5 ms·

Why would someone kill themselves in order to get into Harvard only to slack their way through it doing the easiest rated classes?

GuiA 13y ago
Have you ever been 18?
phaus 13y ago
Quite a few people believe that general education requirements are a waste of time. Therefore, they pick easy classes for the things that have nothing to do with their major.
objclxt 13y ago
Because Harvard awards degrees based on a GPA cut-off that ensures only 50% of the graduating class get Latin honors. So if you were a Harvard student who wanted to get Latin honors (...of which there are more than a few) it's in your best interests to take the easiest general-education (core) courses to ensure you have more breathing space for studies in your major. I Head TA'd a core curriculum class at Harvard, and you would be amazed at the number of seniors who e-mailed me once grades came out begging to be bumped up as it meant their GPA would be pushed over the honors cut-off. This was one reason why the Harvard cheating scandal last year was so widespread: the course fulfilled a core requirement, and it had a reputation for being very easy, hence hundreds of people took it.
- gcb0 13y ago
  also, answering the grandparent post and expanding on the parent answer... the fact that person is in Harvard already proves he/she understands how to play with grade averages to begin with. gpa is not always directly proportional to hard work.
  - judk 13y ago
    Not really, high school GPA means taking all the AP/advanced classes -- not the easiest ones, ALL the ones.
    - gcb0 13y ago
      not saying it is the same rules as university, but it is the same game. ironically university is easier.
- judk 13y ago
  The cut off is actually closer to 75%. Source: I have one and I was not top 50% (which BTW is A- at Harvard!)
  - judk 13y ago
    Correction: it is 50%. I didn't learn my actual rank, I learned my rank among law school applicants, who I now see are a higher GPA cohort. http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k79903&pageid=icb.page418749#a_icb_pagecontent879565_4 http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k79903&pageid=i... Cor:
nostrademons 13y ago
Because then you graduate with Harvard University on your resume and can slack your way through management consulting or hedge fund jobs, racking up a nice nest egg in the process. There is a stark difference in workload between studying Ancient Chinese Philosophy vs. Quantum Mechanics. Harvard students are not stupid, and quite rationally choose the path that gives them the greatest returns for the lowest effort.
- judk 13y ago
  No, Physics majors take the Philosophy class for gen ed distribution requirement.
icegreentea 13y ago
Some are lazy. Some don't care. Some are taking them because they want to be able to focus more of their efforts on other, more challenging courses that are more related to their field of study/actual interest while also maintaining some sort of life.
li-ch 13y ago
They are in Harvard. Next step would be landing a job on Wall St., not taking the hard courses that might prevent them from graduating.
- yeukhon 13y ago
  I don't go to Harvard but isn't that what a lot of people are hoping to get out of a university degree? The ability to land a good job.
rayiner 13y ago
Because in light of the recession, Goldman Sachs has become snootier about GPAs.

GuiA 13y ago

Have you ever been 18?

phaus 13y ago

Quite a few people believe that general education requirements are a waste of time. Therefore, they pick easy classes for the things that have nothing to do with their major.

objclxt 13y ago

Because Harvard awards degrees based on a GPA cut-off that ensures only 50% of the graduating class get Latin honors. So if you were a Harvard student who wanted to get Latin honors (...of which there are more than a few) it's in your best interests to take the easiest general-education (core) courses to ensure you have more breathing space for studies in your major. I Head TA'd a core curriculum class at Harvard, and you would be amazed at the number of seniors who e-mailed me once grades came out begging to be bumped up as it meant their GPA would be pushed over the honors cut-off. This was one reason why the Harvard cheating scandal last year was so widespread: the course fulfilled a core requirement, and it had a reputation for being very easy, hence hundreds of people took it.

gcb0 13y ago
also, answering the grandparent post and expanding on the parent answer... the fact that person is in Harvard already proves he/she understands how to play with grade averages to begin with. gpa is not always directly proportional to hard work.
- judk 13y ago
  Not really, high school GPA means taking all the AP/advanced classes -- not the easiest ones, ALL the ones.
  - gcb0 13y ago
    not saying it is the same rules as university, but it is the same game. ironically university is easier.
judk 13y ago
The cut off is actually closer to 75%. Source: I have one and I was not top 50% (which BTW is A- at Harvard!)
- judk 13y ago
  Correction: it is 50%. I didn't learn my actual rank, I learned my rank among law school applicants, who I now see are a higher GPA cohort. http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k79903&pageid=icb.page418749#a_icb_pagecontent879565_4 http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k79903&pageid=i... Cor:

nostrademons 13y ago

Because then you graduate with Harvard University on your resume and can slack your way through management consulting or hedge fund jobs, racking up a nice nest egg in the process. There is a stark difference in workload between studying Ancient Chinese Philosophy vs. Quantum Mechanics. Harvard students are not stupid, and quite rationally choose the path that gives them the greatest returns for the lowest effort.

judk 13y ago
No, Physics majors take the Philosophy class for gen ed distribution requirement.

icegreentea 13y ago

Some are lazy. Some don't care. Some are taking them because they want to be able to focus more of their efforts on other, more challenging courses that are more related to their field of study/actual interest while also maintaining some sort of life.

li-ch 13y ago

They are in Harvard. Next step would be landing a job on Wall St., not taking the hard courses that might prevent them from graduating.

yeukhon 13y ago
I don't go to Harvard but isn't that what a lot of people are hoping to get out of a university degree? The ability to land a good job.

rayiner 13y ago

Because in light of the recession, Goldman Sachs has become snootier about GPAs.