<p>MovieBuff may have been referring to the two people I mentioned, Kaka--in which case, I definitely feel as though both are entering into the school not with the mindset you described, but with that of "Oh well, not like I have a choice." I don't see either having major problems in the future at Harvard, but I don't see them embracing their undergraduate experience there either. There is a certain.. atmosphere at Harvard that clicks with some people and doesn't for others.</p>
<p>^^^ Thanks. That is exactly what I was referring to.</p>
<p>On the other hand, kaka22, i am by no means criticizing anybody. Our philosophies on life are a little different, that's all. I will say that you do contradict yourself with the justification above. You said,</p>
<p>
[quote]
Wharton was my first choice throughout the entirety of high school. I knew I wanted to be in business, knew that attending Wharton would be the best way of ensuring me a great job in that industry, and felt that Wharton was a feasible reach school. I applied early,...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>however, you get the Harvard acceptance and that changed the way you had felt all along?, just because you were accepted? You said nothing about being turned on by your visit, the students, the city etc. All you say is
[quote]
It's the school that you grow up hearing of, that commands immediate and total respect from anyone, that you don't dare to dream about. Harvard will open doors for you that you didn't even know existed.
[/quote]
Perhaps, you really wanted to got to Harvard, that was something you did not dare to dream about, you applied thinking that you would be rejected and then WOW! That, I buy. </p>
<p>At the end, it is all a matter of preference, priorities and individuality. I have a friend who turned down Harvard for the University of Chicago, another who turned it down for a great scholarship at the University of Florida and another one who turned it down for Yale. They are all happy with their decisions because to them there were more important things than the striking recognition of a seven 7 letter word.</p>
<p>I will turn down Harvard for $$$$$$$$$$$$</p>
<p>:) I'm not a big fan of Harvard even though it is a GREAT school... my dream schools are MIT, Princeton, Stanford, and CalPoly... :) Sooo.. them. :D</p>
<p>I would turn down harvard for stanford, yale, wharton</p>
<p>princeton, mit, oxford, cambridge, ETH zurich, imperial college at london, </p>
<p>ecole polytechnique </p>
<p>and full ride at the rest of ivy, U of C, wastl, caltech, duke, and jhu</p>
<p>"I feel like saying that you "would" turn down Harvard for a school and actually doing it are two totally different things."</p>
<p>So, so, so true.</p>
<p>I'm currently regretting committing to Harvard, although it had been my first choice when I applied EA. I got into Brown, visited, fell in love, and there's no doubt in my mind it's a better fit and I'd be far happier there. It's the classic "I feel comfortable here; this is where I belong" feeling. Was miserable most of prefrosh weekend at Harvard, hate a lot of the aspects of the school, not as good academic fit as Brown. A major factor in why I'm going to Harvard is parental pressure. They literally refused to pay for Brown. Which obviously leaves me with no wiggle room. Even when I broached the idea of transferring from Harvard if I become deeply depressed/miserable, they still refused to pay for Brown. And I'll also admit that I enjoy how the name looks on my updated resume. It's such a tricky, slippery thing, that name.</p>
<p>Ultimately, I'm hoping that I'll be ok at Harvard... but yes, turning down the big H is much easier in theory than practice.</p>
<p>I just discovered this webpage and came across your comment. I am currently on the Harvard waitlist and would be incredibly grateful for a chance to go to school there. I do understand your plight to some extent, however. If I dont get into Harvard, I am limited to an in-state public university due to my need for financial aid, which would be quelled by the scholarships I was able to get instate or Harvards amazing need based scholarship program. While I am somewhat disappointed with my prospects, I know that if I become active in what ever college I end up at, take everything that is given to me and make the most of it, and stay positive about and grateful for the amazing opportunities that I do have before me, my education and college experience will be wonderfully rewarding, even if it is not perfect. I think that if you look at Harvard as an opportunity, you will do brilliantly there. Furthermore, if worse comes to worse, you can always fill out scholarships to pay your own way to Brown.</p>
<p>if i was given the chance, i would probably have to turn down harvard for UCLA. </p>
<p>people are gonna be like '***' but .. yeah. that's just me.</p>
<p>Posh, that's really unfortunate. I certainly hope you'll be happy, but i met far too many people during pre frosh weekend that said they went to harvard bc their parents forced them. Actually, among a lot of the Yale EA admits i met (i applied there EA) that ultimately chose harvard, they preferred yale but their parents pressured them to go to harvard. I suppose i'm lucky that my parents didn't pressure me like that...</p>
<p>Best of luck to you! I thought harvard was amazing in a lot of ways, just not as amazing as yale :-P. I'll see you at the game!</p>
<p>There's no reason that you should feel like you're being forced to go to Harvard. If you want to go to Brown or Yale or wherever you I've got in, everyone should have the option to do so (pending financial situations.) I agree with kwijiborjt...it's unfortunate. With that said, I'm at Harvard and I'm enjoying it quite a bit.</p>
<p>I would turn down Harvard any day for Wharton (University of Pennsylvania)</p>
<p>Ok...enough with the "I would turn down...". I think most people here would be curious to see those who ACTUALLY turn down Harvard for another institution. When you actually aren't given the choice to make, it's nearly impossible to say what you would do, and the reality is, nearly 80% of those accepted to Harvard ultimately enroll.</p>
<p>With that, I turned down Harvard for Stanford (Class of 2011).</p>
<p>I would never go to Harvard. Not that I got in or applied, but I can 110% say with certainty I would go to any of the top publics and a few privates over Harvard.</p>
<p>I don't know why people act like it's such a big deal to go to another school instead of Harvard. Some people feign shock when someone gets in but doesnt go while others take it as a badge of honor for turning the Harvard offer down.
Let's not pretend Harvard is a perfect place--far from it (and I assure you there is no such place). Some people will not like it here, will not fit in etc. not because they're not smart enough or talented enough but simply because some people are just not suited for Harvard for a variety of other reasons.
Harvard can offer a lot, but it doesn't offer everything and if you think you won't find something here, just don't come, or better yet, don't apply.</p>
<p>i will turn down harvard for MIT, def.</p>
<p>and our community college</p>
<p>the only bad thing is none of my friends kno what MIT is</p>
<p>I would never turn Harvard down.</p>
<p>I would turn down a full ride to Harvard for Yale. Or Brown.</p>
<p>i will turn down Harvard for Princeton, MIT, Penn-Wharton.</p>