<p>This entire thread is surprising to me because out of all of the schools I have visited, Harvard stood out by far as the one that was the most friendly. The tour was average, but later I talked to a government professor who was very friendly and went out of her way to help me find an interesting class that I could sit in on. While sitting in on the class, I met a student who talked with me for quite a while after class. He then asked me if I would like to see what the dorms looked like. So I saw his dorm room and met all of his roommates, all of which seemed happy to meet me. He then took me to Annenberg to eat lunch with him and a couple of his friends. Every student I met seemed very friendly and nice. This was a rare opportunity, but I don't understand the idea that Harvard students are "stand-offish", because that contrasts so sharply with what I experienced during my visit. IMO, nobody should decide to not apply to a top school like Harvard based only on an encounter with a few unfriendly students.</p>
<p>km45 is right. Harvard is full of friendly people, though it may seem cold and uninviting to an outsider. I visited the dorm of a friend; each person is from a different state or country and is concentrating in a different area. The diversity is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! You learn probably more outside of the classroom just by talking to your classmates.</p>
<p>The gentleman giving the info. session at Harvard was warm in a stuffy, New England kind of way. I thought it was an average presentation. He did not do a good job countering the negative stereotypes about Harvard, which he addressed unprompted, by the way. His comments made me suspect that the stereotypes were actually true. The tour guide was sweet and overly-enthusiastic, to the point of being ditzy. There was another tour guide, who when she introduced herself before the tour groups split up, came off as a complete airhead (though a beautiful, busty one). It shocked me, this being Harvard and all. Also, all of the tour guides but one were psych. majors/minors. They should have planned for more diversity in that respect.</p>
<p>^Harvard can't have beautiful, busty girls too? lol, every college needs its share of airheads, and there's a difference between book smarts and common sense, so just because she came off as an airhead doesn't mean she's not smart. Not everyone at Harvard is nerdy in the traditional sense.</p>
<p>to the op: i had a similar feeling about harvard. it was a shame really. but i would extrapolate this over the majority of the ivy league (even my alma, but she is known for being cold). i almost felt there was an ethic of 'why bother' and many of the schools with regards to trying to impress you. i think this is a huge shame at the schools. they should put some effort on at least to smile. ha.</p>
<p>i really do not understand this whole - oh there are so many tourists thing. though i understand why not being able to see Annenberg is understandable at some times of the day, the uni should have passes for other times i am sure, if they don't, that's a shame. but having gone to columbia where my window pointed to the street and the NYC tourist bus passes by like clockwork on the hour - i really think an argument surrounding the omnipresence of tourists to be pretty weak justification for cold behavior. tourists are part of the daily life at columbia and nyc far more than at havard (sorry folks), and though there camera action sometimes makes you feel like you have to hesitate before jumping in front of the 80th shot, you get used to it and learn to laugh. heck you get to see every day people being fascinated at the buildings you call home. it is a fresh reminder of what a wonderful place you get to be at.</p>
<p>on the other hand - i felt cold behavior throughout harvard square, from (two) unengaging tour guides and throughout the yard. and to top it off - i was positive i did not want to spend 4 years there when the only time i really got to converse with a student they asked if i was good enough for their school. they didn't represent harvard as a whole, i hope, but it was the kind of experience that let me say "pass," i will find a better intellectual home elsewhere. and i think these episodes on the margins are okay. if you do not feel good and can go home and tell your parents how much you liked a place, then it is not really worth your time unless one thing is involved: money trumps all.</p>
<p>i know the name is alluring, but if you can find yourself strong enough to pull away because it is not right for you - then more power to you. if harvard is your dream school for the right reasons, more power to you. but if you are applying without cause save prestige, then...well you bother me, but i guess there is nothing i can do about it.</p>
<p>danr - from pittsford, ny here too graduating in the early parts of the decade. good luck on your quest. lemme know if i can help.</p>
<p>@admissionsgeek: its good to see someone from this neck of the woods here on cc.</p>
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i really do not understand this whole - oh there are so many tourists thing. though i understand why not being able to see Annenberg is understandable at some times of the day, the uni should have passes for other times i am sure, if they don't, that's a shame.
