<p>My S just got a message from a student in one of his sections proposing to form a study group to prepare for the final. Throughout the semester (and in previous years) he was in study groups for several of his classes. His profs have encouraged students to form study groups. These are not unknown at Harvard.</p>
<p>Is Harvard competitive? That's a good question, but why take the word of a Yalie, of all people, based on his interpretation of what he "heard" somewhere? That would be as foolish as trying to form an accurate opinion about Yale based on what Harvard students are telling you about it. </p>
<p>A better source of information about Harvard would be real Harvard students attending there now. Try post #40 on this thread: </p>
<p>I second what Marite indicated in her post. My DD, frosh at H, has participated in several study groups. Additionally, anecdotally, she has not found that H is extremely competitive.</p>
<p>I wonder whether the competitiveness at H is related to majors. I heard Math and Physics majors are pretty tough, other softer majors are not.</p>
<p>I have a Freshman D at Harvard, and I asked her if the atmosphere felt competitive, and she responded "Not at all." She is also in a study group for one of her classes. Her 4 courses are definitely challenging and move faster than h.s., but they are manageable and she is doing well. She is incredibly happy there and has a lot of fun during non-study/class time. (BTW, she also looked at Yale, visited for the weekend, liked it, but felt Harvard was a better fit and that some Yale students seemed to have a bit of an inferiority complex toward Harvard.)</p>
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<blockquote> <p>I heard Math and Physics majors are pretty tough, other softer majors are not.<<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>Nope. My daughter is senior Physics concentrator and she has reported all four years that the atmosphere among students is very cooperative and helpful - not competitive.</p>
<p>S is a math major. That's how he is in so many study groups (also for Physics).</p>
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Yale on the other hand is said to be very non-competitive. Expect lots of study groups, talking with friends about common courses, discussing things and working out solutions with your suite-mates and so on.
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<p>Replace "Yale" with "Harvard" and this statement is entirely true.</p>
<p>Students at Harvard are incredibly motivated... and being surrounded by smart peers doing amazing things is definitely something that motivates me. I don't think it's a competitive "keeping up with the Joneses" thing, but more of a "wow, my brilliant roommate inspires me" type thing.</p>
<p>There definitely is a difference between having your residential college assignment before you get on campus and getting your house assignment at the end of freshman year. Even though you don't live in your college until sophomore year, you still live with all the people who will be with you in your college, you'll probably eat with them every day in your residential college dining hall, and lots of activities are organized for your college alone. In short, as a yale freshman you have that network of friends that plays a very significant role in your freshman year. </p>
<p>Having been in your position, i'm still not sure how to choose. I chose yale for the same reasons that seem to motivate you to favor yale. I wasn't too worried about academics, and i liked the social environment at yale better. With that said, i think you should spend a couple of days on each campus, and investigate departments that interest you by contacting professors and current majors. Staying on the campus is key.</p>
<p>Wow, just<em>forget</em>me, haven't seen you around in a while. Seems like other old-time CC'ers have come back to check out the site this winter break, haha</p>
<p>Nothing like reading period for finding new (or old) ways to procrastinate :-P</p>
<p>Let me know how Wharton is treating you... you gearing up for recruiting?</p>
<p>just the fact that the people here are ignoring what you are saying in order to justify that harvard stereotypes are false by supporting with tangible..ranking/prestige based reasons expemplifies the reason why you should go to yale :D yale 2012!</p>
<p>besides, i don't think all the admitted harvard students get obsessed and talk to each other on facebook as much as the yalies do. friendly people!</p>
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besides, i don't think all the admitted harvard students get obsessed and talk to each other on facebook as much as the yalies do. friendly people!
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<p>Can't speak to the class of 2012, but back with the class of 2009, we were wayyyyyyyy too into facebook (and myspace), myself particularly</p>
<p>just<em>forget</em>me...you're right. I think we were the first freshman class to start college with facebook already around. Though I wasn't at Harvard freshman year, I remember the craze at NU that year too.</p>
<p>Facebook was developed by Mark Zuckerman, while he was a student at Harvard.</p>
<p>"just the fact that the people here are ignoring what you are saying in order to justify that harvard stereotypes are false"</p>
<p>It seems to me that actual, current Harvard undergrads are by far the best source of information as to the atmosphere there, and it would be strange indeed if their opinions about their own school could be swayed by some anonymous rant on the internet.</p>
<p>I meant about the pre-frosh getting to know other people on the fb, but if that happened in other schools, I guess I was mistaken. And I am not denying the fact that the Harvard undergrads' testimony can only be the closest thing to the truth, but just the fact that the OP's request to not relate to the stats and prestige is being ignored...shows how prestige at Harvard is one of the most important factors that the Harvard students have in mind when they decide to choose the schools..Not that prestige is not a concern for Yale, of course, but yeah. Haha not to offend anyone though.</p>
<p>BarberShop - If you look carefully, I'm pretty sure that the people saying things like "Go to Harvard for the name" are NOT current (or former) undergraduates.</p>
<p>Harvard is an amazing place.</p>
<p>The name will open a lot of doors. There are opportunities everywhere, you're in the middle of Boston in two minutes, and everyone knows who you are.</p>
<p>That said, there's no school spirit. Because of all the opportunities, everyone is always somewhere else, not on campus. Even in the same dorm buildings, or at least in Wigglesworth, individual halls are separated from each other. I know people who never even knew the people in the hall next to them.</p>
<p>But you'll be pretty close with your hall, even if it's small.</p>
<p>It's likely the best place to study anywhere in the world. There are a lot of amazing people.</p>
<p>But if you want a supportive community, close friends, and any sense of pride that extends beyond simply being elite, Harvard isn't the best place to go. It's not a bad place. But the siblings I've had that went ended up wishing they went to Yale instead.</p>
<p>Residential colleges are pretty nice.</p>
<p>edit:: Don't forget to visit. For some people, Yale gives a negative vibe. Sometimes Harvard does. That said, if you end up doing the "Unofficial Tour" through Harvard, I think it's alright. But everyone there gives the same speech, it's all rehearsed in the same voice. I'd try to explore Harvard/Cambridge on my own and talk to students instead.</p>
<p>"I'm pretty sure that the people saying things like "Go to Harvard for the name" are NOT current (or former) undergraduates."</p>
<p>Yep. And there's another data point confirming that pattern after your post.</p>
<p>Here's a question. Where are the Harvard students hanging out on the Yale board and talking trash about Yale?</p>