<p>I have used both Verizon and Virgin Mobile at Harvard, and both work fine.</p>
<p>Is there a thread (not necessarily in the Harvard forums) that we can talk about majors and stuff like that? I know, it’s not related to Harvard but I can’t seem to find it. (If such a forum exists, then my bad for posting here. haha.) </p>
<p>The question that I’d like to ask is about majoring/minoring (if that’s how you say it) in political science. I’d like to pursue political science when I get into college, but I also heard that there are like, no jobs AT ALL for those graduating with political science. </p>
<p>I certainly don’t want that happening, but honestly I’m not really interested in pursuing a career in law. Is it possible to get a career with Poly Sci without taking Law school? </p>
<p>If it was absolutely necessarily, then by all means I would consider that option. But are there any other possible ways that I can use political science? I heard that taking political science along with business could work, but I’m not so sure about that. </p>
<p>In the end, it doesn’t matter if it’s Harvard or not; I’m just pretty interested in political science in general. Being in Congress or some position like that is my dream, but obviously there’s not enough space for everyone to get there. I know, it’s improbable, but I’d might as well give it a shot anyways. I just don’t want to be left out in the cold if I take political science but graduate realizing that there are no jobs at all in that field.</p>
<p>You might try searching (or posting) here…</p>
<p>[Other</a> College Majors - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/]Other”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/)</p>
<p>Thanks EnoughAlready! :)</p>
<p>Another question: I was looking at the course evaluations for Russian, and found the intensive course evaluations loads better (they were awesome). However, I’m not too sure if I’d be able to handle an intensive course since russian is in itself said to be a pretty difficult language… Many of the evaluations for the regular speed course mentioned that it’s “badly organized”. I’m not sure what they mean by that and it would be great if any of you could explain?
Also, is it possible to take intensive at first, and later if I feel that it is too tough, shift down to the regular beginners russian language class?
Thanks :)</p>
<p>EDIT: Between Russian and arabic, which would you say is tougher? (maybe Dwight could help answering this?)</p>
<p>I know literally dozens (possibly dozens and dozens) of people working on the Hill this summer. Throw in policy organizations and governors and state officials and a couple mayors, and we’re definitely up to dozens and dozens. I don’t know how easy it is to get a full-time job in politics (easier if working campaigns and staff, and not just policy, is ok with you), but it is definitely eminently possible to get a ton of internships in politics coming from Harvard. I don’t know if it’s less possible from other schools, but I think politics always needs more volunteers. </p>
<p>This whole next year, especially the summer and fall, will be a really good year for campaigning, so get involved. Republican? Pick one. Start volunteering. Getting involved this early will mean you’ll be one of the comparatively old hands if they win the nomination. If they lose, try to transfer to the winner’s campaign; many of your fellow workers will also do so. Democrat? As soon as Obama starts campaigning (officially or unofficially, and I don’t know how you’d know that, exactly), get involved there. Hate everybody on the national level? A state senator, or their challenger, or your representative, or their challenger, or your mayor. Hate campaigns? Try to work in the office of some incumbent at some level of government. Read up on what think tanks/policy groups there are in the area in which you’re particularly interested, and apply there. There are lots of politics programs for high schoolers over the summer, but be wary of high price tags.</p>
<p>^Exul’s guide to politics for high schoolers.</p>
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<p>At schools like Harvard, unless you’re going to planning to do graduate studies in a particular field, your major really doesn’t matter. A biology major can get a policy related internship or can volunteer for a campaign. A government major can go on to medical school if he takes the right classes. What matters more is how you spend your time at Harvard, with respect to internships and summers and the like.</p>
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<p>“Could work” for what? The only thing that it should “work” for is your interest in studying it. </p>
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<p>Your undergraduate major isn’t a career field. You will have a career field once you have a career.</p>
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<p>It’s hard to know exactly what “badly organized” means for that particular class but if there’s a huge difference in reviews between the intensive and the normal, I’d pay attention to it.</p>
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<p>Most of the time, yes, but you should consult the relevant instructors in the Fall just to make sure. Also keep in mind you’ll have a week to try out the class before your study card is even due.</p>
