<p>I've recently been accepted to Harvard and I'm thinking of concentrating in economics. However one thing that has been worrying me is the class sizes for this concentration. I've heard that economics is the largest department in Harvard and so classes are very large, especially introductory ones.</p>
<p>Is this true? I feel like I would benefit from a smaller class size, since I come from a school with tiny classes. How large would you say economics classes are generally at Harvard, and do economics concentrators get much individual attention? </p>
<p>Page 2: “Harvard’s Economics Department is one of the best in the world. In research and real-world experience, the faculty is unsurpassed. The large number of professors and their diverse interests enable a student to study virtually any area of economics. The extraordinary quality of Harvard undergraduates makes the classroom environment stimulating for teacher and student alike. In part because of these many strengths, economics is the largest concentration at Harvard. The large size of the department can make it seem intimidating and impersonal. As an economics concentrator, remember that teaching fellows and especially professors truly enjoy talking with and working with undergraduates. Go to office hours! (Faculty often complain that no one comes.) Talk to your teachers after class! Because the department is so large, it is up to you to seize the initiative and personalize your academic experience.”</p>
<p>Will you naturally receive personalized attention in intro classes? Nope. (Maybe if you have a better TF than mine, but I take it you meant from a professor.) Is it there if you want it? Oh yes! I’m not in economics, and have taken one stupid-ish basic class in it. That professor–who is very famous–still knows my name and we chat when we pass in the Science Center or whatever. I went to office hours like twice. They really do like students to come get to know them. If taking that initiative is okay with you, you can have a great time as a Harvard ec concentrator.</p>
<p>Also, they offer “junior seminars” to concentrators, which they fret are traditionally undersubscribed. There is that in-concentration opportunity as an upperclassman, then, and you’re pretty much guaranteed a spot in one.</p>
<p>the “word on the street” around here (south) is that Yale is the school that gives its undergraduates the BEST experience, where Harvard is more concerned with its graduate students. I have no idea is this is true, but I’ve heard that for years.</p>
<p>That is just not acurate. Both institions has a significant amount of graduate students and they are important for the research but both also pamper their undergraduate students :-).<br>
Of course, each institution has its own traditions and flavors. Some students will fit better at one than the other, but it is really a personal preference.</p>
<p>^^ Agree with HarvardParent. Yale’s “best experience” reputation is due to it’s residential college system being more user-friendly. But, that has absolutely nothing to do with the overall focus being more on undergraduate than graduate.</p>
<p>You are not pushed under the instructors’ noses like you would be in a private school or in a small LAC, but you can get all the attention in the world if you really want it. This is especially true because nobody goes to office hours for most classes.</p>