Accessibility of Professors?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>I have heard mixed comments about the accessibility of professors to their undergrads. Do Harvard professors tend to be accessible to their undergraduate students or not?</p>

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<p>Similar thread:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/899471-harvard-professors.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/899471-harvard-professors.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I decided to ask my interviewer, and she said that they were, but added that she was in a small concentration (Anthropology). She didn’t tell me what it was like for larger concentrations, because mine’s small.</p>

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<p>For large concentrations (i.e. Econ), the professor:student ratio isn’t as nice as it is for smaller concentrations. It’s still incredibly easy to get time with a professor (drop in on office hours, or email and make an appointment), but you’ll have to reach out a bit more, and maybe share the professor’s time with more students.</p>

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<p>For me, I’ve found the professors very accessible. You can make appointments with them, although, their being semi- or really famous people can make that difficult to arrange with your busy schedule, and/or go to office hours. Although packed in the beginning, near the middle and end, the numbers dwindle down significantly. Lots of opportunities to get to know them! :)</p>

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<p>There is also a Harvard Faculty dinner event where freshmen (as a group or individually) can invite professors to eat with them. There is a reception beforehand, and it’s a great way to get to know them further.</p>

<p>Also, professors of big, freshmen classes have office hours in Annenberg in addition to their normal ones. Because the table it limited, if you sit next to them, it makes for a good ratio for a conversation :)</p>

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<p>@silversuz - Faculty dinners continue when you’re in a house. They may be a little better as you get older, because the houses all have their dinners on different nights (so you’re not “competing” with 1,800 other freshmen to invite Mankiw or whatnot (I should add that by the time you’re an upperclassman, it’s unlikely that you’d still want to invite Mankiw :-P))</p>