Engine of Stress at Harvard: What's the Hardest Course?

I often hear stories of how intensely challenging Harvard's courses can be. In your experience, what's the hardest course offered at Harvard? Is it something in STEM or maybe a humanities class? Trying to steel myself mentally if I end up being a lucky admit!

The perceived difficulty of a course can be quite subjective and can depend on various factors such as your personal interests, strengths, and academic background. That said, some courses have gained a reputation over the years for being notably rigorous.

Many students say that courses in the STEM fields, particularly in the fields of Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science, can pose notable challenges. For instance, "Honors Abstract Algebra" is widely known as one of the most demanding undergraduate Math classes in the country, requiring students to not only grasp exceptionally abstract concepts but also keep pace with heavy problem sets and challenging exams.

In the Computer Science department, "Introduction to Computer Science I" also has a reputation for intensity, primarily due to the extensive time required for programming assignments and the steep learning curve for students with no prior coding experience.

In the humanities, rigorous reading and analysis requirements may make classes like "Foundations of English Literature" or “The American Century and Beyond: 1940-2016” particularly tough, especially for those unused to extensive analysis of dense texts or handling heavy reading loads.

Keep in mind, however, that Harvard offers numerous resources to help students succeed, such as office hours with professors, tutoring, and study groups. Publicly available syllabi and conversations with upperclassmen can also give you a better sense of the expectations and workload of a particular class.

Also, it's not always about taking the 'hardest' classes—it's most important to take classes that align with your interests and intended major. It can be more fulfilling and rewarding to excel in courses that genuinely interest and challenge you than to struggle through courses notorious for their difficulty!