Snobs at Harvard?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I don't know if anyone would have the answer to this, but are there a lot of snobs at Harvard? :/ I ask this because I know that at my current school as well as at my old school, a lot of people are so SURE that they're going to get into Harvard (lame, I know) & a lot of them want to, even if they don't say they do or show themselves to be super keen on getting in. (A lot of people like me would love to get in just to make our families proud -- my whole family is made up of overachievers & I would NOT be the first to get in, so it would definitely mean a lot.) So, I was thinking about all of this. These kinds of people at just the two high schools I've been to are so condescending towards everyone, even those who they know are better than them, etc. etc. You know what I mean, right? :/ Basically, since these people all think they're SO awesome just because they THINK they can get into Harvard... what would the people who actually GOT IN be like? I know that a lot of people at Harvard aren't snobs, don't get me wrong -- there are obviously those who got in & just took it as a pleasant surprise & something to be happy about, but still. </p>

<p>So, again, are there a lot of snobs at Harvard? Do they act like they're better than everyone else? :/ I really don't mean to offend anyone, but I don't think I will because as far as I've seen, no one here is actually a snob. =)</p>

2

<p>I haven’t yet encountered anything nearing snobbery during my five months here. Most people are humble, or are humbled after they get here.</p>

3

<p>^Same experience here. Acting like you’re better than everyone at somewhere like Harvard would really be the epitome of stupidity, and it won’t take long for one to be humbled no matter what outrageous sense of intellectual superiority he/she might have had in high school.</p>

4

<p>Sure: that’s why many people want to attend; it one were to examine the quality of Harvard’s undergraduate program in a truly blinded fashion, compared to any of a number of peer LAC’s and universities, it wouldn’t have nearly the draw. That said, it is a ticket of sorts and won’t hold you back in life.</p>

5

<p>Haha, Leftyy - you can disregard Dad2’s take on it. He’s the self-appointed cheerleader for Swarthmore and Williams and never misses a chance to take a swipe at Harvard and Stanford. (I think he may have some painful rejection issues in his past)</p>

6

<p>^Hilarious! haha</p>

7

<p>

</p>

<p>LOL!
Classic, haha.</p>

8

<p>

</p>

<p>Nope. No snobbery associated with Harvard. None at all.</p>

9

<p>^ UT84321 - you are off target by commenting on dansterns post about Dad2.</p>

<p>Though Dad2’s opinion that equal or possibly better educations can be obtained elsewhere, I agree with you that his comment “that’s why many people want to attend” was a bit of an opportunistic swipe. It was an unnecessary comment and Dansterns was very appropriate in calling him out.</p>

<p>In answer to the OP’s question “are there A LOT of snobs at Harvard”? D is a sophomore. She is probably the furthest thing from a snob you can find. Since I live about a half hour away, I have met many more students than most parents get to meet. The number of “snobs” about whom I am aware is an exceedingly small number and one could even debate whether those individuals even fit the true term “snob”.</p>

<p>Should you be admitted, you are instead going to enjoy the unanticipated range of reactions you will get to the word “Harvard”. There is something about that word that is different from the name of other top schools (I am not going to play the name game here). D and I have actually learned to not volunteer where she attends college. </p>

<p>I personally have had the extremes of the person that stops talking to you and walks off with no explanation upon learning that my daughter attends Harvard to the hyper individual who suddenly, for no other reason, want to be your “best friend” in the hopes that “your magic” will get their kid in as well. I have to say that the majority of people are nice, normal and accept that Harvard is just one of many respected schools. But the unpleasant experiences are frequent enough that I only discuss my daughter’s “college attendance” and studies in a generality without a university name. My co-worker has a freshman daughter whose personality is almost identical to my daughter’s, and this mother has independently made the same observations that I have.</p>

<p>Two years ago, had I read someone else making the same statement that I am here, I would have said they were crazy.</p>

<p>As a few further details about reasons for picking Harvard, D actually did not want to apply to Harvard. She actually found the two info sessions she attended to actually match your concerns. The attitude at the presentations definitely came across “snobby”. This put her off completely. When time for applications came around, she needed another “reach” and Harvard’s ap was the easiest one to complete. It took about 30 additional minutes which was about all she was willing to do. She was accepted to 8 schools and immediately got it down to 3 - an odd combination of WPI, Bowdoin, and Harvard. Bowdoin had been her first choice, and she had been accepted but at her accepted student visit they talked about being able to match students up with research opportunities in the Boston area. It was difficult, but she decided that she would rather go to school where the opportunities were. Next was WPI. SHE LOVED them. Her interests are Biotech and the academic and research possibilities were amazing. Her reservation was social. She did not find the student population to be diverse enough but due to academics it remained #1. She then attends the Harvard session, it took them two days to convince my daughter that they actually could offer her the academics she wanted. Since she found the fellow admitted students to be a great diverse group, she decided that Harvard had both the academics and student body that she wanted for college.</p>

<p>Today, academics as a science major has been brutal and incredibly stressful. I know some here have stated otherwise, but taking the single science class is not the same as taking complete science course load. My co-workers daughter is the same intended major, and again having an identical experience. If someone comes to Harvard as a snob, odds are they will not remain one for long. Harvard is exceedingly humbling (or at least it is in the sciences). If you are rich, there are others richer. If you are smart, others are smarter. Don’t go to Harvard if you cannot handle not being number one.</p>

<p>Sorry this ended up going so long, I meant to answer briefly but got carried away with info.</p>

10

<p>Sorry my little quip prompted you to spend so much time on your response. I merely got tickled that in a thread on Harvard snobbery, someone commented that a opinion that H was perhaps not all it was cracked up to be probably resulted from having “issues.” The irony was simply too rich to ignore.</p>

11

<p>Harvard is a great school. You should try at least. Just put aside the feeling. Getting in or not does not make you more intelligent or better as a person. Bragging factor should be least of your concerns. Great people get in and many great folks got rejected by Harvard. You are what you are. Harvard can enhance your chances in career in some cases, and yet it can hurt you in some cases.</p>

12

<p>

</p>

<p>:eek:</p>

<pre><code> Maybe it’s the other way around concerning people’s perspectives. From the outside, it may seem Harvard people are snobs because I guess some people innately feel that “wow, this person got into Harvard…That’s a really good and hard school to get in. S/he must be really intelligent. Therefore s/he is better than me = snob.” And that’s why the person might have just walked away.

