Where is Harvard University. History, faculties and students of Harvard University. How to enter Harvard University

The US culture is quite young, it is difficult to compare it with the European one. At the same time, it is rooted in the latter, and therefore it is wrong to talk about its "immaturity". Traditions in higher education in this country were laid on the basis of the experience of graduates of European educational institutions. A good example of academic continuity in America is Harvard University. The city of Cambridge, which houses the illustrious Alma Mater, is the site of an "academic pilgrimage" for thousands of Americans and foreigners.

Youth and Traditions

The history of Harvard University began a long time ago. This educational institution is not the oldest in the world, being founded in 1636, but still not young - to him more than 370 years. And such a period of "life" obliges - the most curious and ambitious people from all over the world aspire to Harvard University. Graduates of this Alma Mater live in more than 190 countries.

All students at Harvard University contribute to the overall cultural background, while obeying the rules and respecting tradition. The history of the name is interesting. It was given in honor of the preacher John Harvard, who donated his books and a fairly large amount to a newly established university. There is a legend about a special symbol of the ancient Alma Mater - a shield with the inscription Veritas, which in Latin means "true". The shield itself was not found, but in 1836 several books with his image were found in the archives. In addition to honoring the shield, another interesting tradition with historical roots is the use of crimson color. For the first time it began to symbolize Harvard University in the regatta in 1858. At this event representatives of the great Alma Mater were given raspberry-colored scarves so that they could be distinguished in the crowd of athletes. As for the color, debates continued for a long time (there were supporters of the use of bright red color), but the first symbolic color was nevertheless approved historically.

Where is Harvard University?

The location of a well-known institution sometimes causes confusion. The great university is located on the territory of a town called Cambridge, which must be distinguished from a British university with the same name.

The town, Harvard shelter, is part of the large conglomerate city of Boston in Massachusetts. The place is quite expensive for life, and the tax rates here are some of the highest in the US. However, this is not an obstacle for thousands of people who want to study in America's most prestigious educational institution.

Organization and structure of the Harvard

In total, the university has 11 branches that have the right to give diplomas and award degrees. A peculiar Mecca for future top managers is the business school of this Alma Mater, it can receive a certificate, which is denoted by three treasured letters - MBA. Another interesting organization is the school continuing education. Here you can study in the evening and online, and you can even receive credits in an independent mode and transfer them to other educational institutions. Many students try their skills and motivation to study a particular program (it costs 1200-2100 dollars per course), and then they already pass to a full-time full-time study at Harvard University. The faculties also include a renowned school of medicine, a department for future teachers and teachers, a design school, a faculty of natural and humanities. Yes, this is a single faculty, by the way, the largest in terms of the number of students, consists of Harvard College (department for students who want to receive a bachelor's degree, the rest of the structure is originally intended for training masters and faculty continuing education) and faculty for continuing.

It is necessary to mention the Kennedy School of Public Administration, the Faculty of Law, a school for future epidemiologists, Harvard College itself. Back in Harvard, there are departments for training dentists, theology specialists, engineers (but next to it there is another profile university - MIT, so not all "stars" get to Harvard). There is also a special branch named after Radcliffe, where they mainly engage in scientific work in the field of humanities and social sciences.

From session to session, the teachers live happily

Scientists at Harvard University, in addition to serious work, entertain themselves with various interesting projects. For example, recently there was a research - from the scientific point of view - directions of Hip Hop. It is a pleasure to read about studying a phenomenon like a dream, and how it affects people and encourages them to achieve their goals. Scientists at Harvard University are definitely not deprived of a sense of humor. For example, how do you master class with a paraphrased quote "Geeks inherit the Earth"?

It is not difficult to guess that the speech in the lesson was about how computerization changes the face of education, and the life of communities in general. But vivid studies are conducted not only in the humanities. An example is a discussion on the topic "The possibility of forming planets like the Earth" with a lecturer at Harvard. The participants of this conversation want to look into the cover of the universe. Commendable intention. In many events, you can participate, even without being a student of the institution of Harvard University. The US gives its citizens a huge number of opportunities, including this one.

About money

Harvard, of course, is one of the richest American universities. Contribution to the Financial well-being is brought not only by the children of wealthy parents, but also by private donations from high-ranking people, and graduates' help. In general, the Institute of Alumni in the United States is very developed, such people are guidelines for young people. Students at Harvard University are very interested in them and are looking for a society of these people. However, this is not surprising - because in all of his history, Harvard was Alma Mater for more than 40 Nobel laureates.

And since the university is just a magnet for talent, the results of the training are impressive. Of course, the good development of educational technologies, and the level of teachers contribute to its contribution. The budget of Harvard University is more than 9 billion dollars a year; It is not surprising that this institution can afford a lot.

The price of diversity

In 2013, training itself cost $ 39,000 per year, but along with room and meals, health insurance - more than 56,000. And given the additional costs (up to 65,000), it becomes clear that Harvard can afford not the poorest students. Management realizes that this is very expensive. And the institution deprives itself of a lot of talented students whose parents simply can not pay this amount. In addition, in the United States it is believed that the presence of students from different economic layers provides a more tense and interesting life. People from families of unequal income have different life experiences. And graduates from poor families are more likely to successfully fight poverty in the future. For students from poor families, there are summer schools and orientation classes. However, a student from the United States can get a loan or participate in a financial assistance program. Foreigners do not usually have this opportunity. The exception is some nominal scholarships, but there are several of them for the whole of Harvard.

