Harvard Club

The "Harvard Goals Survey" often comes up in personal development writing and most of the big name Guru's quote it. The survey explains the importance of writing your goals down. Yet I doubt very much that you will ever find a copy. So I have pieced together most of what I have learnt about it over the years into this article.

The Harvard Goals Survey.

The details vary a little depending on who is describing it, but it more or less goes like this; In 1952 or 1953 at Harvard University (although some tell it as Yale University) a detailed and comprehensive survey was conducted of the Harvard seniors leaving that year. This survey asked questions about the student's time in education, their background, beliefs, attitudes and plans for the future, as I said a detailed and comprehensive survey. About half way through this survey we get to the question, have you set goals? And 10% said that they had. Then the next question was. If you have set goals, have you written them down? To this question only 3% had written their goals down.

Twenty years later, it was decided to contact all the students that took part in the original survey before and get them to take part in another updated survey about their lives now. So they tried to contact as many of the students as they could, many were spread all around the world by then and one or two had died. They managed to complete the second survey, and then made comparisons between the two surveys. When they looked at the two questions on goals, the 10% that had set goals had all reached them, but the really striking thing was the 3% that had set their goals and written them down were worth more financially then all the rest of the 97% combined.

There are two conclusions to be drawn from this –

First, it is very important to write your goals down. In some way that gives your goals a special power and energy; which leads to greater results.

Second, in some way whether they know it or not, the 97% are actually helping the 3% to get what they want. Or to put it another way, they are actually working for the 3%; the professional goal setters. So it is vital when you set a goal to write it down.

Some years back when I first started studying mind and achievement, I thought that I had better find a copy of the Harvard Goals Survey, so I went to my computer and looked for it on the internet, but I could not find it. A few names and articles kept coming up, but I could not find the Harvard Goals Survey. I am persistent, so every now and then I would spend about half an hour or so looking for it, yet I could not find it. I put into the search engine every little thing I could think of relating to this survey. Then one day I found a chat room, full of people looking for the Harvard Goals Survey and none of them could find it. They were not happy. They were calling the big name Gurus and writers who quote this survey, liars! They were calling the Harvard Goals Survey an urban myth! They believed the survey to be fictitious. I thought on this for some time, but it did not sit well with me. I know the work well of many of these people that they were so quick to call liars, and the term did not match those people at all. I thought to myself, surly the number one lesson from personal development is to have a positive mental attitude and here was this chat room full of negative people winging and moaning. So I carried on looking and thinking about the survey.

Then it dawned on me why I and all these other people could not find the Harvard Goals Survey. There never was a survey by the title of, Harvard Goals Survey, no one had actually ever said that there was, yet that is what it is known as. There were two separate surveys, twenty years apart, with unknown names. The Harvard Goals Survey as it became known is just findings; between two questions in two surveys.

The Harvard Goals Survey has been called an urban myth by many, so let's look for the truths in it. For me, I do not now need to find a copy of the so called Harvard Goals Survey to find the truth within it. The truth is a dream lives in your mind. You can in your mind turn a dream into a goal, but the truth is that nearly always the very next step is to write your goal down. It does not matter how you do that, the written word, a sketch, diagram, list or plan. Unless it is a very small goal, something that you can just get up and go and do, then you have to put pen to paper in some way. A written goal then, for the first time, has a physical presence in this world. For the first time your written goal has a three dimensional form. You can pick it up, turn it, fold it and view it in different ways. When you write your goals down, your goals have actually started their manifesting journey towards completion.

Here are the truths within the survey.

• It is a truth that you have to nearly always write your goals down in order to take them forward.
• It is a truth that the biggest achievers in the population are only a small percentage of it.
• It is a truth that you will not find a survey that contradicts the Harvard Goals Survey.
• It is a truth that you will not find a survey that says do not set goals and do not right them down.
• It is a truth too many people do just what everyone else does and they get the average result, like the majority did in the survey.

So we could get all negative about the Harvard Goal Survey, and call it a myth. Or we can remember the number one lesson from personal development, to have a positive mental attitude. So look at how the truths and messages in the Harvard Goals Survey can help you and join the 3%, the professional goal setters.

Source by Tony Brassington

Here are the 4 key objectives of a first college visit; this assumes you will be impressed with the results of your visit, which will require a second visit with a different strategy.

1. Show up unannounced. You want to witness first-hand how flexible and accommodating admission people can be so that your gut instincts will help determine your first impressions. It'll also tell you how hard the college works on making first good impressions.