Whereas a person in Harvard has a different perspective. S/he learns that people exist in this world who are always better in some way…really really better, kind of what smoda61 said. S/he maybe good in math, but someone else is really really good in music.

I don’t knoww… this is just my thoughts. This snobbery issue can be just a perspective thing… stemming from an insecurity. I mean most of us have some sort of slight insecurity. And since Harvard is very prestigious, from an outsider’s point of view, they might sense a snobbery (or elitist personality) that was never there. Sure, in the IV league’s past, the schools were dominated by the wealthy class and a certain stigma about Harvard can follow its reputation for a long, long time. I’m not saying it’s like this in every case…there are snobby people everywhere, but I just want to throw out a point of view case. I know from my experience, I might sense something about someone that was never there…or someone might think I’m really calm and relaxed, but I’m nervous as crap.
</code></pre>

<p>^And you’re right about bragging. People get into Harvard most likely because the Admissions people sense a person in the application that can potentially do some good in this world. Bragging should be the least of any concern. If I get into Harvard (just a hope…) I will actually try to go out of my way to show my love for other people and literally help ANYONE who asks for it (actually I’ll do that even without Harvard)… because growing up, I wish someone was here for me. Growing up in a single parent family, especially a mom who can’t speak English, I had to do many things on my own, and I know how hard life can be sometimes…and I just want to be there for someone who will need it. I value people the most. lol, sorry. This wasn’t supposed to be this long…just wanted to put my feelings out there…</p>

13

<p>^^^ UT84321, your claim of irony is incorrect.</p>

<p>The OP asked “are there a lot of snobs at Harvard?”.</p>

<p>Dad2’s response to that specific question, whether he meant to be specific or not, was “Sure: that’s why many people want to attend”.</p>

<p>Using the question and response, Dad2 is saying that yes there are a lot of snobs at Harvard and that is why many want to attend.</p>

<p>Dansterns’ reaction to such a provocative statement does not mean that Danstearns is a snob and therefore your claim of “irony to rich to ignore” is unfulfilled.</p>

14

<p>nine9knives - nicely written</p>

<p>For those curious about some parent and student experiences, here is an old thread:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/547099-dropping-h-bomb.html?highlight=h+bomb[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/547099-dropping-h-bomb.html?highlight=h+bomb&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

15

<p>I’ve never really experienced intra-Harvard snobbery, like Student A thinks he’s better than Student B uniformly. It’s impossible to feel that way here; you get humbled on day one, or at least I did.</p>

<p>Yet I do think there’s ever the slightest hint of elitism here sometimes. No one here is like the Harvard student from Good Will Hunting who tells Matt Damon he’ll be serving french fries. But sometimes I’ll hear people say something “intellectual” out of the blue or in a dining hall and then be like “man, if I said this at any other school, everyone would give me crap,” as if to imply that Harvard is the only college where people can say nerdy things freely without being mocked by a gang of students who only talk about Jersey Shore. I don’t know, that’s just an example.</p>

<p>If any elitism exists, it’s very unspoken and if someone pulled a french-fry-guy they would be called out instantly for being a dick. But a lot of times people do say things that have some snobbish implications, though it can be hard to differentiate that from school pride. To be self-pitying for a moment, when my good friend from BC wears BC gear, he’s showing eagle pride. When I wear Harvard gear, I’m a snob. We just both want to wear sweatshirts?</p>

16

<p>Dwight - I was hoping you would add to the thread. :)</p>

<p>And yes, D is very hesitant to wear Harvard gear.</p>

17

<p>Thanks, everyone! :slight_smile: It’s actually really great to hear that Harvard isn’t totally elitist or anything. I mean, I’ll probably never get in, but still… it’s just good to know. :)</p>

18

<p>Just thought I’d throw in the remark that the only place I’ve encountered true snobbery was Oxford. Young Lord [Name deleted] would not talk to anyone who was not listed in DeBrett’s Peerage & Baronetage.</p>

19

<p>the smart people at harvard are decent i’m sure</p>

<p>but the snobs at harvard are rich losers that are pusses to face the crowd at another college, and end up going to rehab after sleeping in bags of cocaine in their 10M penthouse</p>

20

<p>Hmm, there isn’t really outright snobbery like you would imagine, or at least with the people I normally hang out with, but I think there is a certain unsaid mindset of thinking Harvard students are better than others among some, though this is most definitely not true for everyone, nor do I support this belief in any way. I think it is actually pretty terrible.</p>

<p>As a sidenote on subtle snobbery, I was out with friends, when we were introduced to some harvard guys. Pretty much all the girls said they were from Brown, so they assumed I too was from Brown, until I later said that I wasn’t. The guy said something too this affect “oh that’s good. we thought you were one of ‘them’”. I was a little taken aback because I was treated much differently afterwards when it was established that I was Harvard student, so there is something to be said about snobbery/elitism/other forms of discrimination.</p>