Was Harvard Worth It? The Hidden Cost of Attending an Ivy League College

Summary

In this reflective video, Ahsante, a Harvard graduate, evaluates the true cost of attending the prestigious institution, blending personal experience with insights on the psychological toll of its hyper-competitive culture. She discusses the financial burden, intense academic pressure, and constant social exclusion, particularly within the context of race and privilege. Despite these challenges, Ahsante acknowledges the long-term benefits, including career opportunities and the respect the Harvard name commands. Ultimately, she concludes that, while Harvard was mentally and emotionally taxing, the experience was worth it in the end, offering valuable life lessons and professional advantages.

Takeaways

• 😀 The prestige of Harvard comes with a high personal cost, particularly psychological stress and emotional toll.
• 😀 Harvard’s culture is intensely competitive, with students constantly compared to each other, both academically and socially.
• 😀 The financial burden of attending Harvard can be significant, especially for students from middle-class backgrounds.
• 😀 Harvard's academic environment is highly competitive, with rigorous grading curves and limited spots in popular classes.
• 😀 Many extracurricular activities at Harvard have an intense and exclusive application process, adding to the stress of students.
• 😀 The campus environment fosters a sense of exclusion, where only a select few are accepted into prestigious clubs, organizations, and social circles.
• 😀 The intense focus on achievement and hierarchy at Harvard can lead to feelings of inadequacy, even for high-performing students.
• 😀 Harvard’s mental health support services were insufficient for many students, including Ahsante, leading her to rely on personal support networks.
• 😀 Despite the challenges, the Harvard degree carries significant professional value, opening doors and providing lifelong alumni connections.
• 😀 Ahsante’s experience at Harvard ultimately taught her the importance of self-worth beyond achievements, and helped her develop mental resilience and perspective.
• 😀 While the Harvard experience was challenging, Ahsante believes that, in hindsight, it was worth the cost due to the long-term benefits, personal growth, and career opportunities.

Q & A

What were some of the initial feelings Ahsante had about graduating from Harvard?

Ahsante initially felt relieved and happy to be graduating from Harvard. She was grateful for the degree but also had a sense of uncertainty, thinking to herself that all the hard work should be worth it.

How does Ahsante describe the culture at Harvard?

Ahsante describes the culture at Harvard as highly competitive, with an intense focus on comparison and achievement. There is a constant sense of being judged by peers, and even high performers are pushed to compete against each other.

What challenges did Ahsante face regarding Harvard's financial aid?

Ahsante faced a financial burden due to Harvard's need-based financial aid system. She felt the financial assessment was not accurate for her family, making it expensive for her to attend, especially since she came from a middle-class background.

How did the competitive environment affect Ahsante's mental health?

The competitive environment at Harvard had a significant psychological cost for Ahsante. She struggled with feelings of rejection, worthlessness, and constant comparison. The constant competition for top grades and spots in extracurriculars made her feel inferior and led to a decline in mental health.

What was the experience of being involved in extracurriculars at Harvard like?

Extracurriculars at Harvard were highly competitive. Many clubs had a rigorous and exclusionary application process, which led to rejection for many students, including Ahsante. It created a culture of exclusivity, where who you knew mattered just as much as what you could do.

How does Ahsante feel about Harvard's emphasis on exclusivity?

Ahsante feels that Harvard's culture of exclusivity is damaging. She describes how clubs and social groups often prioritized being exclusive over being inclusive. This mindset led to a lot of rejection and made her feel like a misfit.

What does Ahsante say about the mental health support available at Harvard?

Ahsante mentions that the mental health services at Harvard were not very helpful. The most visible form of support came from peer counseling, but she felt that the system was inadequate, and without her supportive home environment, she might have struggled more.

What is the main takeaway Ahsante wants to share with her past self?

Ahsante's main takeaway for her past self would be to remember that despite the intense pressure and constant comparison, she was doing fine. She encourages herself to detach her self-worth from her achievements and not to let the opinions of others define her value.

How does Ahsante view the impact of her Harvard experience on her career?

Ahsante acknowledges that Harvard's name has helped her career by providing her with access to valuable alumni networks and giving her a credential that commands respect in the professional world. She believes that the Harvard degree has opened doors for her in ways that go beyond her actual abilities.

Does Ahsante think Harvard was ultimately worth the cost?

Yes, despite the psychological and financial costs, Ahsante believes that her Harvard experience was ultimately worth it. She feels that the degree has provided her with valuable skills, a strong network, and a sense of perspective that has benefited her life and career.