The Visionary

Do I have to worry about this article: Most Commonly Overlooked Things When Choosing Classes at Surviving Harvard

Would I be better suited for say, Amherst if I wanna the best undergraduate education in the world? I mean we can always meet (and cooperate) with the "best of the best" people in different fields when we are very successful in life after college. In fact, I heard a lot of the most successful people in the world do not come from the "best" universities? Is this true or just some comment from jealous people?

Northstarmom

What you have to worry about is getting into Harvard, something that less than 10% of applicants achieve

As for the article, most colleges don't have any kind of shopping period for classes. What you sign up for is what you get stuck with. Harvard's students are way ahead of the curve when it comes to being able to check out their classes before making a final decision about what to take.

The Visionary

Then, what's the point of College Confidential? Isn't it the place where we want to discuss about the merits of colleges and the reasons we want to go there (cool places, cool people)?
Besides, life is not just all about getting into college Northstarmom. If that is your life, then I suggest you to reexamine it. I am sorry but it's true. Not a personal attack though, just a good advice. No hard feeling, okay?

mathmom

IMO shopping period is one of the best things about Harvard. The points the author makes are probably valid, but not just for Harvard. Shopping period isn't just the first lecture - it's at least a week.

cc2

>>>I heard a lot of the most successful people in the world do not come from the "best" universities?<<<

It is true. Early success will likely to prevent you from bigger suceess because you are not likely to take more risk.

>>Is this true or just some comment from jealous people<<

The fact that jealous people will say that does not make it untrue.

The following may be a fiction, but there are a lot of truth to it:
Founder of Oracle speaks to students-Fiction!

The Visionary

"It is true. Early success will likely to prevent you from bigger suceess because you are not likely to take more risk."

But, that doesn't quantify why that is happening. I mean you can become the greatest risk-taker (and eventually become the richest man on earth) and you can still be a Harvard graduate. What I am saying is that it is what in you that is important and not which univs you are enrolling. Yet, the experience and opportunities given at each univs are different and can shape the way you think and do anything in life. In the end, I believe what do you want out of college is what counts. Hence, college match! So, which univ do you guys think gives the best undergraduate education in the country?

The Visionary

That being said, education shouldn't be confined in terms of the four walls of concrete classrooms. i.e. We should learn from our peers too (by a large degree since different people have different experience/interests/knowledges/etc)!