<p>I've wanted to go to Harvard or MIT (slim chances on the first, but it's ok because I really prefer the latter since I'm interested in engineering) for a while, and out of nowhere, my school tells us about this program set in many of the Ivy League universities. I thought of Harvard directly, and how it's close to MIT, and thought it would be a great experience. However, total expenses will be around $5000 (I live in the Middle East) total. </p>
<p>So basically, I'm asking: is it worth it? I'd be in the Harvard dorms for a week, with around 3 of my friends, and have a lot of free time so touring isn't out of the question, so it'll definitely be a fun trip and a great experience. Also, I'll be able to tour the college and possibly MIT, see a different country, learn more about college admissions and possibly "requirements" or recommendations for getting into Harvard, and who knows, maybe set up an interview. Might also get to attend some classes and view the college life and how it appeals to me. I'll also get to set up a meeting with some representative of Harvard/MIT to ask about financial aid and a few questions that I'm not too clear on (can this be done, by the way? A sort of information guy at the colleges that I can take an appointment from?)</p>
<p>What do you guys think? Is the trip worth $5000? It really might help me decide if I'm ready for studying abroad. Personally, I think it is, but I don't really want to waste my family's money.</p>
<p>Any info/opinions on the matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :]</p>
<p>It won’t help you in the admissions process - top colleges don’t care about “demonstrated interest”, because if they did, everyone would visit - but it might help you get a feel for the campus.</p>
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<p>By the way, the MIT admission rate isn’t much higher than the Harvard admission rate, so don’t assume you’re a shoo-in.</p>
<p>Visiting Harvard is really quite frustrating because they do. not. care. if you were there. They don’t do on-campus interviews. There isn’t a list to sign your name at the information session. However, it’s still (I thought) a worthwhile thing to do.</p>
<p>Oh yeah I know I have slim chances of getting into MIT too, it’s just that Harvard has like half the acceptance rate. Anyway, that’s not the point.
And I’m not looking to show “demonstrated interest”, that would be an unfair advantage to those who can pay to visit the campus, I’m more like looking for a feel of the campus, classes, and interaction and stuff - maybe even get to know people. Do you think the first 3 are a good idea?</p>
<p>Also, are you sure there isn’t some representative I can talk to? Like an consultant or something? Surely there must be…</p>
<p>Acceptance rate for the Class of 2014:
MIT: 9.7%
Harvard: 6.9%</p>
<p>Basically your chances at MIT are barely higher than Harvard. And definitely not double.</p>
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<p>It’s summer and most Harvard students will not be on campus. So you won’t actually get to know many students, nor be able to see classes or have much student/faculty interaction. Basically, because summer is when Harvard empties out - you won’t really get to have a proper feel of the campus. </p>
<p>Try to visit during term time, preferably over a few days, staying in the dorm rooms of a current student. That will give you the best idea of the place.</p>
<p>As mentioned by the poster above, most of the students would be off campus over break. Hoewver, if you do choose to visit during the school term, it’s really up to your financial situation as to whether or not it’s “worth it”. If your parents are multi-billionaires, $5000 would be a drop in the bucket; if your parents make $2000 a year, I’d advise you to reconsider. We can’t decide for you whether or not it’d be worth the money - only you, the person that has the clearest grasp of your fianancial situtation, can answer that question.</p>
<p>I’d have to say that the campus is gorgeous though. My family visited when my sister attended the admitted students weekend. You could go there as tourists, if little else.</p>
<p>Jimmy- What program is it? Is it Harvard Summer School? A sports camp? Be sure the program actually allows you free time, as well as campus access.</p>
<p>It’s the People to People Leadership program. Does allow you free time.
I’m really not sure if I should go anymore, maybe it’s just not worth it. My parents CAN afford it, but not so much as to say: “yeah it’s just $5000, who cares”. More like: “it’s $5000, it better be a damn beneficial trip.”
I really need help if anyone can provide.</p>
<p>My advice is to save your parent’s money. Next year, if you get accepted, plan to attend the admitted students event. It will be a lot cheaper(free, but for airfare) and you will get a real feel for the campus and the kids who are likely to be your classmates.
