Hey CC. I understand that Harvard is an excellent academic institution, but what sets it apart from others? Is it just the clout that accompanies attending, or is there really a meaningful gain from going there? What makes it stand out?
- Because they're Harvard, they can basically choose whoever they want to admit. They have an applicant pool of the best and brightest from around the world, so they can handpick classes that are all-around interesting. For a lot of bright people, that dynamic is very appealing.
- When I visited, one of the things that really struck me was how much they do to help their students. I have visited 13 universities of various caliber and location, and Harvard seemed to have the best system for getting students the academic help they need.
- Purely superficial, but I loved the bricks.
Margeu, you have posted another thread and I again want to say that since you are a sophomore, you don’t really need to be thinking about colleges yet. But since you are, make sure to learn about other schools besides Ivies and other prestigious places. For starters, there are excellent colleges on the Colleges that Change Lives website.
Harvard students have wonderful peers, the location in Cambridge is great, the house system provides a home within the larger institution, there is a sense of history (brick!) and ski_racer is right about the level of support.
Classes are usually lecture-style with graduate teaching fellows teaching “sections” and doing the grading. If you are in a small department, you get to know the professors more of course. But in general, a liberal arts college will have professors teaching all classes and grading.
The work is rigorous. If you like academic work, that’s a plus, but if the reading and writing is onerous, then it’s not.
The intense interest in the Ivies seems to be mostly about prestige and connections. There are many reasons to like these schools but many reasons to like other schools too.
In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying high school and can forget about colleges for a year or so.
As you do the work of exploring many colleges, most have assets and you’ll learn more about what you want and need. Maybe get a Fiske Guide to Colleges.
Discovering the right colleges for you really starts with that personal effort.
Think about a lot of things, do a lot of things - and
push yourself to excel in areas that interest you, both
academic and extracurricular - IF that is really you.
It will come naturally in that case.
Do these things for self-development and self-realization, NOT for the short term goals of obtaining admission to a specific school.
The mistake so many kids make is pushing themselves
merely to get into a prestigious school, to please either themselves or a parent, and become miserable in the process.
Some of these kids don’t get in, some do get in and think “now what, why am I here?” Worse yet they continue doggedly on, following a career in areas like medicine of finance simply because they think it’s expected of them.
Some of those admitted accept their spot for no better reason than they “couldn’t turn down the name.”
Part of the college applications process is learning to be a mature adult and doing the research for yourself by yourself. Every student who steps on Harvard’s campus probably has their own unique reason for wanting Harvard. What’s yours? Why the obsession with Harvard as a sophomore in high school?
FWIW: A good place to begin answering your question is google. Here, I’ll get you started: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/hear-our-students/student-blog/7-reasons-why-harvard
The same question bounces back to you. What makes you special and why Harvard is the best college for you. Really you don’t even have to be special. Are you ready to do the work at Harvard, and does Harvard have what you are looking for. If so what is it, how will you leverage the school assets. And can you make contribution to Harvard community in a different way than others in your class, if so how. And what kind of person will you be long after you graduate. Big questions, and it really have to be your answers!
One of the few elite colleges that offer excellent need based aid for low income student
Why is there so much judgment tied to this question? The OP is trying to do her research by asking these questions. Why wouldn’t you explore schools that are most well known? Schools that are known as the best? Of course, when it gets down to it, you want to make sure it is a good fit. But there is no harm in exploring the schools known to offer the most opportunity.
So of all of you who answered, are you specifically familiar with Harvard or were you just spreading your message that Ivy League schools are not the only schools? Because my kid wants to know why Harvard? and we would like to hear from those who chose Harvard and from those who did not.
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I don’t see any judgment in the posts above. The original post mentions the “clout” that results from attending and basically asks if there is any other “meaningful” reason to attend. I think most posters answered that 1) there are many good reasons 2) clout is not a good reason 3)focusing on such schools is not productive: apply but research other options due to the low admit rate 4) enjoy high school
@compmom The majority of the responses above did not answer the OPs question. You did, as did @ski_racer. We on CC need to find a balance between offering wisdom and advice but also being respectful. Students who have found their way to CC are already making an effort to make informed decisions, at least in my opinion.