Product Description

Introduction from the Author

In pop culture, Harvard University is almost synonymous with genius, brilliance, and success. And even though Harvard’s reputation alone certainly makes the University an attractive—and sometimes intimidating—place to earn a college education, the school remains a special place for many reasons unrelated to its reputation.

Specifically, Harvard continues to churn out cutting-edge academic findings and successful alumnae because of its ability to adapt to changing currents in culture and technology. No longer the white-bread home of the East Coast elite it once was, Harvard overflows with a degree of cultural diversity unmatched by few American colleges and universities. HarvardÂ’s recent technological improvements, including the construction of new computer labs and a wireless network, push the technological envelope and provide students the ability to tap into the vast resources of the Internet, no matter their location on campus. It is because of this adaptability that Harvard will certainly remain the Zeus among the pantheon of higher education across the globe.

But if youÂ’re reading this guide, it is probably because youÂ’re already somewhat aware of HarvardÂ’s reputation and resources, and wish to learn more about the University. For starters, Cambridge and Boston provide a rich setting for an already diverse Harvard University. Resources such as the largest library system and efficient public transportation make Harvard an appealing choice for students, whether they plan to research in the stacks of Widener Library or hunt for adventure and inspiration throughout Boston and Massachusetts. Oftentimes, students need not even leave Harvard Square for either because HarvardÂ’s student body hails from across the country and the world, producing a melting-pot of ideas and opinions.

However, this guide is not meant to restate the flowery sights and statistics of an admissions office view book. Instead, I hope it will help you answer the unmistakably important question of whether you would like to spend your college years at Harvard University. You will find important statistics and numbers, but more importantly, you will be exposed to the voice of the student body and learn the things that might just make the difference in your college selection. Ever wondered how to deal with a frigid New England winter? Have you ever fretted over the correlation between your possible professorÂ’s expertise and popularity, and the amount of access you will have to him or her? This guide will hopefully provide you with the answers to these questions and many more, while simultaneously increasing your insight into the college experience of a Harvard University student.

Dominic Hood
Harvard University

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #917630 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-01
• Released on: 2006-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 180 pages

Review
"...get viewpoints on a variety of topics from the student body, which is where the Prowler gets its roar." -- Melissa Kaplan, Boston Globe, May 23, 2004

"There is information on which schools have packed computer labs, which dorms are studious or riotous, ..." -- Ben Gilbert, The Washington Post, April 27, 2004

"This is the kind of information kids really want to know before they pick a college." -- Michelle Slatalla, The NY Times, March 9, 2006

"...get viewpoints on a variety of topics from the student body, which is where the Prowler gets its roar." --Melissa Kaplan, Boston Globe, May 23, 2004

"There is information on which schools have packed computer labs, which dorms are studious or riotous, ..." --Ben Gilbert, The Washington Post, April 27, 2004

"This is the kind of information kids really want to know before they pick a college." --Michelle Slatalla, The NY Times, March 9, 2006

About the Author
Welcome to College Prowler®

During the writing of College Prowler’s guidebooks, we felt it was critical that our content was unbiased and unaffiliated with any college or university. We think it’s important that our readers get honest information and a realistic impression of the student opinions on any campus—that’s why if any aspect of a particular school is terrible, we (unlike a campus brochure) intend to publish it. While we do keep an eye out for the occasional extremist—the cheerleader or the cynic—we take pride in letting the students tell it like it is. We strive to create a book that’s as representative as possible of each particular campus. Our books cover both the good and the bad, and whether the survey responses point to recurring trends or a variation in opinion, these sentiments are directly and proportionally expressed through our guides. College Prowler guidebooks are in the hands of students throughout the entire process of their creation. Because you can’t make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who help write, randomly survey their peers, edit, layout, and perform accuracy checks on every book that we publish. From the very beginning, student writers gather the most up-to-date stats, facts, and inside information on their colleges. They fill each section with student quotes and summarize the findings in editorial reviews. In addition, each school receives a collection of letter grades (A through F) that reflect student opinion and help to represent contentment, prominence, or satisfaction for each of our 20 specific categories. Just as in grade school, the higher the mark the more content, more prominent, or more satisfied the students are with the particular category.

Once a book is written, additional students serve as editors and check for accuracy even more extensively. Our bounce-back team—a group of randomly selected students who have no involvement with the project—are asked to read over the material in order to help ensure that the book accurately expresses every aspect of the university and its students. This same process is applied to the 200-plus schools College Prowler currently covers. Each book is the result of endless student contributions, hundreds of pages of research and writing, and countless hours of hard work. All of this has led to the creation of a student information network that stretches across the nation to every school that we cover. It’s no easy accomplishment, but it’s the reason that our guides are such a great resource.

When reading our books and looking at our grades, keep in mind that every college is different and that the students who make up each school are not uniform—as a result, it is important to assess schools on a case-by-case basis. Because it’s impossible to summarize an entire school with a single number or description, each book provides a dialogue, not a decision, that’s made up of 20 different topics and hundreds of student quotes. In the end, we hope that this guide will serve as a valuable tool in your college selection process. Enjoy!

Customer Reviews

Great Book About Harvard University
I got this book and it was AMAZING! It had all the things I wanted to know about my dream collge. It was really good on important things like campus housing, campus food, nightlife, and how classes are. And I LOVED that it told what the students thought and not what the university had to say. If you are wanting to apply to Harvard University, BUY THIS BOOK!

Great Resource for Prospective Students
Hi,

I am a member of the class of 2005 at Harvard College and know most of you guys/girls are about to make some really tough decisions concerning college. Alot of times you only have university viewbooks and anecdotal evidence to aid in your decision-making.

I'd like to let ya'll know about a series of books from CollegeProwler.com that presents the whole story. These books give you 150+ pages on a specific school and includes updated facts/figures and quotations from current students. All the books are written by current students. I wrote the Harvard book, for example.

Hope this helps make your decision a bit easier...


Dominic Hood
Harvard, Class of 2005