Culture & Fit: Harvard- The People Behind the Name
When I applied to Harvard, I was chasing a dream I didn’t fully understand yet. I thought I would study math and physics. That’s what I had prepared for in high school. But once I arrived, everything changed. I discovered interests I never had the chance to pursue before. With so many resources and supportive figures in my community, I finally had the freedom to follow my passions. I ended up concentrating in English with a secondary in music (Harvard being Harvard, we don’t say “major” or “minor”). That switch wasn’t just allowed, it was encouraged, and even expected. Harvard students are constantly evolving, and everyone I knew had their own unique story about how they ended up doing exactly what they loved.
Running Together: The Pace of Harvard Life
That’s the thing about Harvard: it’s not about following a set path. It’s about building your own. Some people arrive knowing exactly what they want to do. Others figure it out along the way. Either way, everyone here is passionate about their work and independent in how they pursue it. There’s an expectation for students to be innovative self-starters—not because they’re told to, but because they care deeply about what they’re doing. The result is a place where everyone is pushing themselves full speed toward something they believe in and can make change in the world with.
As my roommate once said, “It’s like we’re running all the time, but we’re all running together.” Harvard is both a sprint and a marathon. Most students arrive used to working fast and independently, but here, learning how to pace yourself is just as important as studying hard. Harvard is difficult. The workload is intense, and burnout is a real risk if you don’t find ways to stay grounded. What makes it manageable—and even inspiring—is knowing you’re not doing it alone. Everyone around you is just as motivated, and that creates a shared momentum. The pressure to succeed doesn’t usually come from professors or grades. It comes from within, from wanting to contribute something new and meaningful in a community where everyone is constantly thinking, creating, and pushing boundaries.
Life moves fast at Harvard. Most days are packed, and students barely have time to take a breath. We even obnoxiously abbreviate everything just to save a little time. Annenberg Hall is just “Berg.” Google Calendar is only referred to as “G-Cal.” Applying to a club is called a “comp” (which can stand for “competition,” “completion,” or “competence”—it’s complicated). Most of the time, you don’t have a quiet moment to yourself until midnight, when students wander into the dining hall for a “brain break” snack and finally have unstructured time to study, socialize, or just watch some Netflix to unwind.
Outside the classroom, most students are involved also in at least one, usually several, extracurriculars that takes up significant space in their calendar. These clubs and organizations also dominate social life. They’re where students find their people, collaborate on projects, and make big ideas happen. Some students even start businesses or nonprofits with their friends. These aren’t just social groups, though they do throw popular parties, retreats, and team-building events. They’re where you find lasting community and partnerships.
From Lectures to Life Lessons: How Harvard Really Teaches
You will absolutely encounter big names here. The Harvard name comes with a legacy—Mark Zuckerberg, Yo-Yo Ma, Margaret Atwood, and eight US presidents, to name a few. On campus, you might take a computer science class with David Malan or workshop your poetry with Tracy K. Smith. It can be surreal. But most students won’t go on to be famous, and that’s not the point. The real energy on campus comes from the thousands of students who are brilliant, curious, and doing work that matters to them—not because they want to be the next Bill Gates, but because they genuinely love what they do. I’ve lived next to an Olympic gold medalist and passed TV stars in the dining hall, but the students who inspire me most are those who work tirelessly to make the change they want to see in the world, even if it’s behind the scenes.
So, what does that $80,000 Harvard tuition actually pay for? On paper, it’s the classes—challenging, fast-paced, and taught by professors at the very top of their fields. But the real academic value lies in what happens around those classes. It’s in the office hours that turn into long conversations, the discussion sections where every student has something to say, the study groups that spiral into unexpected brainstorms for someone’s new project, paper, or play. Usually, the actual lectures are just the starting point. The real learning happens when you are pushed to think independently and defend your independent perspectives. The most popular classes at Harvard aren’t giant lectures but small seminars with 10 to 20 students. These aren’t about memorizing content. They’re about learning how to engage—how to speak with clarity, how to listen carefully, and how to have meaningful conversations with people who might not see the world the same way you do.
Is Harvard Right for You?
Harvard isn’t a perfect fit for everyone. And that’s okay. What’s important to understand is that Harvard isn’t just a name—it’s a culture. If you aren’t passionate, curious, and ready to put in the work, the prestigious name alone won’t get you very far. But if you’re excited by ideas, driven to create, and open to growing with others, you might find your people here. The students I met at Harvard weren’t just smart. They were committed to their goals, fiercely original in their thinking, and unafraid to challenge themselves. If that sounds like you, then Harvard might be a place where you’ll thrive.
Next in the series: Dorm life—how we get sorted into “houses” (yes, just like in Harry Potter), our love-hate relationship with the dining halls, and how important your residential community is to helping you grow as a student and individual at Harvard.
Anna Teunis serves as our English Specialist and Associate Consultant, holding a degree in English Literature and Music from Harvard University.
