I have a question about Harvard(details indicated)?

Question

okay so bascily I am planning to go to Harvard University but my question is that after I gratuate from highschool, do I still have to got to college? I am planning to take astronoy of medicine, so do I take an undergratuate course in Harvard or go to college? And do I get the Bachelors of science in college of undergratuate in University? Also, if I go to college then to Harvard, do I still have to take the undergraduate there?

Answer 1

Whoah. Ok, let's start with the basics and then get into the example of Astronomy and Harvard.

You can use the term "college" and "university" interchangeably. They mean the same thing when most people say it. Yes, you can make distinctions between them, but just consider them the same thing to keep you from getting confused.

Since you're aiming for Harvard, I'm just gonna skip associates degrees.

Undergrad = getting your bachelors. People talking about "majors" are talking about undergrad and getting a bachelors degree in their "major."

Graduate school = getting a masters or doctorate. A PhD is a doctorate. Some PhD programs want you to get a Masters degree first. Others will let you go straight after getting your bachelors. PhD isn't the only doctorate out there. MD (medical doctor), JD (lawyer), DDS (dentist), Pharm.D. (pharmacist) are just other examples of doctorates.

Ok. On to Astronomy and Harvard.

Harvard has both undergrad and graduate degrees (ignore the colleges talk, it'll just confuse you). If you want to be an astronomer, first you need your bachelors. Then you should get a PhD. If the Astronomy PhD program doesn't require a Masters degree in between, great.

So, to be an astronomer, you can go to Harvard for undergrad and get a bachelors in Astronomy. Then, you can also continue on to Harvard to get a PhD in Astronomy. You can substitute another school for each of these steps. Maybe you go to Stanford for your bachelors, and then Harvard for your PhD. Or Harvard for bachelors, and then Cal Tech for your PhD. Whatever. All the big name schools you've heard about offer bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees (cept for Princeton).

Answer 2

Not trying to sound mean or anything, but I don't think you qualify to even apply to Harvard based on your whole perception of colleges and universities.

Answer 3

Linkin is basically right.

One small correction to what he said, though -- you can get bachelor's, masters and Ph.D degrees at Princeton. If you like astronomy, look into their bachelor's and Ph.D programs in astrophysics. They are superb.