An Interview with Aaron Greenspan: Authoritas: One Student's Harvard Experience

Aaron Greenspan has just written a book entitled "Authoritas: One Student's Harvard admissions and the Founding of the Facebook era. In this interview, he responds to questions about Harvard, his book, and comments about higher education in general.

1) You have just written a book about Harvard University. What led you to write this book about this university?

The book is actually more of a memoir, and it's not intended to be a definitive volume about Harvard at all. I went to Harvard College as an undergraduate, which is why there's an overlap between the topics of my life and Harvard.

2) How long did you attend Harvard and what was your field of study?

I was there from September of 2001 through June of 2004, so three years. I studied Economics.

3) What were your expectations when arriving at Harvard?

Going in I was expecting a lot. I attended the visiting weekend for accepted high school students and found myself surrounded by people my own age who were truly interesting for really the first time in my life.

When I returned in the fall, I thought I would encounter more of that--and I definitely did--but what I didn't realize was that the faculty were another story altogether. I hoped that they would take an interest in their students as much as their students were interested in their work.

4) What would you say characterizes the "culture" of Harvard?

I only know the answer to your question from a student's perspective.

The viewpoint of a faculty member or dean would likely be much different. That being said, there's an expectation of competence that actually leads to the atmosphere being pretty laid-back. Everyone knows how hard it is to get there, and so it's taken for granted that if you've made it to Harvard Yard, there's most likely a reason why. Unlike the public school I went to, students didn't spend time trying to hurt each other; everyone was far more interested in learning about what their peers were up to. In any class at a competitive school there are always students who, for whatever reason, feel as though they don't belong, and those are usually the ones who made things competitive.

My experience was that the ultra-competitive students were a minority--or that people had so many different interests, they rarely competed for the same things.

5) I have been to many universities here in the states and overseas. I have always found that each university seems to have a distinctive culture- be it a culture of learning, scholarship, research, student development, or even in some cases-- credit hour production. Why do you think these universities develop in this way- is it leadership or the faculty or what?

My personal belief is that individuals at the top of organizations always have an enormous impact on those organizations' shapes and defining characteristics (whether or not they intend to). When you take away the mythology, the paperwork, and all of the hype, all that's left at any of these institutions is people. University presidents and scholars are every bit as important in the process of forging schools' "personalities" as are the students, the architecture, and the press.

6) I have to tell you, I took a few post graduate classes at both Columbia and New York University and although both were in the same city, I felt instruction was radically different- both within and between each University. What are your thoughts?

It all comes down to individuals. Some people are simply better at teaching than others, and one measure of a university's success (that is unfortunately often ignored) is how well it can recruit good teachers, not just good researchers.

7) What was your biggest surprise at Harvard?

My biggest surprise was encountering faculty members who seemed actively hostile toward students. As one prominent Harvard administrator recently told me, amongst faculty and administrators he detects an attitude of students being "the enemy."

8) Did you find the faculty at Harvard supportive? Did you have a mentor? Good relationships?

I found a few supportive faculty members, but I didn't really have a mentor per se. One professor in particular did go out of her away to try and help me, but her help could only go so far.

9) What question have I neglected to ask about your book?

I'm not sure--you'll have to read it and then let me know!

10) Do you have a web site where people can order your book or get more information about it?

Sure, just visit:

http://www.aarongreenspan.com/authoritas.html

You can read the first few pages and order it there.

Published April 17, 2008