<p>Hey guys!</p>
<p>So.. there're probably some of you here that actually attend Harvard University. My question to you is if Harvard truly lived up to your expectations. Are there any misconceptions about Harvard? </p>
<p>What's it like in general? I'm dying to know from a person who attends the school. I'm just a curious sophomore. </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I’m just a freshman, but I think Harvard is what you make of it and how you live it. I think it’s a pretty ordinary college in a lot of ways but with amazing opportunities. I’m not sure what your expectations are, but if you are expecting a surreal supernatural experience in which you gain all knowledge and enlightenment, sorry this isn’t that place. But if you’re expecting a solid college in many aspects with some flaws, like any other college, Harvard is pretty cool.</p>
<p>Academics can be challenging if you make it challenging (ie class choice and how much time you want to dedicate to a course). For example, in Comp Sci (CS) courses, one can choose to do the bare minimum when designing a program or try to make it a bit more efficient. Professors and TFs (Teaching fellows) are pretty great on the most part, but there’s always that annoying professor who makes no sense.</p>
<p>Social life is unusual imo. The people here are generally down to earth and nice, definitely genuine, but theres always snobs and jerks everywhere. You have to search for parties here frosh year, but after that, upperclassmen unanimously state that party life improves. Boston sure as hell makes up for it with all the other colleges in town.</p>
<p>Anything else you’d like to know?</p>
<p>Scroll through the (currently) seven pages of threads on the Harvard board and you’ll find several recent threads that are variations of what you’re asking. You can also deduce from those threads which posts are from students and send Personal Messages to them if you’re seeking a student perspective. Good luck!</p>
<p>Current freshman here:
Almost everyone with whom I have spoken has the same initial reaction: they feel like the admissions mistake. At first, everyone is still in high school mode, by which I mean they are super competitive and eager to prove themselves. SAT scores will be casually exchanged. Kids in section (sections are for large lecture classes - they are broken up and taught by a TF, they meet generally once a week) are careful to craft every statement such that they sound as smart as possible. Also, most kids take what they think they should, rather than what they want - Life Sciences 1A comes to mind. People in LS may sneer slightly if you are in Life and Physical Sciences (which is regarded as easy) but once the midterms start coming back - and the B-'s and Cs - suddenly being in LS doesn’t automatically make you cool.</p>
<p>With all the tourists and events in the beginning, it doesn’t feel like school. By October or so, things start to settle down. You start to succeed on your own merit. No one cares that you got a 2350 on the SATs, now it is about grades on midterms, that sort of thing. Your self-confidence will be shaken. Your roommates may be ridiculously good musicians or artists or multilingual, but you will find your niche. There is plenty to do here, so join something. </p>
<p>There really is a lot to do here. So much, you will only experience a very little bit. Unfortunately, much of your time will be devoted to class work and a few extra-currics. Sure, some famous politician may be on campus, but you have a problem set to do. Besides, in all honesty, politicians come here every week. If you tried to attend every event, you would probably flunk out.</p>
<p>On that note, your email box will be spammed with more event emails than you thought imaginable. </p>
<p>Overall, the coolness of being at Harvard wears off pretty quickly. From there on out, the college experience will be (as cliched as this sounds) what you make it. If you focus only on academics, isolate yourself (which many do) and don’t socialize, you may find the experience empty. On the other side of the coin, if you party all the time and don’t focus on your work because you are used to coasting, you will be in for a nasty surprise come grading time. You can graduate here and feel absolutely miserable, or perfectly content. </p>
<p>Once you accept that the paradigm has shifted and the average IQ is a whole lot higher than before, you get used to it very quickly.</p>
<p>^ Just in case you’re curious, I agree with you completely and believe that this review is 100% applicable to Yale.</p>
<p>It really is what you make of it. But I think that what makes it special is similar to other top schools and that’s the quality of the people there.</p>
<p>As for your original question if it has lived up to my expectations, it has surpassed all of them. Having graduated, I can say the friends you make there will be with you for all of your life. Many of them will go on to do great things in their own right, and you will always share a common past. Don’t forget that it also opens doors that might have been closed to you before.</p>
<p>Only after graduating do you realize how special it really was. That’s why you should dream big and work hard. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Hope this helps</p>
<p>Slt10T was on it with his/her review.</p>
<p>Just a couple extra thoguhts.</p>
<p>Major perks: Movies with hella-famous actors being shot often right outside the gate. FREE access to expensive and exclusive information (research-wise, books, resources)</p>
<p>Major flaws: Nightlife is presumably lacking 
There’s usually one (1) college-hosted party on a Saturday and other than that, it’s getting rejected or felt up at some sketchy finals club</p>
<p>If you’re looking for a minority perspective - hit me up separately.</p>