Harvard types?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I just got done with toursof HYP and Penn. I don't want to make any hasty generalizations, but all the Harvard students I encountered seemed very assertive, businesslike, and came off as really sharp and confident (in a good sense). In contrast, my Princeton tour guide and the admissions officer giving the talk (a graduate of Princeton herself) seemed more laid-back, giving off more warm and fuzzy vibes, if you can call it that.</p>

<p>Does Harvard tend to foster that trait in its students, or does it select applicants who already display that characteristic?</p>

2

<p>Both .</p>

3

<p>I'll say "both", but with a caveat.</p>

<p>Some of my friends at the big H right now say that Harvard fosters competitiveness. Their blocking system ( <a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=512102%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=512102&lt;/a> ) apparently causes tension among undergraduates, because of its emphasis on cliques and small tight-knit groups.</p>

<p>On the other hand, these same students say that the mental alertness of their peers is extraordinary and superb.</p>

4

<p>All of those schools have students of every type.</p>