Harvard University Top Questions

My advice is simple: don't sell yourself short, either financially or personally. Parents, don't assume that all private colleges are too expensive -- the really good ones usually have financial resources to help anyone who's qualified attend. Students, don't be afraid to shoot for the stars. Apply to many colleges, including a bunch of "reach" schools. These four years are often hailed as "the best years of your life" because of the freedom and fun of college, but they are also some of our most important formative years -- personally, academically, socially, culturally, religously, politically.... During this time you will rise to academic challenges, be exposed to a diversity of viewpoints, give back to your community and develop a sense of self that will carry you forward into the future. When I left my tiny town for Harvard, I came face-to-face with people from all over the globe and learned more than I had ever dreamed possible -- and my life will never be the same for it. Don't be afraid to put yourself on the line in the application process. Don't sell yourself short. You never know where you might wind up.

Don't necessarily choose the Harvards or the Yales for the name. Go where you would fit in best - that may be at a smaller college with less so-called "prestige" but where you may enjoy yourself more and learn more

You probably don't know at this point what you want to do when you "grow up" because you're still in high school. That's perfectly alright. If you do, then great?choose a college that has a strong program in that field. But for most of you, the best thing to do, I think, is to choose a college that offers as many opportunities as possible. That's probably a liberal arts school. And it's OK to study what you like, regardless of what "real world" applications it may have. Plenty of people study English and go on to do things other than teach English, write, or edit. In many respects, the point of college is to gain skills and the ability to think critically and analytically, not to learn a trade.

Look beyond the name. Visit colleges before you apply and preferably spend a day or two at the school and see for yourself whether you like the environment and the people.

Follow your heart.

The best advice I can give to anyone looking into colleges is that they find a place that will meet their financial as well as educational needs. Big name schools are great, but they only get you so far. It is much better to find a school whose administration is willing to work with you and make it possible to avoid being in insumountable debt than to go to a school that is very well-known and grants no financial aid. If you do well in the college you choose to attend, you can go on to a bigger named graduate school which is what most people look at anyway.

You are about to embark on a journey, a journey down your own yellow-brick road. And in the words of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, "there's no place like home." College is one of the most important times in any individual's life. College is the place where one makes life long friends. College is the place where one prepares themselves for the world that lies ahead. College is the end and the beginning: end to the old, and beginning to the new. Do you prefer a small school or a big school? Do you prefer cold weather or warm weather? Is your social life more important than academics? To discuss every factor that could affect one's decision in choosing a college is impossible. I could spend days delineating the factors that guided my decision, but that would be of little help or consequence. My advice is simple: find your home, and be yourself. If you follow that advice, I guarantee you will have the time of your life. College is about finding a place to call home, and building a family that will last a lifetime.

Go to any bookstore around October or November and you'll see a literal plethora of college-oriented how-to books littering the shelves. Most of them offer trite bits of advice, urging students to "follow their dreams" or "do what feels right." My advice (as a rising junior at Harvard)? Sit down and actually think about what you want in a school, instead of abiding by some clich?. Many students at Harvard College, often considered the most prestigious school in the United States, express discontent when asked about their academic workload or their advising situation. Despite its world-renowned teaching staff and an endowment that is larger than the entire economies of some developing countries, Harvard struggles to provide access to real professors at the undergraduate level. While some of my courses have been taught by brilliant professors, my math course freshman year was led by a graduate student who really could care less about univariate calculus. Given this situation, it's important that both prospective college students and their parents really consider what they're getting themselves into. After all, there's nothing worse than being stuck in a terrible class with no way out.

It really depends on what kind of student a person is in order to find the right college for them. I am a shy very funny sociable guy and my school Harvard Extension School does not fit me in regards to that. However it is the best academic choice but having a social life especially at 22 and being good looking as me is important to me. So I would guess if a student is a shy kid that needs to live a little send him or her to a school that will help them do that unless the student is already a party animal that is easily distracted than clearly a less social oriented school is warranted. Unless the student is accepted into a ivy league school than I say forget their preference and tough it out.

