Application Process

Harvard affiliated faculty, employees and students are given priority of available enrollment slots over non-affiliated families. The Center also recognizes, however, the important developmental benefits which arise as a result of having siblings attend the same childcare program, and therefore equal priority will be given to Harvard affiliated faculty, employees, students and non-affiliated families with siblings currently enrolled in the Center.

Admission is based on numerous factors, such as Harvard affiliation, sibling currently enrolled, preliminary application date, age and gender ratios in each classroom, etc. The Director has the discretion to enroll a lower-listed applicant on the waiting list in preference to a higher-listed applicant while working in the best interest of the Center. Parents seeking to enroll a child at OSDC should take the following steps:

The center hosts several Open House events in lieu of individual tours. Individual tours are provided when a family is offered enrollment.
Parents fill out and submit a preliminary application form, including the $35 non-refundable application fee, which officially places your child on our waiting list.
Upon notification of a space being available, an appointment may be made to meet with the classroom teachers and ask questions, as well as observe in the classroom where the enrollment slot is available.
Children are officially enrolled when all necessary enrollment forms are in and a one month security deposit has been made. This deposit is held and refunded, provided the twelve month contract has not been broken by the family.
When a child begins attending the Center, it is important for families to communicate with staff about an appropriate transition plan for your child. The manner of introduction to the center will make a difference in a child’s adjustment. Parents should discuss with their child’s teacher how much time they should spend in the classroom helping their child adjust.

Application Form

We have moved to an online application. Your application will be complete when we have received both the application form and the $35. application fee. Once you have completed the online application, please mail the fee to:

Oxford Street Daycare Cooperative
25 Francis Ave.,
Cambridge, MA 02138.

Please be sure to put your child's name on your check.

You are now leaving the OSDC website to transfer to the online application. Please note that the online application is designed as a convenience for families. It is used by all six early learning centers that operate on Harvard's campuses and is hosted on a secure serve at Harvard University. Each center is independent from the university and the other centers and has sole control of its enrollment process. Please click the link below to complete an online application form: http://huccc-web.cadm.harvard.edu