<p>1.What are the most popular majors at Harvard?
2.Also, how does it compare with other ivy league schools in science like biochem?
3.For those of you that go to harvard or have visited… whats your favorite thing about Havard or what distinguishes it from the other ivy schools… (professors, classes…dorms?.. the surrounding aread…etc)</p>
<p>If you could answer any or all …that’d be great. Thanks!</p>
<p>I think the most popular major is political science? Not sure.
It’s probably on the same wavelength as other Ivies in terms of science. That is, they’re all very good.
Harvard seemed really normal when I visited. Students didn’t seem snobby or anything.</p>
<p>I would like to ask some questions of my own since this seems to be the right place to ask things about Harvard.
I would like to know what is the acceptance rate for international students seeking to go through graduate schools at Harvard. I would be interested especially in Business and Law. I have heard that doing a second school in the US is rather rare and difficult because of financial considerations. That may or may not be true, as many rumours prove to be exaggerations.
Please clarify this issue and then maybe we can start talking about something else:)</p>
<p>Melon: The most popular “concentration” is Economics, followed closely by Government. Our science program is top notch, although no MIT (…but we also have social lives here). Freshman housing is amazing, the city of Boston is fantastic, and don’t forget, Harvard is the finest university in the world. </p>
<p>Mstang: Overall the undergraduate acceptance rate is 10.3%. I don’t know much about the Business School or Law School, because they are separate graduate programs. My understanding is that Harvard doesn’t “discriminate” against international students like some other schools such as MIT. Also, it is not at all necessary for you to have attended a secondary school in the US. </p>
<p>Let me know if I can clarify, or answer any more questions.</p>
<p>why do you bash MIT so much? There is a social scence at MIT, however, not as common as it is at Harvard. At least MIT selects people solely on meritocracy, giving no preference to athlete or legacy.</p>
<p>Thank you for your comments, harvard08, and especially for mentioning the social life.
There are a lot of rumours about Harvard undergrads having to work so much that they only have a few free hours on Sunday and, worse, about their having too little time to even sleep. I find this hard to believe, but still i would like to know what i’m getting myself into, so I would appreciate your comments on this matter.
Perhaps you can tell us about yourself, about your course choice and your free time, etc.</p>
<p>MSTANG: This may be hard to believe, but I get eight hours of sleep most nights at Harvard. Many people people stay up late, but mostly because they either waste time during the day, or because they are over-involved in EC’s. Of course, the workload depends on your coice of concentration. If you choose a hard science, then you can expect more late nights. Believe it or not, my schedule is less rigorous than high school.</p>
<p>Harvard students are generally pretty happy. The freshman are spoiled, with spacious suites and hardwood floors. Recently, $25 million was spent renovating the freshman dorms. All freshman live in Harvard Yard, just steps from all of our classes, dining halls, and libraries. The quality of life here is simply fantastic!</p>
<p>STATIC: Harvard and MIT students can cross-register for classes. Until last spring I hoped to go to MIT, but after attending the MIT pre-frosh weekend, I decided that Harvard was better socially. I still plan to take courses at MIT, because it too is a very fine school.</p>
<p>Surely MIT selects students on merit. However, they only take a very small percentage of international applicants. So, while they do not give preference to athletes or legacies, they do give preference to American citizens. At Harvard, an applicant’s citizenship doesn’t play against them.</p>
<p>Whew! I’m up for more questions if anyone has any.</p>
<p>harvard08- thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.
