Harvard University - Academics

The teachers are incredibly...

The teachers are incredibly passionate, deep people. Sure, they often can be difficult to understand and obnoxiously tough, but if you take the time to talk with them, their passion is inspiring. The teaching fellows are often better than the professors are because they are more realistic and reachable. As for classes, it depends on the topic of the class, the teacher, and the personality of the student. Some of the required classes are interesting, some aren’t.

My first encounter with a Harvard...

My first encounter with a Harvard professor left me simply dumbfounded. As a naïve freshman, I dared to argue about the author James Joyce with my professor, who I later found out had just won an international book award for his criticism of Modernist literature. I thought he might be the exception, but many courses later I have found that nearly every professor approaches undergraduate education with a rare combination of excellence and enthusiasm. However, to avoid sounding like Harvard’s admission guide, I must admit that occasionally, and especially in the Government department, you will come across professors who allow their views to heavily bias their lectures and the selection of course readings.

You’re lucky if you ever meet your...

You’re lucky if you ever meet your professor in almost every class. Graduate students do the majority of the instruction. Some of them are good teachers, and some of them are not. Classes can be interesting, but those are often the hardest ones. A lot of requirements are painful experiences, such as statistics.

The hardest part about Harvard is...

The hardest part about Harvard is getting in. Frankly, it's easy to get by in classes without doing the readings and or putting in the effort, and too many kids choose that path.

The professors are approachable,...

The professors are approachable, no matter if they teach large or small classes. Office hours are weekly, so it’s a matter of the student being brave enough to introduce themselves. Also, teachers, despite the reputation of being wholly devoted to their research, do like it when undergrads approach them. Classes are interesting depending on the professor’s ability to engage students as well as a students’ own personal preferences. The key to an interesting class is finding a talented professor, even if the subject material isn’t totally what you would think is interesting.