<p>Okay, so I just got accepted at Harvard (I was blown away--I wasn't expecting it at all!!!). It's the only Ivy League school I applied to, since I'm not big on image and prestige and such. I'm looking for a solid, stimulating, challenging education with lots of room to experiment and grow as a person and a world citizen and to interact with intelligent peers and engaged teachers, etcetera. I've also been accepted into lots of small liberal arts schools (out of my choices, I'm still really interested in Reed, Kenyon, Oberlin, Middlebury, and Bard), and I'm debating what I ought to do. I know that ulitmately this is going to have to be my decision (and mine alone), but advice would be awesome right about now. For current students or acceptees who are leaning towards the school, what makes Harvard your top choice? Why are/will you be going? I don't want to pass by this amazing opportunity, but I want to make sure it's the right choice...Please help!</p>
<p>Whoa, congrats! ^_^ I heard Reed is good. I'm just a sophmore student at a highschool. :] The reason I want to go to Havard is closer to home, and I think I would get a good education there. Sorry, if I'm not much of a helper.</p>
<p>From the rumors I have heard, Harvard does not put an emphasis on undergraduate studies and the classes are taught by grad students.</p>
<p>The reason I want to go to Harvard is mostly based on the peer group (literally the best in the world) and its great emphasis on biology and pre-med (Harvard mouse...).</p>
<p>^_^ That's true. :]</p>
<p>It's true that LACs will give you more personal attention than Harvard. If you want that, go to a LAC. If you are the type that is independent and strong-willed, go to Harvard. No one will hold your hand, but if you are motivated enough nothing will hold you back. You will get enough interaction with professors (they all have office hours) if you are motivated enough. Having TAs teaching some of your classes isn't necessarily a bad thing--many of them are much more available than professors (at any school, really).</p>
<p>sneakiie and HH05, are you both interested in Harvard?</p>
<p>^_^ Yes I'm kind of interested in it Havard Polo 08. :] I just want to see if I could get in even though I'm going to a lousy high school. Blaahh. --; Also I don't have good states. :] I bet you're very interested in Harcard. :P Wait are you a junior?</p>
<p>yeah, praying for athletic recruit and EA</p>
<p>I've been reading over and over on this board how people believe that at Harvard courses are taught by graduate students. This is simply not true. 100% of courses at Harvard are taught by professors. 100%. Grad students lead section groups which meet once or twice a week. They lead discussions about lectures that were given by professors, and help students with any questions. That is the extent of their teaching.</p>
<p>Technically then, they are the teachers, the ones who know the student's names and personalities.</p>
<p>Although I am completely obsessed with Harvard, I admit that the teaching is the schools biggest "fault"...</p>
<p>I see the profs as brilliant "robots", if you will, instead of some of the closer, less-intelligent teachers at LACs</p>
<p>"looking for a solid, stimulating, challenging education with lots of room to experiment and grow as a person and a world citizen and to interact with intelligent peers and engaged teachers, etcetera."</p>
<p>If thats what you're looking for, you dont want to go to Harvard.</p>
<p>I agree with Keynes1105.</p>
<p>Harvard is for the academically independent who enjoy fierce competition and sleepless nights...(gives me second thoughts)</p>
<p>Fierce competition? Who exactly are you competing against? Depending on your major, you might be able to slack off all the time and still pull a 3.5+ GPA.</p>
<p>^<strong>^ I hope you get in EA! ^</strong>^ Ha ha Harvard<em>Polo</em>08 is competing against me! xP JP! --; I would lose anyway.</p>
<p>I'm also a junior! I'm hoping my minority status, competitive standardised test scores, really personal essay, plus the fact that i'll have accumulated 60 college credit hours of work through my school when i apply and maintain (I hope...) a 4.0... will get me in EA this december.</p>
<p>I just thought... EA results are given the week before my birthday... it'll either be a glorious early b-day present, or a pretty ****ty one.</p>
<p>I posted this on the Parent Forum but it looks like it applies here too:</p>
<p>My daughter is currently a freshman at Harvard. Like any other school, Harvard is probably not ideal for everyone, but most of the gripes about Harvard that one commonly reads here and elsewhere just haven't proven true for her. She is VERY happy at Harvard.</p>
<p>As far as we can tell, she hasn't had any close intellectual relationships with any of her profs, but beyond that I think the quality of her undergraduate education has been excellent. Her classes are mostly small and ALL of them so far taught by profs. The school does not ignore the undergrads or give them short shrift as some like to claim. In fact it seems to me that the undergrads are the princes of the campus - the true Harvardians.</p>
<p>She is good friends with all the kids in her dorm. She finds them all to be a great group of kids - a brilliant, articulate, passionate, witty and fun group to hang around with. They eat together, do things and go places together, etc. I asked her about how happy the kids are, and she estimated that among the 24 kids in her dorm about 4 were unhappy with Harvard for various reasons and the other 20, like her, were very happy.</p>
<p>I'm guessing the difference is that, this being Harvard, 2 or 3 of those 4 unhappy kids will go on to write books or articles about their experience.</p>
<p>I can't speak first hand about your other schools. I'm sure they are fine schools too. And I must say that prior to my daughter going there I was worried about Harvard too (and for that reason I preferred Princeton), but it is working out wonderfully for her. I wish you good luck decision</p>
<p>Btw, I heard that the city of Cambridge/Boston trumps all ivies and LAC's with the exception of Columbia and Stanford (2nd choice!)</p>
<p>"In fact it seems to me that the undergrads are the princes of the campus - the true Harvardians."</p>
<p>I love it. Perfect analogy.</p>
<p>Its nice to finally read some positive comments about the college I will be attending in the fall. People on the board love to rag on Harvard, but most of the rumors recycled all over CC are false, especially the ones about class size and grad students as teachers.</p>
<p>Can Byerly or Northstar Mom confirm please confirm post #9?</p>