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

Ahsante the Artist
7 May 202116:26
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this reflective video, the creator shares her mixed experiences at Harvard, highlighting both the prestige and the psychological toll of attending an elite institution. She discusses the intense competition, the financial burden, and the struggle for mental health support, while also acknowledging the value of the Harvard name in her career success. The video offers a nuanced perspective on the sacrifices and rewards of pursuing an Ivy League education.

Takeaways
  • 🎓 The speaker graduated from Harvard in 2015 and reflects on the value of the degree and the sacrifices made to obtain it.
  • 💰 Harvard's financial cost is significant, with need-based financial aid but no merit scholarships, creating a financial burden for middle-class families.
  • 🏫 The psychological cost of attending Harvard is highlighted as substantial, with a highly competitive environment leading to feelings of rejection and inferiority.
  • 🤝 The culture at Harvard is described as exclusionary, with constant comparison and competition among peers, affecting mental health and self-worth.
  • 📚 Academics and extracurricular activities at Harvard are both highly competitive, with limited class sizes and exclusive clubs contributing to stress.
  • 🎭 The speaker's major in film involved a competitive application process, reflecting the broader trend of competition for opportunities at Harvard.
  • 📣 The video acknowledges the privilege of attending Harvard and the benefits it brings to a person's career, despite the criticisms.
  • 🌐 The Harvard name carries weight and respect globally, which can be advantageous in securing job opportunities and social connections.
  • 🧘‍♀️ The speaker emphasizes the importance of self-care and mental health, stemming from her experience of psychological distress at Harvard.
  • 🌱 The healing process post-Harvard involved unlearning competitive mindsets and finding value in oneself beyond achievements.
  • 🌟 Despite the challenges, the speaker concludes that attending Harvard was ultimately worth it for her, due to the long-term benefits and personal growth.
Q & A

  • When did the speaker graduate from Harvard?

    -The speaker graduated from Harvard in 2015.

  • What was the speaker's initial feeling about leaving Harvard?

    -The speaker was glad to be getting out of Harvard and wondered if the hard work for the degree would be worth it.

  • What is the speaker's perspective on the financial cost of attending Harvard?

    -The speaker acknowledges that Harvard is expensive and that the financial cost can be a burden, especially for middle-class families.

  • How does the speaker describe the psychological cost of attending Harvard?

    -The speaker describes the psychological cost as significant due to the highly competitive environment and constant feelings of rejection and worthlessness.

  • What was the speaker's experience with the competitive culture at Harvard?

    -The speaker found the culture at Harvard to be extremely competitive, with high levels of comparison and judgment among peers, which was a shock and unprepared for.

  • How did the speaker's experience with extracurricular activities at Harvard differ from high school?

    -In high school, the speaker was welcomed into clubs based on interest and talent, but at Harvard, even extracurricular activities were competitive to get into, with a process similar to pledging a fraternity or sorority.

  • What was the speaker's view on the finals clubs at Harvard?

    -The speaker viewed the finals clubs as exclusionary by design, contributing to a sense of hierarchy on campus, and noted that they were predominantly white, adding to a historically hostile campus environment for people of color.

  • How did the speaker's experience at Harvard affect their mental health?

    -The speaker's experience at Harvard led to psychological distress, feelings of worthlessness, and a need for several years to recover and heal from the experience.

  • What positive aspects of Harvard did the speaker mention?

    -The speaker mentioned the value of the Harvard name in getting a job, the quality of the study abroad program, and the support from certain professors and friends.

  • How did the speaker's time at Harvard prepare them for the workforce?

    -The speaker believes that enduring the high levels of stress and competition at Harvard prepared them for the capitalist workforce and built mental fortitude.

  • In the end, does the speaker believe that attending Harvard was worth it?

    -Yes, after reflecting and gaining distance from the experience, the speaker concludes that attending Harvard was worth the cost due to the prestige, opportunities, and personal growth.

Outlines
00:00
🎓 Reflections on the Harvard Experience

The speaker reflects on their graduation from Harvard in 2015, expressing mixed feelings about the value of their degree. They acknowledge the privilege of attending such a prestigious institution and the potential benefits to their career but also plan to critically evaluate the true cost of attending Harvard, including financial and psychological sacrifices. The speaker, Ahsante, sets the stage for a nuanced discussion about the Ivy League culture, emphasizing that their perspective is personal and may not align with others who loved their time at Harvard.

05:02
🤯 The Intense Competitiveness of Harvard

This paragraph delves into the psychological costs of attending Harvard, highlighting the extreme competitiveness and pressure to excel. The speaker describes the culture of comparison and judgment among peers, both in academics and extracurricular activities. They recount their surprise at the level of competition for classes, clubs, and even social groups, which often involved a rigorous selection process. The speaker also touches on the exclusivity of final clubs and their predominantly white membership, adding to the campus's historically unwelcoming atmosphere for people of color.

10:05
🌱 Finding Growth Beyond the Harvard Bubble

The speaker discusses the personal growth that came from overcoming the challenges of the Harvard environment. They mention the importance of self-care and mental health, stemming from their struggle with feelings of worthlessness and the need to unlearn societal patterns of competition. Despite the hardships, they found value in the experience, gaining mental fortitude and a deeper appreciation for supportive communities. The speaker also acknowledges the positive aspects of their time at Harvard, such as studying abroad and forming lifelong friendships.

