What do you think is the proper way to understand the story of “Harvard, four-thirty in the morning”?
– Most of the information in the article about the study spirit of Harvard students is quite general and can be read anywhere.
The author might have visited Harvard during the final exam season or received information from someone else, leading to the perception that Harvard students study excessively. However, during other times of the semester, it’s not as intense.
Saying that 20% of Harvard students could be eliminated is entirely incorrect. In fact, about 2-3% of Harvard students fall into this category for various reasons, and academic pressure ranks low among them.
In reality, Harvard students experience less pressure compared to their “neighbor” MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and other top schools in the U.S.
Why do I say that? Because the school’s educational philosophy is that learning must stem from personal passion and desire, not from external pressure. The personal motivation to learn is the key to individual success and the success of the school as a whole. Those who come to Harvard thinking they will be taught, trained, and molded into talented individuals are unlikely to make it to Harvard.
At Harvard, internal motivation helps students understand what they want to learn, what they need, what they seek, and why they pursue it, leading to personal development.
Harvard provides excellent resources, from materials and an environment of academic freedom and creativity to teaching resources. The connections and networks within the school are also a significant asset if students know how to leverage them. Four years here will help students greatly, both academically and in terms of soft skills. If you come to Harvard just to study, it’s a mistake, and if not, you will only receive half or less of what Harvard has to offer.
To select the ideal student for Harvard according to this philosophy, the admissions process is very meticulous, and the selection process is detailed and scientific. Once the admissions process has chosen students with this spirit and requirement, the remaining teaching contributes only about 10%.
Harvard is very clever in taking 90% of other people’s efforts as its own, with students gladly contributing. That’s why the admissions process is so crucial to the school.
Some might say that Harvard has almost become a “legend” for many Vietnamese or Chinese people. How should this perspective be adjusted?
– The view of Harvard by some Vietnamese or Chinese people might still carry some feudal, imposed thinking. Additionally, non-academic factors such as personal satisfaction, pride, and family reputation also play a role…
Coming to Harvard means coming to a place with good academic conditions and environment, so individuals and families should be well-prepared for academic pursuits, the desire to learn, and contribute to society in their respective fields later on. I’m not discussing personal goals here because they are obvious.
To compare without being too extreme, a student passionate about academics, with a desire to translate it into their own contributions to societal development, is akin to a person who devotes themselves to serving a higher ideal. But if one studies because of imposed reasons or for superficial material gains, the likelihood of success will not be high, or even end in failure.
What about the determination to get into Harvard reflected in the application and interviews of Vietnamese or Chinese students? What are the common points, and what are the distinctive characteristics of candidates from these two countries compared to others?
– When I interview Chinese or Asian applicants in general for Harvard, some common traits are that they study very hard, have good academic and test scores. Their families and schools have high expectations, so they are under significant pressure. They lack independence in future decisions, are less creative, lack confidence, and lack soft skills. Their physical fitness and dynamic ability are also lower than the average candidate.
Even long-term Chinese and Asian Americans still face these issues.
I have met many Chinese and Asian families seeking advice for their children’s preparation for admission to top U.S. schools, including Harvard. It’s not that difficult to achieve that. However, preparing early will make things easier. The most important factor is the student’s desire and future, not the parents or anything else.
Currently, many books explore the Harvard story. How should one make an accurate choice with so much information available?
– Those who have gone through Harvard, including myself, when looking back, see Harvard as very ordinary. I consider that a good thing because it’s the essence of the place. If the school’s goal were to train a great force of students doing only great things…, the risk of collapse would be high. Everything must come from the internal drive of each student.
Be aware that coming to Harvard, you will see an open, liberal, and friendly learning space among students and between students and faculty. Even the residents of Cambridge and nearby Boston are very friendly, though not overly lenient.
Occasionally, you might encounter homeless people lying or sitting around Harvard asking you for money. They are very polite, and perhaps among them, there might be someone who was once a Harvard student with a greater dream than yours, but failed to realize it, and so they faded away…
You should come to Harvard with curiosity, a bit of skepticism, prepared to engage in critical thinking, eyes wide open but also ensuring you sleep eight hours a day…, and you’ll be fine.
Thank you very much.
