<p>I remember hearing that at Harvard students are given a week to "shop" for classes. How does this work and do students think this helps them to choose better classes? I think it is a cool idea but I dont really understand the mechanics of it all.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>From what you say, it seems like the same thing my high school does. We have a course catalogue online and we fill a certain number of open periods with classes. The system is smart enough to check prerequisites, if the class is full, etc.</p>
<p>It’s simple. Classes start on Day 1, and students can show up to a class, decide they don’t like the lecturer, leave halfway through and try out a different class. No attendance is taken and nothing is binding. For this reason, most classes don’t go into intense material during the first week. Occasionally some classes aren’t very “shoppable”, like a fourth year Arabic class is going to be 99% comprised of those who just completed third year Arabic, and there isn’t much reason to shop around. But for the most part, the system works well.</p>
<p>Harvard expects students and applicants to do their own research. Here are just a few of the threads I found googling “Harvard College Shopping Period.”</p>
<p>[On</a> Surviving Shopping Period at Surviving Harvard](<a href=“http://survivingharvard.com/2008/08/26/on-surviving-shopping-period/]On”>On Surviving Shopping Period at Surviving Harvard)
[Shopping</a> Period Strategies | Flyby | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/series/bargain-hunting/article/2011/9/5/shopping-list-courses-day/]Shopping”>http://www.thecrimson.com/series/bargain-hunting/article/2011/9/5/shopping-list-courses-day/)
[Online</a> Registration & Enrollment | FAS Registrar’s Office](<a href=“http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/registration-enrollment-degrees/online-registration-enrollment]Online”>http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/registration-enrollment-degrees/online-registration-enrollment)</p>
<p>Does the Harvard supplement have a “Why Harvard?” prompt? If so, perhaps we’re seeing a miner. LOL</p>
<p>@T26E4 No, it doesn’t. Although, this might show up in an interview.</p>
<p>LOL at me being totally wrong.</p>