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<p>When do you want Harvard to give out passes? The dining halls are always either closed or there are students eating in there. Neither time is convenient for tourists.</p>
<p>We toured Columbia too ... my child loved it. I thought they had one of the best info sessions which really conveyed what Columbia was about. (Though they spent a lot of time explaining how students would be able to pass the required swim test even if they couldn't swim, which seemed a bit odd, but whatever.)</p>
<p>In fact, my child agonized about turning Columbia down - liked it so much.</p>
<p>We did not see a dining hall or a dorm room on the Columbia tour. In fact, I don't think we saw a classroom either, though I could have forgotten.</p>
<p>At NYU, they took us into a dorm room but not a dining hall. </p>
<p>Yes, there are millions of tourists in NYC at all times. It is very different, however, to have to fight your way past John Harvard's statue to get to class (or be asked to pose there with at tourist) than to have a tour bus go by your window.</p>
<p>Columbia's campus does not have the volume of tourists walking around that Harvard Yard has.</p>
<p>I agree with you that one should not apply to any Ivy for the prestige, but there are few that don't. And I personally believe that Columbia is every bit as prestigious as HYP.</p>
<p>We did not see a dining hall and or a dorm room at Columbia neither (I believe the only IVY let us to see a dorm room is Penn, we toured all but Dartmouth and Cornell). The information session and tour was ok. The admitted students weekend was great, I think they took the students on one of the DD bus tour at night to see NYC.</p>
<p>Although I disliked the tour in general (because of repeated information,stupid questions by parents (not Harvards fault but it still made the tour worse), and the fact that they would not show us enough of the campus), both the tour guides (students) and the admissions officer (during the info session) were fairly nice and welcoming. Don't get me wrong, they made a good impression of the school with their own personal attributes.</p>
<p>@Baelor, I am glad you had a good visit to Harvard; however, you were fortunate enough to know people who actually showed you around campus. Some people's comments (including mine) are strictly about the info session/ organized tour. I believe that your unique visit to Harvard was an enjoyable one.</p>
<p>Personally, the tour has not changed my attitude toward Harvard, it is still my #1 choice. No one can get a good feel of a college unless they go through the classes/ campus life.</p>
<p>The parents definitely asked obnoxious questions. They all seemed hellbent on getting their clearly bored children (some sporting Boston U shirts) into the school. They were definitely my least favorite part. :</p>
<p>i would agree. the information group was the most annoying 30 minutes of my life because of the parents.</p>
<p>Parents who don't pressure their children to go to Top Level Schools FTW!. Sorry Harvard Parent Thread members (who ask obnoxious questions at info sessions) :).</p>
<p>My parents used to pressure me, but they gave up after my brother. They're pretty laid back now :D</p>
<p>My daughter visited Harvard campus several times, and each experience was different. It was during the admitted students weekend that she really got to go "behind closed doors". Now as a Harvard student she often mentions the hordes of tourists and unexpected visitors. As a parent, I appreciate that the education, safety, and privacy of students remains a priority. Harvard is a welcoming place, but mostly it is a world class school that focuses on that mission. Hospitality to others is important but secondary. "Promotion" is not a priority. Interested students should arrange for an overnight visit. I am sure they will be welcomed and treated with respect.</p>
<p>To say a student should come back a second time for an overnight visit is well-meaning, but crushing to those of us with moderate means. And when a school says something like that, it seems elitist to me. "If you're wealthy and interested, do come back a second time and we promise we'll actually show you some buildings then." Visiting each college once is all some folks can afford. Now, if we were certain it was our child's first choice and just wanted confirmation of that, then maybe. But it's hard to be certain when you haven't seen much of anything yet.</p>
<p>I agree 100% with TheGFG that the suggestion for multiple visits is only applicable to those in close proximity or with significant means (both time and money). We planned every spring break since sophomore year to see as many colleges my daughter was interested in as possible. (It was fun, but a chore!) The thought of having to "go back" to them to get a different "take" given our geographic location is not a reasonable suggestion.</p>
