<p>Hi, I'm a Harvard prefrosh wondering how to make the most of the overwhelming resources harvard has to offer over my four years. What are, in your guys' opinion, some of the most rewarding programs/extracurriculars/general-things-to-do that harvard offers? thanks.</p>
<p>bump.........</p>
<p>It's going to be different for everyone, but at a minimum, go to the IOP speakers whenever you can.</p>
<p>I don't know what form Let's Go is going to take in the future, but if it's still around, it's completely unique and beyond cool.</p>
<p>Even if you weren't planning to, think about taking a language class. They're amazing, and the number of choices is ridiculous.</p>
<p>I second this thread. Anyone else have any advice for upcoming freshmen?</p>
<p>Doesn't it depend on the person? For instance, I want to do chemistry club, research (later) and basketball, but that might not be someone else's plan.</p>
<p>How competitive are the squash, racketball, crew, or sailing teams?</p>
<p>i'm just asking people to say what they personally found most rewarding - us readers can then judge for ourselves</p>
<p>I played tennis in high school but had to quit due to injuries. I want to try another sport in college that's not extremely time consuming, but still fun and physically vigorous to keep me fit. Which sports would you guys recommend?</p>
<p>I'm thinking of water polo or kendo.</p>
<p>Making the Most of College by Richard J. Light</p>
<p>I have fond memories of playing pinball. I regret not joining the *Advocate <a href="literary%20magazine%20earlier">/I</a>. I feel badly I didn't get involved in some of the Philips Brooks House activities - volunteering was a big part of my high school and post college life - I'm not sure why I took my college years off from it.</p>
<p>Dick Light gives a pretty decent talk during freshman week... the two big takeaways I had were:
1. Whether college sucks or rocks depends on how well you manage your time.
2. Make friends with at least one professor each semester.</p>
<p>Try a bunch of different activities freshman year - both stuff that you've done before + things that are completely new. There's no need to narrow things down immediately (but I would recommend doing it eventually, being an officer of an organization is incredibly rewarding).</p>
<p>You may want to think about a smaller concentration - More discussion about that here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/511627-low-ranks-large-fields.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/511627-low-ranks-large-fields.html</a></p>
<p>Make the most of your summers -- talk to upperclassmen about what they've done, what they wish they had done (my advice - go abroad after your freshman year!). And more broadly, get to know some upperclassmen (through ECs is the easiest way). They can help you find good classes, fun parties, etc.</p>
<p>Get to know a bajillion people during the first few months. There's only a short period of time where you can sit down at a table in Annenberg with a group of people you don't know, and it won't be awkward.</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Everyone has their own interests, but for me one of the most rewarding activities was the Harvard Pops Orchestra. It's a great group that doesn't take things too seriously, which is a valuable attribute within an institution that features many groups that take things very seriously. Basically, just keep your eyes open for whatever you find interesting, and leave yourself some time to breathe as well.</p>
<p>Aaron '04-'05</p>
<p>^My daughter also played in Harvard Pops for the past three years. She loves it.</p>
<p>i hope to play in Harvard Pops (violin) but it seems like a very small group. how good do you have to be to get in?</p>
<p>my son was also interested in the Harvard Pops, also plays violin but was concerned about how well the performers are. Are there auditions?</p>
<p>Two suggestions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Explore the city. Cambridge is great. Boston is great. The whole metro area is well worth exploring. Hit every bookstore in town, walk to Fenway, go to the MFA, eat pizza in the North End, find the plaque about Quentin Compson, etc, etc. I'm sure dollar-a-pitcher night at Father's is long gone, as is Father's itself, but do the equivalent.</p></li>
<li><p>Every semester read the course catalog from front to back and take something that sounds fun or interesting for its own sake, even if (or especially if) it has nothing to do with what you want to concentrate in. I was a math major but I took fantastic courses in southern lit, modernism, filmmaking, nuclear strategy, and the philosophy of law. If I wasn't such an idiot I would have taken Harry Levin's Shakespeare course as well.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>mathmom -</p>
<p>When I lived in Mather there was a legendary pinball player named Steve Saint. One afternoon right after lunch at maybe 2:00, Saint threw a quarter into the pinball machine, announcing his intention to play "a few games" before settling down to a paper he had to write. For a pinball piker like me, it was always fun to watch Saint for a while to try to understand how he made the machine eat out of his hand. But I too had a paper to write so after about half an hour I wandered away. Saint was still going strong on the original quarter, not unusual for him. </p>
<p>Around 6:30, I came down for supper and passed by the alcove where the machine was located. There was a crowd there now, murmuring and occasionally cheering. I stood on the outskirts of it and upon inquiry learned that Saint was still playing his original quarter. I hung for a while, then went to eat. People were bringing Saint food and drink now and he would snatch at them between balls.</p>
<p>Saint kept going. Finally I came down once again around 10 to see if he was still at it. He was. He was now groaning that he had to stop and go write his paper, but he still had about 50 free games to play down. At last he threw his hands in the air, took an enormous stretch, and announced that he was leaving and the games were free to anyone who wanted them.</p>
<p>I'd like to say that he never played again. But he did. As far as I know he graduated with honors and I'm sure he is a complete success somewhere now.</p>
<p>So to the original questioner, I agree with mathmom: don't forget to play pinball.</p>
<p>I don't know how tough the auditions standards are for Pops in particular, but I can tell you that for any kind of performing arts at Harvard, you will be able to find a group that's right for your level. If you don't get into your dream group, there will be a less exclusive group where you can participate in the same activity (and build experience that will help you if you audition again, which many people successfully do).</p>
<p>LOL at your pinball story. My husband's roommate must have been Saint's equivalent at Dunster House. He was a math major, graduated summa cum laude with both a AB and AM degree at the ripe old age of 19. We played off his leftover quarters all the time.</p>
<p>Hmm, if you were class of '78, I'll bet I knew your husband's roommate, though I wasn't very gregarious in those days (or still) so maybe I didn't. Were you in Dunster too?</p>