US citizens can take advantage of the reduced price or not at all reimburse the cost of training at Harvard University. There are two approaches to reducing payment - financial assistance in connection with poverty and financial assistance as a reward for academic achievement. Talented students who only enter this university are willing to open a loan to banks, since the Harvard diploma is a guarantee of good earnings. Of course, not everyone will cope with the load, so the standards are very high already at the entrance to protect those who are unable to live in the rhythm of the said university.

Students also do not feel sad from the session to the session

The training at Harvard is not only hanging over books and preparing brilliant speeches for seminars. This is also a lot of cultural societies, sports sections, associations of interests. Those wishing to join other cultures participate in special groups of international interaction and receive knowledge about the world "first-hand". One of the most anticipated events of cultural life - "Rhythms of Culture": music, theater performances, national cuisine - all this allows Americans to get acquainted with people from different cultural universes, and foreigners - to feel accepted and make many new friends. Graduates of Harvard are usually very close friends and help each other in business and personal affairs - stress draws together, and it's really hard to study in this university, despite the benevolent and democratic attitude of teachers.

Volumes and Value of Knowledge

Do not be fascinated by the vaunted democracy of communication. You can call a professor by name, respect him or love him, but his respect can only be won through serious work. The task of reading a large book in two days and remembering small details is the norm for Harvard, and not an exception. Of course, modern technologies allow the university to present information and with the help of video, but the majority of knowledge students receive independently. Usually lecturer does not dictate for lectures, there is a practice of incomplete abstracts - students have some of the necessary material in special methodologies in a concise form, but they need to be carefully listened to at lectures and supplemented.

But this does not apply to all faculties. There are almost no lectures at the business school, they mostly deal with specific cases - cases. That is, this training is very close to everyday business practice, and the graduate must make the right decision. Not surprisingly, the proud owners of MBA from Harvard are worth their weight in gold and are well paid. And the scientists found out that it does not matter what the average score was: both a mediocre student and an excellent student who managed to graduate from the university have very close earnings. However, this trend is inherent in all universities, not only Harvard. How to become a student of this famous Alma Mater? For entrants to the first and second stages of higher education there are different requirements.

For the older age group

How to enter the Harvard University graduate of another university? In general, the famous institution was created, first of all, for people who have already received a bachelor's degree. Most students continue their studies here. How are they taken? Each branch has its own rules. Most often, those wishing to study here have to pass an international GRE test, demonstrate a high average score from the first university, and give 2-3 letters of recommendation from teachers. In addition, it is important for foreign students to prove that they are solvent. You can get a loan, but in the US it's difficult. The easiest thing in this situation is for those people who have already shown serious results, having achieved this with the help of the first education. Such a bank is more willing to provide a loan. In Europe, the situation is more favorable (in terms of loans for foreigners). To become a student at Harvard, one must be either genius or rich, or better yet, to combine both qualities.

Junior applicants

For those who only want to get a bachelor's degree, Harvard College opens its doors. Young applicants will also have to try hard to get here. How to enter Harvard University? The application is submitted through the Universal College Application common to many states. If you want to study, you will have to fill out a special questionnaire and write a letter. In it, briefly, brightly and impressively write, why the entrant chooses Harvard, and what he can give to the institution. If the balance appears to the commission correct, and the personality - scale and interesting, then you have a chance. But only the ability to impress is not enough. I'll have to take tests that are designed to assess academic abilities in general. This is a common SAT plus SAT for certain disciplines (Harvard requires two subjects). For successful acceptance in the number of students, as well as senior, two teacher's recommendations are required. Of course, they must be very non-standard. As a rule, students write them themselves, and then they give them to sign their mentors. In addition, school assessments are very important, and so-called extra-curricular activities, that is, the applicant's participation in the cultural, sporting or public life of the school. Harvard needs stars, not just "botanists" or "good guys."

And life does not jam

Dormitories are quite comfortable, and yet a single room is almost impossible to get. Most of the Harvard live alone in one spacious room with a shared bathroom. On one floor, usually there are only 20-40 students who have something to tell each other. Of course, beautiful photos of people of different nationalities, chatting cheerfully with each other - staged. But here is the fact that you can get acquainted with citizens of different countries - the truth. And these people will be very realized and bright - this is also true. Harvard provides its students the opportunity to stay in shape and feel attractive, because on campus there are so many different opportunities to play sports - for every taste, even the most demanding.

Harvard is a school of serious life. Very many, who came through donations from their parents, can not learn at the heart of the academic culture of the United States. Because not everyone has enough ... health. Problems with money are usually easier to solve than with a lack of training and self-management skills. Many of Boston's temptations alongside do not contribute to full concentration on learning. However, many Harvards cope. And they live happily all year round, and not just from the session to the session.