<p>Coming to this thread late but this article so thoroughly contradicts my Ds experience at Harvard, that I feel I have to say something. From day one she has been encouraged to find her intellectual passions vs just filling requirements or planning for the future. Basically they said you can major in folklore and still go to med school, use this time to do what you want. The shopping period for selecting classes also really gives students the opportunity to explore the incredible variety of courses offered.And what is offered far exceeds the breadth of courses offered at my son’s college, not to be named. And coming from a large public high school, my D is in heaven. She says for the first time she is surrounded by people who want to talk about ideas and issues. She is exploring fields she never dreamed of, without a thought as to whether they will lead to a high paying job, and her delight in her learning experience is a delight to me. She says it H has its share of kids who feel entitled to be there, but there are many like her who are grateful for the chance not only to take advantage of what the university has to offer but also to meet so other student like herself, and after 4 yrs of a boring public high school, Harvard is like a dream come true.</p>