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

The lowdown on the culture at Harvard college, from a recent grad. In a word: toxic. Let's be real about the mental health cost of attending Harvard (✏️Video Notes Below ↓↓↓)

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The culture at Harvard was rough, y'all. I was completely unprepared for the level of cutthroat competition and constant comparison to your peers. There's an idealization of Harvard in popular culture, but you don't hear about the mental health issues on campus - which I've seen as a theme across the Ivy League. And the institution often provides students with very little support. Yes, it's great to be a Harvard alumnus, and my career has gone great places, but let's be real about the sacrifice - not everyone makes it out.

#Harvard #MentalHealth #IvyLeague

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👋🏾 Hey! I'm Ahsante the Artist :) I make videos to help you move consciously and creatively through life. I talk about personal development, self care, wellness, social awareness, intersectionality, and mental & physical health. I hope you join me!

[AhsanteB]

👋🏾 Hey, thanks for watching! Here are my other reflection videos on Harvard and overachievement for your viewing pleasure:



*Also note a correction, the clubs are called "final clubs" not "finals clubs"

[AnneS]

I did my masters and PhD at Harvard. It was brutal, stressful, highly competitive and anxiety provoking. I had nightmares, literally, for years after graduation - that I never actually graduated and had to return, that I was enrolled in a course I only found out about at exam time, etc. Knowing what I know now, I would definitely not choose Harvard again. And, although it was not nice being AT Harvard, it was nice being FROM Harvard. The name certainly carries a lot of recognition and prestige. The price you pay for that, though, is way too high.

[daivonclark]

I remember hearing that when it comes to these types of schools, the degree itself isnt the point. The reason these elite schools are so expensive is because you get the chance to make connections with future "important" people. As they say, its not how hard you work, its who you know. 😩

[halli]

For students looking into colleges, the most important things to look out for are #1 how much debt you’re going to leave with #2 how well does the school support students (can usually be visualized by the graduation rate, job rate after graduation, and services available to students) and #3 the strength of the program you’re interested in. Sure, having an Ivy League school on your resume will help but it may not be worth it if it ruins your finances and mental health. Another piece of advice: get internships in college! Having actual work experience is crucial!

[cristinacruz]

A big challenge for lower-middle-class kids that get into the Ivy League is that most of the students come from wealthy upper middle-class and very upper-class backgrounds. Financial limitations can really affect the social groups you are a part of in general. Most of the kids at the Ivy have money to spend on dinners, outings, and clubs. It adds another layer of stress.

[victorybeginsinthegarden]

so that shirt is not only a flex its a symbol that says I survived an education cult

[JerryStevens]

I went to community college so I don't know anything about Harvard but the impression I get from Ahsante's presentation reinforces my long-held suspicion that people don't go to college to be educated, it's about the credential. I have been successful without a Harvard degree and Ahsante would be successful without a Harvard degree. But the degree is a nice advertisement and I can see that the alumni connections are unmatched. Yes, the word "Harvard" did attract me to the video but I watched until the end because it's well done.

[mma]

I’m a first-year at Harvard College and the way you just voiced everything that I’ve been feeling (like i’m not good enough, alone, stressed, etc) all i can say is thank you. I thought I was the only one going through this but to know that you went through it and overcame it is reassuring. It sucks that you went through such an experience and it’s even more disheartening to know that nothing much has changed.

[danutza]

I feel so sad for the students having to go through this....this is just so toxic and teaching and promoting a toxic culture. A person has value just for who they are not for what they can do, or know. Thank you for sharing this.

[rodriguezelfeliz]

A friend of mine applied for Harvard. Brilliant guy. He's the most smart, hard working AND caring person I know. He did not get in. It was heart breaking, but in a way I'm glad. I think that that kind of preassure could have destroyed him.

[RC-ldcn]

My friend's daughter graduated from Harvard with a BS degree in Sociology and she makes the same salary as all the other people in her office who went to local colleges. The big difference was, the Harvard grad has more college debt to pay.

[Jewao]

10:43 - cannot believe a school that is so prestigious does not even have proper mental health services for students. Highly competitive environments like these are extremely toxic and only end up creating narcissistic individuals. This environment seems horrible. Remember everyone you’re supposed to enjoy what you’re doing, and if you’re not enjoying it don’t endure it for long.

[albertlowe]

I just turned down Harvard for Stanford. It was hard to do but I just felt way more passion for Stanford’s program. I also felt more warmth from them. I know I made the right decision. Thanks for this video.

[jasminerose]

This is helpful. I interviewed with Harvard in high school and it was one of the most humiliating experiences I've had academically. I am actually from a low income family, and I was a first generation college student. My interviewer asked a lot of personal questions about my family and how I felt about welfare. She kept asking me why I thought I was good enough to attend Harvard. I said that I was intelligent, and she said so are a lot of people and that being smart wasn't good enough. I came away from the whole process feeling dirty and wanting to cry. She said she didn't feel that I had what it took to survive on campus and maybe I could consider grad school as an option. For quite some time, I held some level of mild resentment for her. But after hearing your experience maybe she was looking out for me. IDK

[syd_sterb]

I have an engineering professor that went to MIT and Harvard and he continues to share that these schools are just not worth it…

[buckchile]

My son has both a PhD & MD. The former is from a state school, while the later is an Ivy. He spent some time acquiring volunteer credits at MIT after Harvard told him he lacked that component. He wound up at Penn. Both Ivy's turned him off due to their elitist attitudes. He started off at a community college. I'm glad that these experiences didn't turn him into an elitist himself. The best part is that his student debt is minimal to nothing. He's about to start his residency at Stanford(which was his first choice.) It seems that the volunteer component is a way that the Ivy's can turn away the less advantaged because the lower classes don't have the luxury of volunteering extensively.

[violetchan]

People are so concerned with being perceived as “the best” that they don’t stop and think what’s best for them

[sistahlamb]

Nothing wrong with going to a community college, state university, or even a trade school and pursuing a career that way. These Ivy League colleges are just a status symbol.

[nessazee]

I specifically chose to go to a chill liberal arts college because as a naturally hyper competitive person with generalized anxiety, I knew my sanity would not survive a hyper competitive school. Best decision I ever made. I got lifelong friends and great job opportunities out of it all the same.

[iamjwang]

Fellow 2015 grad here -- don't think we knew each other on campus, but +1000 to everything you've said here! I cannot articulate it nearly as well. Great video and continued healing to us all...