<p>I'm currently debating between enrolling at either Harvard or Stanford. A little background on myself:</p>
<p>1) I'm a very big math/science guy. I'm thinking about majoring in physics with a focus on electronics and hopefully breaking into industry that way.</p>
<p>2) I'm deeply concerned about the quality of instruction and (meaningful) undergraduate research opportunities within the math and physics departments. </p>
<p>3) I prefer sunny, dry, warm weather. I'm the type of person who would love to wear shorts year round.</p>
<p>Stanford
Pros:
- Awesome weather and laid-back environment
- Seems tech-oriented, which I like + proximity of Silicon Valley
- I feel like I could have a lot of success freshman year in Math 51H and the Physics 60 series
- Quarter system sounds like it would keep me interested by varying courses often</p>
<p>Cons:
- Palo Alto does not seem like a great college town
- I am somewhat doubtful of the importance of Silicon Valley's proximity to an undergraduate student
- Should location/weather truly be a deal breaker? Is it that important when choosing a college?
- Does not have <em>quite</em> the prestige level of Harvard (minor factor)
- I've heard the humanities requirements are particularly annoying here
- I feel I potentially could become a stronger mathematician/physicist at Harvard</p>
<p>Harvard
Pros:
- Math 55 and Physics 16 sound intense and would set me on a path to become a very knowledgeable physicist if I could complete them
- As shameful as it is to say, the Harvard name is quite a draw
- Boston sounds like an awesome place to be as an undergraduate
- Cross-enrolling at MIT always an option</p>
<p>Cons:
- Weather sounds terrible
- I feel because the academics here do seem more intense, if I am not initially successful it would be hard to recover
- I am kind of put off by reports that I have read concerning competitiveness and quality of life amongst Harvard undergraduates
- I am somewhat pessimistic about my chances of standing out
- I would probably have a funner time at Stanford</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any helpful advice or comments.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter that much between these two schools - they are both so highly ranked. Harvard probably has the edge on math if you are interested in pursuing a Phd. I think it is actually important in Silicon Valley to have a degree from Stanford if you are pursuing a job after a BS degree. It helps to have your living situation already set up for summer internships. So, although it doesn’t matter, I would choose Stanford if I wasn’t interested in the 6 year haul of a Phd, but Harvard if research is what pushes your buttons.</p>
<p>What weight do you give to #3 above (weather)? That is a meaningful difference between the two schools. Academically, you will find plenty of competition, challenge and opportunity at both schools.</p>
<p>Here’s some data…average daily high temperature by month:
December: Harvard 42, Stanford 58
January: Harvard 36, Stanford 58
February: Harvard 39, Stanford 62
March: Harvard 46, Stanford 64.
Note that you probably aren’t wearing shorts at Stanford in that weather, but there is a significant difference.</p>
<p>If you’ll visit the CC Harvard board (or talk to the two Harvard students in my household), you’ll find that nearly all of the students there refute the dire competitiveness, Q of L, and the classically-nebulous “undergraduate focus” stereotypes. They also find the place to be a lot of fun, and Boston is indeed awesome for college students. The academic intensity however, is real.</p>
<p>I think Stanford’s quarter system is a big selling point: More opportunity to experiment. There is also a strong culture of entrepreneurship - nearly every engineering faculty member sits on the boards of various start-ups and high tech companies so their contacts are invaluable. There’s also lots of support for students who want to start their own ventures. And don’t underestimate the importance of good weather on motivating you to both exercise and to get out and try new things. I would also add that while Boston is a better student town than Palo Alto, San Francisco and Berkeley are accessible if you aren’t too busy doing all the things that happen on campus.</p>
<p>I should add that I have degrees from both schools, but I personally would choose to be an undergrad at Stanford if I were in the sciences.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the informative replies thus far - please keep them coming!</p>
<p>M’s Mom:
“I should add that I have degrees from both schools, but I personally would choose to be an undergrad at Stanford if I were in the sciences.”</p>
<p>Can you clarify this statement, especially in regards to physics/math?</p>
<p>First of CONGRATS! I had an advisee of mine travel to Yale, Harvard and Stanford and choose Harvard because “it seemed like it offered more opportunities” Stanford is the one school I would consider over Harvard, it really depends on what kind of lifestyle you are looking for.</p>
<p>Both schools are equally highly regarded in physics and math so unless you have a specific area of physics or math that you want to focus on, and know that one school is stronger than the other, I’d consider that a wash. That said, Stanford attracts the most entrepreneurial, creative and interesting engineering and science students (along with MIT). There is a glorification of boundary pushing at Stanford in those areas, to the point where students in the humanities complain about being overshadowed. It’s not fair to them because Stanford is virtually as strong in the humanities, but the proximity to Silicon Valley and to the pre-eminent medical school (which is located on the campus) seems to create a special buzz for the sciences and engineering. It’s just an exciting place to be. Once you are in grad school, ‘general buzz’ doesn’t matter that much - you are at a school because you want to work on specific issues with specific faculty and have some pretty concrete career goals that you are pursuing.</p>
<p>Of course good weather and the ability to be outside pretty much year round also carries a lot of weight with some people. Being in a vibrant urban area carries more weight with others. I like both and enjoyed both at different times in my life.</p>