Has Harvard turned a corner?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I wouldn't send my kids there now." I keep hearing this over and over. My mom literally just sent me an email how she ran into grandparents from my kids' HS who were Harvard alums--undergrad and law and said they wouldn't send their own kids there now.

Do you think this is true? Or do you think this is just something people say?

For instance, my kid has been accepted in-state to UVA, WM, etc. If he gets into Harvard RD--would people in that situation really NOT send their kids to Harvard if they had the $$? Or is it more just this hypothetical thing. I have heard people say the same about other Ivies too.

I'm an alum and my junior is planning to apply next year. I'm fine with that, though I also know it's not DC's first choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More kids will be picking their other admits, like Princeton, MIT, Stanford, etc over the H.

How could you even know that. And how many students get accepted to Harvard, Princeton, MIT and Stanford?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I wouldn't send my kids there now." I keep hearing this over and over. My mom literally just sent me an email how she ran into grandparents from my kids' HS who were Harvard alums--undergrad and law and said they wouldn't send their own kids there now.

Do you think this is true? Or do you think this is just something people say?

For instance, my kid has been accepted in-state to UVA, WM, etc. If he gets into Harvard RD--would people in that situation really NOT send their kids to Harvard if they had the $$? Or is it more just this hypothetical thing. I have heard people say the same about other Ivies too.

There was similar...perhaps one could argue louder chatter during the last 1960s and early 1970s over Vietnam and protesting on college campuses such as Harvard.

Seems to eventually fade. Maybe this time is different, but I doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More kids will be picking their other admits, like Princeton, MIT, Stanford, etc over the H.

How could you even know that. And how many students get accepted to Harvard, Princeton, MIT and Stanford?

Good point...it's also kind of hysterical that these schools aren't much different in terms of the problems highlighted at Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More kids will be picking their other admits, like Princeton, MIT, Stanford, etc over the H.

How could you even know that. And how many students get accepted to Harvard, Princeton, MIT and Stanford?

Good point...it's also kind of hysterical that these schools aren't much different in terms of the problems highlighted at Harvard.

If a kid is accepted into one, the chance of a kid getting into at least another of these peer schools is pretty good.

[Anonymous]

I did a search for Harvard in Decline, and I thought it was interesting that this article from The Crimson is from 2021:

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2021/4/13/faculty-say-harvard-standing-falling/

Over 40 percent of respondents to The Crimson’s survey of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences said they believe the University’s standing within higher education has fallen during the past decade.

[Anonymous]

Just anecdotally, I know two good friends who were admitted to Harvard last year and neither chose to attend (one to Yale and one to Stanford). I think this may have been different 10 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Harvard's standing is and remains so assured that you do not see people rushing to defend it on DCUM or elsewhere. Contrast that with other schools that are discussed on DCUM

I have no affiliation with Harvard. I wish I did.

[Anonymous]

I am an alum. Used to be very active but no longer- and I am giving no more $. My three DCs did not even apply.

There is a lot of arrogance “Harvard standing is so assured…!” This sums up the Harvard entitled attitude, which I have come to find is not how I wanted to raise my kids.

[Anonymous]

Another great Harvard graduate term “dropping the H-bomb” meaning of course that people would be so wowed by the Harvard name that they would be obliterated into radioactive rubble due to shock and awe. This used to be used by Harvard men going to bars implying they could get any girl they wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another great Harvard graduate term “dropping the H-bomb” meaning of course that people would be so wowed by the Harvard name that they would be obliterated into radioactive rubble due to shock and awe. This used to be used by Harvard men going to bars implying they could get any girl they wanted.

bitter much? I went there. This isn't true. It's lore, but it's used by those who didn't get in. And everyone knows it. So what's the point of repeating these stories? Most H grads I know do everything possible to hide it and not reference it because everyone now knows (courtesy of Linked in) where everyone went to school. And they talk about it.

And, for the record, I stopped giving money when I read Gay's background/bio back in July when I was notified of her selection by the Harvard Corporation. She did not have the administrative experience, the professional experience or the necessary background to take on this position. That was clear and took all of two clicks. Then, after investiture, she failed from the get-go when she didn't respond to the pro-Palestinian protests. She was absent. She was also absent in Nov. and December when things got really ugly. In Rome on vacation. The Harvard Corp (the board) made a bad, political decision. I am one of those that thinks the entire board (really a popularity contest) should resign and the whole governance machine reinvented. It is a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"I wouldn't send my kids there now." I keep hearing this over and over. My mom literally just sent me an email how she ran into grandparents from my kids' HS who were Harvard alums--undergrad and law and said they wouldn't send their own kids there now.

Do you think this is true? Or do you think this is just something people say?

For instance, my kid has been accepted in-state to UVA, WM, etc. If he gets into Harvard RD--would people in that situation really NOT send their kids to Harvard if they had the $$? Or is it more just this hypothetical thing. I have heard people say the same about other Ivies too.

I'm an alum. Harvard is getting no more money for me. My kids and grandkids are not going there.

It was never an option to begin with unless they were accepted.

Socling stay: 93% of Harvard applicants end up choosing to not enroll.

Harvard has an 82% yield rate, choose to enroll.

[Anonymous]

This thread is bonkers. 99% of DCUM would do anything to get their DC into Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is bonkers. 99% of DCUM would do anything to get their DC into Harvard.

Someone has too be the congratulation and pretend that Princeton and Stanford are less woke/elitist/arrogant. Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is bonkers. 99% of DCUM would do anything to get their DC into Harvard.

Someone has too be the congratulation and pretend that Princeton and Stanford are less woke/elitist/arrogant. Lol.

Ahem. Someone has to be the contrarian and pretend that Princeton and Stanford are less woke/elitist/arrogant. Lol.