Harvard social life -- explain the paradox

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Harvard students an anxious, pre-professional bunch. Like they’re not swamped with academics (unless they choose a hard major), but are busy trying to do internships, research, and clubs.

Also - look who they admit. They don’t seem to like well rounded, smart kids but mostly kids who are packaged in a certain way. At our school, they like the activist types (not to be derogatory) who created their own initiatives. Well in that case, you can’t be surprised those kids aren’t the type to have school spirit or create a fun atmosphere.

Interesting. Does Yale have a different type, or is everything pretty bad now?

[Anonymous]

Do the Finals clubs no longer have parties?

[Anonymous]

I have a Harvard freshman who is having a blast on Saturday nights (nothing happening the night before games). He's an athlete, but hangs with a number of non-athletes who are very social.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a Harvard freshman who is having a blast on Saturday nights (nothing happening the night before games). He's an athlete, but hangs with a number of non-athletes who are very social.

Where do they find parties? Are freshman allowed to go to final clubs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is said to be less focused on academics than most elite colleges and Harvard students are said to be more focused on a kind of pre-professional networking. At the same time, it is said to be have a relatively poor social scene and a worse party scene than any of the other top schools, particularly for freshman. This seems like a contradiction to me. Wouldn't a school obsessed with schmoozing and networking be known for its vibrant social scene?

I guess if the height of a social scene is networking and coffee chats?

Harvard has a fine social scene, and it’s a good place to go to college (obviously), but it is a very preprofessional space.

My sense is that everyplace is like this now.

Nope

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the Finals clubs no longer have parties?

I think the problem is that they don't let non-members in (or at least non-members who are not women)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a Harvard freshman who is having a blast on Saturday nights (nothing happening the night before games). He's an athlete, but hangs with a number of non-athletes who are very social.

Where do they find parties? Are freshman allowed to go to final clubs?

I don't know whether he has gone to any final club events, but beyond the usual stuff in dorms, there is a surprisingly large number of kids with apartments (or access to apartments) in Cambridge and Boston that are throwing parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is said to be less focused on academics than most elite colleges and Harvard students are said to be more focused on a kind of pre-professional networking. At the same time, it is said to be have a relatively poor social scene and a worse party scene than any of the other top schools, particularly for freshman. This seems like a contradiction to me. Wouldn't a school obsessed with schmoozing and networking be known for its vibrant social scene?

I guess if the height of a social scene is networking and coffee chats?

Harvard has a fine social scene, and it’s a good place to go to college (obviously), but it is a very preprofessional space.

My sense is that everyplace is like this now.

Nope

Ok, so what's different?

[Anonymous]

I went to MIT which had a pretty vibrant social scene. We have a such Greek scene. Parties usually corresponded to getting past key testing schedules or holidays.

I never, literally never met a Harvard student at a party but to be fair that part of Boston is pretty far from their part of Cambridge.

MIT has long pushed for all Greeks to come back on campus. Thankfully, they can't force the issue because it probably wouldn't be as great if so.

I think the network is more post-graduation but it's also in the grade inflation. Harvard 4.0 >>>> MIT 3.0 to most graduate institutions which is frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Yale has a lot of social events and parties. It is much more well rounded than Harvard.

[Anonymous]

The super rich kids in Harvard - admitted courtesy donation etc- are having a ball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got to see Harvard's campus in person for the first time a few months ago. To say I was underwhelmed would be putting it lightly. It looked and felt like a boarding school.

That's because boarding schools are designed to look and feel like Harvard!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is said to be less focused on academics than most elite colleges and Harvard students are said to be more focused on a kind of pre-professional networking. At the same time, it is said to be have a relatively poor social scene and a worse party scene than any of the other top schools, particularly for freshman. This seems like a contradiction to me. Wouldn't a school obsessed with schmoozing and networking be known for its vibrant social scene?

OP, unless you're 16 - 17 years old and looking at schools yourself, why would you possibly care about this? Genuinely interested as to why you would expend the brain cells to even think about this, let alone post about it.

+1. Envious Harvard bashing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got to see Harvard's campus in person for the first time a few months ago. To say I was underwhelmed would be putting it lightly. It looked and felt like a boarding school.

“A few months ago” would have been summer. You can troll better if you like

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard is said to be less focused on academics than most elite colleges and Harvard students are said to be more focused on a kind of pre-professional networking. At the same time, it is said to be have a relatively poor social scene and a worse party scene than any of the other top schools, particularly for freshman. This seems like a contradiction to me. Wouldn't a school obsessed with schmoozing and networking be known for its vibrant social scene?

Says WHO OP?