Harvard Instituting Remedial Math Class

[Anonymous]

I work in Boston and the quality of our Harvard interviewees has tumbled vs MIT (undergrad)

And for the b school, there is a lot more variation

While hbs is ranked higher than Sloan, there are fewer if any duds at Sloan — but you cannot say that for hbs these days

Not really sure how they are assessing candidates at Harvard but they aren’t getting the intellectual cream of the crop nor are they getting the stereotypical “ivy chad”

MIT and BC are putting out young alums that are more clear in their strengths while H is a mess

[Anonymous]

You don’t say?

https://careerservices.upenn.edu/channels/apply-to-graduate-and-professional-school/But

[Anonymous]

That was in response to first of all there’s no prelaw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Either Covid learning loss was worse than we thought (and we know it was really bad) or test optional is a complete failure.

Harvard students don’t know algebra?

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/9/3/new-math-intro-course/

The Harvard Math Department will pilot a new introductory course aimed at rectifying a lack of foundational algebra skills among students, according to Harvard’s Director of Introductory Math Brendan A. Kelly.

Are we surprised? How many Asian kids in there?!?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I assume this is directed at first gen students, but still seems pretty nuts.

But even they are expected to do very very well on standardized tests to be admitted. Plus have taken math through calculus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard likes pointy kids, so there are some who aren't as strong in math but are spectacular at other things. Not a surprise.

My sister has a degree from Yale, but she would struggle to pass even a basic algebra class. She has significant learning disabilities in math. But that doesn't mean she isn't brilliant. She is killing her career and may very well win a Tony someday.

And if your sister is white and otherwise unhooked, no way should would have gotten admitted in today’s landscape

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Either Covid learning loss was worse than we thought (and we know it was really bad) or test optional is a complete failure.

Harvard students don’t know algebra?

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/9/3/new-math-intro-course/

The Harvard Math Department will pilot a new introductory course aimed at rectifying a lack of foundational algebra skills among students, according to Harvard’s Director of Introductory Math Brendan A. Kelly.

I am sure Harvard can find qualified TAs or peer tutors down the street at MIT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don’t say?

https://careerservices.upenn.edu/channels/apply-to-graduate-and-professional-school/But

Broken link

[Anonymous]

The Wall Street Journal has a good article about everyone ditching the Ivys and heading south.

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/sorry-harvard-everyone-wants-to-go-to-college-in-the-south-now-235d7934?mod=hp_lead_pos7

Students want to get away from the highly politicized atmosphere of the northeast universities. Students also saw the southern colleges open for business during Covid instead of in the extreme shutdowns of the northeast. Residents and students are friendlier also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That was in response to first of all there’s no prelaw

ABA says any major. A specific pre-law major is not needed: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/pre_law/


This article says a traditional pre-law major can make you less competitive: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/articles/what-aspiring-lawyers-should-know-about-prelaw-majors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in Boston and the quality of our Harvard interviewees has tumbled vs MIT (undergrad)

And for the b school, there is a lot more variation

While hbs is ranked higher than Sloan, there are fewer if any duds at Sloan — but you cannot say that for hbs these days

Not really sure how they are assessing candidates at Harvard but they aren’t getting the intellectual cream of the crop nor are they getting the stereotypical “ivy chad”

MIT and BC are putting out young alums that are more clear in their strengths while H is a mess

This doesn't surprise me. When I was growing up and in young adulthood, the people I encountered attending or graduating from Harvard were not only bright, but critical thinkers with a profound sense od duty to give back to their community or the world at large. Now when I counter teens attending or recent graduates, I think..."Really, Harvard?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in Boston and the quality of our Harvard interviewees has tumbled vs MIT (undergrad)

And for the b school, there is a lot more variation

While hbs is ranked higher than Sloan, there are fewer if any duds at Sloan — but you cannot say that for hbs these days

Not really sure how they are assessing candidates at Harvard but they aren’t getting the intellectual cream of the crop nor are they getting the stereotypical “ivy chad”

MIT and BC are putting out young alums that are more clear in their strengths while H is a mess

You should try evaluating the Harvard students along more holistic parameters. There's more to life than just being book smart, dontcha know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I assume this is directed at first gen students, but still seems pretty nuts.

But even they are expected to do very very well on standardized tests to be admitted. Plus have taken math through calculus

No, calculus is not required for admissions anywhere in the US except Caltech

[Anonymous]

Some people don’t seem to understand this is a plus for Harvard — it has so much resources in Math that it is able to offer many different level of freshman math classes to suit a wide variety of students’ capabilities. For a lot of students who have taken multi variable calculus in HS, Harvard offers math 18, 19 …25, to 55 the hardest math class in the country.

If you are humanities focused during HS, you have this option of reinforcing your learning algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people don’t seem to understand this is a plus for Harvard — it has so much resources in Math that it is able to offer many different level of freshman math classes to suit a wide variety of students’ capabilities. For a lot of students who have taken multi variable calculus in HS, Harvard offers math 18, 19 …25, to 55 the hardest math class in the country.

If you are humanities focused during HS, you have this option of reinforcing your learning algebra.

Math 55 is just a regular course now, but it's a double course for single credit to make it seem more elite and to discourage students from taking a math degree with fewer total courses.