<p>Remember Harvard is New England- a great setting but also inclusive of great resources and accomplishments, but without a long tradition of Southern hospitality. If those qualities are important to you, perhaps looking at Emory, Duke, Washington U will provide a warmer, more welcoming, more complete experience. </p>
<p>If your son is part of the lucky 9% admitted to Harvard, and he is financially eligible for a large aid package, the admissions office will offer him a paid trip to Pre-frosh Weekend in April (around the 22). He will then see classrooms, dorms, savor Annenburg cuisine, and most importantly, meet future 2012 classmates. He can then determine if it is a good fit for him. In the meantime, one might contemplate the realities of Ivies- they are not consumer goods replete with guarantees of perfection, but historical institutions full of amazing people, incomparable resources (a Gutenburg bible, more than 10 Rembrandts at the Fogg,etc.) as well as institutional shortcomings. </p>
<p>As for street signs- yikes- have you ever been in Europe, Mexico or the American Southwest?- there is rarely complete signage. Cambridge is well-marked, but still the roads are old cowpaths so not as easily read as a mid-western grid town. </p>
<p>One of the best qualities a college freshman can bring to school is flexibility and tolerance for the different. The class of 2011 is not marred by having in common being accepted - they are just an amazing group of varied individuals with unique talents.</p>