Harvard is one of those universities whose reputation and name recognition bypass geographical and cultural boundaries. Even if people aren’t associated with academia in any given country, the odds are that they will quickly recognize the name. This is mostly due to the prestige and the rich history associated with the institution. Moreover, the fact that it is one of the eight ivy league schools also aids to its reputation as a distinguished school.
However, while Harvard is known the world over for different disciplines such as Law and Business, it is rarely associated with engineering. Of course, this is not to say that its engineering school is not worthy, but people normally associate the name with either business or law.
The reason for its lesser-known engineering school is due to the heavy competition from schools like MIT, Stanford and Caltech, which have positioned themselves as the premier engineering schools in the world.
Sure, Harvard’s engineering school doesn’t compete with either MIT or Stanford in world rankings but does that mean it is not a good engineering school?
In this Article
Harvard University at a Glance
So what is Harvard? Harvard is one of the oldest educational institutes in the U.S. and was founded in 1636. It is situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in close vicinity to MIT.
Harvard has a long tradition of offering quality education, and over the centuries, some of the most important historical figures have come out of it.
Fun Fact: eight U.S. presidents have graduated from Harvard.
The university spans 5,076 acres in size and is one of the largest universities in the world.
The university offers six undergrad programs (majors) and 12 grad programs. Currently, about 1000 undergrad and 700 grad students are enrolled in the university. The engineering school is officially called Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS).
Undergrad Engineering Programs:
- Applied Math
- BioEngineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Science & Engineering
- Materials Science & Mechanical Engineering
Masters Engineering Programs
- Applied Computation
- Master in Design Engineering
- MS/MBA: Engineering Sciences
Doctoral Engineering Programs
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Physics
- Bioengineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Science & Engineering
- Materials Science & Mechanical Engineering
- Quantum Science & Engineering
Apart from academics, the school is also known for its many student clubs of where there 450. Harvard is also part of the NCAA Division I in sports.
Is Harvard Good for Engineering?
On paper, Harvard engineering school doesn’t seem as impressive as some of the other prestigious universities like Stanford and MIT. According to U.S News rankings, Harvard engineering is ranked 22nd, which is far below the aforementioned universities.
However, this doesn’t mean Harvard is not a capable school for engineering students. In fact, in many ways, the smaller student body of the engineering school can make for a great learning experience. The departments are big enough to avail the best resources (Teaching Fellow positions, Variety of courses), but small enough to get to know the faculty at a personal level, which helps getting recommendation letters later on.
Here are some more reasons why Harvard engineering school might be a good fit for you.
Tightly Knit Community
Since Harvard isn’t as well known for engineering as some other prominent schools, fewer students apply to engineering programs. This has resulted in a relatively smaller community compared to MIT or Stanford, which promotes a tighter student to student and student to faculty relationship.
To many people, the smaller community size may seem like a detrimental aspect, but unlike MIT or Stanford, which have a 300:1 student-teacher ratio, you have a higher chance of connecting with the faculty and forming relationships.
Networking is a significant part of your college experience, and relationships with the faculty matter a lot when it comes to future prospects. The lower competition amongst students also help. When a company has 20 spots available for students, it’s reassuring to know that you are going against, say, 50 students and not 800.
Advantageous Location
Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is an epicentre for a variety of STEM-related companies. Since the field of engineering is already highly competitive, it’s good to know that you will have ample opportunity to get in contact with these companies for future hires. Moreover, this trend also bleeds into the neighbouring city of Boston, which hosts many tech-related companies and hence offers career opportunities.
Also, due to Harvard’s close vicinity to MIT, the two universities share friendly ties, and it’s possible to cross-register for classes at MIT. Not only would this expose you to new ideas, skills and experiences, but it will also bode well for your academic resume.
Moreover, lets say if you started with Harvard engineering and later on decided that you want to leave engineering and study something else, then you would have a lot of choices at Harvard than at any other university such as MIT.
IVY League Status
As I mentioned initially, the name and the prestige alone are something that very few universities can claim. We all know the cultural and professional relevance the IVY league holds. Even if you are far removed from the academic nuances of the western world, many people still recognize Harvard as the hotbed for world-class education. The same is true for IVY League status, and don’t think this aspect only earns you bragging rights amongst your peers and friends.
Potential employers and grad school admissions officers will know immediately that you attended an IVY league school. Not only that, but Harvard is considered the top IVY League school amongst the eight schools that enjoy this status.
In this sense, an engineering degree from Harvard may open doors for you after your graduation. You can wear the IVY League “badge” with pride and enjoy the privileges that come with it.
Research Opportunities and State-of-the-art Laboratories
School rankings don’t paint the complete picture when it comes to things other than enrollment numbers. Harvard has a long tradition of innovation and scientific advancements that speak for themselves. From NASA projects to life-saving vaccines, a ton of scientific advancements have come out of the labs situated at Harvard.
More than two dozen university buildings are exclusively dedicated to research and experiments. The laboratories are equipped with the best in scientific instruments, and the school is highly regarded for its many grants and programs for students interested in research work.
Conclusion
Harvard is a phenomenal school that has a long tradition of high-quality education. However, when compared to schools like MIT and Stanford, its engineering school doesn’t score as high on the U.S. News Rankings List. While this may seem like a drawback, in reality, the engineering school has a lot to offer that makes it a credible choice.
Due to the small student body, Harvard has a tightly knit community that encourages a better student-faculty relationship. Moreover, since the school is in close proximity to MIT, students can cross-register for courses in the acclaimed university.
Furthermore, Harvard is one of the eight IVY schools, and this IVY League status can go a long way when it comes to employment and grad studies later on.
Lastly, Harvard has been the home of many scientific innovations over the centuries. The school features dozens of labs and Is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments for scientific research.