<p>I’m really trying to narrow down my list of colleges I plan to apply for, but I would like some opinions from people who are very familiar with Harvard (hopefully those who have attended, but not necessarily) and could provide me with some unbiased answers to a couple of questions. I’m also planning to e-mail the schools. Thanks for all of your help!</p>
<p>1) Around here (on the west coast), Harvard is known as a liberal arts school but not so much in the sciences. I’m planning to major in something Biology/Biochemistry related. How is Harvard in this area (compared to other schools that are strong in the sciences, including Caltech, MIT, and Stanford)? Is it good for someone who wants to be a biomedical researcher or perhaps go on to medical school? What kind of research opportunities to they have?</p>
<p>2) I know that Harvard gives interviews, but unfortunately, I’m way too late to get any type of interview. Is it feasible for students to still have a chance of acceptance without the interview?</p>
<p>3) How is Harvard for music? Is there a good songwriting scene? Recording studio facility for undergraduates?</p>
<p>4) What is the overall personality at Harvard? I don’t want to rely on the stereotype of “rich snobby” people.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help, and I’m sorry for all of these questions. Hopefully this question won’t get in the way of all the posts awaiting their SCEA admission decisions. :)</p>
<p>2) Huh? How are you too late? If you haven't had one for EA, I think you'll be automatically deferred unless you live too far from any alumni to do one. But if you apply regular you should have an interview scheduled.</p>
<p>3) What instrument do you play? I play piano and that was important to me. My interviewer told me that he knew a kid who was a world famous pianist and only choose harvard because they had the best pianos and access to pianos for all colleges in the world. I'm pretty sure that along with any undergraduate music centers, that each house has a grand piano on the first floor that you can sign up to play at. There's also lots of old buildings with pianos that you can play. You can also sign up to give a free concert at a hall or an old place. So for pianists harvard is definitely a good place to be.</p>
<p>3) my interviewer told me that certain Houses had recording equipment, and that it was open to all students. dont know if it's still like this, but it was when he went.</p>
<p>1) I plan on majoring in biomedical engineering. I know that MIT would be the ideal school for such a major, but I want the experience of a liberal arts college. I want to have access to a more well-rounded education and a more diverse student body. Though I love math and science, I also love the humanities and do not want to sacrifice them; I want to be able to take random classes that interest me, that have nothing to do with science (because I know I'll have enough science/math courses). I want to be around other students with various interests and passions that may be completely different than my own. I think I would learn and benefit the most from this type of environment. That's just how I see it; that's why I want to go to Harvard over a school like MIT. But MIT is fantastic, and if you think you'd prefer the most in-depth science/engineering education available, go for it.</p>
<p>4) I know some awesome Harvardians who are in no way snobby. I wouldn't worry about the snob factor. Whatever snobs there may be will be balanced out by the genuine, friendly people.</p>
<p>What i've noticed is that a large majority of applicants are worried about people being rich and snobby. So hopefully a larger majority of harvardians won't be rich and snobby. I'm sure they'll be some, but we can just not talk to them.</p>
<p>Yes, Harvard is GREAT for the liberal arts, but it's a bit lacking in the science department. Harvard knows this. That's why Harvard and MIT have a dual enrollment program, where Harvard students can take courses at MIT (presumably science/math courses), and MIT students can take courses at Harvard (presumably humanities courses, because MIT isn't exactly known for these). </p>
<p>So, you see, you can have the best of both worlds. =)</p>
<p>Oh, and Harvard's music program is very strong. But by "music," I am not speaking of Performance, though that's strong also. But I don't think you can major in Music Performance @ Harvard. It's mostly theory, ethnomusicology, etc. But I could be wrong . . .</p>
<ol>
<li>harvard doesnt really have a music department.. but they've recently joined forces with the nearby new england conservatory. you can take classes/lessons there if you wish, i believe. if i end up going to harvard, i plan to take advantage of the new 5 year harvard A.B. new england M.S program.. biology and violin performance =)</li>
</ol>
<p>You'd better check out the Harvard/NEC thread-- I don't think you understand that program.
Also, Harvard has an excellent music department! Their programs in music history and especially composition are some of the best in the country! They just don't have a performance degree, which is the result of this weird snobbery about performance that seems to be diminishing at schools other than Harvard, Yale, and UChicago.</p>
<p>if song writing is what you're interested,
harvard may not be the best place for you because because i dont think popular songwriting is a offered as a course. The music department is strong in composition but thats mainly classical. The composers on board are people like Bernard Rands and I think Davidovsky. </p>
<p>If you still want a classical training but want expereince in popular music too, may I suggest Juilliard (Columbia exchange program) or Princeton. Christopher Rouse (at Juilliard) and Steve Mackey (at Princeton) are both important contemporary classical composers yet both are very interested in popular music . (Actually, I think Mackey, started out as a guitarist in a rock band.) Both Columbia and Princeton have fantastic science programs. But I'm not sure about the bio/med program. </p>
<p>As for a songwriting scene around Harvard (not academic), im sure the boston area is great. Maybe not quite NYC, but still superb. Many bands come in and play in clubs and other venues in the area. </p>
<p>That's the Ivy choices...otherwise, for good recording studios, (Harvard's probably not the best choice)</p>
<p>omg dawn, i never knew that you wanted to do biomedE! I always thought you will do math and take math 55 :)</p>
<p>ya i love H for the same reasons DJ Mack aka dawn does, and I agree, there are so many cool people at H that it'll balance out the snobs. The Rickoid community is very friendly and supportive at H!</p>
<p>i would not say that harvard science is lacking at all
true, engineering sucks at harvard, but as far as pure science goes, harvard can easily compete with mit.
first off, harvard easily has a better pure math department than mit
biology, harvard and mit are about evenly matched
as fas chem and physics go, mit might have a slight edge, but harvard has several nobel laureates in these fileds as well as the head of fermilab
also, better math = better physics and theoretical chem
a harvard science education will take you anywhere, and it will probly be much more enjoyable than mit anyways</p>