Harvard V. Stanford Decision HELP!!!

twinmom
Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:09:12 +0000

Otech: I’ll speak to #2, #3 and #6 regarding Harvard …

2 It is not that a professor pushes his teaching responsibilities to a TF. That is the way the class structure is set up. Some professors, for example, Greg Mankiw, the famed EC10 professor, only lecture five times each semester. Most of the teaching is indeed done in small sections by the TFs in classes like these. Grading is often done by outside trained graders to ensure standardization. Smaller classes are generally taught by the professors.

3 There are definitely preppy trust fund babies at Harvard. However, Harvard if probably one of the (if not the) most diverse campuses in this country. You will find all kinds of people; most are eager to make friends. Who you hang out with will depend on the people you seek out through your E.C.s and housing. It is not uncommon for blocking groups to include very rich people and people on full financial aid. The final clubs are elitist.

6 Harvard is not cut throat. Students are competitive with themselves. No one is tearing pages out of books. Students are indeed up late studying, more often with a study group than not. They do indeed help one another. Few ever know what grades their peers have received on a test or in a course.

Best of luck with your decision. You have wonderful choices!