<p>That said, I do have a suggestion to anyone who has not yet visited Harvard....I think the common theme is that the info session and "tour" are just not enough for many people to get a true feeling for Harvard. I looked on their website and have copied the following. In your planning to visit Harvard, make sure you plan way ahead and do the dining with a student, overnight, attend classes.....they OFFER this...in hindsight any one of these additional offered "services" for prospective students may have changed our whole experience. </p>
<p>"Attend a class
The Visitor’s Guide to Larger Lectures — Spring 2009 provides a list of meeting times and locations of courses held during the academic year that are able to welcome visitors. Because this guide is based on class enrollment, it is compiled and available four weeks after the start of each semester. You can look up the course description through our on-line course catalog. </p>
<p>Eat a meal with Harvard students
During the academic year, high school seniors are our guests for one meal in Annenberg Hall, the first-year dining hall, or in one of the House dining halls if accompanied by a House resident. Ask for a ticket when you visit the Admissions Office. </p>
<p>Stay overnight in one of the residence halls
Our office can arrange for high school seniors to stay with volunteer student hosts for one night, Monday through Thursday, from October 15th through mid-March, while classes are in session. Overnight visits typically end the first week in December and resume the first week in February, just after the beginning of the second semester. We need to hear from you by phone or mail at least three weeks in advance for us to be able to confirm your stay with a host. </p>
<p>Have an interview with a member of our staff
An interview in Cambridge is not a required part of the application process, but a high school senior who will be in the area may arrange an office interview from June through November. Because of heavy demand and a limited staff of interviewers, we are unable to guarantee an interview. Our group information sessions do not require an appointment and can be a better use of time than an interview, if you must make a choice, because you may benefit from questions asked by other prospective students in the information session. </p>
<p>Speak with Harvard faculty and staff
Schedules permitting, faculty members, directors of extracurricular activities, coaches, and other staff members are often glad to talk to students who have specific questions about our programs. It is best to write ahead directly to the appropriate person or office to arrange an appointment. Our office can help you with names, addresses, and telephone numbers. </p>
<p>Gather printed information about the University and its programs
The Admissions Office is well-stocked with materials covering a wide range of interests. We have maps of the University, information about academic and extracurricular programs, and an assortment of materials describing current University events and activities. You may also come to our office to watch an information video or ask questions of one of our staff.
The Admissions Visitor Center is located at 5 James Street, Cambridge, MA."</p>
<p>Hope this advice helps others. Again we did none of these, but they look like they might have made our time on campus more worthwhile!</p>
<p>It's so difficult to get admitted to Harvard that if finances are a concern, it would be best to visit Harvard after being admitted.</p>
<p>Thanks for clarifying. I did not mean to suggest that all students should make multiple visits. My intentions were to encourage students to make the most of their visit so that they might get more than the "tourist overview". Because my daughter happened to visit several times, it was clear that all tours and experiences were not the same.</p>
<p>My son loved his Harvard tour. Not only did he have a great tour guide, but three years later he still corresponds with some other kids he met on the tour. He was staying with a friend in the Yard; not a parent around, though.</p>
<p>My parents never visited the colleges they attended before they enrolled there. (My mother travelled across the country alone to accept a scholarship at a college she had never seen, and most of her family had never heard of.) I visited a few colleges for a few hours apiece in the summer; the visits had exactly nothing to do with my choice of college. (My actual preference was essentially in reverse order to what I thought of their campuses.) I never saw the law school I attended until enrollment day. Neither of my sisters visited the colleges they wound up choosing.</p>
<p>Visits really, truly should not be necessary.</p>