Gen Z Guide to FI

Harvard was not what I expected. I felt some type of way. But I still want them to accept me though!

Ok, I’ll break down a little bit about why I thought that. Firstly, I got to the dorms with my big ass suitcases from Nigeria. I was on the 3rd floor and there was no elevator in my building. Brooo… unless I’m dumb but how is one expected to move in and out of such buildings. It had 4 floors. What about wheelchair accessibility? I might have lived in CA too long but I’m hoping not all their dorms are not like that there. Otherwise, it was a really nice single room with a bathroom inside the room.

The second reason for the ick was arbitrary rules. I am a questioner for sure. Harvard is very rooted in tradition. Some fixed traditions that have obviously worked for them for years but some that I was like hmmmm. I went in as a prospective student. I was fortunate to attend a mock class. The professors were strict about starting at the dot and locking the doors. The class itself was nice but it led me to wonder if I could thrive at Harvard with those very strict rules. I also don’t love that they have classes every day. Flexibility is nice. I think I especially would need some flexibility because I want to go into an industry where I have no contacts. I need time to network. I would need time to travel.

And the last was the pressure to spend money. I listened to a 1st Gen, low income alumnus share how he spent over $50,000 to socialize with his rich classmates. Another one talked about how she’s always outside. Not outside like nature (ok maybe some nature) but outside like traveling to 15 countries in a year. She said she travel hacked most of those because she was a consultant in her past life. I don’t have consultant level miles as of yet.

There was this underlying notion that if you say ‘no’ once to a social invite, you won’t get another chance from the rich kids. I didn’t like that at all. No me gusta elitism.

Harvard is a brand. If I want to do anything in this life, it would be a good brand to support me. However, it isn’t the only school that can give me what I need. I’m glad I got to tour the school ahead of applications. I might have to do that for any school I get into. The vibes need to be right.

I went to MIT as well. Pretty views of Boston but I don’t have any plans to apply there as of yet. The vibes felt more genuine there.

Cash money wise: I spent a total of $215 on flights for using Miles+Cash from United airlines. I wrote a post on it some months back. I spent another $278 on food, Ubers and alcohol in Boston.

Total spend: $493, 18,000 United miles, 80,000 Hilton Points

Thank you for reading.

XOXO Gen Z Fire Baby