<p>I'm going to be applying to college this fall and many of the people around me are pressuring me to take a public speaking class beforehand so that when I go to college and "lots of speeches will determine my grade," it will be much easier.</p>
<p>How much TRUTH is there to that? Not just at Harvard but at any school? From what I have heard from actual students, it's mostly papers and such. Not speeches.</p>
<p>I’ve only heard of one class requiring a “presentation.” That said, in small classes part of your grade is participation in discussions. But I wouldn’t waste time with a speech class.</p>
<p>Although it is true that speeches may not often be required in college classes, I would say that eloquent oratory is a life skill that will certainly serve you well in a college setting and beyond; schedule-permitting, take the class if it is actually a valuable course that can tangibly improve your public speaking ability.</p>