Since the first two years of college study are spent satisfying requirements for distribution and survey work, the ordinary graduate of Harvard is apt to receive a superficial education and not train his mind in a comprehensive manner which will benefit him afterwards. In addition, men who reach Cambridge with an adequate preparation find that they are wasting their time and turn their minds to other activities.

There are two reasons for this. First of all, differences in preparation have made a set of requirements about the only workable standard to use as a criterion. Secondly, distribution requirements necessitate a large amount of survey work which a man may have already experienced at school. When he has sheared this red tape and finished the introductory work to his field, his selection of electives must be made from a small number of courses. As a result, the man develops a general knowledge of many things but fails to get an adequate and comprehensive knowledge of either his field of concentration or of the other courses he may take. This is not a desirable situation. A man, who graduates cum laude from preparatory school should be allowed to waive these elementary courses and proceed directly to the specialized work which a College should offer him.

There are already some instances of a development along these lines at Harvard. Several men have been permitted to omit History 1 by the History Department so that they could take advanced courses. English 28 and 79 are not always required before one takes courses in this field. French 6 instead of French 2, may serve as a start for French. This is only a beginning, however. There is need for a definite plan by the Committee on Electives, which will make it the usual thing for the good student to enter advanced courses immediately. While the difficulties are numerous, they are not insuperable.

Experimentation along these lines at Harvard where both students and the faculty have high standards could well point the way to a more thorough education in the big universities throughout the country. Regardless of the errors which may be committed along the way, success would make colleges more potent factors in preparing men for their later life.