Harvard University Reviews

"Don't believe the hype. This school is not what its hyped up to be. Filled with snobs who think they know it all and students who buy into the b.s. The stuffy attitude the faculty has is antiquated. The students are entitled brats. The administrative staff is rude."

"It's a really good school with too much to offer. Therefore people who get the most out of the school are those who have a set of skills they are seeking to get. I noticed that although work experience is not a requirement for admission, previous work experience is very helpful. There are also several versions of the degree so take your time to find one that is tailored to your need. Reach out! Reach out! Reach out!. The students are exceptionally helpful and the staff so ask questions via email ."

"HGSE is a phenomenal place to learn and grow as a practitioner, and I truly enjoyed my time there. The Beldn of theory and practice, the ability to support research and gain hands on experience were critical to my development. The faculty challenged us to think big, and the conversations with students was always provocative and inspiring. I found it so beneficial to be working in my field, and then stepping into class to analyze what I had just done, marry it to theories and best practices. I still talk about what I learned during my time at HGSE on a regular basis, and use the knowledge and expertise gained each day."

"Harvard University is a great academic environment. You will encounter mainly excellent professors, some of whom are truly brilliant, a very supportive environment and a cohort of students who are serious about their studies, intelligent and generally friendly. The Kennedy School of Government invests a great deal in ensuring that students bond with each other and develop interlocking relationships that help students navigate the campus and the tough courses. I participated in the Graduate Commons program which provides meal service for students so at every meal students ate together, which created relationships across schools and connected me to other students in the Kennedy School program. The only problem with Cronkhite, where I stayed, is that there is no air conditioning and it can be incredibly uncomfortable, humid and hot from July - late September. Fans are provided but at times it was very uncomfortable. Otherwise the facilities were great. We had two fully stocked kitchens where we could cook, store food, and eat on weekends when meals were not served. The Kennedy School program is short, so it's best to enter with a clear idea of what you want to accomplish. I am a mid-career student, but the school has a two-year MPP degree for students who are coming straight out of undergrad and have a few years experience. Kennedy has a new dean, so it is in a bit of a transition. It remains to be seen whether this dean will have as a dynamic an interpretation of the school's role as the last dean. With the turmoil we are experiencing in politics in this country, I do think there should be more focus on the challenges we are facing in America. Fifty percent of the mid-career students are international, and a lot of Harvard students are international in general. It's really great to meet people from other countries. It's very enriching, but also there seems to be a bit of a brain drain. The talents of our best professors are training students who take that knowledge back to their homes countries, so that intelligence is not serving American interests, especially now when our own society is experiencing political turmoil. Sometimes international students are not even interested in discussing American issues. Other than this concern I would say the Kennedy School is an excellent experience. It is a great place to incubate an new ngo or a new venture. There are a lot of supports for creating new businesses, both non and for-profit. The expertise available at the law school, business school, MIT, the design school are all accessible to anyone seeking to create a new business.. And several schools, including Kennedy, have innovation labs. Also, a lot of celebrated journalists, scientists, comedians, writers and scholars come to Harvard so it is a great place to hear from the greatest minds of our time. Harvard is expensive, and a lot of people don't go because of the cost. Harvard does have funding for students that can cut costs in half and a few students receive a full ride. If you are working on a degree that can allow you to pull in a high salary after you leave, it will pay for itself. If you are not, you may want to weigh the cost benefits. I'd say do it. It will pay maximum dividends in the future, and you will have a network of very supportive people who will help you throughout your career for the rest of your life."

"Immensely thoughtful. A great place for researchers and practitioners to come together and learn from one another and really consider what education for all looks like."

"College was a wonderful experience that expanded my boundaries and knowledge as a person. I learned much about myself in college."

"College is important to develop not just hard skills but also soft skills. It polishes you as an adult."

"Harvard is a very prestigious, well-known college that I would personally recommend. Great campus expierence, every is smart and nice."

"The university is the best instance where you can find a human being you never stop learning both intellectually and personally"

"I think the university is of importance but it is more the same student who determines how good can be in life and fully reach their goals"

"It is very hard. You will not have free time to do anything you want. Good luck kiddos."

"Follow your passion wherever it takes you. Do not waste your time or money in pursuit of something you are not passionate about."

"There are too many opportunities at Harvard; it is up to you to seek them out. Anything you want to major in, any club or activity you wish to pursue, you can do it. It can be overwhelming, but it is up to you to figure out what you want to do, what speakers you want to see, what shows you want to attend, what activities you want to participate in, what research you wish to conduct, etc. There are resources and advising that could help you out with this, but it is till up to you to take advantage of them. The students and professors here are excellent so it can be intimidating but inspiring to see what people have accomplished or what projects they are working on. In my opinion, it is through personal interactions with your peers and mentors that one gets the most out of one's time at Harvard. The classes are of varying quality; the professors are almost invariably brilliant, but how much time they put in or how well they teach might be suboptimal at times. The financial aid at Harvard is excellent and has only improved since my time there. My family paid less than half price for my 4 years (about what it would have cost at a state school), and many of friends whose families made less than $60k per annum received a full-ride. It's a great deal for the education and adventure that awaits at Harvard."

"The academics were decent. I would avoid interacting with other students."

"Great school and opportunities once there. Hardest part is getting in."

"I did my Master's degree part-time in the evenings through the Harvard University Extension School. It was a wonderful program that allowed me to work full-time and complete my degree at a pace which I could handle. The professors were wonderful, but I learned as much from my classmates who brought so much experience."

"The resources available to its students are unparalleled: with 800+ cases, world-renowned professors and bright, ambitious fellow students are set up for a great career. Additionally, the HBS focus on developing its students emotional intelligence is great, given their ambition of educating world-changing leaders."

"Incredibly impressed with what I've seen so far - blown away by the humility, authenticity and intelligence of both my classmates and professors. Incredibly impressed with what I've seen so far - blown away by the humility, authenticity and intelligence of both my classmates and professors."

"Attending Harvard was a blessing. The faculty, academic curriculum, and other resources are outstanding. However, what really made the experience special were the relationships I formed with my peers and classmates. These relationships have lasted well beyond school and will stick with my through out my career and personal life."

"Attending HBS was an extraordinary, life-changing experience. The opportunities are endless and the exposure is enormous."