What do you dislike about Harvard?

Waitwhat? · 06-01-2008, 08:02 PM

Stole this idea from the MIT thread. I'm a devoted Harvard 2012 student, about to enter frosh year.

People put our school on such a high pedestal, and then there's those who try to knock it down. Can you who actually attends the school/parent of attendee share some objective criticisms about what they didn't like about the College/people/campus?

Much thanks!

twinmom · 06-01-2008, 08:16 PM

Well, I don't like the calendar, but after only one more year, the new one will be in effect.

The people are great, the campus is great, and Cambridge is great.

guitars101 · 06-02-2008, 12:43 AM

good to hear twinmom. I'm a parent of an incoming freshmen and I'm happy to hear you were happy with Harvard and the area

calgal · 06-02-2008, 01:17 AM

I attended there way back when and didn't like the elitism of the finals clubs. Don't know if they still work the same way. (All male institutions, invitation only, preps only).

piccolojunior · 06-02-2008, 01:42 AM

The things I hate about Harvard I just hate about college life in general.

The only other thing I dislike is that we haven't won an ivy league (bball) title yet. Here's to changing that in these next few years with coach amaker at the helm!

coureur · 06-02-2008, 02:10 AM

School: I think Harvard's freshman advising can be kind of catch-as-catch-can. And sometimes I think they've got a lot of nerve hitting me up for Parents Fund donations right after paying tuition or right after they brag about how rich they are and how their endowment makes them the wealthiest school in the known universe.

Town: driving and parking are absurdly difficult.

Area: too cold in the winter.

Overall, I think the total experience of a Harvard education is wonderful.

Shiloh · 06-02-2008, 07:40 AM

It would be nice if Harvard had a student union building or central gathering place for undergrad students.

We just visited Penn State for a kiddie mineral event and their HUB was amazing.

Hanna · 06-02-2008, 06:35 PM

I don't like the disciplinary system very much -- it's way too top-down.

guitars101 · 06-02-2008, 07:16 PM

hanna,

What is it about the disciplinary system that you don't like?

just_forget_me · 06-02-2008, 08:32 PM

The "Ad Board" is undergoing review, see
The Harvard Crimson :: Magazine :: Tough Love
The Harvard Crimson :: News :: Reevaluating The Ad Board

DocT · 06-02-2008, 08:52 PM

I also found it not particularly good form to hit us with the Parent Fund donations after just paying full freight. I now just rip it up without reading it.

Shiloh · 06-04-2008, 11:34 AM

From the Crimson:

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=523780#

"In addition to opening the Cambridge Queen’s Head Pub and the Student Organization Center at Hilles, Harvard also created the Campus Life Fellow position and College Events Board to channel student input into social planning."

Do the Pub or the Center at Hilles serve as an informal centralized gathering space?

coureur · 06-04-2008, 08:51 PM

^^In my observation, the Science Center serves as the functional equivalent of a student union building. It's got a cafe/snack bar, public computer terminals for students to use, and other student service functions beyond teaching science. It's a common meeting place, and people with a Cause frequently demonstrate or pass out leaflets out front.

piccolojunior · 06-04-2008, 09:15 PM

omg I could live in the science center and give rise to one more happy waitlistee. PAY IT FORWARD

gadad · 06-05-2008, 11:58 AM

From a parent - I've been thrilled with most things at H, but the condition of some of the facilities really surprises me, especially given H's financial resources. If you toured, you saw Annenberg Dining Hall and Sanders Theatre - world class, dazzling, knock your socks off. That's about all that I know of that fits into the dazzling category. I toured some of my older D's classrooms during Parents Weekend and found them dingy and dated. The other theatre facilities are woeful, though I've yet to see the new theatre space that opened in the Square last year. Some of the dorm spaces are nice, some are OK, some need major help, though help is coming in the way of a recently-announced, 15-year, $1 billion complete renovation of all the residential facilities. If your high school's gym isn't vastly superior to H's Division I basketball arena, then you went to a pretty small high school. And I can't understand why the Yard is outlined by PVC pipe and clothesline; H-bomber tells me it's the Grounds Crew's way of making the students police their own when students jump on the wooden posts and snap them, but I think I'd just replace them with metal posts and decorative chain (yeah, replace both the posts and the student vandals).

Then again, Harvard is an ancient institution in a historic and completely built-up city, and attitudes toward old buildings are different in the northeast than in the South. And obviously, H doesn't need to dazzle prospective students with gleaming, modern facilities to get them to apply.

OK, so that's the 2% of H that bugs me. Now if you want to know about the other 98% and what it's meant to my kids, I'm going to get all choked up and weepy.