A Harvard Education Isn't As Advertised

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It takes courage to call it straight while you're still a student there, so my hat is off to Alexander Heffner.
In 2005 the Boston Globe published a front page story about a survey of students at 31 elite private colleges, based on a leaked Harvard memo. http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2005/03/29/student_life_at_harvard_lags_peer_schools_poll_finds/ Some choice quotes from the article:
* "Harvard students are less satisfied with their undergraduate educations than the students at almost all of the COFHE schools," according to the memo, dated October 2004 and marked "confidential." "Harvard student satisfaction compares even less favorably to satisfaction at our closest peer institutions."
* "I think we have to concede that we are letting our students down," said Lawrence Buell, an English professor and former dean of undergraduate education.
The memo notes that Harvard's "satisfaction gap" has existed since at least 1994. That's probably the limit of the survey data. The problem certainly goes back to the 70s, when my experience (and that of my wife) was much as Heffner describes it. After decades, maybe centuries, neglect of undergraduates is part of the culture at Harvard.

Bill '79 of MA 4:54PM March 18, 2011

The wise words of Mark Twain leap to mind as I read this article-- Never let schooling interfere with your education. I believe that the author came to Harvard with unrealistic expectations for his classroom education-- he assumed that because Harvard was Harvard, it's a pinnacle of intellectual enlightenment and everything awesome. I don't think that's necessarily true (or even something that's realistic to assume). Harvard is an amazing school with rich resources for those who seek it, not a school that offers a significantly better experience in the classroom than every other college. As a junior here majoring in the sciences, I would also disagree that professor interactions are that difficult to come by-- most of my professors practically beg us to attend office hours and chat with them, but we're too busy to go. In my opinion, the best parts of Harvard are found outside the classroom. I learn from the amazing achievements of my classmates, through my extra curricular experiences, and research, which are all great things that are abundant at Harvard.

Elena '12 of MA 3:54PM March 18, 2011

Unfortunately, a very misleading and oversimplified argument describing an experience that was not mine in the slightest. But, I trust Harvard admits are smart enough to recognize anecdotal evidence when they see it, and to consider a wide range of sources before choosing which university is right for them.

Alyce '10 of CO 2:51PM March 18, 2011