THE THINKING MAN WINS

As the poster cards go up on the green cloth bulletin boards of the Freshman Halls carrying in pleasant words and pretty colors the news of the many competitions which face the undergraduate at Harvard a new and difficult problem is open to the newcomer who is eager to make good and have much about which to write home. To the average Freshman, a University as large as Harvard is a great morass in which to lose oneself ignominiously unless he starts out on the right foot and immediately tries for every competition for which he can force the time. From football managership to Lampoon Board he starts them all in an effort to make good in the first few months of college life. And indeed, no greater mistake can be made.

As may have been guessed by a few Freshman at this time, the primary objective of the four years at Harvard is to receive an education along scholastic lines, to make the required grade for a graduating degree. Secondary to this comes the extra-curricular work which perhaps gives one as great an education. But in order to receive this outside experience one must choose his field wisely, and above all he must limit that field just to one, in order that he may properly devote his attention to it and in the end succeed. Too many follow the appeal of the placards and try for all competitions only to fail in all.

The first few months of the Freshman year are exceedingly difficult and should not be dealt with lightly. The primary object is to remain and do the required work; then may come the outside activity. Well it is to remember that when firmly established scholastically one has more of a chance at being a success in the one field at which he may persevere for some time, than if at first he tries his hand at all the jobs the pretty cards proclaim.