<p>Best wishes to this year's applicants who are asking about their chances here. I'd like to ask about the experiences of young people who actually matriculated at Harvard, including people like me who were young a generation (or two) ago. If you attend Harvard now, or if you graduated from Harvard, please tell us about what student life at Harvard is like. What were some of your favorite courses? How did you like dorm life? What interesting school traditions does Harvard have? What's surprising about Harvard when you first arrive there?</p>
<p>I hope anyone who has been a student at Harvard will represent here and describe Harvard for those of us looking on in this forum. I have visited the campus of Harvard several times since the '80s on business trips, most recently in 1998, but I'm sure many of us would love to hear current information, as well as reminiscences from older alumni.</p>
<p>I am not a student but my brother is in his 3rd year there and I will tell you like any college experience, its had its up and downs. He was use to being at the top of his game everywhere and suddenly he was surrounded by outrageously bright kids everywhere! A lot of intellectual snobs too. Great professors, fantastic resources of any kind, great city at your feet.......very very tough curriculum. He got involved in a number of clubs but had to cut back because he compromised his grades. Does now say when he reflects back on everything, he was literally under the "Harvard spell" when he got accepted and didn't even think of looking at any of the other 7 colleges he got into, now says it was shortsighted of him and has recommended to me that I look everywhere, which is what I am in the middle of doing. He has an amazing dorm and the libraries are incredible. He is still friendlier with a lot of kids from BU, Stonehill, BC that he knows and says they are more down to earth, which I think is interesting. But Harvard is still Harvard and to many it is the pinnacle of having arrived in your academia heaven. He is studying abroad and really looking forward to that experience. PM me if you have any questions.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. Any current Harvard students want to join in?</p>