I Got In Off The Waitlist....having 2nd Thoughts!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>Hi everyone, well........now that I am coming down to earth from a call that changed my life a few days ago, I am now coming to grips with the fact that I was accepted to Harvard!!!! I can't believe it, even when I applied I frankly didn't think I had even a slight chance.......when I got waitlisted I was blown away and frankly sort of forgot about my waitlist status. Now here I am with a deposit safely deposited to another school with my dream school finally wanting me!!!!! No money where the other school offered me a nice scholarship, but again this is Harvard! All my friends said I have to come to this board to get expert advice. Although I do well in school and have a true thirst for knowledge I am at the same time a real normal person, love tennis and skiing, cooking and writing. I love to hang with friends, see movies, love music and my social life is very important. I am a little nervous about how I will fit in, I do not at all think I fit the typical image of a harvard student. I want to be true to myself without compromising what is important to me. </p>

<p>To any of you already there or bound for Harvard, who feel the same, is this normal and moreover justified? Am I one of many or will I truly feel like I am out of my league? I don;t want to be around kids who do nothing but study, I will need and want to grab a bunch of friends to hang out with on the weekends and go to clubs with and hear concerts, and shop with, not facing kids looking at me like I am nuts that I don't want to study all weekend long. I need to make my decision literally in the next three days, my parents are totally leaving this one up to me. Any advice you have on the subject, please no jokes or posers........this is a very important decision to me. Thank you.</p>

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<p>Well, what's the other school? That's sort of relevant information, you know.</p>

<p>Harvard kids do a lot more than study--Most are pretty awesome and down-to-earth. I think for most people, they start to really appreciate their Harvard friends after the first visit back home--you realize that, although you loved high school friends, your Harvard friends are incredible because you can still have all the fun goofy mindless times with them PLUS the incredible rush of being with such clever, smart people every day.</p>

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<p>My son, who just finished his freshman year, is very social, as are his suitemates and his girilfirend. In fact, while they all did really well academically, he told me that their reputation among some in their dorm was that of being somewhat less than serious about their studies. (He told me he takes this as a compliment!). My son has been active on the club tennis team, and also with a political action group.</p>

<p>You should also know if you decide on Harvard, you will be asked over the summer to rate on a scale of 1-5 how social you would like your suitemates to be. (5 being the most). My son rated his desired suite as a 4. From what I've heard, Harvard takes the task of formulating match-ups very seriously and works very hard to group like-minded kids together.</p>

<p>There is no question that Harvard students are a very motivated group who strive both academically and in their ec's. However, you will have no problem in finding kids who "love to hang with friends, see movies, love music and ...(whose) social life is very important."</p>

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<p>hey eastcoaster,
congrats on getting in!
I'm a sophomore transfer this year; I certainly hope I'll remain social and so forth...lol
I am wondering what your other choice(s) are though...like sunglasses wrote, that would really help everyone when giving you more advise. If the money is really not an issue with your family, then come to Harvard!</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Although I do well in school and have a true thirst for knowledge I am at the same time a real normal person, love tennis and skiing, cooking and writing. I love to hang with friends, see movies, love music and my social life is very important. I am a little nervous about how I will fit in, I do not at all think I fit the typical image of a harvard student.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The image you have of yourself, I think, is true for the vast majority of Harvard students. Being smart, or even brilliant, doesn't preclude a person from pursuing a satisfying social life as well. I think when you get to Harvard, you'll find plenty of students like you - motivated, yet "normal" socially. My prediction: you'll fit right in.</p>

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<p>Thanks for your kind words, the other school is none other than Yale, which offered me a nice scholarship, which Harvard did not, but I was admitted to the honors program with distinction so I do consider that to be a nice bonus at least for my ego :) There are a few reasons why Yale also appeals to me, I know I am not compromising an education either way....its just that the only 4 people I know who went to Harvard or are still there, just are really uptight super serious studious kids who frankly look down on anyone else who is not. I do think the myth of the typical harvard student is changing for the better, no time in History has made it as easy as it is today to truly be able to "be all you can be", I know you can be pretty, cool, social and have brains to boot but I just don't know how accepted that particular demographic is at Harvard, I don't want to feel like I don't fit in. Whats the best dorm for all of you in the know?</p>

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<p>Quote: "I was admitted to the honors program with distinction "</p>

<p>Was that at Yale?...I've not heard of an "honors program" at Harvard.</p>

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<p>Yes at Yale...........the admissions person at Harvard was made aware of this and said she will look at my credentials one more time.</p>

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<p>Hmmm....
Harvard and Yale do not offer scholarships. If you are talking about financial aid at Yale, Harvard is likely to match it if you demonstrate need.<br>
It appears that Honors with Distinction at Yale is awarded upon graduation, not upon entrance: <a href="http://www.yale.edu/yalecol/publications/ycps/chapter_i/honors.html#distinction%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.yale.edu/yalecol/publications/ycps/chapter_i/honors.html#distinction&lt;/a>
And you can't pick a dorm at Harvard. Ever. Or, in fact, at Yale.</p>