15:05
🌟 The Enduring Value of a Harvard Education

In the final paragraph, the speaker concludes that, despite the initial costs, attending Harvard was ultimately worth it for them. They reflect on the prestige and opportunities that came with a Harvard degree, including the automatic respect and assumed competence it confers. The speaker also discusses the benefits of the Harvard alumni network and how it has positively impacted their career. They end on a hopeful note, encouraging viewers to live spiritedly and think creatively.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Harvard
Harvard is a prestigious Ivy League university known for its high academic standards and influential alumni. In the script, the author reflects on their personal experience at Harvard, discussing both the benefits and the psychological challenges they faced. The term is central to the video's theme as it sets the context for the author's reflections on the value of attending such a renowned institution.
💡Psychological Distress
Psychological distress refers to emotional or mental suffering often resulting from a challenging or traumatic experience. In the video script, the author describes the intense competition and pressure to perform at Harvard, which led to feelings of worthlessness and a negative impact on their mental health. This concept is integral to the narrative as it highlights the personal cost of attending a high-pressure academic environment.
💡Competition
Competition is the act of striving against others for an objective or recognition. The script emphasizes the highly competitive culture at Harvard, where students are constantly compared and judged by their peers. This keyword is a key theme in the video, illustrating the author's struggle with the constant need to outperform others and the toll it took on their sense of self-worth.
💡Privilege
Privilege denotes special rights, advantages, or immunities granted to a particular individual or group. The author acknowledges the privilege associated with attending Harvard and the benefits it confers, such as access to resources and networking opportunities. The concept is used to contrast the author's personal struggles with the broader societal advantages that come with a Harvard education.
💡Mental Health
Mental health refers to the state of an individual's psychological and emotional well-being. The script discusses the author's mental health challenges during their time at Harvard, including feelings of rejection and inferiority. This keyword is central to the video's message, as it underscores the importance of mental well-being and the need for support in high-stress environments.
💡Achievement
Achievement is the act of accomplishing a goal or task successfully. The video script reflects on the author's struggle to detach their sense of self-worth from their achievements and productivity. Achievement is a recurring theme in the video, illustrating the pressure to excel and the potential negative effects on one's mental health.
💡Exclusivity
Exclusivity refers to the state of being restricted to a particular group or class. In the script, the author talks about the exclusivity of certain clubs and social groups at Harvard, which contributed to feelings of rejection and isolation. This keyword is relevant to the video's theme as it highlights the social dynamics and the sense of belonging at the university.
💡Self-Worth
Self-worth is the value or esteem that a person places on themselves. The author discusses their journey to separate their self-worth from their achievements, which was influenced by the competitive environment at Harvard. This concept is a key part of the video's narrative, as it speaks to the internal struggle to maintain a healthy sense of self in a high-pressure academic setting.
💡Cultural Fit
Cultural fit describes how well an individual's values, beliefs, and behaviors align with those of an organization or group. The script mentions the author's feeling of being a misfit at Harvard due to the competitive culture. This keyword is important to the video's message, as it addresses the author's personal experience of not fitting in with the dominant culture and the impact on their mental health.
💡Peer Counseling
Peer counseling is a form of guidance or support provided by members of the same age group or social group. In the video script, the author mentions peer counseling as a form of mental health support at Harvard, but expresses skepticism about its effectiveness. This keyword is relevant to the video's theme as it touches on the availability and perceived adequacy of mental health resources within the university.
💡Self-Care
Self-care refers to the practice of taking actions to maintain or improve one's own health and well-being. The author advocates for the importance of self-care and mental health throughout the video, particularly after experiencing the psychological challenges of attending Harvard. This keyword is a key part of the video's message, emphasizing the need for individuals to prioritize their own well-being.
Highlights

Graduated from Harvard in 2015 with mixed feelings, questioning the worth of the degree.

Harvard's culture is highly competitive, with a constant comparison to peers.

Financial aid at Harvard is need-based, creating financial burdens for some students.

Extracurricular activities at Harvard are also competitive, adding to the stress.

The psychological impact of attending Harvard includes feelings of rejection and inferiority.

Finals clubs at Harvard are exclusive social groups that contribute to a hierarchical campus culture.

Mental health services at Harvard were not seen as helpful, adding to the challenges faced by students.

Despite the challenges, the Harvard name carries prestige and can open doors in the job market.

The experience at Harvard prepared the speaker for the competitive capitalist workforce.

Harvard's study abroad program provided a positive and enriching experience.

The speaker had to unlearn patterns of hierarchy and competition ingrained by the Harvard experience.

The value of the Harvard degree is in its perceived competence and trustworthiness it instills in others.

The Harvard experience, despite its challenges, was ultimately worth it for the speaker.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of self-care and mental health in overcoming the Harvard experience.

Harvard's competitive environment can lead to a misfit feeling and a sense of not belonging.

The speaker's career success is attributed to high performance, people skills, and the Harvard credential.

The speaker's perspective on Harvard is nuanced, acknowledging both the struggles and the benefits.

Transcripts

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Harvard experienceIvy Leaguemental healtheducation costsacademic pressurestudent lifecareer impactelite collegesself-worthalumni connections