2. Ask for the name of the admissions person who handles your geographical area. This is your contact person for future email contacts . Try to meet that person, introduce yourself, and get a business card. It would be wicked cool to trade business cards, so I would get one created with only your name, address, email address, and phone number.

If the college does not assign admissions people on a geographical basis, ask for a business card from one of them and make that person your contact.

3. Ask about the school's retention rate : "What percentage of freshmen return after the freshman year?" When you get home, look on the school's website to see if the figure matches what you heard. If the answer is a high retention rate, you want to ask a follow-up question: "Is it because of a proactive college policy to recruit a diverse student body that includes non-A students, or does the school focus on the A students who almost always account for a high retention rate? "

These 2 questions will give you a sense of the school's orientation or philosophy of recruitment. If you're not comfortable with the answer, move on to another campus.

4. Ask the killer question that will be most difficult to answer , and as a parent you have a moral obligation to ask it. If the school is going to ask you to spend thousands of dollars, you want to demand an answer to this question: "Because campus safety is in the news all the time, how and when can I get access to the campus police's records of crime on this campus for the past 12 months? "

This could be a real curve ball question, but you don't care. Listen carefully to how your question is answered. If the answer sounds too practiced or too routine, such as, "Any incidents or crimes on campus are public record. You can call the local police to get that information." If you hear this answer, you're being lied to. The local police do not record all the campus's incidents because the college wants to keep any real crimes quiet if they can. The most convenient reason to have a campus police force is to hide any potential public relations or image problems that could damage the school's effort to recruit if disclosure of all crimes is made.

Uncomfortable Fact: Colleges are a business, and image is everything.

Student tour directors are programmed to tell you what you want to hear. Which is why I detest planned tours. You get far better information from students sitting at a dining hall table. But if you take a tour with a young and enthusiastic robotic tour guide, you need to ask questions they don't hear; However, do not be surprised to hear other parents ask these 3 mind-boggling questions:

1. How's the food here?

2. What are laundry facilities like?

3. Do students get enough sleep?

Colleges witness parents asking what they view as really dumb questions. These are the equivalent of asking, "Do you have running water?"

If you're touring a college that requires $ 40,000 a year, you need to ask tough questions. If you don't get the satisfactory answers WITH FOLLOW-UP research, perhaps another college will be glad to help you.

Comfortable Fact: There are over 4,000 colleges and universities out there, and you are in the driver's seat to choose, not the colleges. They know it, but they won't tell you that they know it.

It's a game – a game you can win.

Source by Paul Hemphill

United States of America (USA) is the most preferred destination in the world for higher studies and work. Education in USA draws students not solely because it is the most developed nation, but because it provides the highest quality of education. The course structure as well as the method of study train students in a way no other country does. Although this is true for all colleges in America, but every student should and want to get admission to one of the top US Colleges and Universities.

University of Chicago ranks first among the innumerable US universities. It was founded by John D. Rockfeller in 1892, and today houses 14,600 students and 2100 faculty members. It has the best research and technological infrastructure. The approximate cost of the course and stay is 52,450 $. A premier undergrad institute, it has four divisions at the UG level, namely, Biological Sciences, Humanities, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences. Graduates can apply to the various professional schools – Divinity School, Booth School of Business, Law School, Pritzker School of Medicine, Irving B Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies, or the School of Social Service Administration. Chicago University is known specifically for its law, economics and science departments. To get admission to this institution, you need to fill the common application form. Admission is on the basis of reports of secondary and high school, teachers' evaluation, SAT or ACT score. Also students are to submit a short essay on why they want to enroll to this university along with an answer essay to the question on the website.

Harvard University, named after John Harvard, was established in 1636 in Cambridge. It is the oldest private university in US. Best known for its law school, business school and medical school, the university also offers varied options to choose from. At the under graduate level, students can choose between African and African American Studies, Anthropology, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering and Applied Sciences, History, Music, Psychology, Sociology and Women, Gender and Sexuality. Learning of a foreign language and a writing course is compulsory in the first year. At the PG level, you can opt for any of the schools – Harvard Business School, Divinity School, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Graduate Law School, Harvard Graduate Medical School , Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health. Harvard University is accredited by the NEASC-CI HE. Online courses are also available for those who cannot attend it on campus. To get admission you need to have a SAT score of 2080-2370 or ACT score of 31-34.

