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Harvard University

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If You Want to Win, Never Let Down Your Guard - Research Assistant Harvard University Employee Review

4.0
27 Feb 2009
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

It's an amazing place to meet people. I met CEOs, heard world leaders speak, dined with Nobel laureates. It also has unparalleled benefits, including great health care, wonderful facilities, and generous vacation policies. It's impossible not to feel like you're in the middle of something very important, because the people around you are literally in the New York Times day in and out. It feels at times like the center of the universe, and the brand name gives you good access to most of what you may want to do. Some of the professors are true visionaries and some of the students inspirations.

Cons

Contrary to popular belief, Harvard is not necessarily a great place to be an intellectual. The university places a higher premium on being important and untactful than on service to the Truth. This is probably wise (they are Harvard for a reason), but coming from a more naive and honest environment led to a little culture shock upon first arrival. There is a clear pecking order. President, University Professors, Deans, Head of Research Centers, Professors, Junior Faculty, Annointed Golden Children of Famous Professors... Staff. Don't fool yourself. Everyone has daggers under their cloaks and wants anything they can take from you. It's Harvard!

Explore other reviews about Harvard University

5.0
9 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Working at Harvard as a teaching fellow is Intellectually stimulating.

Cons

Working as a Teaching Fellow is not financially rewarding.

5.0
3 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You work with experts from every field possible in science from Mechanobiology to Metallurgy and working as a ML intern along with scientists from different fields gave me a lot of exposure and how to work in a research department.

Cons

One challenge encountered was maintaining a clear focus on training objectives, as the evolving parameters required continuous reassessment of the model's learning priorities. Additionally, the absence of established ground truth for the domain presented a limitation in validating and guiding the approach effectively.

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