What athletic conference is Harvard a part of?
I was looking at different colleges and their sports teams and I realized I’m not exactly sure which conference Harvard competes in.
Is Harvard part of the Ivy League or do they compete somewhere else for certain sports? I’m trying to get a sense of campus culture and if school spirit is a big thing for them, especially around athletics. I know some schools have teams in multiple conferences, so I’m a bit confused.
If anyone could clear this up or share what being in that conference means for Harvard students, that would be really helpful!
Is Harvard part of the Ivy League or do they compete somewhere else for certain sports? I’m trying to get a sense of campus culture and if school spirit is a big thing for them, especially around athletics. I know some schools have teams in multiple conferences, so I’m a bit confused.
If anyone could clear this up or share what being in that conference means for Harvard students, that would be really helpful!
4 months ago
•
61 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Harvard is a founding member of the Ivy League, which is both an athletic conference and a collection of eight private, academically prestigious universities in the northeastern United States. The Ivy League serves as Harvard's main athletic conference for most varsity sports. Member schools include Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown, and the University of Pennsylvania.
While nearly all of Harvard’s Division I varsity teams compete in the Ivy League, there are a few exceptions depending on the sport. For example, Harvard’s men’s and women’s ice hockey teams compete in the ECAC Hockey conference, which includes a few Ivy schools but also other universities. However, for most major sports—like football, basketball, soccer, and track & field—Harvard plays in the Ivy League.
Being in the Ivy League means that Harvard’s athletic program approaches competition in a way that balances both academics and athletics. Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and the conference has its own rules to ensure that student-athletes are held to high academic standards. The rivalry between Harvard and Yale, especially at the annual Harvard-Yale football game (“The Game”), is a famous tradition and does lead to a strong sense of school spirit each fall. School spirit at Harvard usually peaks around these classic rivalries and major sporting events, but overall, athletics do not dominate campus culture the way they might at some large state schools where sports are a major part of student life.
For example, some students might spend the week leading up to The Game participating in spirit activities, but Harvard's general campus culture puts academics first. Athletics are important in terms of community and tradition, but students will often cheer on their friends or go to big games rather than build their social lives entirely around sports.
If you’re interested in what it feels like to attend a school in the Ivy League, expect enthusiastic—though not overwhelming—support for athletics, particularly during major rivalry events.
While nearly all of Harvard’s Division I varsity teams compete in the Ivy League, there are a few exceptions depending on the sport. For example, Harvard’s men’s and women’s ice hockey teams compete in the ECAC Hockey conference, which includes a few Ivy schools but also other universities. However, for most major sports—like football, basketball, soccer, and track & field—Harvard plays in the Ivy League.
Being in the Ivy League means that Harvard’s athletic program approaches competition in a way that balances both academics and athletics. Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and the conference has its own rules to ensure that student-athletes are held to high academic standards. The rivalry between Harvard and Yale, especially at the annual Harvard-Yale football game (“The Game”), is a famous tradition and does lead to a strong sense of school spirit each fall. School spirit at Harvard usually peaks around these classic rivalries and major sporting events, but overall, athletics do not dominate campus culture the way they might at some large state schools where sports are a major part of student life.
For example, some students might spend the week leading up to The Game participating in spirit activities, but Harvard's general campus culture puts academics first. Athletics are important in terms of community and tradition, but students will often cheer on their friends or go to big games rather than build their social lives entirely around sports.
If you’re interested in what it feels like to attend a school in the Ivy League, expect enthusiastic—though not overwhelming—support for athletics, particularly during major rivalry events.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years