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<p>I mean financial aid, she seemed cautiously optimistic about being able to offer us something but said she needs a few days, no at Yale there is an honors section I have been invited to join, not looking at my acceptance letter but I know for sure its some kind of honors program. I know you can't pick dorms but was curious as to which ones are considered the "nicest". Thanks!</p>

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<p>Shoot if your other school is yale then there really isnt much difference which one you pick; I would just go with whichever one gives you more financial aid.</p>

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<p>Come to Yale! We are nicer :-).</p>

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<p>Have you visited both schools? That's pretty important.</p>

<p>And the "this is Harvard!" argument doesn't work in this case because, well, as for the other school, you can just as easily say, "this is Yale!".</p>

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<p>Yeah, take whichever offers the better financial aid package for you. If it's the same, take whichever one you think you'll be more comfortable at.</p>

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<p>eastcoaster, I think you're someone I'd like to be friends with next year! schoolwork is important to me but studying 24/7 is definitely NOT how i want to spend my time. having a social life is essential (in fact I'm seeing the red hot chili peppers when they come to boston in october! so psyched). i have a couple friends who are also attending harvard with me next year and they're quite normal too :) i think you'll fit in amazingly well at either yale or harvard so i don't think you should worry about that factor when you're deciding between the unis... i don't envy your position right now=T being spoiled for choice can be agonizing, especially when it comes down to where you will spend the next 4 years.. from the bottom of my heart, GOOD LUCK!</p>

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<p>Hi everyone, thanks for your words of encouragement. As they say be careful what you wish for, case in point right here!! I have visited Yale twice and casually visited Harvard once. Am trying to work it out to go up there tomorrow or Wed. to look at it more seriously, I know Boston is a huge draw for me, that city rocks. Maybe if I see a softer side to Harvard throught the kids there, I will feel more at ease. Somtimes I think I am crazy, I mean this is EVERY kids dream right? What am I doing to myself agonizing over this? Mc, how many kids from your school are going with you? Thats cool to have friends to go with and share in your experience with you, makes it much easier less anxiety prone I am sure. Did you go for pre frosh weekend? What else is coming up and when for anything pre frosh?</p>

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<p>hey eastcoaster, I don't know if many harvard students will be on campus because finals have finished and seniors have graduated. but maybe there will be some staying through the summer~</p>

<p>it's true, boston is a HUGE draw :) i'm actually the only person from my school going to harvard next year, but two friends from elementary+middle school (i moved at the beginning of high school) are coming with me. we keep in touch and are still good friends so i'm really excited. it eases my nervousness for sure, knowing that they'll be there. i did not attend prefrosh weekend because i live in asia so it was impractical to say the least! i think the next thing coming up is just freshman orientation in september actually, i'm not aware of anything else..</p>

<p>i hope your next visit to harvard will help you make your decision, whichever school you decide to go to. let us know!</p>

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<p>Sounds just like my daughter and her friends. You will fit right in at Harvard.</p>

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<p>Eastcoaster - Do come visit Harvard now if you can! There are soooooooo many people still on campus, you'd hardly know that school was over. People are here doing volunteer/camp programs, mentoring programs, internships, research, proctoring for the summer school, taking summer etc. living in Harvard housing and everything. </p>

<p>And we're all perfectly normal, fun people ... I spent part of last night learning how to play poker (despte most of us having to be up around 7 or 8 in the morning), so there's no lack of socialization going on either. </p>

<p>Crazed bookworms who lock themselves in their rooms/the library and never do anything but read and work are definitely in the minority here - it seems to me that the reason most people are accepted at all is because they actually HAVE LIVES outside of their schoolwork, so please don't let the Harvard stereotypes deter you.</p>

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<p>I would first wait to see if Harvard gave you as much money as Yale does. Unless your family can afford it, it's hard to justify paying more for Harvard than Yale. At least in my opinion, they aren't different enough. The only major differences (some would argue that Harvard is marginally more prestigious and some would argue that Yale has a marginally better undergraduate experience, but those aren't really big enough to make the decision) are Boston vs. New Haven, which is a big advantage for Harvard and the calendar differences: Yale's calendar is far more well thought-out, it has a thanksgiving break, exams BEFORE winter break (at Harvard you go home for a couple weeks and come back in January to take exams), and a longer spring break. I guess if Harvard really is your dream school that much more than Yale and you would always regret not going to Harvard you should, but if its significantly more expensive there aren't many practical reasons to choose it over Yale.</p>

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<p>I have to say that this profile would make you a good fit at Yale as well, in addition to most top colleges and universities.</p>