Is Harvard over-rated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends what you value. If you value attention to undergraduate education, it might be over-rated. According to USNews, which has a separate rating for best undergraduate teaching at national universities, it's tied for #18, with Miami University (Ohio). Close to this area, it's quite possible your student would get better teaching at William & Mary (tied for #7) or UMBC (tied for #9).

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/undergraduate-teaching

(They have a similar ranking for liberal arts colleges: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/undergraduate-teaching)

I was trying to figure out how Elon could be at the tippy top of this list. Then I noticed that it’s generated by administrators voting on the degree to which a college prioritizes undergrads or something along those lines. I’m no Harvard booster, but I would consider this list fairly useless.

Administrators are correct that Harvard doesn't prioritize undergraduates, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends what you value. If you value attention to undergraduate education, it might be over-rated. According to USNews, which has a separate rating for best undergraduate teaching at national universities, it's tied for #18, with Miami University (Ohio). Close to this area, it's quite possible your student would get better teaching at William & Mary (tied for #7) or UMBC (tied for #9).

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/undergraduate-teaching

(They have a similar ranking for liberal arts colleges: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/undergraduate-teaching)

I was trying to figure out how Elon could be at the tippy top of this list. Then I noticed that it’s generated by administrators voting on the degree to which a college prioritizes undergrads or something along those lines. I’m no Harvard booster, but I would consider this list fairly useless.

Administrators are correct that Harvard doesn't prioritize undergraduates, though.

Oh for sure. But I think the list is presented as a ranking of excellence in undergraduate teaching or something along those lines. I’m not convinced that a bunch of booster-y administrators are going to be a reliable source to tell us where the best undergraduate education can be found. no disrespect meant to Elon, I hear it’s a lovely place, but number one for undergraduate education in the country??

[Anonymous]

Harvard is a celebrity school now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends what you value. If you value attention to undergraduate education, it might be over-rated. According to USNews, which has a separate rating for best undergraduate teaching at national universities, it's tied for #18, with Miami University (Ohio). Close to this area, it's quite possible your student would get better teaching at William & Mary (tied for #7) or UMBC (tied for #9).

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/undergraduate-teaching

(They have a similar ranking for liberal arts colleges: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/undergraduate-teaching)

I was trying to figure out how Elon could be at the tippy top of this list. Then I noticed that it’s generated by administrators voting on the degree to which a college prioritizes undergrads or something along those lines. I’m no Harvard booster, but I would consider this list fairly useless.

Administrators are correct that Harvard doesn't prioritize undergraduates, though.

Elon administrators are not acting as boosters. The list is generated by peer institutions. Not sure why a peer institution would boost another school.

Oh for sure. But I think the list is presented as a ranking of excellence in undergraduate teaching or something along those lines. I’m not convinced that a bunch of booster-y administrators are going to be a reliable source to tell us where the best undergraduate education can be found. no disrespect meant to Elon, I hear it’s a lovely place, but number one for undergraduate education in the country??

[Anonymous]

Harvard is #18, according to Forbes.
Out of some 4000 colleges and universities in the USA, #18 is elite. There's not much difference between #1 and #18.

[Anonymous]

Not likely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a super powerful brand, particularly its graduate schools and programs of study. Nothing I’ve heard about the undergrad experience ( 2nd hand) leads me to think it is an amazing college experience. Lots if TA led classes rather than professors, meh social life, super competitive environment full of boasty types. But for someone interested in the brand there’s nothing better.

This is my impression, too, based on the handful of students I know/have known. Not a stellar college experience but an amazing credential for the rest of your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Princeton is the overrated one (helped a lot over the last decade by USNWR). It really is HS and everyone else right now (many others are great but just not quite there).

Princeton offers a better undergraduate experience than either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends what you value. If you value attention to undergraduate education, it might be over-rated. According to USNews, which has a separate rating for best undergraduate teaching at national universities, it's tied for #18, with Miami University (Ohio). Close to this area, it's quite possible your student would get better teaching at William & Mary (tied for #7) or UMBC (tied for #9).

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/undergraduate-teaching

(They have a similar ranking for liberal arts colleges: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/undergraduate-teaching)

Harvard doesn't do nearly as well on the ranking below either.

https://lesshighschoolstress.com/blog/6/

But that doesn't at all mean it's overrated. It's an amazing place to get an education. There are just many other places to do so, too.

[Anonymous]

Yes, absolutely. Everyone know it’s overrated.

[Anonymous]

Sure, op, if it makes you feel better about not getting I'm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a super powerful brand, particularly its graduate schools and programs of study. Nothing I’ve heard about the undergrad experience ( 2nd hand) leads me to think it is an amazing college experience. Lots if TA led classes rather than professors, meh social life, super competitive environment full of boasty types. But for someone interested in the brand there’s nothing better.

+1

[Anonymous]

Nothing says "prestige" like the Harvard brand. I will say when I went to undergrad there, a certain set of young male undergraduates used the Harvard name to pick up women - they called it "dropping the H-bomb." It was disgusting then and still seems to exist in the final clubs, which still exist, because of the alumni.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard's okay if you like old buildings and cold weather but all the savvy DCUM families send their kids to Clemson and Auburn nowadays.

Defeated on the other thread so had to smile here. Sad yet telling.

[Anonymous]

Harvard has a ton of money, top scholars, and a lot of really intelligent people as faculty, staff, and students. However, the biggest priority is not undergrad education. If a student can take advantage of the environment, it can be totally worth it. Just don’t expect the experience to be catered to you pedigogical development like a SLAC.