why go to harvard for undergrad..?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>Why would you want to go to harvard for undergrad when its grad schools are the best in the world? wouldnt you rather go to Yale or a comparable school for undergrad and then go to Harvard grad? It is far more impressive on resumes, etc.</p>

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<p>You'd go there for the students, the courses and course structure, the faculty, the facilities, the location and, if you're planning on Harvard graduate school, the fact that Harvard graduates have a disproportionate representation at those schools.</p>

<p>In essence, you go to Harvard undergraduate because it's Harvard.</p>

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<p>“It's like a friend told me,” her mother said. “If you get into Harvard, you go.”</p>

<p><a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/preps/20060224-9999-m1sc24varfri.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/preps/20060224-9999-m1sc24varfri.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Actually, Harvard College is considered one of the premier institutions in the world. Outside of Harvard, I never mention to anyone where I go to college, and my fellow classmates agree with me as well. Furthermore, the people, the courses, the professors, and the resources - the sky is the limit here, and unlike in high school, whatever door I knocked, that door opened. I am having a blast here, and I'm sure the other undergraduates who still post on CC (we have a little groupie on campus, I must say, saxfreq is in the same suite as I am, he's in the bedroom next door) would agree as well.</p>

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<p>"It was a joyous day for Mao when she found out on March 30 that she had been accepted to Harvard with a full scholarship.</p>

<p>Her family was proud, too. Mounted above their fireplace is the framed Harvard admittance certificate..."</p>

<p><a href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_4032278%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_4032278&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>LOL that's cute about the certificate.. I think my parents shoved mine in some file cabinet haha.</p>

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<p>The parents of Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) had his certificate framed and hung over the mantel. Here's the certificate, as posted on the Senator's website, and a picture of Chuck with his proud mom and grandma on graduation day:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.senate.gov/%7Eschumer/SchumerWebsite/about_chuck/time-popups/time-college.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/about_chuck/time-popups/time-college.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>
[Quote]

“It's like a friend told me,” her mother said. “If you get into Harvard, you go.”

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</p>

<p>There's plenty of other colleges higher up on my list than Harvard. If I get in, of course I'll be happy and pleasantly surprised, but I'll still be hoping to get in somewhere else.</p>

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<p>I'm always amused when someone "plans" to go to XYZ college for undergrad and then to Harvard for grad school. Admission into Harvard's grad programs is just as selective and competitive as it is into Harvard College. You cannot realistically "plan" to go to Harvard grad school; you can only hope to.</p>

<p>So if you want to go to Harvard at all and you are fortunate enough to get admitted to Harvard College - don't throw that fish back with plans to catch it again later. In both fishing and admissions, you just can't can't count on things working out according to your plans.</p>

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<p>I agree with coureur on that point. Admission into several schools is very selective, and it'd be foolish to turn down one of them expecting for that door to be opened again later in your career. If you want to attend Harvard at some point in your academic career and you are admitted as an undergrad, then by all means attend. And, even as a harvard undegrad, you are definitely not guaranteed admission in their graduate schools. Although I'm sure that the disproportionate number of Harvard undergrads in the grad schools has a lot to do with their preferential treatment for their own students, some of it certainly has to do with the fact that the school most represented in the applicant pool is probably Harvard college. </p>

<p>While im offering this great advice now, I was kinda guilty of the same crime when I picked colleges. Although I didn't apply to Harvard, my dream is to, after college, attend the Harvard GSE. Ohh well, we'll see!!! heheh....</p>

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<p>Well wherever you prefer to go, I advise you to apply early. </p>

<p>Even for an Andover kid, the odds are compelling. </p>

<p>So put in your EA app to MIT or Caltech, then use Harvard as one of your RD "safeties." If you are "pleasantly surprised" you can tell them to stuff it.</p>

<p>If, on the other hand, you wanted to go to Harvard rather than "hoping to get in somewhere else", Is apply to Harvard SCEA.</p>

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<p>Byerly, that attitude was uncalled for.</p>

<p>Not that I need to tell you or anything, but MIT and Caltech are my top choices and I will apply early to both. However, it doesn't hurt to have more choices, which is why I'll apply to Harvard. If I do get in to both Harvard and MIT or Caltech, rest assured that I'll tell Harvard to "stuff it," just like a quarter of the admitted class does every year and a bunch of "Andover kids" did this year.</p>

<p>And please, next time you plan to write a post to me like that, at least get my SN right.</p>

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<p>mathwiz: Actually, it's not 25% - it's 20% in terms of kids who do not come here. But that's besides my point. I'm sure wherever you go, you'll be fine.</p>

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<p>xjayz- I'll take your word for it, I just remembered a stat from a few years ago that said Harvard's yield was 70-something %.</p>

<p>I've always respected Harvard and have always thought of it as a great school. It was my dream school until middle school when I learned about other names in education. That doesn't take anything away from Harvard though. I was just trying to say that I, and probably a lot of other people too, might be happier elsewhere.</p>

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<p>
[quote]

I'm always amused when someone "plans" to go to XYZ college for undergrad and then to Harvard for grad school.

[/quote]

This deserves to be highlighted. There seem to be quite a few people on this forum who think that admission to highly selective graduate schools is a walk in the park.</p>

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<p>Hmmmm no I don't think so, it's just they don't feel the need to state the obvious.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
It is far more impressive on resumes, etc.

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</p>

<p>Is it? I think there would be little to no difference between going Yale (or similar)/Harvard versus Harvard/Harvard. The former might look slightly more impressive because it's harder to transfer to different schools for grad than it is to stay within one, but I think they are both virtually the same in terms of "resume quality".</p>

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<p>
[quote]
The former might look slightly more impressive because it's harder to transfer to different schools for grad than it is to stay within one

[/quote]
That's a bit dubious. I've heard that some schools (MIT) are hesitant to "inbreed," encourging students to receive an education from multiple institutions.</p>

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<p>I've never heard that before, but I'm not going to not believe you. </p>

<p>Let's put it this way. You're a major business/law firm and you have two applicants.</p>

<p>One went to Yale/Harvard for his undergrad/grad while the other went to Harvard/Harvard. Which "impresses" you more based purely off of this information? </p>

<p>My answer is as good as yours...who is to tell?</p>

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<p>Well, thankfully, the real world doesn't rely on just that information...Furthermore, why are you wasting your time analyzing these minute differences in "prestige" - a subjective value? Go outside and play some ball. :-p</p>