Harvard Undergrad

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
21

<p>Come on, byerly. Just because Harvard has an administrative entity that is known as "Harvard College", that fact by itself proves that it is focused on undergrad education? Need I remind you that Yale also has an administrative entity known as "Yale College". So both of them have a "college". What exactly does that prove? </p>

<p>Also, the mere fact that students prefer Harvard to Yale does not by itself prove that Harvard is focused on undergraduate education. I think it goes more towards demonstrating that Harvard has more prestige. If somebody offered me a free Ferrari or a free Corvette, I'd probably take the Ferrari even if I thought that the Corvette handled better, just because the Ferrari is flashier and 'cooler' to drive around the block and impress my friends with. </p>

<p>{Note, I don't want to get into a flame war with car-fanatics here . I don't know if the Ferrari handles worse than the Vette. Furthermore, I'm not saying that Harvard is necessarily like a Ferrari or that Yale is necessarily like a Vette. It's just an example. Don't explore it too deeply, guys}</p>

22

<p>"I think it goes more towards demonstrating that Harvard has more prestige. If somebody offered me a free Ferrari or a free Corvette, I'd probably take the Ferrari even if I thought that the Corvette handled better, just because the Ferrari is flashier and 'cooler' to drive around the block and impress my friends with."</p>

<p>And why is that? Do you have any reasoning to back that up? People seem to say that when anyone choose Yale/Stanford/Princeton over Harvard, they do so because Y/S/P is better in terms of faculty, undergrad focus, facilities, etc. When someone chooses Harvard over any of the three, it's automatically about prestige. Just because you have some fixation on something unimportant at this level like <em>prestige,</em> doesn't mean everyone else does.</p>

23

<p>If you choose to enroll at Harvard, Binarystar, you will just have to steel yoursef to the snide and envious comments that will come your way from certain sources. For obvious reasons, Harvard is a target for some people. </p>

<p>You'll simply have to take the negative response as a compliment!</p>

24

<p>"Fact is, students admitted to both Harvard and Yale seem to agree on this point, since 4 out of 5 of them choose Harvard and say "no thank you" to Yale."</p>

<p>Since those students havent experianced either school yet, how does that prove anything, expect maybe that Harvard rests on its laurels more than Yale?</p>

25

<p>Why, I wonder, do there exist so many who feel the need to bring Harvard down a peg? You don't see Harvard students on crusades against Yale, Princeton, and Stanford. I think the quote someone posted the other day was very apt:</p>

<p>"Power is like being a lady. If you have to say you are, you aren't."</p>

<p>(just food for thought!)</p>

26

<p>Binarystar, I never said that 'everybody' chose Harvard because of prestige. Please point to me my quote where I specifically used the word 'everybody' or its equivalent. Don't put words in my mouth.</p>

<p>What I said, and I think you have to concede is true, is that there are in fact people who do choose Harvard for its prestige. You simply cannot deny that, if nothing else, Harvard is an extremely prestigious school, and for some people, that is important. Not for everybody, but for some people. </p>

<p>Look, some people choose Harvard because they have researched the programs and have concluded that Harvard has exactly the program they want. Some people like the Harvard house system. Some people like other aspects of the Harvard academic offerings. However, some people are there for the prestige. Just consider the thought exercise that if Harvard was exactly the same as it is, except for the prestige, we all know that there would be fewer people who would want to go there. That's not to say that nobody would want to go. But there would be less. </p>

<p>Look, I'm just trying to state the facts. Harvard has a lot of prestige and tends to draw in some students (not all of its students, but some) because of its prestige. Some Harvard students really are there just for the name. That's the truth.</p>

<p>Having said that, let me say this. I don't think there's anything wrong with choosing Harvard or any other school for its prestige. That doesn't make Harvard a bad school. In this day and age, marketing is important. Part of why the Lamborghini is such a desirable car is due to good marketing. If nothing else, it's useful to go to a prestigious school to be able to market yourself well to a future employer. I see nothing wrong with a person choosing a specific school for its prestige. </p>

<p>The issue has to do with 'political correctness', which is basically defined as 'espousing something publicly that which you do not privately believe to be true'. The fact is, if you asked the Harvard student body why they're there and they all answered honestly, some (not all, but some) would tell you it's because of the name. All you Harvard students out there, or to-be-Harvard students, you know that's the truth. Maybe it's not true for you specifically, but it's true for some other people. The issue is that for those people who really are there just for the name to claim that they are there for the academics or the House system or some other reason. The fact is, some Harvard students are there for the name, but very few of them will actually admit to it.</p>

27

<p>Hi guys, I know this thread is old but I saw it and I felt compelled to reply. Questions like this are kind of pointless and very subjective. Unless I've been to every other school in question, how do I know how Harvard compares? Statistics about TFs, profs. availability, etc, is difficult to compare across schools. As a current student, I have always felt that I am receiving an excellent education...profs are available. I can email then with questions or to set up meetings. They will come eat lunch or dinner with you! Several of my TFs have even given me their cell phone numbers! A few profs. and TFs have taken out the class (most of my classes are small, 15 or less) to dinner or salsa dancing! Of course there are bad TFs/profs and good ones. But overall, I'm very happy. </p>

<p>Maybe I would have been happier at (insert other Ivy here). But who knows? I don't go there! lol</p>

28

<p>i think its generallly true at all universities</p>

29

<p>To me it seems that the student bodies and faculties at HYP are so alike that you're really choosing among campuses and cities you like.</p>

30

<p>I don't think anyone diagrees that the faculties at HYP are alike. The discussion here seems to be on whether those faculties are focused on the undergraduates. The use of TAs and the extent to which professors are accessible are indicators.</p>

31

<p>Admittedly it's been many years since I graduated from Yale, but I do recall that in freshman courses, which tended to be large, the full professor gave a lecture, and graduate students taught the smaller discussion seminars that followed. In upperclass years, most of my classes were smaller and the classes were usually with the professor directly. This worked out fine. In any event, don't despair over having grad student teachers at Harvard, Yale or wherever you may go. I recall some truly inspired teachers who were grad students. They were very accesible in a way a full professor might not be, and I remember them to this day.</p>

32

<p>All classes aren't taught by full Professors, but NO classes are taught by TFs. Professors and Preceptors (a lower form of Professor, basically just not a full Prof.) teach all the actual classes. TFs only lead sections, which are basically discussions in which students go over readings and such. They don't really "teach" anything, as far as I can tell. Your information all comes from the Profs. and Preceptors.</p>

33

<p>TFs only lead sections, which are basically discussions in which students go over readings and such. They don't really "teach" anything, as far as I can tell.</p>

<p>Then why bother going?</p>

<p>,</p>

34

<p>Because it's part of your grade, that's why. :)</p>

<p>And also, sections can help you to better understand a concept from the readings or from the lectures, and most often helps you to connect the two in meaningful ways. This is most useful when it comes time to write papers and such. It's just that sections don't generally present any new information.</p>

35

<p>Found the thing about Yale: "All tenured professors of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences teach undergraduate courses"</p>

<p><a href="http://www.yale.edu/admit/freshmen/facts/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.yale.edu/admit/freshmen/facts/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

36

<p>I actually don't go to a lot of sections, especially for Core classes which are like gen.eds., because even though it <em>technically</em> is "part of your grade", if you are doing well in the class the TF won't mind if you miss some sections. </p>

<p>Sections are helpful (and I think most colleges have them, from what my friends tell me) because you can have discussion that might only be tangentially related but interesting to people in the section.</p>

37

<p>What do a Harvard student and a Yale student have in common?</p>

<p>They were both accepted to Yale.</p>