Time to Concentrate

As a cynical "drop-out" of the Social Studies and History and Literature Departments, I continue to wonder why Harvard forced me to choose a concentration as a naive, inexperienced frosh. Since my initial decision two years ago, I have changed majors three times and still receive the wrong concentration packets at registration.

Harvard is one of the few colleges that asks students to focus on a concentration as early as their first year. Other schools, including Yale and Princeton, allow students to dabble more in different departments and choose a major later in sophomore year. Obviously, students at Harvard continue to experiment with and change concentrations after their first year. Former pre-meds who do not want to endure the hardships of a Biochemistry concentration take Ec-10 as sophomores. Consequently, the same students must often rush to fulfill honors requirements for their new major.

UNFORTUNATELY, changing to a new concentration becomes more difficult and problematic the longer one waits to change. Even as a sophomore, switching concentrations can be more trouble than it's worth.

Though Harvard reassures you that switching concentrations is not difficult or unusual, many counselors forget to tell first-year students one harsh fact of life that complicates this process--honors requirements. Basically, it can be very difficult, even as a mid-year sophomore, to switch to another concentration and still fulfill honors requirements.

Even sophomores find that requirements pile up so that students can easily find themselves switching to a concentration requiring two sophomore tutorials. Though some departments allow one semester of tutorial to be waived under certain conditions, many departments will not be so lenient. Consequently, some students must take two tutorials one semester junior year and suffer the increased workload and complications.

Perhaps indecision is a bad thing. Perhaps those students who as sophomores do not find themselves moving toward one clear direction should just stick to one concentration and not worry about their decision. Still, the expense of a Harvard degree and the relatively short period of college education make some students feel otherwise. Most students do in fact want to get the most for their money and find the area in which they are truly interested.

Harvard takes pride in requiring students to choose a certain course and stick to it. Clearly, few students could ever experience all the activities and courses that appeal to them in their short stay at Harvard. Much can be said in favor of this idea of forcing students to find priorities and make tough choices.

HOWEVER, Harvard could only help its students by providing them with a much-needed extra year or even an extra semester simply to get an idea of the options available to them. Most students at Harvard do not have the opportunity during their first year to experience enough of different departments to make an informed choice of concentration. The choice of concentration is not the be all and end all of one's education. Nevertheless, the decision is important and likely to be better if made by more experienced sophomores.

Harvard seems to stand alone in its belief in forcing students to make a choice about which many are not informed. Concentration fairs give a blurred picture at best, while the real taste of a concentration comes from taking courses in the particular department. Of the eight courses taken first year, three are usually consumed by Expos and language requirement. In addition, core courses tend to be the secondary priority of new students, though the core fails to give a real picture of any particular department.

Harvard, whether it believes it or not, can learn from the wisdom of other colleges at least in this area. Sophomores, not frosh, should choose areas of concentration. The Core could also be more representative of various, actual departmental courses. With an additional year to gain knowledge and experience, sophomores could make a better, more informed choice.