The debate began with Alexander Heffner’s editorial for U.S. News & World Report in which he argued that the university has significant prestige, “but as any undergraduate who actually attends the school knows, the Harvard education is overrated.” Heffner’s pointed and harsh criticism of the university garnered a flurry of backlash from fellow students. The Crimson argues that Heffner’s piece and its ilk are simply self-serving and fail to address audiences that could actually change for the better. The Crimson also highlights the hypocrisy of such pieces as the authors of this anti-Harvard rhetoric “make use of the same brand-name benefits that they often find to be the greatest fault within the institution.” The Harvard Political Review’s Andrew Seo articulates a similar view with a more personal twist. As he dissects Heffner’s article point by point, Seo ultimately concludes that a “Harvard education isn’t as advertised because there are 6,650 different ones.”
Read Alexander Heffner’s article at U.S. News & World Report
Read The Crimson’s response at The Crimson
Read Andrew Seo’s Response at The Harvard Political Review