<p>What’s Harvard bad at? (In all aspects of college life) What academic subjects, if any, is it not one of the best?</p>
<p>I chose Y over H because I thought one of its weaknesses was that it pretended it didn’t have any weaknesses–it was the best university ever, period, don’t ask questions, and feel lucky if you get in. Personally, too, I think it’s not undergrad-focused enough, and I don’t like the way the English department runs, and I hate the way the housing system works–to me, the way you get sorted into Houses sophomore year guarantees just a bunch of cliques, which is silly. I also didn’t think the students were as down-to-earth, outgoing or fun to be with as Yale students.</p>
<p>But really, these are all just my perceptions. What somebody dislikes about a school like Harvard (or Yale) is going to be somebody else’s favorite aspect of the school. You have to do research (or visit, if you can) and figure it out for yourself.</p>
<p>If you want to know Harvard’s weaknesses that are real and that matter, I suggest you focus on input people who actually went to Harvard or are otherwise connected with it rather than that of Yalies or others from rival schools who have never attended.</p>
<p>From my perspective as a Harvard parent I thought Harvard’s weaknesses were:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Freshman advising - it’s kind of random. Your advisor is your dorm proctor who may or may not know anything about the needs and requirements for your concentration.</p></li>
<li><p>Dorm and House rooms seemed a little run-down to me. They could use some renovation.</p></li>
<li><p>No student union buidling. The Science Center serves as an adequate functional equivalent, but they could use the real thing.</p></li>
<li><p>They have way too many Deans with overlapping responsibilities and empires. I never could figure out who exactly was in charge. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I think the lack-of-undergrad focus is a canard put about by people who never went there. Harvard College (the undergrad school) is the true heart of Harvard University. Graduates of the College are considered to be the real Harvardians.</p>
<p>I sure don’t think Harvard is perfect by any means, but it does many, many things very well. Should you be admitted you will very likely love your four years there. Every Harvard kid I know did.</p>
<p>Hey, just to elaborate on some of coureur’s points:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>My roommate’s adviser is also our entryway’s proctor. However, that isn’t always the case. Most academic advisers are faculty members associated with Harvard somehow–and many are professors. While it is a bit random who your academic adviser actually is, I think overall they do a good job of pairing you up with someone who can help you pursue your interests. Also, if your adviser cannot answer a specific question that you have or cannot help you out with something, they will point you to a person who can. I think I can speak for most students here that advising is a definite STRENGTH for Harvard. </p></li>
<li><p>Some dorms and houses are indeed run-down compared to others. However, they’re not undesirable by any means. It’s definitely not something that should discourage anyone from attending Harvard.</p></li>
<li><p>There’s a strong student movement towards a legitimate campus center which seems to be making great progress. I wouldn’t be surprised if Harvard has a student center in the very near future.</p></li>
<li><p>Harvard does have a lot of deans and governing bodies. haha</p></li>
</ol>
<p>And finally, as coureur said, you will be hard pressed to find a Harvard student who would rather have gone somewhere else. Everyone I’ve met loves it here.</p>
<p>“There’s a strong student movement towards a legitimate campus center which seems to be making great progress. I wouldn’t be surprised if Harvard has a student center in the very near future.”</p>
<p>Not according to my kid who is one of those students involved in trying to raise money. They have hardly raised anything compared to the sum that is needed.</p>
<p>I think that Harvard is a rotten place to be sick, physically or mentally. It runs at 100 miles an hour all the time. If you have a health problem that slows you down, it will run right over you and leave you in the dust. Your friends will help you, of course, but there’s only so much they can do. The suggested solution is usually to take the rest of the semester away from school to deal with the problem, and it’s a good idea, because Harvard just doesn’t have a slower speed. I’m not sure what the school could do to change this, but it is a down side for sure.</p>
<p>There have been lots of threads on this subject over the years.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/52622-what-worst-things-about-harvard.html?highlight=final[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/52622-what-worst-things-about-harvard.html?highlight=final</a></p>
<p>Southeast, it’s really too bad you didn’t do your research, because you are just listing unqualified rumors and conjectures you heard (because I heard some of those similar things before spending a few night here in April for example “not undergrad focused” “bad community” “unhappy students” etc). First off, people here are outgoing, I don’t know how you can say they aren’t. If you want to play games, well a lot of them also got in to Yale and chose to come here, so many of the people are the same types of people that Yale accepted. The way you get sorted into houses does not generate a bunch of cliques, it in fact helps the more reserved people find their group of friends and exposes you to people you would have never met otherwise. Also, a house is big (150 students?), and a blocking group (8 people) just guarantees you’ll be in the same house. Other than that, you socialize with everyone. Also, as a freshman since everyone lives in the yard and eats in Annenberg, you get to know people in your class very well before living with upperclassmen. Not undergrad focused enough? I would argue it’s the opposite. It’s overly focused on undergrads. Grad schools get much less funding compared to the college. Also, as part of the college you get to take classes at or with teachers from the school of government, arts and sciences, divinity school, public health school etc, which is a fantastic resource. And you get guaranteed seats at all events, lectures, seminars, etc. at these schools (as opposed to having a lottery for master teas at Yale which are closed off to the majority of the student population). I could go on and on. </p>
<p>Probably one of the few weaknesses would be the houses aren’t renovated in the basements with modern, high tech lounges that you can find at Yale, but really? that’s not important compared to all the benefits you get from going here. Another possible weakness that is the case at many larger schools is having teaching fellows for large intro courses – these can be great or mediocre. You usually have sections once a week to add to the lectures. Hanna is right though, this place runs quickly. Miss a week of school and you’ll be 500 pages behind on the reading in one class and an essay behind in another. But the funding, professors, atmosphere, etc. overall is fantastic.</p>
<p>I was planning on responding, and then found that Coureur wrote my response for me.</p>
<p>Southeast was very clear that the post was only his/her perceptions. Lighten up, people.</p>
<p>Frankly, there is no way to have an unbiased answer to the question. People in general do not badmouth their own decisions, and cognitive dissonance virtually assures that people will be happy where they end up, at least at this level.</p>
<p>At a certain level, you can only make relative/comparative judgments about universities of a certain caliber, not statements about black and white weaknesses.</p>
<p>Are Yale’s math/science departments weaker than Harvard’s? Yes. Are Yale’s math/science departments still some of the best in the country? Yes.</p>
<p>If you’re a singer, will Yale offer you more options than Harvard will in terms of acapella groups, choruses, etc? Yes. Are Harvard’s singing groups some of the best in the country? Yes.</p>
<p>etc. (My questions are not meant to be quoted and shot down in replies because people are overly prideful of their respective schools; they’re meant to illustrate a point. They are both, however, totally true.)</p>
<p>Lol cognitive dissonance. </p>
<p>Yeah, esp. if you’re paying full freight. Then you REALLY want to think there’s nothing wrong with your school ;)</p>
<p>TigerDude is right.</p>
<p>But c’mon guys - you all aren’t answering the OP’s question. Obviously everyone knows Harvard is good. You know, the whole name brand recognition thing! But what are some things that might not be a fit for people/make people unhappy/etc.? That’s what the OP is asking about.</p>
<p>The break neck pace with little help/sympathy is one thing that people seem to be agreeing on. Anything else?</p>