Sure, you could argue that you have to be a cut above to even be here. Everyone knows how selective Harvard's admissions process is. The only requirement for the Summer School Program, however, was that you show yourself to be "academically motivated," and that you be able to pay, of course. You don't say to yourself, "I hate school, I hate life...I think I'll go to Harvard." Common sense: you have to be able to expect a little more out of yourself than the average student in your high school class in the Summer School Program or the college program.

But once you get here, you find just as many lazy people as you do motivated people. There are still the ones who sit in the back of the classroom, try not to participate in the class discussions, and barely skim by. Or sail by with flying colors.

Once again, this can depend on the professor, or on how a particular course is structured.

No matter how good an institution makes itself look, it is still susceptible to these idiosyncratic details.

The fact of the matter, is shit happens, and Harvard is not exempt.

That's not to say that I regret spending my summer here. Harvard does have its clear advantages. They just don't abound like some would expect them to.

My advice to a prospective applicant is this" Know exactly what you're getting yourself into. As you've probably heard more times than you can count, your education is what you make of it anywhere you go. That's very true. And the most you may come away from Harvard with is name that drops jaws on your resume.