<p>I loved both campuses, but sadly, I cannot be in two places at once. The deadline is this Saturday and after that my fate's closed! Any advice? </p>
<p>IS ANYONE CHOOSING COLUMBIA OVER HARVARD?</p>
<p>i met a girl at columbia’s campus days this year. I believe she is choosing Harvard. For those who have trouble deciding between the two, Harvard is usually the default.</p>
<p>Columbia, obvz. The veritas is, the Core >>> being taught in giant lectures by TAs for the first two years of college. I actually wanna learn sheeit when I go to college (imagine! there is actually more to college than getting into one!), which is why I’d choose Columbia in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>The majority of cross-admits prefer Harvard. Infact many students who say they’re going to Yale or Princeton finally end up going to Harvard. There’s something just alluring about the Harvard brand. </p>
<p>But honestly I would say do research on the departments you’re interested in and the university with the strongest academic rating in that particular area should get the pleasure of receiving your enrollment deposit.</p>
<p><em>raises hand</em> Chose Columbia over Yale and Harvard. Main reasons:</p>
<ol>
<li>I got into Columbia/Juilliard exchange. Yale and Harvard have comparable programs, but Columbia’s is (should be?) still better.</li>
<li>Columbia is a leader in neuroscience, which I’m interested in for a major.</li>
<li>I agree with the idea behind the Core wholeheartedly.</li>
</ol>
<p>Though I’m sure I would’ve been happy at Yale or Harvard as well, something tells me Columbia is the place for me.</p>
<p>Every single student at Columbia who applied ED chose Columbia over Harvard. My Columbia ED son disregarded his counselor’s and teachers’ advice to apply RD to Harvard (and Columbia) because he knew that he wanted to go to Columbia. He simply made the decision a few months before his RD classmates.</p>
<p>Bahahaha “Every single student at Columbia who applied ED chose Columbia over Harvard.”</p>
<p>That’s not exactly how it works buddy. This guy is wondering about people who have turned Harvard down for Columbia–and you need to be accepted before you can turn them down.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You can’t turn down a school that didn’t accept you.</p>
<p>Also keep in mind some apply ED strategically. While they would like to be at Harvard, they might think Columbia is a more realistic shot.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s because we live several thousands of miles from Harvard (and Columbia), but not everyone is obsessed with Harvard. Although my wife and I both attended Harvard, we never volunteered to speak about it in our home with our kids, not out of shame, but because we were quite aware that the hype exceeds the reality. Maybe some kids “game” the system by applying ED to a place like Columbia, but my son didn’t. His status as a valedictorian, varsity football captain and two-way starter, national mock trial award winner, not-for-profit religious tolerance organization founder, 34 ACT score, homecoming royalty, legacy, etc. status certainly made him a Harvard contender. Both of his high school classmates now at Harvard were rejected by Columbia. My son, and his parents, were fully aware of these “random” admissions results when he applied ED to Columbia, over the objection of his counselor and teachers (“Columbia doesn’t like our high school; apply to Harvard!”). One should select his or her college based on where one thinks he or she will be most happy and successful. For my son, that was Columbia, over Harvard.</p>
<p>pbr where did your son go to hs, i’m curous, feel free to pm.</p>
<p>i don’t like talking about what happened long time ago now as the OP wanted to know who in this current class chose C over H, but to throw my hat in the ring, i chose columbia over H and Y and other peers. i was a bit of a rebel in hs so i was fully content not going ivy. but in the end, i fell in love with CU - not just nyc, but i felt that columbia valued having a solid learning community.</p>
<p>Seeker99, I had not faced this situation…But, if I had, I would have selected Columbia…It differs from individual to individual…You should think where you would be more successful rather than the brand…For me, I would succeed more in Columbia than Harvard…</p>
<p>By the way, where have you finally decided to enroll?</p>
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<p>I think Harvard’s location also helps.</p>
<p>Um, Cambridge vs NYC? Am I missing something here? I know some people prefer the college-town feel, but still…</p>
<p>Oops. I didn’t make my post clear enough. I meant that for the choice of Princeton/Yale vs. Harvard, Harvard’s location probably also helps draw more cross-applicants.</p>
<p>Ooh, I see. Yeah, then I totally agree.</p>
<p>I haven’t been on here for a few years, and just clicked on for old times sake. My son (CC '08) chose Columbia over Harvard, as did others I know of in his year. He had his reasons… the core, music, NYC, etc. But mostly he went with his gut. He adored his Columbia experience.</p>
<p>He might very well have been as happy at Harvard, of course. But the main argument people use about Harvard is the opportunities it leads to afterwards. Just want to assure you he went onto a PhD program at Stanford. So, I’d encourage you to make your choice – whatever it is – based on where you think you are likeliest to thrive. Then, don’t look back.</p>
<p>The OP has made his desicion by now sac, but that is some great advice. Your son is also admirable- I can’t imagine rejecting either of these schools.</p>