There is no way to know if you will fit in at a school until you visit it and spend a day (or more) attending classes and meeting people. The best way to make the most out of one's college experience is to meet as many students, professors, mentors, alumni, etc. as soon as possible. Learn about their stories and begin immediately at developing your own.

There is NO failsafe way to make absolutely sure that you are choosing the right school. In fact, I should dispel the myth that there is only ONE right school for you. There are many schools that you will be happy at. Your job is to find out what set of qualities make a college attractive to you. Having said that, it's important to visit each and every school you are SERIOUSLY considering. This means spending a weekend in a dorm, attending classes, talking to students about their experience, exploring the surrounding towns or cities. You will have to spend four years here in this new place, away from your parents and (probably) your high school friends. And when you get there, wherever there is, there is no point in holding back. You're on your own, in a way that you couldn't be in high school, no matter how independent you think you may be. Don't be shy is the most important thing I can say. The fall term of your freshman year will probably not be too rigorous academically. So MEET PEOPLE and HAVE FUN before settling down for three exciting and challenging years.

Choose a college that has the atmosphere you like, preferably close to family or friends, and has all the concentration areas you are interested in. If your college has a distance option, go for it. Distance allows you to be flexible, and have more access to your professors. It is unwise to select colleges solely for their social scene. You are there for classes- don't throw away the opportunity! Develop a strong friend network, join a gym, or other activity to keep the stress down so your grades don't suffer. Study, be safe, and have fun, and graduate!

Don't worry about a school's rankings or its reputation. Look for a campus where you feel at home. Look for a school where people are eager to show you around. Look for a space that you think is beautiful. Don't just follow along on a guided tour; ask questions to students & see how receptive they are. Think about whether they seem happy with their experiences & proud of their school. Pick a place where you can be happy - don't just choose a school because it's 'the best' or because your friend is going there.

Parents should voice their views and give advice to their children on important aspects of a college that should be considered. However, they should encourage their children to choose the college that best fits them according to an informed decision. Students shouls also remember that there is no school that is completely flawless, and that each school has its advantages and disadvantages as no two schools are the same. For these reasons, students should focus on a school that responds to their needs as best as possible and should be prepared to adjust their expectations after arriving on campus in order to benefit the most from a college experience.

Dream big and aim high! Every college has its charms, quirks, and areas where it really shines. I won't lie, some schools have more of these than others. If choosing which college is right for you is a problem, go for the one more people have heard of. If you hear the name on TV or in movies, there's probably a good reason. There is nothing wrong with attending a famous school, and not just for the professors or the alumni or the job market once you graduate. There's more to college than classes and books: Big events, like conventions or symposiums or exhibits, like big venues. Attending a big school is your chance to see them! The college application process is just a game of numbers. If your dream college rejects you, your second choice will accept you. So don't let statistics deter you: Even if a school has a low acceptance rate, it certainly won't accept you if you don't apply. So go for the gold! Apply to whatever school you want, regardless of how you think you'll do. You may be surprised just how good your odds really are!

Go with your gut feeling. It's great to analytically go through all the schools in a rational, comprehensive fashion, but it comes down to where you feel most comfortable when you visit. For most people, all the schools they are looking at are usually comparable academically (otherwise you won't be accepted), so try not to worry about which gives you a better shot at med school or sets you up best for a career. Those things will sort themselves out during your four years. Bottom line, if you work hard then you will have plenty of opportunities no matter where you choose, so try to focus your attention on going to the college that will allow you to enjoy your college experiance the most.