The program you are talking about will be fun, but adds nothing to your application and you will just be surrounded by other kids whose parents could afford to shell out money for their kids to have fun. Your application would be far better served by getting a job or getting involved in your community.</p>
<p>Hmm… that sounds great, but just one thing: is the admitted students event before or after the date when I have to confirm/deny my attendance? If it’s before, then I’d definitely go.</p>
<p>But you should probably worry about *getting in *first (considering the under 7% acceptance rate) and think about how you might decide later. ;)</p>
<p>I think the advice to spend the money after you are accepted is perfect.</p>
<p>As for general advice about visiting Harvard, we brought our daughter twice. The first time we brought her, she was completely put off by the information session and the tour that shows you very little. She did not want to apply. We brought her a second time on a beautiful day figuring that would help. We wandered the campus extra so she could see more. Her parting words were how nothing had changed. October comes and she only had two reaches in her stack of applications. We went through the list of Ivys and she agreed to apply to Harvard because it was incredibly easy after 9 other applications. It was not until her alumni interview in January that she opinion changed. Anyhow, she was accepted, chose to attend and has just finished her freshman year. Point is that visits are not always accurate.</p>
<p>I will second smoda61’s point as my daughter’s experience was quite similar. Unfortunately, we did our tours of colleges in the summer before her senior year which doesn’t give any school the chance to really show its complete picture. She was also put off by the information session (the presenter was a bit haughty) and the fact that we could not go into any dorms on the tour. She limited her applications to only two of the ivies and included Harvard because of its strength in her intended concentration, its strength in her primary extracurricular activity, its urban location (Columbia was the other ivy), and their strong financial aid. As she did more research on the programs in the first two items and her interview she became more interested in Harvard. She just completed her freshman year and has loved it. She had found the faculty and her classmates to be much warmer and more supportive than she imagined from the info session.</p>
<p>I third. The campus will be empty and the trip will not be very beneficial. Plus it might be a waste if you don’t get in (which is possible for anybody).</p>
<p>So far, the only draw of the trip is the actual traveling with friends part, with seeing the colleges just in there for kicks in case I don’t get accepted for undergrad for do as a graduate. Anyway, one more question:</p>
<p>I have the grades necessary (average to above average) for MIT/Harvard, based on the statistics they posted up about SATs and general GPA claims I’ve heard. I’ve done all the extracurriculars I ever could have (limited opportunities here) and I’m working on community service and job experience. So it’s not a half bad application. In my eyes, the one thing that decides whether I get in or not is the essay. </p>
<p>There’s just this thing: the traveling to Boston to see Harvard/MIT would’ve given me a great subject to write about for the essay, I assume, as it would be a fun trip and it’s related to the colleges I really want, so I could write in such a way that it would be an excellent topic (already had a few ideas in mind as to what would happen if I went with my friends - we’re an - unusual - bunch.) I haven’t won an Intel competition or traveled to New York for MUN or something like that, so I’m worried my essay might be a bit trivial or unimpressive, and the flight would give me an excellent chance/idea for a topic. Thoughts now on the trip?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot guys, by the way, this is really helping :)</p>
<p>I also do not believe that an essay about visiting Harvard will get you in. You do not need “impressive” topics. D’s essay had to do with shark fishing. I promise you already have something to write about without this trip. You just need to identify it.</p>
<p>I get the impression that you actually would like to make the trip and you are hoping that we on CC will encourage that decision. </p>
<p>Actually, I mean exactly what I wrote. As in, I really don’t want to go, except for 2 reasons: the actual traveling part, which can be done elsewhere for cheaper, so that’s out, and the essay topic.
Also, I think you may have misunderstood. I didn’t want to write about the college to “suck up” (wow), I’m not that kind of guy at all. I’m merely (for whatever reason) partial to stories about trips, they just seem very - let’s say - adventurous, fun, and you know, give a ‘fun’ impression. They always catch my attention, anyway. I have strong sentiments to ‘epic-ness’ style stories That’s my reasoning behind it.
Advice now?
Please believe that I do mean everything I say. And no, I’m not at all looking for an excuse to go. Quite the opposite. I’d be greatly reassured (and assured of my decision) if someone were to tell me what you did smoda, (no need for the trip for a good essay). I’d just further like to ask about some topics of anyone’s essays?
I was just about to check what MIT requires as the subjects for their essays. I heard they require 9 (!). Lucky me, I love writing :D</p>
<p>Last attempt - If you aren’t actually hoping to go and if you are really just hoping to travel and if you can travel elsewhere for less and if you want your essay to be about a trip, then why not just go on your less expensive trip. Your “trip” to Harvard is not going to provide you a better essay topic than any other experience in your life. So the only reason to go is simply because you want to go and if you actually want to go then just do it. That is completely up to you and your parents.</p>
That’s my reasoning behind it.