Yale University, founded in 1701 is located in New Haven. The cost of study here is about 54,000 $. This Arts and Science Institute offers curses in Mathematics, Foreign Language, Computer Science, Economics, Music, Psychology etc. Online application is recommended. Eligibility depends on the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) SAT I and and any two SAT II subject tests, or the ACT score with writing. Also considered is your high school transcript.

Princeton University is a private institution established in 1746. It has outstanding undergraduate and research courses. You can pursue a BA or Bsc in Engineering in any of the following subjects – Anthropology, Architecture, Architecture, Chemical Engineering, English, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religions and Sociology. For master's, the programs available are Architecture, Chemical Engineering, Finance, Near Eastern Studies, Public Affairs, Public Policy, and Urban and Regional Planning. You have to fill the common application form, submit recommendation of at least two teachers and your SAT or ACT score, along with a list of accomplishments outside the classroom.

Amherst College, commenced in 1821, is a liberal arts college in Amherst. You can pursue major's in American Studies, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Film and Video Arts, Law Jurisprudence and Social Thought, Mathematics, Political Science, Psychology, Theater and Dance, etc. In 2007 was introduced the College's Center for Social Justice to educate students on the opportunities in social justice and community service. You have to fill the common application form to apply, and admission is dependent on your high school transcript, SAT / ACT score, recommendations of teachers and councilors, your writing quality and extra curricular activities. You will be spending approximately 50,000 $ for study here.

Stanford University, located in California, was started in 1885, and is known for its computer science department. You can do BA or Bsc or BA and B Sciences at UG level. You have the option to do a double major. The various schools at this level are School of Earth Sciences, School of Engineering, School of Humanities and Sciences. At PG level are the Graduate School of Business, Law School and School of Medicine. Approximate cost of study is 50,000 $. Online programs are also available. You have to fill the common application form, and provide your high school transcript, recommendations of teachers.

Brown University, in Providence, established in 1764, offers bachelor's in arts and science. There are thirty courses to be completed at this level. Major options include Ancient Studies, Education Studies, Commerce Organization and Entrepreneurship, Engineering, Mathematics, Music, Neuro Sciences, Physics, Theater Arts and Visual Arts. Master's in 23 subjects and Doctorate in 43 programs is granted by Brown. For admission the requirements are the common application form, the Brown supplement, high school transcript, recommendations, SAT or Act score. Financial aid is available to deserving students. The total expenditure is $ 48,000.

Cornell University was set up in 1865 in New York. It is the first university in US to offer veterinary medicine, industrial and labor relations, and hotel management programs. Cornell has 14 schools and colleges to select from – College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Architecture Art and Planning, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Hotel Administration, College of Human Ecology, College of Industrial and Labor Relations , Graduate School, Cornell Law School, Johnson Graduate School of Management, Weill Cornell Medical School and Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Admission is based on the filling of common application form, high school transcript, and recommendations. Average cost of study is 52,500 $.

University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia was put up in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin. The schools at UG level are – The College- Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, School of Nursing, Wharton Business School. PG schools are Annenburg School of Communication, Graduate School of Education, Law School, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, School of Design, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Policy and Practice and School of Veterinary Medicine. Submit your SAT reasoning test score along with that of two subject tests, or ACT score of writing for admission. Cost of study is $ 48,000. Financial aid is available.

Columbia University was established in 1754 in New York City and is the oldest post secondary school in NY. It is accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education. It offers 90 programs, pre-medical, dental and law programs at bachelor's level. Post graduation can be done in Architecture Planning and Presentation, Arts, Arts and Sciences, Business, Continuing education, Dental and Oral Surgery, Engineering and Applied Sciences, International and Public Affairs, Journalism, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Social Work . You can also study vocal or instrumental music at the Julliard School. Admission criteria is your academic record, ECA, your interests, summer activities, recommendations and the student essay. MA program in Computing and Education is available online.

Apart from these top institutes, the other very good options are the Darmouth College in New Hampshire, University of Maryland, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (for science and technology it is the best institute), California Institute of Technology (houses NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory) , North Western University, Boston University (liberal arts school), Georgia Institute of Technology, Tufts University, Washington University (more than 90 programs), John Hopkins University, Georgetown University, Lehigh University, Pennsylvania State University, University of North Carolina, New York University, University of Michigan, Rice University, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas, University of Virginia, University of Florida, and Yeshiva University.

The top US colleges and universities have occupied their position of prestige because of innumerable reasons which include not only academics but also sports and other extra curricular activities. It is because of this all round development that US institutes provide to students, that they have become the highly coveted educational institutions by students all over the world.

Source by Gurg Sumit Kumar