<br>
<p>Most (of course with exceptions) faculty members are here to conduct research. Many tenured faculty snicker at the notion of teaching, especially teaching undergrads. I have first hand experience in the sciences and social sciences and I have heard stories about the humanities. The only way to get to know a professor is if you are a prodigy who is the future of the field. Otherwise, most of your interaction will be with grad students.</p>
<br>
<p>But I see many undergrads who's Palm Pilots are bursting with meetings, staying up 'til 2am, not for late night dorm discussions, but preparing that business plan for a venture capital firm, and have no real goal in life except to goto the best med school. </p>
<p>Of course, who is really going to turn down an admission to Harvard? But it really takes the 20/20 vision of hindsight to see that life is more than trying to fill out your resume for that "next" step in your career. If you don't enjoy life when you're 18-22, when will you? </p>
<p>It takes a brutally honest assessment of yourself to know whether Harvard is right for you. But its better done before than after you goto college, since you'll never experience that other path you never took.</p>