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But wouldn't you think an "Auckland kid" would fair better as a "Harvard kid" given the same ambitions with better opportunities and greater access? Ivy League

by unabst 6y ago

But wouldn't you think an "Auckland kid" would fair better as a "Harvard kid" given the same ambitions with better opportunities and greater access? Ivy League affiliates enjoy the privileges of being branded Ivy League all their lives. And the schools are pretty great to boot. To me the original article was asking the following questions: Did I have to come to Harvard to do what I want? Why don't more people make use of their Ivy League privileges? Why isn't Harvard doing more good for society? Which does sound a bit whiny, I would think, especially to an Auckland Kid. The takeaway for me, was that there should be more Auckland Kids at Harvard, and that OP here is more of an Auckland Kid. He's saying there is little to complain about if this is what you came for, and that it should have been. On the other hand, the author of the article presents valid criticism about Harvard Kids and Harvard, but appears also to be closer to the Harvard Kid than the Auckland Kids she seems to admire. Sometimes it takes one to know the others and where you are at. But at least there are some Auckland Kids in the Ivy Leagues. And I would bet you there are some Harvard Kids in Auckland too that never made it to Harvard.

senkora 6y ago
I think Harvard kid vs Auckland kid is a false dichotomy. The article makes the argument that there is no difference before college. Harvard takes in kids who would have been Auckland kids and changes them into something else, and that's a problem. Anecdotally, I've seen similar at the top private school that I went to. I had to give up on idealistic things I did in high school, and would have otherwise continued doing in college, because of the workload I experienced at school.
- unabst 6y ago
  The "Auckland kid" is the entrepreneur here. And no, I don't believe Harvard would ruin an entrepreneur that would have succeeded otherwise. And they would have attractive alternatives. Everyone changes, especially in college. Regardless of the school, one can easily assess them the blame, but some of it has to be on you, especially at an age when you should stop making excuses. With that said, the work load can be absurd, some peers are arrogant and elitist, some teachers are total assholes, and not everything is fair or makes sense. Although, that's true at varying degrees at any school.

by unabst 6y ago

senkora 6y ago

I think Harvard kid vs Auckland kid is a false dichotomy. The article makes the argument that there is no difference before college. Harvard takes in kids who would have been Auckland kids and changes them into something else, and that's a problem. Anecdotally, I've seen similar at the top private school that I went to. I had to give up on idealistic things I did in high school, and would have otherwise continued doing in college, because of the workload I experienced at school.

unabst 6y ago
The "Auckland kid" is the entrepreneur here. And no, I don't believe Harvard would ruin an entrepreneur that would have succeeded otherwise. And they would have attractive alternatives. Everyone changes, especially in college. Regardless of the school, one can easily assess them the blame, but some of it has to be on you, especially at an age when you should stop making excuses. With that said, the work load can be absurd, some peers are arrogant and elitist, some teachers are total assholes, and not everything is fair or makes sense. Although, that's true at varying degrees at any school.