Dropping the H-Bomb

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
81

<p>lol responses when I told people I got into MIT:</p>

<p>What's that stand for?
Where is that?
Good Will Hunting?</p>

82

<p>^Haha. That's really funny. There are a decent number of MIT grads where I live, so people have definitely heard of it. But I guess people at my school are far more college-literate than the national average.</p>

83

<p>
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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.

[/quote]
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<p>I shall make every effort to stay in my proper place from now on.</p>

84

<p>^LMAO. Sry Bay, but this is the internet. There are no rules unless you're a 4channer.</p>

<p>Also, better include me in the "overblown" camp and I'm a surefire h-bomber (no copyright infringement intended, h-bomber)...</p>

85

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<p>No one starts out "threatened." But you can quickly become reticent about naming your school if you regularly get very negative reactions when you say the name. If you don't think Harvard sometimes (not always) generates this reaction, try it yourself like Twinmom said. Tell people you go to Harvard and see what they say. Most will something along the lines of "Wow!", but a few will automatically dislike you and assume you are stuck-up or worse simply because you go to Harvard.</p>

86

<p>With your above post, you're only affirming everyone elses beliefs (the four others who you feel do not belong here) that Harvard students react too sharply when it comes to the name of your school, almost like a pack of sharks defending its kill...always on the defense. (Again, I completely understand where you are coming from when you say people "dislike" you over a school...those people are very immature if you ask me, but we can't change how people feel. And complaining about it doesn't help at all. You all know you go to a great school. Just because other people are jealous of you, as you claim, does not change that fact.)</p>

87

<p>We really don't react too sharply, to be honest. We're on the defense because we hear so much all the time that we feel a need to defend..if you constantly got annoying comments about a college you love, you'd defend it too. I would love it if I could tell people I go to Harvard without any exaggerated reaction from them, but the truth is, the majority of the time, there's a reaction (as I said above, doesn't stop me though, because if people are going to be negative then I don't care, their problem, I love my school). I'm not suggesting Harvard is superior to Yale or Princeton or Penn or MIT...on the contrary, I regard all of those schools and many others as being on the same level. But there is an undeniable mythology and status that goes with Harvard above all other schools...whether deserved or not. </p>

<p>Example that literally happened a few hours ago: I was at an outdoor concert with a big group of friends from home (so everyone is at different colleges) and one of my friends was wearing a sweatshirt from her school, Barnard, because it got chilly out. No one said anything or even noticed. I got a little cold and put on my sweatshirt, which says Harvard University on it (incidentally, the only sweatshirt I even have at home because the rest are stored in Cambridge for the summer). Not even a second later, one guy friend goes, "Ohh, the sweatshirt!" and a few people start making comments, like "Look at Harvard girl!" or "Geez, we all know you go there." So why does my Barnard friend get nothing (and in my opinion Barnard is an incredible school, as close to Ivy as you can get) and I get so many comments? It's my only sweatshirt! I was cold! As I've stated before, I only mention Harvard when specifically asked, so it's not like I show off about it...people just perceive things certain ways, and there's a definite perception about Harvard that goes beyond whether or not it's truly the top school.</p>

88

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<p>You got the wrong guy. Where did I say anyone didn't belong here?</p>

89

<p>That was Bay. :mad:</p>

90

<p>Where did I say anyone didn't belong here?</p>

91

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<p>I know you didn't actually say we don't belong, but this seemed to be implying as much. Let's not start parsing words to argue this whole thing. It doesn't really matter either way. You're always welcome in the Princeton forum. :)</p>

92

<p>Thank you. BTW, why are you on this forum? Just kidding. :)</p>

93

<p>I agree with the large group of posters on this thread who have affirmed how difficult it can be to "drop the H-bomb" (or even "the Y-bomb" which, I've found, can be just as hazardous to insecure high school students). This isn't about Harvard students' self-perceived images; it's about the way that they are treated simply because they go to Harvard.</p>

<p>Like mammal's daughter, I didn't have a nice experience at my high school after getting into Harvard. The outrageous jealousy displayed by some of my classmates often made me question whether it was worth getting into my dream school(s). It is apparent that something is wrong when hard-working, dedicated students are questioning whether it is actually WORTH getting into Harvard (or another equally excellent school) simply because their peers can't handle it and lash out. It's not a question of modesty; as previous posters have noted, it is a catch-22 situation. If you brag, people are annoyed, and if you're quiet about it, people just label you as "secretive" or "snobby." With a circle of "friends" that disintegrated during the admissions process, the reason I made it through senior year was by missing plenty of school for various trips (where I met countless students in the same situation!) and because of the support from my incredible teachers. I actually begged my parents to let me skip graduation so I wouldn't have to face the kids at my high school ever again, especially when my college choice was announced in front of my whole class.</p>

<p>It is so nice to hear from the many supportive people on this thread. It's just kind of sad when your own (ex?)friends can't be happy for your success, while people on this online forum are so much kinder and more receptive.</p>

94

<p>I hate to say this, and it may sound insensitive but:</p>

<p>If all it takes for them to become your <em>ex</em>-friends is you getting into Harvard (something they should be thrilled with you about!) then maybe they're not the type of people you WANT to be your friends in the first place. I mean, that kind of extreme envy in this situation is just a downright shallow and immature reaction.</p>

95

<p>It really is. Ironically, I didn't consider anyone at my HS to be a true "friend" and yet they were all floored by the namebrand, heh.</p>

96

<p>Its funny, if i was accepted, I can think of nothing more fun than telling everyone at my school and the world I am going to Harvard next year. haha</p>

97

<p>^That's why my first post asked for "exhilarating experiences" dropping the H-Bomb. I am just a dumb, naive highschooler who thought it would be an "exhilarating" experience! As I am finding out, it may not be as fun after all!</p>

98

<p>It's fun at times, usually when it is just you and the person. It is less fun when other friends are around. None of my friends have been negative about it, they all love it. But it can still be a little weird to say Harvard in the middle of Cal Poly and UC Santa Cruz.</p>

99

<p>Hah, sorry to make it sound so terrible. Getting into Harvard is absolutely exciting and exhilarating! Many people have great experiences, especially in cities where getting into Harvard isn't a once-in-25-years kind of thing. But with the stress of the admissions process, it also can bring out the worst in people who were once very close friends. I'm sure you'll find people who are sincerely happy for you; for me it just happened to be my amazing teachers. I guess the point is, "dropping the (insert top school name here)-bomb" can range from being exhilarating, to awkward, to just bad, depending on who you're talking to.</p>

100

<p>I agree with the above, that it can be a good or bad experience depending on the person you're telling. I personally have gotten more positive responses than negative ones, which is nice. People I've talked to are generally more impressed than anything else, and I've certainly never encountered extreme jealousy as described in this discussion, despite the fact that my high school was extremely competitive. I guess my friends kind of expected it, so they were just excited for me when I told them, and they love coming to visit and seeing if it fits with their stereotypes and expectations (it never does!). Whoever said that the jealous types aren't the kind of people you want to be friends with, you're dead-on. Don't worry, sciency, when you get to Harvard, you'll meet tons of amazing people who won't have bad reactions..cause hey, everyone goes here, so they could care less!!!</p>