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Harvard” odds are there’s more than a few preconceived notions that will come to mind regardless as to whether or not you’ve ever actually set foot on campus there. And for good reason, Harvard University in Boston, MA is one of the most prestigious and well known universities in the United States, and the university routinely produces some of the top leaders and thinkers in the country. You may be among the select few who has a shot to join them by coming to Harvard, but before you claim your place we’ve got to get you through four years of undergrad at this prestigious school. Our survival guide has you covered there, so keep reading for a few tips and tricks to surviving your time at Harvard University.</p>
<figure><img src=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/asset.plexuss.com/news/images/harvard-campus.jpg" alt="Harvard Campus" width="550" height="300" />
<figcaption>Credit: independent.com</figcaption>
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<h3>Admissions </h3>
<p>Simply getting into Harvard is often considered by some to be one of the greater achievements in its own right. Granted, this may be a bit of an exaggeration, but there is truth to it, Getting into Harvard is <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://plexuss.com/college/harvard-university/stats">hard. But before you panic know this: it’s NOT impossible, you just have to have your ducks in a row and the earlier you start taking care of business, the better.</p>
<p>In terms of the bare minimum <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-requirements">nuts and bolts</a>, Harvard takes the Common Application, has a $75 application fee, wants an ACT score with the writing component, transcripts, and three separate reports: a Teacher report, a Mid-Year, and a Final School report. Applications are due by November 1<sup>st</sup> for early action. Besides the paperwork and process, the actual standards required to gain admission are stark. Your GPA needs to be high, like 4.0 high, as the university adamantly seeks to attract the brightest minds in the country, and in addition to that they’re looking for a whole range of additional extracurricular and characteristic traits in their applicants.</p>
<h3>Academics </h3>
<p>It goes without saying that academics at Harvard are no joke. If you go there, you’re there to study above all else, so what are some things you should know about studying there and how do you survive? First off, know that Harvard is routinely ranked among <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://plexuss.com/college/harvard-university/ranking">the best</a> universities in terms of academics; meaning whatever you study it’s going to carry some weight in the real world.</p>
<figure><img src=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/asset.plexuss.com/news/images/harvard-university-academics.jpg" alt="Harvard University Academics" width="500" height="350" />
<figcaption>Credit: Harvard.edu</figcaption>
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<p>You have a variety of pursuits to choose from in terms of actual scholastics given that Harvard houses a variety of schools and programs ranging from business to engineering and nursing, but the most common academic pursuits include social sciences, biology and economics. Regardless of what you choose to do, the two things that can make your academic experience at Harvard falls down to the professors and fellow students. With a 7:1 faculty-student ratio, you’ll have a chance to develop close relationships with professors in the context of small classes. Take advantage of this in terms of learning closely and relationally with other students and you’ll find access to an education far more valuable than cramming textbooks.</p>
<h3>Living at Harvard </h3>
<p>The residential life experience is key to surviving any college, so it’ll likewise be important to your experience at Harvard as well. You’ll find students from all years of studies living on campus, but the center of campus, the Harvard Yard, is <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://college.harvard.edu/student-residential-life/residential-life/freshman">reserved for freshmen</a>. The dorms are conveniently located near Widener Library, where you’ll study, and Annenberg Hall, where you’ll eat, meaning whether your studying or eating you’ll be able to engage in meaningful community while you do it.</p>
<p>In addition to your dorm experience, you’ll find many other activities at Harvard tailored to your success and survival as freshman. This plays out in special freshman divisions of intramural sports, as well as social gatherings, and seminars to encourage reflection and academic discussion.</p>
<h3>Welcome to Boston</h3>
<p>Harvard is actually located in Cambridge, but thanks to easy access public transportation you can be in Boston in minutes. Having access to Cambridge and Boston comes with all sorts of perks that we couldn’t even remotely begin to cover in their entirety; however, here are just a few endeavors near Harvard that students typically indulge in:</p>
<p>-<u>Cambridge Historic District</u>-Go for a nice walk and get in tuned with the city’s rich colonial past.</p>
<p>-<a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://www.legalseafoods.com/restaurants/cambridge-charles-square-90">Legal Sea Foods</a>-Indulge in some renowned Massachusets sea food, including Boston Clam Chowder at this local dive.</p>
<p><u>- Boston Red Sox</u>-Whether it’s a lazy afternoon or you’re just craving a hot dog, rooting for the local MLB team is a surefire way to blow off steam.</p>
<figure><img src=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/asset.plexuss.com/news/images/things-to-do-near-harvard.jpg" alt="Things to Do Near Harvard" width="440" height="350" />
<figcaption>Credit: legalseafoods.com</figcaption>
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<h3>Traditions</h3>
<p>Finally, if you really want to survive and thrive at Harvard, jump into some of the campus traditions to take your mind off the books for a while and revel in the unique culture and history you’ve landed in. Among the many traditions at Harvard, the absolute must to experience as an undergrad is the <a href=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard–Yale_football_rivalry">Harvard-Yale football game</a>. Granted, Ivy League schools aren’t renowned for overtly successful football programs, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t expected to go crazy for Harvard while despising Yale as if the national title was on the line.</p>
<figure><img src=https://plexuss.com/n/"https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/asset.plexuss.com/news/images/harvard-college-traditions.jpg" alt="Harvard College Traditions" width="500" height="350" />
<figcaption>Credit: harvard.edu</figcaption>
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<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Harvard’s a place known for selective admissions and strong academics. However, it’s often a university not unlike the others across the country, meaning there’s a definite learning and adjustment curve when it comes to living and learning there. The above tips and tricks will have you surviving your time at Harvard and on to becoming the next president of the United States in no time.</p>
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