Harvard is perhaps the most overrated institution of higher learning in America. This is not to imply that Harvard isn’t a good school - on the contrary, Harvard is an excellent school. But its reputation creates an unattainable standard; no school could ever be as good as most people think Harvard is. -Student, Harvard College I take every opportunity to make an example out of Harvard. But it isn't Harvard's fault. I would absolutely support my student in going to Harvard if the student really believed it was the right school for them. But for most, there is nothing more attracting a student to this school than any other. They want the name. This is our fault. Schools, parents, friends, media. We create this obsession and lose focus of the experience. And unless the Harvard experience is really right for a particular student, it is wrong for them. I came upon the below videos by a student of Harvard. We can say the same things over and over about the "costs" of an education at highly selective colleges, but no one wants to hear it. Perhaps words from a student who lived it will carry more weight and make people think for a minute about what they really want for their experience.
In a related talk and longer version, Alex continues to make his point. He starts off with an analogy of "Where's Waldo." He says the reason it is so hard to find Waldo is that Waldo looks like everyone else. So when you are trying to find the applicant in a pool of similar applicants, you don't stand out. And note the examples he uses of things people try to do to "stand out." Do any sound familiar? About a third of students I work with each year think these are the things they need to do to rise above. What does that tell you?
I wish students would stop worrying about these few schools and just worry about how to be AWESOME.
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AuthorOlder blog posts were for the UCLA Ext course "Using the Internet for College Counseling" Archives
February 2023
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