings, Kirkland has plenty of perks: a plethora of House traditions including the ever-infamous Incestfest, adorable House Masters with even more adorable dogs, a world record in its courtyard, and a location close to class, Noch's, and the MAC. Kirkland is one of Harvard's smallest Houses, so freshmen, beware—it won't be easy to get in, but if you do, you'll never want to leave.

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Keren E. Rohe

Behind its double doors lies Eliot House, coming in at number two on Flyby's Housing rankings this year! Founded as one of the seven original Houses in 1931, the House had a reputation as the 'Prep' House, home to Harvard's elite and wealthy, before housing became randomized. It is named after Charles William Eliot, President of the University from 1869-1909, and is known for its prominence on the water, both in IM crew and in river accessibility. Never falling below fifth in any category in the poll, Eliot is truly a House to be proud of this Housing Day.

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The Harvard Crimson

As part of our Housing Market series, we'll be posting reviews and rankings for each of Harvard's 12 residential Houses over the next few days. Click here to read more about the series.

Creative housing video? Check. Stellar House Masters? Check. Convenient location? Double check. Quincy students can say that they fared quite well in the housing lottery.  Said one Quincyite, "Everyone loves Quincy...Plus we're being renovated first. The proof is in the pudding."

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Keren E. Rohe

As part of our Housing Market series, we'll be posting reviews and rankings for each of Harvard's 12 residential Houses over the next few days. Click here to read more about the series.

Nestled snugly between Harvard Square shops and restaurants, Adams House, incorporated in 1931, is the oldest of the Harvard Houses and also the closest House to the Yard. Most of the buildings of Adams House were built as Gold Coast dormitories at the turn of the century to provide rich Harvard undergraduates with a luxurious alternative to the antiquated Yard dorms. In previous years, Adams has dominated the House rankings due to its superb location and beauty.

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Keren E. Rohe

With a belltower that casts shadows across its romantic, ivy-covered courtyards each morning and afternoon, Lowell House is known first and foremost for its beauty. This River House may not have a view of the Charles, but its residents don’t seem to be too upset. One commenter discussed loving Lowell because of "the people, the dining hall, the house masters...everything!"

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Keren E. Rohe

If come Housing day you end up one of the unlucky (or fantastically blessed) few to be Quadded, do not despair. Living in Pfoho, the highest-ranking Quad House three years running, you won't mind scheduling your life around Shuttle Boy. What's great about Pfoho? One commenter wrote, "Polar bears EVERYWHERE. Also the sex."

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