Harvard University Top Questions

While many students do study a lot, I feel the general party atmosphere at Harvard is really fun and everyone knows how to have a good time. Sure when midterms and finals come around people get a little stressed out, but other than that everyone is very personable and very similar to the types of students you would find at any other school. While almost everyone is very smart, I have found it very easy to ask for help and receive it from my fellow peers.

Not entirely. The student body is much more diverse than it's generally supposed to be in terms of students' backgrounds and interests, but the general campus feel is somewhat adherant to the stereotypes. There's a lot more at Harvard than the stereotypes would have you think.

There are definitely folks who fit the stereotype, but plenty of people who do not.

No. Stereotypes aren't true even if they are based on some semblance of "Truth." They are gross exaggerations and can't be accurate for the entire Harvard population

There certainly are a lot of people that fit that mold. Not everyone is like that. The atheletes certainly aren't, but even aside from them there are regular people at Harvard (you wouldn't know they went to Harvard unless they told you kind of people).

no and NO :) not at all--you can have as much of a typical "college" experience here as you would at any other school. Unless you are expecting to go to football games on weekends with thousands of other students--people don't really care about athletics here...i think its because having school pride makes people feel awkardly or uncomfortably arrogant--but other than that the social scene is completely what you make of it.

Fairly.

They are accurate to some extent. However, these stereotypes may also be true for many other top universities.

They are not accurate about everyone, but to a certain degree all of these descriptors apply to more people at Harvard than in a normal population.

The first one is true, and the second one is not. Harvard is difficult (at least for me), but it's very rewarding. The people here, however, are wonderful. The diversity is so great that there's people from everywhere and from every socio-economic class. In addition, most people are wonderfully nice and supportive.

Many are not true. I know many people who party (though not super often) but that drink occassionally and don't see a problem with that. Yeah, a lot of Harvard students are busy people but I know some that are dedicated to academics and pursue things their own ways. There are some attractive people here and no we don't study all day. I know many people who like to play video games for example. You might not expect that from the Harvard student but some are extremely good at video games, some of the best at things like Halo, Smash Bros, and etc. in the nation (not just the college).

People are smart, not nerds Classes are curved, but the majority aren't that competitive. A lot of collaboration happens. Parties are decent

Like any stereotypes they are based on some truths, there are some rich snotty kids and there are some hippy liberals. The majority of people at Harvard are very intelligent and friendly and good people.

People do care about their work, but there are plenty of people who go out more than two nights a week -- I usually do something 3-4 nights. You can get as much attention as you seek; all professors and teaching fellows have office hours, and are generally very eager to help you out. Difficulty of classwork varies by department, but you definitely need to work hard to do well.

To some extent. A very high percentage of students major in economics and do indeed become bankers. It is not necessarily because they are insensitive but because they just want to make money after all the hard work and pressure they have lived through.

I think that they may have had some grain of truth, but they are definitely not a completely accurate description of Harvard and Harvard students.

No, they're not. In a sense it's people transposing the prosperity and pomp of the university onto the student body, which is not at all correct.

While the academic environment at Harvard can be quite competitive, students are not out to sabotage their classmates. Gauging from my experience, the stereotype alleging that Harvard students are excessively cutthroat is patently untrue. Indeed, the people I have met here are among the kindest and most generous I know.

In terms of the first two stereotypes, it's true that many students here fit into one of these two categories (and a very few fit into both), but students are here for all sorts of reasons other than rich parents or supreme intelligence. With Harvard's massive financial aid initiative, the campus is becoming more economically diverse every year, and students are just as likely to be here for a special talent or ability as they are for a perfect SAT score. In terms of the balance between work and play, Harvard students do generally work too hard and too long, but it's something the place honestly requires of us -- and contrary to the stereotype, we do know how to get out of the library and have a good time. For many students, partying on the weekend is proportional to work during the week!

Harvard kids are smart but there is no grade inflation.