<p>I want to know what the students at Harvard like to think about, how they interact with each other, where they came from as in HS, ethnicity, racial background, etc. What do they do on the weekend? And do many of them study a lot, play sports, party, etc? I'm new to CC, so any responses would be wonderful, thanks a bunch!</p>
<p>They’re people. They’re very smart people, but they’re people.</p>
<p>And there are about 6400 of them (undergraduates anyway) at a time, so they have a wide range of interests, backgrounds, likes, dislikes, preferences and weekend plans. Some of them drink, some of them like movies, some of them play in the Orchestra, some of them have hockey practice.</p>
<p>Really, now, did you think they’d all be like Thurston Howell III, or something?</p>
<p>Actually, Thurston Howell III may not be that far off. My daughter, who is a current sophomore, recounted a story about a classmate – let’s call him William – who sold a software company he created as a 10th grader in high school for 20 million dollars. When William got to Harvard and discovered that alcohol could not be served in the dorm, he decided to purchase a penthouse in Harvard Square to host parties. That indeed is the exception, but it does exist – just as it does at every other high end college. There are many types of individuals that exist in this world – and likewise at any college.</p>
<p>Right, gibby, but as you said, that’s one. It’s a good story, but it’s one guy.</p>
<p>I knew some very rich people when I was there, too, but it really frustrates me when people assume that everybody at Harvard must be like that. Or unbearably pedantic.</p>
<p>I really was just curious. I didn’t assume anything about the students at Harvard University. I know they are bright, young intelligent people with lives. Of course everyone has interests. So please don’t think I thought they were robots filled with knowledge, maybe even if any of you think so.</p>
<p>They are all inquisitive, driven and smart. Beyond that, they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They run the gamut from shy and introverted to gregarious and extroverted. There are the very rich and those who get not only full tuition but living assistance help. They play in the Bach Soc, the football team, the Crimson and in a frat–some in one of these, some in none and some in all of them. And many in the myriad other opportunities that the University has to offer.
You will hate some of them more than you ever thought possible and some will be the best friends you will ever have and will remain with you for the rest of your lives.
They will challenge every assumption you have and support every view you hold–some people will do both for you.
In short-- they are a talented amazing group of young people. Sometimes I wonder how much “value added” the curriculum really is-- if you just took this group and put them together for four years they would probably teach each other almost as much as they do with the professors around.</p>
<p>Perhaps in high school, you enjoyed having friends you could text any time, and they’d almost always be free to hang out. That does not happen here, at least not commonly. Hanging out, when it happens, happens with open laptops while people half-work. The majority of people are in a race against no one to do nothing, and have filled up their time accordingly, allowing an hour each day for pure socialization, if that. </p>
<p>There are parties, but not very good ones, and very few during midterm and finals seasons. </p>
<p>The women here, with few exceptions, are not ugly, but not attractive. Most are meh. The men are about the same. </p>
<p>A lot of the people here are slightly insane or unhinged. They have bizarre obsessions and quirks that look good on paper and come across as absurd in person.</p>
<p>Find a pocket of laid-back, friendly people, who nonetheless love their work in and of itself, and you’ll be happy. I got lucky in this respect. The minority of my peers who are not unhinged sometimes find it difficult to deal with others’ quirks, but I found a pocket of sanity, and it’s nice. Try that, if you choose to come here. </p>
<p>By the way, I’ll expect you’ll find most of these problems at every Harvard-tier school.</p>