<p>I've heard recently that Harvard students are divided into blocks, and that the students are all decidedly cliqueish. They hate other groups and sabatoge each other's work. Any of this true?</p>
<p>What is the atmosphere at Harvard like? First off I don't mind competition, so you guys don't need to tell me that there's a lot of pressure or anything. I'm just interested in how the students interact among each other.</p>
<p>I never encountered that behavior... I concentrated in Physics, and by necessity, we easily formed study groups to help pull each other through... I never had a problem forming new study groups each semester... I think most of the pressure/competition is internal... almost everyone at Harvard is used to being the best, but its much, much more difficult when you're surrounded by people who are equally, if not more, exceptional than you. It takes a period of adjustment to accept that new reality... your ego will certainly take a beating until you settle into a new equilibrium.</p>
<p>The key to handling the pressure and connecting with people is to throw yourself into an extracurricular activity... unlike high school where you probably had half a dozen or more extracurricular activities, most Harvard students focus on just one or two... perhaps that is why it may seem a little cliquesh...</p>
<p>Thanks H&B, but I read an article on an online paper where Harvard students were quoted as "keep your enemies close" or whatever referring to other blocks. People also tell me that sometimes students sabatoge each others work because of competition or hatred etc. I'm guessing you've never encountered it?</p>
<p>You probably read that in the Harvard Crimson? The student newspaper is notorious for over-exaggeration and hyping a few isolated anecdotes to make a good story...</p>
<p>no, I never encountered sabotage nor ever even heard of it ever occuring... and I took plenty of math, chem, physics... students were very willing to help each other with problem sets, labs, etc.</p>
<p>referring to "blocks"... that is in housing asignment. All first-years live together in Harvard Yard.... after that, you select roommates and blocks (other sets of rommates) to enter the housing lottery together... i'm sure for 90% of students, it is a smooth process...</p>
<p>Ok, thanks for clearing that up for me. I think it was the Crimson.</p>
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They hate other groups and sabatoge each other's work.
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<p>This is actually a stereotype based on movies and books about Harvard Law School from the 1960s and 70s. It doesn't have much to do with the College or Harvard today.</p>