Oh Visitas! Welcome to your first introduction to Harvard, where you’ll… and you’ll… and let’s not forget you’ll… Okay, okay—let the record show that some people don’t attend their Visitas (myself included). However, many do go, and for good reason. If you find yourself teetering between “Should I go or should I not?,” here are thirty reasons why you should—from someone who didn’t go, and someone who did.

From someone who mis-i-tas-ed their chance…

1. Early access to swag

“Hey, where did you get that cute scarf?” Visitas. “Your tote bag is really nice—where did you get it?” Visitas. “You don’t even play frisbee. How do you have 12 of them?” Visitas. Take it from a freshman still eyeing those pieces: Visitas is worth it just for the stuff.

2. Learning the lingo fast

Berg? Block? Comp? Wait, Cabot is a house and a library? What is this Tasty Basty you speak of? Let’s be honest, you’re still going to be confused during your freshman year, but getting a head start never hurts.

3. Boasting rights

When you (sadly) return to your school, you’ll have the inside scoop you can casually mention. “Who? Oh, you mean Alan? I mean, yes, he is President Garber, but we’re just on a first-name basis already.”

4. First chance to meet potential friends

Can’t stress this enough. By no means is this your only opportunity to meet people, but it is your first. Visitas students just have another type of bond. Iykyk.

5. Getting rumors debunked

Consider this investigative journalism. Is Widener haunted? Is Grays really better? Accumulate knowledge early so you can hit the ground running on campus in the fall.

6. Learning how to pronounce names of buildings ASAP

How is one supposed to know that Sever is not “Sever” but “See-ver”? Or that Mower rhymes with flower instead of blower? Or that SOCH is pronounced… like “Soch”? I still don’t even know. I should’ve gone to Visitas.

7. To mentally prepare for four years of walking

Freshman 15? More like Freshman-minus- 30! You are going to be on your toes a lot. That’s just a preview for what the year is going to look like, but don’t worry, it gets easier. That said, consider Visitas like a warm-up for a marathon.

8. To understand the Massachusetts weather

Whether it’s a sunny, warm day or the usual cloudy New England weather, it’s likely to be an adjustment for you. Visitas will give you a taste of what it is like to experience five different climates within an afternoon, and maybe how you can dress for success. People might tell you it’s different, but experiencing it early helps you know what to pack.

9. For the dorm tours

Unless you get Thayer or Canaday, the chances of you finding a full tour of your specific freshman dorm online are unlikely. This is the perfect chance to be nosy and scout out your future lodgings. After all, dorm deco started the day that you got in. Let’s hope your dreams can fit!

10. Testing the dining hall

Oh Annenberg! My one true love. The pictures online do not do Berg justice at all; it’s a beauty you will gawk at, and Visitas is your first opportunity. Bonus: you get to make enemies with the Class of 2029 by making them vacate their dining hall… good times.

11. Getting lost–productively ofc

Go ahead and pull out Google Maps, don’t be shy. It’s a canon event to get lost, but being lost at Visitas is not the same as being lost during Orientation. One is understandable, and one lacks dignity.

12. Setting your expectations quick

Is it Hogwarts, or is it a boring liberal arts school in Boston? Well, just outside of Boston. No, not MIT. The other one.

13. Wisdom from the elders

Learn ahead of time which classes to avoid and which to take, how to use BoardPlus effectively, and which Harvard Square restaurants are go-tos. Visitas is a chance to meet people who actually go to Harvard— take advantage.

14. Let yourself be seduced

Harvard wants you, and they are trying their hardest to show it. This isn’t orientation, where it’s too late to change your mind. This is your chance to see Harvard at its best, embrace it.

15. Having the Visitas memories

Visitas will be amongst the topics of small-talk you are forced to engage in at the beginning of the year. As small as it seems, it’s better to be in the in-group of this one, rather than sheepishly saying, “Yeah, I didn’t go.”

From someone who chose YOLO > FOMO…

16.The vast amounts of free food

Trying nitrogen ice cream by the physics department? Annenberg handing out Master Chef quality food? Trying the Veritaffle for the first time? What’s not to like?

17. #Hosted

Fingers crossed that the person hosting you is super sweet! It’s a great way to make an upper classman friend. Bonus points if your host is hosting someone else, it’s a new friend from the jump!

18. Perfecting your Harvard intro

Hi my name is [blank], I am from [blank], and I’m thinking about concentrating in [blank]. Since this is Visitas, you’ll probably have one more section: I’m deciding between [blank] and [blank]. This is a must-have skill, and it’s best to start early.

19. Geographic Bonds?

Like I said, “where are you from?” is a staple of those initial meetings. Finding a state/country-buddy is imperative, and will absolutely happen in the 1000 conversations you have over the weekend. Don’t worry if your home is niche— just be armed with some fun facts about your state, and you should be fine.

20. See student performances

One of the biggest highlights of being at this fine institution is going to Sanders Theater for an extra special guest lecture by an extra special professor. Oh, and seeing all the wonderful performances at Eleganza or AADT. Don’t know what those are? Go to Visitas and find out..

21. Get used to the MBTA

If you’ve grown up taking public transport, it’s nothing special. But if you’re coming from a car-dependent area, it’s an embarrassingly novel experience.

22. Exploring Boston

Harvard Square is nice, but hopping on the T to explore Boston is better! Stop at Central or Downtown crossing for some real fun. This also lets you become the “I know a spot” person early on. Ever heard of Newbury street? Yeah, I go to Boston a lot.

23. Scoping out your opps

You simply cannot like everybody, and Visitas is a great time to learn that. The earlier you know, the easier they are to avoid!

24. Recentering Academics at the academic fair

Pre-frosh, you’ve missed a lot. I’m sure you’ll become well acquainted with this terminology once you hit campus, but it’s always good to know what you are about to get into before picking out your classes later in the summer.

25. Photo Ops!

Haven’t revealed what school you got into yet to your fellow classmates? A Visitas photo dump is the perfect way to do it, and will also help you keep those Visitas friendships alive. Nothing better than a picture with the caption “Next four.”

26. Missing Class

Missing Monday because you were too busy at Harvard? Your peers asking where you are, only to hear that you’re with the best and brightest? It’s worth it simply for this reason.

27. Learn about the Quad

Hosted in the Quad? Been there. While dragging your suitcase for 15 minutes is less than stellar, you get your first introduction to the Quad. Some love it, some hate it. What do you think?

28. Psych yourself for communal bathrooms

This is the best time to learn proper communal bathrooms etiquette, especially because it isn’t yours. Get used to your shower shoes, you’ll be using them a lot next year..

29. Explore Harvard University, not college

The Law, Medical, Business, Education, Divinity, and Design Schools. Plus gyms, libraries, cafés, Harvard Square restaurants, and Radcliffe. You’d be surprised how easy it is to stay within the Yard, so take this chance to explore the larger area.

30. Meeting Sasha and Remy

The furry mascots of Harvard! Who needs the John Harvard Statue’s foot for good luck when you can pet these two beloved animals instead!

Hopefully this (exhaustive) list convinced you that you should indeed go to Visitas. While the plane or car ride might be long, it’s a small price to pay for an experience you won’t stop talking about long after you’re back. That said, if you aren’t able to make it, it is not over. These tips can extend to those early days of fall semester, where you will meet more people than you’d like, and have the exact same conversations that took place at Visitas. Flyby’s final advice: embrace every opportunity, Class of 2030! All 30 of them.