Harvard: has a nice ring, but not getting the decal

Parents Forum
1

<p>As if I have not been through enough college admissions angst with two kids back to back these past two springs…we were waiting on news for my college freshman D regarding a summer program to which she had applied. She called to check on the status two weeks ago and was told she would find out that week. The decision was to be mailed to our home, not to college. Waited all week, nothing. Then 8 days ago, I called to inquire and was told we’d get the decision last week. Waited all week, nothing. Called Friday, was told the decision was mailed out last Tuesday, still nothing, not Saturday either (and we only live a little over three hours away, so it should not take this long). Nothing yesterday, six days after it was mailed. Called yesterday, was told they’d be willing to mail it out again but also when I explained how all her summer plans revolved around this program and she needed to know, they offered to email her by 5 PM yesterday. Called her, she checked, no email all night…getting a little frustrating. She emails me this AM, saying she wants to wait two more days before calling again. Then I get a voice mail, she got accepted, email came, finally. </p>

<p>She is going to a six week intensive program through the Harvard Design School (which is a graduate school during the year) called Career Discovery. It is for people of various ages…college students or adults looking to change career paths…where they are immersed in architecture courses/studios that help them to explore and determine if this is a field they wish to pursue or go to grad school for, before ever commiting. This is precisely why my D wants to take it …perfect fit for her needs. She has thought about majoring in architecture (as a liberal arts subject at her college, not a BArch program) and then going on to graduate school for an MArch. She has not yet had to commit to a major at Brown but this also will be instrumental in deciding that path. She has explored this field in high school a bit with an independent study and an internship one summer with an architect and is taking some courses freshman year related to this field should she pursue it and is lined up for some more next year and also a course at RISD. She does not yet have to declare a major but this will help her determine if this is what she wants. One thing when she chose to go to Brown is that we knew it was not as developed as an architecture major as at some of her other schools…not a department but it is a major there, kinda interdisciplinary…but has fewer design studio courses than some other colleges that have an undergraduate architecture major as a liberal arts major. She was told at Brown that many students do this summer program at Harvard Design School, also take some architecture courses at RISD and she also could opt to do her semester abroad through another college’s architecture department such as Syracuse or Cornell, should she opt to pursue this more. Also, IF she went into this field for grad school, she’d have developed some portfolio pieces at Harvard this summer…PLUS gets to spend six weeks in Hah-vahd Square! (she does love Boston). </p>

<p>I asked her if she wanted the decal (half joking) and she said, no way, could never have that decal at Brown! So, she gets a little taste of Harvard Yard this summer. This is after she drives to Alaska first and flies back for her sister’s graduation and then leaves the next day for Harvard, followed by a summer job in August teaching tennis. Never a dull moment. After this dragged out wait with the decision letter, I am thankful it was positive because at this late date, it would be hard to come up with a different summer plan when the Alaska trip and the job were planned around the Harvard program. Whew, is all I can say. </p>

<p>Marite, I won’t be dropping her off at Harvard (my hubby will) because that same day I have to drive to NY to drop my other D off at her theater program (along with my niece from Alaska who is also going and will travel there with us) but if I decide to ever go down to see her in Cambridge, I will hope to meet up with you again. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

2

<p>Susan,</p>

<p>How exciting for your daughter!!! The Career Discovery Program sounds fabulous–I am sure your daughter will benefit from it greatly! And the perks are awesome!! Six weeks in Boston–she will have a blast! ~berurah</p>

3

<p>Ah, Soozie. Another time! But if your D wants break from GSD, you know we are within walking distance.</p>

<p>By the way, my S just did a piece on the Stata Center for a school assignment. He spent two afternoons there, interviewing people. A career in journalism is not in the cards.
My S won’t get a decal either. He would need to pass his driving test first anyway, then get a car of his own. We are against car decorations of any kind!</p>

4

<p>Soozie, Thank you so much for mentioning this program. My son is still talking about architecture, but, like your daughter, would probably want to do the M. in ARch. route not the undergrade 5 year route. So, I will keep this in mind for him for when he goes off to colelge just in case.</p>

5

<p>Meet up with me, too! (I’ll be in New England this summer.) :)</p>

<p>So odd that Harvard took so long with decisions. One thing that always impressed me about the school (after applications to undergrad, summer, & law programmes) was how very prompt and organized they are. Summer school: I registered online. Two days later, an envelope arrived at my place: I was confirmed to go and they sent the bill. Three days later, online confirmation of receipt of check. Contrast alma mater (applied online the same day): I checked a box saying I wanted the bill delivered to my apt, not my house. I couldn’t do everything online - had to deliver a print-out to the summer school office. Four weeks later, bill arrives at home, addressed to my parents, not to me (I was footing the bill for this). I sent the check for the <strong>application</strong> back (H’s application fee is online). Finally, they then clear me to select classes - and I send in <strong>another</strong> check, and was finally cleared a few weeks before courses started. </p>

<p>Anyway - your D will love it. H organizes all sorts of stuff for the summer students - trips to the Sox, Tanglewood, you name it. Congrats to her!</p>

6

<p>Soozie, I missed this thread along the way. My son’s enrolled in a similar program at Columbia this summer. Sure sounds like fun, doesn’t it? We’ll have to compare notes in the fall.</p>

<p>My son, like your daughter, chose to go the liberal arts route instead of architecture for undergrad. He’s still vacilating between museum work and architecture (maybe a combination of both) and a few other ideas like education.</p>

<p>He’s been interning at the Williams College museum and that’s been a very rewarding experience, but I’m not sure he has the stamina to go for the PhD that is required for the top curatorial positions.</p>

<p>So . . . we’ll see how architecture appeals.</p>