I would say to really do your research. Although choosing to attend Harvard was the best decision I have ever made, I do believe that it is not the right school for everyone. I would recommend to first think about what your goals are and interests are, and then to research extensively which colleges will provide the best possible enviornment for facilitating and achieving those specified desires. Then, I would recommend visiting every single one of these schools. You should not only take a guided tour, but should also stay with a student overnight and attend a class or two to get a feel for the classroom, social, and living enviornments. Finally, rank these schools in the order of your favorites and apply to each of them (and many backup schools). Because there will be many impressive schools on the list, I would recommend spending the most time and effort on the schools that you would most like to attend. Then do a lot of praying and waiting! Last, don't let it get you down-it sucks for everyone, but you will be thrilled that you did all of this work when it all works out for you!

It's actually really hard to follow your gut instinct. I like to think that it is possible to have more than one best fit. It's really hard to make the "right decision" after just a few sit-ins at lectures or even spending a few days on campus. Initially, I think that it's best to narrow down colleges to the top 2 to 4 choices based on gut instinct. Which colleges did you really like and could you see yourself attending and fitting into nicely? Then from those 2 to 4 colleges I would create a list of priorities and rank each college in each category. The highest score at the end wins. For me I looked at financial cost, availability of desired classes/ majors, environment, quality of on-campus housing, atmosphere, the quality of the classes, advising, vibe, etc. It was really difficult for me to make my final decision. When you think that two colleges are equally "the best" for you, pick whichever college ranks the top for your most important priority. You will probably do well at both. I also feel that a positive attitude is the most important quality for success and happiness.

My best advice, which applies to the entire college experience, is to keep everything in perspective and not to worry about the little things. For example, the availability of wi-fi in the dorms does not deserve a place on any college pro-con list. In fact, don't make a pro-con list at all. Instead, visit the schools you are considering, talk to the students, and try to imagine yourself as one of their peers. The same advice applies after you've chosen a school. Many people at college stress about each individual test; while it is important to do well, it is also important to enjoy life. Your college experience should shape you and the way you live your life, and if you simply crawl from exam to exam, scraping by on 5 hours of sleep a night, you will miss the most valuable lessons of your college years. Time spent with friends outside of class can actually be much more educational. So make sure you hit the books, but also make sure you save time for the friends you will keep for the rest of your life.

If possible, visit the college and take a tour of it. Study hard and interact with faculty and other students. Don't be afraid to try something new, whether you want to take your first class in a subject, do research, or join a club.

Don't be afraid of not knowing what you want from your future. It's often best to go into any college experience with an open mind and allow yourself the freedom to explore and fall in love with a subject. Take "wild" courses and involve yourself in new extra-curriculars. Do the things you've always wanted to do but never had the opportunity to. College is a compendium of four years of growth and realization. How can you ever discover yourself and your passions if you 'play-it-safe' and stick with the activities and people you have simply become used to? If you want to find the right college, you need to visit the campus and envision yourself there--try to see how it would be if the weather was despodent and gloomy, for example. Could you still see yourself enjoying the experience? If you are undecided in what you want to pursue as a major, look at the strengths of school in all of the fields offered--are there any truly outstanding programs you want to try and professors you want to work with? Finally, remember that your dream school isn't always your 'right' school!

Do your research. Look beyond the college's promotional material. Take a campus visit and ask current students what they think of their school; they will be much more likely to give you honest, candid responses than the admissions officers will. Sit in on a class- see if the professor interacts with the students, see how large the classes are, see if students seem engaged in the material. It's the next four years of your life on the line. A few weeks of research is totally worth it.

Go far far away from home. Being on your own is one of the toughest and most rewarding experiences of your life.

It's definitely important to visit the school beforehand, although you won't know everything about it just from one weekend. Try to get the most from your classes while you're taking them, and don't blow them off during the semester. Chances are, if you signed up for them, you were at least somewhat interested in the class topic and you'll wish that you had learned as much as possible after, if not for your grades, then just for your own personal fulfillment. That being said, don't stress out too much over the little things. Give your best to your studies but also take time for the things that you enjoy- both extracurricular activities, as well as spending time with your friends and getting to know the city or town that your college is in.