Harvard University Reviews

"There are tremendous availability of learning sources and assistance in the learning process. classes are challenging and interesting. Professors and TFs are always available for help. The workload is huge and sometimes is a bit stressful."

"The pros is a high quality education and wonderful networking opportunities. Living in Boston is great lots of museums and historical sites to see. The cons are how expensive Boston is to live."

"The rigorous education and the dynamic professors that are at my university stand as the greatest benefits of my program. Knowing I have the support of staff and faculty, who will go to great lengths to assist me in solidifying my future career, is an unparalleled experience. Minus the inadequate transportation of the city of Boston and the egregious cost of graduate school, I can say with certainty that I chose the right program for me."

"The students are the school's most valuable asset - we challenge each other and support one another, ensuring advancement in our own studies. Everyday is a learning experience."

"Professors are very brilliant and passionate about what they teach. The learning atmosphere there is one of a kind. The student-professor combination makes for great learning and discussions. The only con I can think of was that too many students wanted to participate in discussions."

"Pros: incredible network, outstanding guest speakers, dynamic student body, great social life. Cons: case method is difficult for more tactical courses (finance, technology and operations management), being on the other side of the river as the rest of Harvard gives it a somewhat isolating feeling (but the size of the student body mitigates this con)."

"Pros: Global MBA brand, access to exclusive recruiting opportunities, method of instruction helpful to broaden the mind. Cons: Method of instruction not effective for technical courses like finance/ operations, cohort too large to foster community feeling."

"HBS has a global network that is second to none. It is also fantastic at merging formal learning with informal learning techniques. By splitting us into sections, hearing our comments, and splitting us into smaller groups, we inevitably learn each other's backgrounds and what we are each good at. This serves as a great feedback mechanism for knowing what our strengths and weaknesses are. The only thing that HBS should do better at is teaching finance and accounting, the quantitative subjects. The case method is very valuable for these subjects, but I think it would by much better to introduce the subjects with more rote knowledge before challenging the qualitiative sides of the field."

"Pros: Great faculty, awesome cohort, excellent classes, brand value Cons: lack of academic rigor, lack of execution training"

"The graduate school of education is a phenomenal school that really works towards helping students make connections and understand theories as they apply to real life. The majority of the programs require internships and the university works hard to match students with appropriate and useful supervisors and supports this process throughout the academic year. Te level of work is basically what students choose to do, there are ample opportunities to further one's learning and do extra reading or you can still get a lot out of even the required classes. There are a number of extracurricular events that student's can become involved in and there is ample freedom to design one's own cause and this is always supported by faculty and administration."

"On the whole, I regretted going to the Kennedy School. Had very high hopes going in - it is Harvard after all. But the program does not really deliver or make for a good investment of time and money. The classes are huge, the level is surprisingly low, and the whole place gives the vibe of a diploma mill. Most professors - with some great exceptions - do not give a shit about their students. The worse part is that the administration is largely oblivious to student complaints and treats them as entirely dispensable. On the positive side, it can provide a great network, and it is a fun and easy way to spend two years. Verdict: ff you are looking for a real education and value for money, avoid. If you are looking to take it easy for two years, find an easy way into Harvard, or are in it for the networking, then go for it. If you are serious about a career in government and smart enough to go to a good law school, do that instead."

"The Harvard School of Public Health is an excellent graduate program for those interested in either health research/education or health-related pursuits such as advocacy. The quality of the education is top-notch and the network available to you as a Harvard student is fantastic. The cons of the program are definitely the cost. Boston is an expensive city and the school's tuition is amongst the highest for public health programs and unfortunately, they are stingy with scholarship money."

"The best resources at Harvard Kennedy School are its people - networking with people that can be extremely helpful in professional and academic life. From students to faculty, from domestic to international participants, from freedom fighters like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to great speakers like Michael Sandel. As for the con, financing tuition and living expenses can cost a lot. There are not enough scholarships or fellowships that one can apply to fund his / her education."

"Excellent quality of education, networks, career options. JD program should be smaller in the number of students."

"The Harvard Graduate School of Education is an amazing school to be a part of. The breadth of classes and resources available is incredible and is worth the cost of tuition. Unfortunately, the program I am in is not accredited and makes it difficult to transfer to another school without losing credits."

"Great for career afterwards and have interesting classes to choose from. You can find a group of people who are down to earth and not ultra-competitive but of course those kind are here in spades. Professors aren't that accessible unless you want to RA."

"The luxury of Harvard is you can choose your own path and get where you want to be. A bonus is the large class size which affords so many more opportunities for diverse interactions or student groups and orgs across the spectrum of interests."

"Highest quality education money can buy. Truly inspiration professors."

"My program accepts a large number of students per cohort, which helps create a tight knit group of peers that also like to work hard and have fun. The faculty are great, and the financial support is excellent. There is no reason anyone should do a crappy Ph.D. at Harvard with all the available scientific resources."

"Athletics: There is a lot of school spirit but not as much as you would find at one of the big state schools. Living in Cambridge is EXPENSIVE. Campus Safety: We do live in a city so there is the normal crime you would find in a city scene once off-campus: robberies from time to time, etc. However, the Harvard Police Dept is very efficient and quick to answer calls for help and there are blue emergency lights all over campus as well as security guards. School's Use of Technology: Registration is done on paper, as well as any registration changes to your schedule during add/drop. This system is VERY inefficient, especially if you need professor approval for certain classes. You have to run around campus getting their signatures and if, by chance, you change a course before the day course registration is due, you have to re-print a new form and go get all the professors to resign it. If the registrar were to implement a registration system online, the process would be much more efficient and less stressful. Overall, good program and very good institution."