Harvard University
Throw away all your previous conceptions of Harvard University. Contrary to popular belief, Harvard isn’t the pretentious, snobby rich kid persona you see in movies. I decided to commit to Harvard because it would help me grow the most out of any other choices I had. As someone raised in the sunny, laid-back culture of southern California, I needed a completely different environment to truly make the most of my college experience. Harvard embodies everything out of my comfort zone: a different climate, a different culture, a different rigor, even a different coast. Rather than studying in a Californian school, studying at Harvard can help me grow not only as a student but also as an individual within a larger society. Although Harvard is a research university with many graduate programs, it still provides a caring, dedicated support to its undergraduate students with a liberal arts education that challenges students and prepares them for any future, regardless of major. What Harvard truly emphasizes is thought, which is evident by the intellectual curiosity and genuine, collaborative, enthusiastic spirit of the student community. Everyone at Harvard is there because they want to be there, which can motivate you and inspire you to be better. Furthermore, the campus community is strengthened by the residential college system, a housing system that is one of the defining traits of the Harvard experience. Incoming freshman fill out a housing form, which a committee evaluates and uses to pair up roommates based on interests, personalities, and living habits in order to create the best matches. After freshman year, students can live in a house together for the rest of their undergraduate years; inevitably, this creates a close-knit, family-like culture within the Harvard community. In terms of the academic experience, Harvard supports its students with the care of a very affluent yet attentive mother. With the largest endowment in the world, the university has more than enough resources to support each student’s goals and aspirations, whether it be research, internships, study abroad, or other outside pursuits. Because of its immense endowment, Harvard also provides unparalleled financial aid. For families with incomes of $65,000 or less, Harvard upholds a promise of full financial support with zero (yes, ZERO) parental contribution. For those of you worried about affording college, institutions like Harvard, which may have seemed financially unattainable, can actually save you money compared to other schools! As for life outside of academia, Boston is the place to be. Harvard is integrated within the city: by walking to classes or different areas of campus, you’re automatically immersed in the vibrant life of Cambridge. Harvard is close to all sorts of delicious food stops and stores, such as Insomnia Cookies, which is the plug for late-night snacks for those cramming hours. As a main stop for concert tours and popular venues, Boston is arguably one of the best cities on the east coast--and this is all accessible through the T, the main public transit system in Boston. Of course, this profile wouldn’t be complete without addressing the elephant in the room. Indeed, Harvard’s name carries significant weight with it. Attending Harvard opens a gate to a world of opportunities and connections that can support you for life. However, by now, you have hopefully realized that a college’s name isn’t the only thing to look out for. Harvard’s name may bring influence and networking with it, but Harvard isn’t a great school solely because of its name; it’s a great school because of the reputation of innovation and intellectual curiosity it has fostered for generations. Regardless of your major, you will grow immensely at Harvard University where everyone has the same goal: to make a difference in the world.
