Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Harvard on the Couch
Two recent issues have been in the news regarding Harvard, the nature of the experience and the fire over its boss. Harvard sits in the American consciousness as the Mecca of universities. While there are many universities that could legitimately say they are equal or better, Harvard sticks out in the American mind. Nobody can one-up you if you graduated Harvard. Not to leave anyone out, the other elites include Yale, Princeton, MIT, Michigan, Berkeley, Stanford and University of Chicago.
As far as being the "best" is concerned, there are some issues to explore. First, best at what? Different schools have their strengths and weaknesses. Second, best for whom? Certain styles and gestalts of a place can be a factor. The liberal elite climate of Harvard may put off the best and brightest from conservative middle-class America. Third is the geography itself. This has a certain social aspect and well as physical. Some do better in a smaller college town (Iowa or Davis). Others in a smaller city, perhaps the state capitol (Austin or Madison). Others to live in the big city (Columbia or UCLA). Climate is also a factor.
All those points aside, college is individual. Two people can have quite different experiences at the same school in the same major. How hard did you really study? Was it just the grade or did you seek to learn? Any outside reading at that incredible library? Who did you hang out with? Did you just get drunk and high? Any activities like student government, sports or arts? Did you check out the funky movies and music and bookstores?
So now let me expound on Harvard itself. I never went. Or to anything so elite. I was public Cowtown university. But I have dated two women from Harvard. One is an MD, the other a PhD psychologist. One is Indian, the other California blonde. Both share the same view. They say it is not the place of genius and brilliance. People are very bright and accomplished, which is a given. No alum status just to be a doctor or millionaire lawyer. You must do something grand to impress. Perhaps climbing Everest or sailing solo to Hawaii. Grades are a joke as it is nearly impossible to get lower than a B. It was a very stimulating place to be but lacked in rigor. There are too many other important things to do.
So, like all universities, its what you make of it. You certainly have a status calling card. You can make connections too. If I was in high school again and wanted to really live in the elite big money, Harvard would be a great place. I would have had to study, which I did not at all, to get the grades. Maybe get a sports in, something I would have not gotten at the Big Ten, Pac Ten or Big Twelve. Jock status would make up for middle class. Meet friends of the elite. Then onto banking or such with my old boy's network. Maybe marry a pretty debutante with wealthy dad. Whatever.
Now there is some crap about it being an elite school. Of course it is. It is private and damn expensive. Universities were social clubs one-hundred years ago for the elite to mix and even mate. If it is merit, then it is grades and test scores that determine admission. And the fact is that the more affluent do better here. They clearly do have better motivation and parental support. Their schools are likely much better. Homes likely have more books and they have more experiences such as travel and cultural events. They may even be genetically smarter. The cream tends to rise to the top. So deal with it.
The comments by its leader are another issue, dealing with academic freedom and pursuit of truth rather than PC nonsense.
So in conclusion, Harvard and its ilk are great universities and have much to offer. They are for the elites and so be it. America is blessed with many quality schools, many of them public and much less expensive. In the end it depends on the student. I had a great education at my Cow U. I could have made it much better in fact. I was not Harvard material by choice. My testosterone was much more important and I did not study in high school. As such I did not deserve to go. I judged private university to be too expensive anyways. To say I graduated Harvard would be cool, but that's just ego. Whatever.
As far as being the "best" is concerned, there are some issues to explore. First, best at what? Different schools have their strengths and weaknesses. Second, best for whom? Certain styles and gestalts of a place can be a factor. The liberal elite climate of Harvard may put off the best and brightest from conservative middle-class America. Third is the geography itself. This has a certain social aspect and well as physical. Some do better in a smaller college town (Iowa or Davis). Others in a smaller city, perhaps the state capitol (Austin or Madison). Others to live in the big city (Columbia or UCLA). Climate is also a factor.
All those points aside, college is individual. Two people can have quite different experiences at the same school in the same major. How hard did you really study? Was it just the grade or did you seek to learn? Any outside reading at that incredible library? Who did you hang out with? Did you just get drunk and high? Any activities like student government, sports or arts? Did you check out the funky movies and music and bookstores?
So now let me expound on Harvard itself. I never went. Or to anything so elite. I was public Cowtown university. But I have dated two women from Harvard. One is an MD, the other a PhD psychologist. One is Indian, the other California blonde. Both share the same view. They say it is not the place of genius and brilliance. People are very bright and accomplished, which is a given. No alum status just to be a doctor or millionaire lawyer. You must do something grand to impress. Perhaps climbing Everest or sailing solo to Hawaii. Grades are a joke as it is nearly impossible to get lower than a B. It was a very stimulating place to be but lacked in rigor. There are too many other important things to do.
So, like all universities, its what you make of it. You certainly have a status calling card. You can make connections too. If I was in high school again and wanted to really live in the elite big money, Harvard would be a great place. I would have had to study, which I did not at all, to get the grades. Maybe get a sports in, something I would have not gotten at the Big Ten, Pac Ten or Big Twelve. Jock status would make up for middle class. Meet friends of the elite. Then onto banking or such with my old boy's network. Maybe marry a pretty debutante with wealthy dad. Whatever.
Now there is some crap about it being an elite school. Of course it is. It is private and damn expensive. Universities were social clubs one-hundred years ago for the elite to mix and even mate. If it is merit, then it is grades and test scores that determine admission. And the fact is that the more affluent do better here. They clearly do have better motivation and parental support. Their schools are likely much better. Homes likely have more books and they have more experiences such as travel and cultural events. They may even be genetically smarter. The cream tends to rise to the top. So deal with it.
The comments by its leader are another issue, dealing with academic freedom and pursuit of truth rather than PC nonsense.
So in conclusion, Harvard and its ilk are great universities and have much to offer. They are for the elites and so be it. America is blessed with many quality schools, many of them public and much less expensive. In the end it depends on the student. I had a great education at my Cow U. I could have made it much better in fact. I was not Harvard material by choice. My testosterone was much more important and I did not study in high school. As such I did not deserve to go. I judged private university to be too expensive anyways. To say I graduated Harvard would be cool, but that's just ego. Whatever.
