The Crimson Key Society selects new members through a comp process in February, March, and April. Key Comp has two phases. In the first phase, after attending an information session and completing a short application, prospective CKS members sit for a 20 minute interview, at which compers are asked to present one model tour stop. In the second phase, prospective CKS members prepare a campus tour and deliver it to two different members of Key.

This February, Crimson Key kicks off our 64th annual spring comp! Since 1948, Crimson Key has provided invaluable service to the Harvard community, from our daily historical tours to our community outreach program, TEACH, and Keysters always have a great time doing it all. If you might be interested in joining Crimson Key, we encourage you to attend a comp information session. Each info session will be led by a big group of Keysters, including the President, Comp Director, and the rest of the Board. The President will discuss Crimson Key’s role on campus, and the Comp Director will explain the Comp process in depth. At each info session, dozens of Keysters will be happy to speak with you personally about their experiences in Key—and maybe even offer some helpful tips for comp. This spring, we’re excited to offer the following four information sessions:

- Thursday, February 2 at 6 PM in Winthrop Tonkens Room
– Monday, February 6 at 8 PM in Quincy Bullitt Room
– Tuesday, February 7 at 5 PM in Ticknor Lounge (Boylston Hall)
– Wednesday, February 8 at 9 PM in Ticknor Lounge (Boylston Hall)

We hope that every interested comper can make it to at least one of these times. (Every info session will include the same comprehensive information about Key and Comp, so each one will cover everything you need to know.) If you absolutely can’t make it to an info session, but have questions or would like more information about Comp or Key, please email Comp Director Andrew Hellman at [email protected].

Applications are due in the Harvard Information Office in the Holyoke Center by 4 PM on Friday, February 10. The application can be downloaded at the bottom of this page and may be typed or handwritten. Applications should be submitted in person between 9 AM and 4 PM on Friday 4/10. Several Keysters will staff the info office in shifts throughout the day to personally accept applications. Everyone who submits an application will get an interview, so when you submit your application, we’ll ask you to sign up for your interview timeslot.

Interviews for all applicants will be held February 17-19. All compers must present one model tour stop at the interview. If you’re looking for some guidance as you prepare your tour stop, we enthusiastically recommend that you go on our model tours. We will be offering model tours daily at 5 PM from February 13-17, and compers can get a good sense of what a tour might look like by taking a small-group tour with one or more Crimson Key guides. In addition to model tours, compers looking for resources to prepare their model tour stop are always welcome to join one of our daily public tours, and to check out our guidebook, Inside Harvard, written and edited by Keysters and available in Harvard libraries, at the Harvard Shop, Harvard Coop, and on Amazon.com.



Important Documents:

Tour template coming soon



Check out our Comp Videos from 2010 and 2011!

If you have further questions, please contact Comp Director Andrew Hellman at [email protected]. Thank you for your interest. We look forward to meeting you!

DAILY TOUR SCHEDULE

Starting on September 8 and through the academic year, tours leave the Harvard Events & Information Center at:

10AM, 12PM and 2PM

Monday - Saturday

Any visitor is welcome to join one of the free campus tours offered from the Events & Information Center. The tours leave the center in the:

Holyoke Center Arcade
1350 Massachusetts Avenue

Reservations for special tours of 20 or more people may be made by calling the Events & Information Center at (617) 495-1573 or e-mailing [email protected].