Bombarded during freshman week by tempting fliers, recruiters, and meetings, first-years often sign up for way more activities than they can manage. By sophomore year, most have trimmed the list to one key extracurricular and perhaps some minor ones, according to Jennifer Lee '98 of Quincy House and New York City. Lee admits she hasn't yet had that epiphany. A member of the Harvard Asian American Association, she is currently cochairing an intercollegiate conference that will draw an estimated 450 students from Harvard and around the country. The political, social, and cultural event will be held here Feb. 16-18.
Some activities demand a few hours a week while others can become major distractions.
Senior Sarah Scrogin of Winthrop House and Worcester recently ended her yearlong stint as managing editor of The Harvard Crimson . She estimates she spent between 50 and 70 hours a week assigning stories, proofing the paper, and organizing projects. Juggling her classes, studying, personal affairs, and her commitment to the Crimson wasn't as difficult as one might imagine, she said. I didn't sleep a lot.