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<p>It’s hard to do a comparison for a few reasons. It’s hard to compare the difficulty of languages in general and also a language can be difficult but the department at Harvard can be easy, or vice versa. For what it’s worth, the US State Dept puts Arabic in the most difficult category, estimated at 2200 contact hours required to achieve proficiency. Other members of this category are Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian, and Korean. Russian is in the category with almost everything else, which is estimated at 1100 contact hours required to achieve proficiency. [Languages</a> by Difficulty for English Speakers](<a href=“Account Suspended | Powered by Infinity Internet”>Account Suspended | Powered by Infinity Internet)</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about the Russian department at Harvard so you should consult the Q guide for workload estimates and such. </p>
<p>As for Arabic, the language is very difficult but the class itself is not absurdly hard. It does require 1-2 hours of work every day, 5 days a week, but the grading is pretty generous considering the difficulty of the language. If you’re considering studying Arabic, I would advise you that Arabic isn’t a language you would plan to take for a year or two only. The learning curve is very steep and after a year you can only have the most basic of conversations and you can only understand like 2% of a news broadcast on Al-Jazeera on a good day. If you’re looking for short term gains, you can get a lot closer to proficiency with another language. But if you’re looking for a language to study throughout your time at Harvard, Arabic is a great choice. Harvard’s program is one of the best and you will definitely see the end result of taking 3-4 years of such a strong program. If you have any questions about the Arabic dept at Harvard or the language in particular, feel free to send me a message. I’ll be responding to it from Jordan!</p>
<p>Hi, I haven’t had a chance to scroll through all 30+ pages of the thread, so I apologize if this is redundant.</p>
<p>With the Common App coming out tomorrow, I’ve been thinking a lot about my C.A. essay and I’m truly stuck. I’ve heard the usual advice–stick to something you’re passionate about, make it feel real, etc. I’ve read a few that focus on something seemingly insignificant but make them seem like a likable person, and a few that barely pass for subtle “showing off.” What approach should I take, esp. with the essay cap being 500 words this year? </p>
<p>Also, I have a rec. from a Harvard prof. I was pretty close with when I was there last summer for a program. Is there a way I can play up on that? I’m pretty sure the prof would be willing to vouch for me. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your detailed reply Dwight, it was really helpful! 
Study abroad at Jordan is pretty cool.
I’m going to think a bit more about this, since I do want to learn a language properly, and not just end after basic conversation level.
Funny thing is, the professor for both is the same lady, yet the reviews are quite different. I don’t get this.</p>
<p>Another question: The freshman seminar I’m interested in is “Research at the Harvard Forest: Global Change Ecology-Forests, Ecosystem Function, the Future” which takes place in the Spring. Now, I don’t want to apply for one in the fall if that gives me any disadvantage, because I really want to do this one. Do the chances of getting into one in the spring decrease significantly if you’ve also done one in the fall semester? This seminar surprisingly doesn’t seem to have an essay question too…although this is not explicitly mentioned anywhere, like it is for others for whom there isn’t any essay question.
Also, any idea how good this seminar is?</p>
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<p>Yes. It is usually hard enough to get your 1st choice for freshman seminars as it is, so if for sure you want to do that one I would avoid taking a fall seminar. But it doesn’t hurt your chances to apply for fall seminars so if there’s a fall one you wouldn’t mind doing, I would apply for it and see what happens just to give you one more option.</p>
<p>My situation is somewhat different from perfectpixie’s: I don’t have one must-have seminar, but my three favorite seminars are in the spring semester. Should I also avoid taking one in the fall semester?</p>
<p>Check the enrollment numbers on your freshman seminars on the Q. The one I took fall semester had far, far more applicants than spots, so it filled all of them. The one I dropped first semester had 3 students. If you find a spring seminar that had 6 students last year, you’ll probably be fine and admitted whether or not you took one in the fall. If they all had 15 last year, maybe think about not taking one in the fall (although applying and not taking one doesn’t hurt).</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! I wouldn’t have thought of that at all.</p>
<p>Edit: It seems like two of my choices are new offerings (they have no Q guide entries). My third had 11 students. I’m leaning towards playing it safe.</p>
<p>Thanks Dwight! 
I shan’t apply for one in the fall then, because I don’t really want to do anything else much. And because it’s enrollment 11 out of 12.</p>
<p>Can anyone tell me how easy/difficult to change major if you do not like your current one?</p>
<p>It depends on when you want to change and, to a lesser degree, on the departments in question. After sophomore spring, usually pretty easy, although probably not so much if you want to go from History of Art and Architecture to an engineering field. After junior spring, I don’t know if it’s possible (I think so), but it will largely depend on the departments in question, and the specific human beings you’re in contact with within them.</p>
<p>Are the dorm beds comfortable? Would it be necessary/recommended to purchase a mattress pad or anything else? Thanks!!</p>
<p>^Depends how picky you are. Just wait until you get there and buy a mattress pad in Cambridge if you don’t like the beds.</p>
<p>I screwed up freshman year do i still have a chance? Does harvard look at freshman year? right? okayy</p>
<p>Hey, how is the coverage for AT&T in cambridge?</p>