<p>I decided to venture over to the Yale board for a minute and found this post:</p>
<p>“I guess I’m asking a biased audience… but as a visitor from the Harvard forum, to me it seems like all of you are bonding much better and much more congenial… at the harvard site it’s all just compete compete compete… is that gonna be what it’s like at college?”</p>
<p>Anyone have any thoughts from what you’ve heard or observed? Is this board a microcosm of life in Cambridge - not that I think we’re not bonding or anything - but there is sure a lot of competition and grade sharing here. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Perhaps the people at Yale have just gotten to know each other better, and are more willing to share information over the internet. But then again, just because someone doesn't want to give away too much of their identity or whatever, it doesn't make them a hyperactive, super-competitive person. </p>
<p>But nah, I don't think this board will be representative of the whole pie, per se, at Harvard. Many of the people here are just more into grades, chances, etc. Harvard accepts people from so many different backgrounds with such varied personalities that I doubt it will be ubercompetitive. </p>
<p>Besides, that's one of the things that appeals to me the most about Harvard.</p>
<p>Yeah..I'd like to hear the thoughts, too. I'm definitely not one for this type of competition. I feel like it would take so much away from the college experience, and could severely lessen the advantages and positive aspects of attending a place like Harvard.</p>
<p>This board does seem to be slightly more competative than Yale. Statistically, that may just be the top 4 or 5 posters on each board, and doesn't represent the schools as a whole.</p>
<p>However, so far the Yale board includes over 1.5% of the total EA applicants to Yale, and may be an ok sampling. When it comes to competative nature, there are a significant number of students who pick Harvard over Yale just because it is Harvard (regarless of other factors, both schools are great), while the reverse is much less true. Also, with a larger school and many more graduates taking the time of the professors, there may be more competition for attention.</p>
<p>Just my thoughts, but here is a thought: The competative nature may be the same at both schools, and many believe it is more at Harvard, but few believe that it is more competative at Yale. Therefore- the tendancy for competativeness lies more at Harvard.</p>
<p>Last thought: perhaps a thread on each forum for to talk to members for the opposite school. If past results are any indication, between 80% and 75% of the early candidates on both boards will be rejected or deferred, and will probably apply to many of the same schools.</p>
<p>I think that'd be kind of cool. Sort of like a social "mixer," because although we'd all like to forget it, that stat about deferrees and rejects (bad word) is true.</p>
<p>The competitive tone of this board is mostly not what you will find at Harvard. My daughter is at Harvard, and she is good friends with every single kid in her dorm. They are all good friends with each other. They often study cooperatively, help each other out, etc.</p>
<p>I don't know if that means that most of the competitive types on this board won't be admitted, or that once they are admitted they calm down and become more civil. Either way, in my daughter's experience, there is plenty of bonding and good feeling at Harvard. It's one of the things she likes best about the place.</p>
<p>I don't know... Not everyone on this board is psycho competetive. I personally would like to meet a lot of the posters here. Esp. if we were meeting at the Admitted Students Weekend. Ha ha.</p>
<p>nah i dont think we're particularly competitive. at least i dont think i am personally. it's more that at the yale board there are 6 or 7 posters who post constantly and make it seem like there's a ton of conversation going on.</p>