<p>I hope you have a good definition for "environment," because if not then ouch...</p>
<p>This H-bomb topic really bothers me (and my mom, too). Once acceptances came out in high school, my friends from Penn State for example would literally wear some form of Penn State gear every day--tshirt, sweatpants, hat, whatever. If I wore a Harvard shirt, how would that be any different? What, just because it's Harvard, I wasn't allowed to be as proud and excited as they were about PSU? I consider myself a humble person and I generally avoid special attention as much as I can, but I'm not gonna lie, I'm proud that I go to Harvard. I love it and am so happy there, and I worked hard to get where I am...so why shouldn't I be proud? I get that people might be envious, but that's their problem, not mine. Of course I'm not obnoxious about advertising where I go to school, but if someone asks, I'm not going to skirt the issue (in my opinion, if you do the whole "I go to school in Boston" thing and it eventually leads to the fact that you go to Harvard, you look even worse, like by not being forthright you're implying that Harvard is superior). I really haven't met anyone with a bad reaction to the H-bomb--most people are curious and ask about it or are proud or impressed--but if I did, what do I care? I did nothing wrong by being honest about my school, and it's hardly the thing that defines me. My mom has echoed this sentiment, too...she's dealt with annoying parents, but she's too proud to care about people's reactions. Sorry, I just really hate when people talk about the H-bomb as if it's a bad thing...pet peeve of mine...</p>
<p>^^I agree. Harvard people are entitled to have school spirit too. For some reason it's the only college in the US where it's considered bad form by some outsiders to express school spirit.</p>
<p>And the key word here is "college." People need to remember it's a <em>college</em> for crying out loud, not a country club or secret society. And college at Harvard means classes, football, parties, roommates, plays, problem sets, concerts, guest speakers, dances, school hoodies & T-shirts, and pride in your dorm, pride in your House, and pride in your school - just like at any other college.</p>
<p>Amen, coureur!</p>
<p>It's definitely not the only college where people give you a hard time for expressing school spirit or for simply going there. People say things like "you go to _______ and you didn't know that?...or their tone suggests that I chose my current university only to be "better" than everyone else (and I don't go to Harvard if that wasn't obvious).</p>
<p>^^I completely agree. </p>
<p>"For some reason it's the only college in the US where it's considered bad form by some outsiders to express school spirit."</p>
<p>Your statement above, coureur, is certainly far from the truth. I'm only a senior in HS, but back in May when '08 seniors were picking colleges, there was SO MUCH envy between students over in-state schools (College of William and Mary, UVA) that one could cut it with a knife. In VA, William and Mary, UVA, and even U. of Richmond are considered ivy-level schools (i think William and Mary is a "public ivy"). I'm new to the area, but I'm quickly learning that students value those schools as if they are Harvard or Yale.</p>
<p>I understand what you implied with your statement, but making such generalizations can be considered rude and narrow-minded. (I don't think you were being rude, just caught up in the moment. Nonetheless, congratulations!! :))</p>
<p>Yea, a poster above made a really cool point - Harvard is not the only place this happens. This I think attests to the validity of my earlier point -- you guys need to get over yourselves. Seriously.</p>
<p>Cornell, thanks for trolling. :D You can stop though. Obviously it happens at other places. These posters aren't stupid. But thanks for letting us know yet again that you feel insecure in your college choice. ;)</p>
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Yea, a poster above made a really cool point - Harvard is not the only place this happens. This I think attests to the validity of my earlier point -- you guys need to get over yourselves. Seriously.
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<p>Or you can get over turning down superior campuses and engineering schools for cornell's? It works both ways.</p>
<p>It happens more so with Harvard because it is the most famous and prestigious school around (not necessarily implying the best).</p>
<p>People at Harvard seem to make a bigger deal out of this than they should. Yes Harvard is more prestigious than YPSM in the eyes of the average Joe, but at least in my experience, announcing that you attend YPSM has much the same effect as dropping the H-bomb. But do YPSM students give it a name? No. Do they write self indulgent articles such as this</a> one? No. Given the enthusiasm and vigor with which Harvard students and alumni complain about the H bomb, I sometimes wonder if, in a perverse way, they like it.</p>
<p>Weasel8488, you took the words right out of my mouth...especially your first sentence "People at Harvard seem to make a bigger deal out of this than they should." (I was going to post this, but I didn't know how to word it exactly...you did it beautifully.)</p>
<p>I hope Harvard students/alum/parents do not take offense to the opinions of those (I'm not saying myself) who feel that there are other schools who kids feel and truly believe carry equal prestige as Harvard. The next time a Harvard student "drops the H-Bomb", please try not to read too much between the lines with how others may appear to react.</p>
<p>I love how the 4 posters on this thread who argue that reactions to the h-bomb are overblown are a Yale mom, a Cornellian, a Yalie, and a Princetonian. One has to wonder why they are even on this forum. ;)</p>
<p>No one is doubting the prestige of Harvard (except, maybe, Cornell2011;)). I just find it upsetting that whenever someone offers a different opinion (i.e. there are other schools that people may find just as good as Harvard) people like Bay feel as though they must either attack the opinions of others or assume that one is jealous for whatever reasons. (Again, I'm just a HS senior offering my opinion and I am NOT taking any sides. Be proud of where you go to school! Just don't be so quick to assume everyone is against you...I'm sure the majority aren't.)</p>
<p>The posters who have doubts about the H-Bomb should try it sometime to a complete stranger. You may be surprised at the reaction you get.</p>
<p>AmbitiousMind, Please point out where I attacked the opinions of others or assumed anyone was jealous. Please refrain from making false accusations on this thread. For the most part, posters here were interested in and supportive of each others' experiences. I simply found it humorous that the posters who expressed doubt about h-bomb experiences were not Harvard students or family members, so how could they even know about it?</p>
<p>Agreed w/ Weasel. I've had 0 problems dropping the H-bomb, something I used to do quite frequently....</p>
<p>I do understand what you're saying, Bay, and I appologize for my (semi-false) accusations. I say "semi" because I find it disturbing that you posted "one has to wonder why [a Yale mom, a Cornellian, a Yalie, and a Princetonian] are even on this forum." That just sounded a little pompous and...segregated to me. (But I do find it sad that Harvard students feel so...threatened whenever they share the fact that they go to Harvard. You've all (including parents) worked so hard and deserve every right to share (if asked) where you go to college. But like I said before, don't read between the lines or over-analyize how others may view your excitement...if they have a problem they need to deal with it.)</p>
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The posters who have doubts about the H-Bomb should try it sometime to a complete stranger. You may be surprised at the reaction you get.
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<p>I've seen it dropped often enough. And at least where I live, it doesn't produce a different reaction than saying "I go to Yale."</p>
<p>^That's true. I haven't noticed any difference between H and YPS. Actually, since we're on the West Coast, more people go to Stanford so it's not actually as "Whoah!" as the others. We send the fewest seniors to MIT, so that actually is the rarest to hear.</p>