I doubt it, he always liked taking the hardest courses at my HS. I doubt he would pick the easiest college.
I’m not sure why you keep saying his hard work was for nothing. Working hard is a great ethic to have.
I’m still working on getting past the “for nothing” idea.
How sad.
Someone in my town got into Yale, and went to the county college near my town, which is pretty bad. My high school’s actually discouraging us from applying there. But, I heard this person only applied to Yale to see if they could get in, not because they wanted to attend.
Same with my friend, I mean who wouldn’t want that acceptance letter form Harvard even if they won’t go lol.
I would be happy af if I got to accepted to Harvard. There would be no way I would say no to that school other than cost of the tuition. Your friend must have took a lot of ap classes.
That honestly sounds like such an unhealthy mentality and a fast-track to burnout (and is probably exactly what colleges don’t want). I studied hard because I loved what I was learning and wanted to improve my critical thinking abilities. Even if I ended up at a CC, it still would not have been “for nothing” because I will still have the knowledge, work ethic, and analytical skills that I developed through my hard work.
In fact, there’s no way I would have pushed myself as hard as I did in high school if the only thing I cared about was university admissions.
I guess we all have different POVs. If in a class everyone were to get an A, would you still try really hard in the class? I’m glad there is a college admission process, what do you think would happen if colleges(even Harvard) took any student that applies? Sure there might be some people who would still try just as hard for the love of learning, but the majority will try less. Am I not right?
Terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE choice. He’s certainly going to regret it unless he transfers. Has to be one of the most controversial college decisions all year. I would rather stay in NJ than go to Central Arkansas. Goodness me. Totally agree with @CougarCatClan.
@newjerseygirl98 that’s a HUGE waste.
I’m 56 years old. I have my Master’s degree, and 3 kids.
I’m not going to Harvard. Or to any other college.
But I still love to learn. I took a (free) online course last summer simply because I had the time to do so (and, to be honest, because it was free. Right now any money for education will be spent on my kids. And, since my youngest is only 12, it will be that way pretty much right up until retirement.)
One of the things I love about being off for the summer is that it affords me the opportunity to learn. Nothing earth shattering, but to learn things that I simply don’t have time for during the school year.
So, no, not everyone sees education as a means to an end. For some of us, it’s all about the journey.
Your friend is a fool
I think there is certainly a difference between actual grades, and working hard and learning in high school. I would argue the the only point of grades/test scores is to get into college and to get scholarships. However, the knowledge and skills gained by working to get these grades are clearly useful, and important to have. The grades themselves that your friend earned might be worthless, but the skills and knowledge that he gained to get the grades are not. I do certainly agree that without grades, most people would not try though.
There is no way the OP can know everything behind his friend’s decision, and at the end of the day it has to do with what the friend and his family values. And if the friend ends up regretting his choice that is his to regret as well. What your friend chose and what you are about to choose are two very different things and have no bearing on one another.
You see Harvard has connections,resources available, and the prestige which is a big reason to go to Harvard or any Ivy league for that matter. It makes getting a hired or getting a job easier. I can understand that if you have the charisma and personality you can make up for it. We all know there are some people who go to low tier colleges or CC’s that become really successful. However, my friend is socially awkward and has no charisma or confidence. I feel bad for him for making this decision as it will haunt him in the future when he gets a job.
I’m sure if someone got off Harvard’s waitlist because he isn’t going, that person will be a lot happier going to Harvard than he would have been.
I know someone who dropped out of Princeton because he hated it and went to a similar “90% acceptance” school. But although he was happy there, the Ivy experience was too much for him and he was pretty much non-independent the rest of his life 
Ask him if he’s planning to go to graduate/professional school…because if he is that might be the reason. People, including me in around a year and 2 months, choose universities that aren’t as close to having a rigorous student body like the Ivies in order to have a higher chance to succeed. I see threads all around of people going from undergrad state to grad Ivies, and there are good reasons too. I mean, would you rather have UCA for undergrad and Harvard for grad or vice versa?
That’s why he didn’t choose the honors program, he probably likes being in the top of the class. Plus he could just be a generous guy and help children at schools to succeed…I know people who have stayed close to home just for the sake of helping other people’s education.
@LeviAckermen Fair enough. I personally would still try hard, but I can easily see why others may not.
I don’t see why can’t you go to Harvard for undergrad and go to Harvard for grad? Isn’t it easier to get into Harvard for grad if you went to Harvard or another elite school for undergrad than coming from a low tier college or CC?
@LeviAckerman It would be cheaper to go to a non-elite schools for undergrad rather than go to Ivies for both undergrad and grad school. And no, top grad schools aren’t going to turn down someone just because they didn’t go to a lower-tier school for undergrad.
I think rather than posing this question on here, you’d be better off talking to him about it. And so what that he’s not going to Harvard? He’s not stupid for deciding not to go there; there are a plethora of reasons for him to turn Harvard down. It’s not the end all be all of schools, and frankly, if you really can’t get over the fact that he’s going to a school with a 90% acceptance rate, then you’re not being a great friend.
Many of the Harvard Premeds from Texas end up in Texas medical schools. I see parents asking their kids to attend local state colleges instead of attending expensive private colleges because they see many Ivy educated premeds back in the same state medical schools as someone who went to UT Austin or UT Dallas. This is common among full pay parents which seems to be the case for this kid.