I have one about admissions…I was thinking about sending a supplementary videotape of one of my dance pieces. I have been learning classical indian dance for 12+ years and I will be graduating next year, with live musicians from India. I was wondering if it would be beneficial in any way to send a tape. I have talked about my passion for dance in my essays, but I just feel that it doesn’t adequately convey the actual dance form and my performance.
any comments/advice would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>harvard08, here are few things that have been on my mind since my visit last week:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>are people, in general, happy? It was the day after the election, so that definitley put everyone in a bad mood, but one concern I have is that the vast majority of people there are too worked-up to truly enjoy themselves. That’s a misconception, right?</p></li>
<li><p>what have been your favorite courses this year? what are the teachers like, and what is the ratio of small discussion groups to lectures?</p></li>
<li><p>Just a question about freshman dorms…do you get one roommate? Or is it a group of people in a medium-sized room?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>“.I was thinking about sending a supplementary videotape of one of my dance pieces”</p>
<p>No, I don’t think it would be useful. If you were, for instance, the top dancer in India, then I think the tape or a credible recommendation attesting to your fame would be appropriate. Other than something like that, I think you would be wasting your time to send a tape.</p>
<p>Most applicants to Harvard are musicians, dancers, etc. What can make such an interest a major factor in admission is when the student is extraordinarily good at what they did. Remember, Harvard is a place where people like Yoyo Ma and Leonard Bernstein attended. </p>
<p>I would bet money that the adcoms are innundated by thousands of students who have done music, dance, etc. as their EC. I would imagine that only tapes, etc. of those who appear to be extraordinary are sent for evaluation by people with expertise in those fields. Think about it: It would be a lot of extra time and work for an adcom to find an expert to evaluate every tape that students sent in. </p>
<p>I agree with the person who suggested that you use your essay to describe your passion about Indian dancing. You also can do that in your interview.</p>
<p>thanks harvard08!</p>
<p>Thanks northstarmom.</p>
<ol>
<li>are people, in general, happy? It was the day after the election, so that definitley put everyone in a bad mood, but one concern I have is that the vast majority of people there are too worked-up to truly enjoy themselves. That’s a misconception, right?</li>
</ol>
<p>Yes, the workload is VERY heavy and you’re going to work your ass off, and it isn’t entirely unusual to study on Friday and Saturday nights. BUT, the student body is a pretty happy crew. One of my friends mentioned a girl who didn’t know him said Hi, which was the first time a stranger spoke to him, but I think this is the exception rather than the rule, in general everyone seems to be pretty friendly and happy.</p>
<ol>
<li>Just a question about freshman dorms…do you get one roommate? Or is it a group of people in a medium-sized room?</li>
</ol>
<p>Select frosh have singles, and the rest have doubles or quads. The quad I was in was very spacious and nice with a pretty “luxurious” double sinked bathroom. Basically you write an essay describing what kind of room you want and they try their best to accomodate.</p>
<p>If you have any other questions regarding the social life feel free to ask.</p>
<p>WillyShakes: NSM seems qualified to answer admissions questions, and she seems correct. It is unlikely that the adcoms will watch the tape, let alone send it to anyone qualified to evaluate it. So, try to pass the message in other ways. Have you thought of including a picture? Memorable graphics can add a lot to your application. Basically, you want your application to be remembered over every other.</p>
<p>Compbase: The day after the election is not the best time to evaluate this place. Many people were shouting obscenities or just moping around. It usually is a very friendly place. True, some people are worked up about themselves, but they were that way before coming to Harvard.</p>
<p>Every freshman takes four classes. My favorite class is Economics 10, led my Martin Feldstein, the former cheif economic advisor for the White House. Marty lectures occasionally to all six hundred Ec10 students, but mostly the course is taught in “sections” of 15-20 students. I find this the perfect blend of big-name lectures, and one-on-one attention.</p>
<p>It’s funny that people are posting here about how Harvard students are asocial, and must study all the time. If anything, people are too social and don’t sudy enough. It is all what you make of it, so don’t worry about not being able to handle the workload.</p>
<p>Harvard housing is second to none. Really, the worst housing here is the best at any other college. I have a double, with a common room and bedroom. There is a fireplace in my room, high ceilings, and wood floors. Some freshman have marble staircases, and stained glass windows. There is graffiti scratched into my winow ledge from the class of 1908. It is simply fantastic.</p>