College Life
Advice from Harvard's Class of 2009
Compiled/Edited by Lisa Ackerman
Summer 2009
Ever wonder what Harvard seniors would have done differently if they could do it all over again? What their best advice is on picking the right classes? What tips they might have for finding a job, choosing an organization, or just generally having a fantastic four years at Harvard? Well, Freeze talked to seniors Andrea Daniel, Jason Kirschner, Rafael Garcia, Sandy Bolm, Trevor Frankel, Nicole Gandia, and Jennifer Love, and they shared their hard-earned wisdom with us!
Academics
"Never be afraid of office hours." ~Jennifer Love
Even TF's office hours can be useful:
"TFs often grade your paper more favorably if you took the time to meet with them and subsequently implement their recommendations." ~Nicole Gandia
"REALLY take some time to consider your concentration. Even if you think you're definitely sold on one, try classes in a few that you think you could like before you say for certain." ~Sandy Bolm
And when you're gathering advice for your concentration, make sure to ask the people who know it best:
"Completely ignore formal academic advising and simply sit down and talk with a senior in your concentration. They will give you the best advice, hands down." ~Rafael Garcia
"Work hard in your earlier Harvard years and you will be able to take it easier in Senior spring!" ~Sandy Bolm
"Take Positive Psychology even if it seems like a joke course." ~Jason Kirschner
"Fulfill core requirements with departmental classes." ~Andrea Daniel
"It's often good to balance classes with final papers and finals. 2 and 2 or 3 and 1 is better than 4 of the same." ~Nicole Gandia
"Don't worry about how your grades compare to those of your classmates. College is about learning a lot more than academic stuff; make sure you take it all in. And chances are, your grades are better than you think." ~Sandy Bolm
"Don't do a secondary field. Won't help you do anything, but it'll waste a lot of your electives." ~Trevor Frankel
Don't forget to broaden your horizons:
"Study languages. Employers really appreciate having bilingual/trilingual applicants." ~Nicole Gandia
"If at all possible, study abroad. Go as far out of your comfort zone as you can. This will be one of the most amazing, formative experiences of your life, it is completely worth it!" ~Sandy Bolm
Extracurriculars
"Get involved in activities early on at Harvard." ~Sandy Bolm
But remember...
"You should always try something new, even if it's senior spring." ~Jennifer Love
Choose your organizations and activities carefully:
Join clubs based on what you love. "Don't opt out of a dance, drama, or whatever club because you think it's not as good of a leadership extracurricular." ~Nicole Gandia
"Don't get involved in 1 million clubs – it's better to have a couple in which you hold a leadership position than to spread yourself so thin that you appear irresponsible or unable to handle whatever they throw at you." ~Nicole Gandia
And once you join them, really dedicate yourself:
"The more that you give to an organization, the more you get back." ~Jennifer Love
Career/Summer Plans
"Only pursue consulting/banking if you truly feel passionate about finance." ~Nicole Gandia
"If you are not going to grad school in the specific area of your potential thesis, and/or are not planning on getting a PhD in that area either, then you don't need a thesis to be an excellent candidate for an excellent school/job." ~Nicole Gandia
"Don't go back home the first summer after freshman year. I did and it was OK, but I realize that I could have really benefited from a new experience instead of just going home to a familiar one." ~Jason Kirschner
Start early!:
"Take advantage of organizations/tools to create a good resume/cover letter early on. You don't want to leave this for your junior/senior year. Also, take advantage of mock interviews since there will always be room for improvement in this area." ~Nicole Gandia
"For undergrads who want the best summer jobs, start looking in the fall! It's amazing that you need to start that early, but it's really for the best." ~Jason Kirschner
Life at Harvard
"With a little creativity and a lot of practice, you can make a gourmet meal out of HUDS food." ~Jennifer Love
"Cry when you need to cry, and never be afraid to ask for whatever help you need. Someone out there is just waiting to listen to you." ~Sandy Bolm
"Pick roommates not just based on friendship but on compatibility. Having stability and no drama in a room can go a long way making you feel comfortable, focused, productive and happy." ~Nicole Gandia
"Have a few different groups of friends. It will make your life more interesting. At the same time, don't forget to neglect your best friends. You will need each others' support!" ~Sandy Bolm
"Have fun with a good school/social life balance. Obviously you're here to study, but it's more important to have as many social experiences with our friends as possible, because you never know what might happen in the future. Staying in touch is hard, so do something about it now and have fun while it's still easy!" ~Jason Kirschner
"Get to know your house. Befriend the masters and SCR members. These people are huge resources!" ~Sandy Bolm
"Don't be afraid to use your time in college as a means of personal growth. Challenge yourself to attend to the deeper workings of your heart and those of others. Really talk to people. At Harvard, it is easy for all of our relationships to be on a more-or-less superficial level because of our general lack of time, but if you take time to learn about yourself and the people around you on a deep, true level, you'll never regret it." ~Andrea Daniel
Finally, from nearly every senior we talked to:
Enjoy your time here at Harvard. It'll go by too fast.
Congratulations and good luck to the class of '09!
