<p>I know that there are a lot of other posts similar to this, but I wanted to know if anyone chose Columbia over Harvard and why?</p>
<p>I am faced with a similar decision and any input would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I know a few people from Columbia who have. There probably are more -- people who would choose Columbia over Harvard aren't the types who will be running around bragging about getting into Harvard.</p>
<p>But, I would bet (without having any evidence as to the matter) Harvard yields 80% or more of the kids who get into both.</p>
<p>Harvard obviously has more layman's prestige. It may have a better alumni network and more "connections." But, your opportunities coming out of any Ivy league school are going to be substantially identical. Go with your instincts.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your choices.
Most people who get into Harvard choose Harvard over any other school they got into (70% yield). But, of course, there are people at Columbia who got into Harvard but chose Columbia. And others who applied to Columbia ED who had a decent shot at Harvard but liked Columbia better. Everyone's reasons are different so, without knowing more about what you're looking for in your college experience, it's hard to offer any advice. You might be better off just asking specific questions about Columbia.</p>
<p>And, Columbia2002 is right when he says
[quote]
people who would choose Columbia over Harvard aren't the types who will be running around bragging about getting into Harvard
[/quote]
. I have a son at Columbia and he said none of his friends talk about: where else they were admitted or not admitted, what their SAT scores were, what their college grades are. Yay!</p>
<p>
[quote]
none of his friends talk about: where else they were admitted or not admitted, what their SAT scores were, what their college grades are.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>In my experience, people certainly discuss such things. They come up in normal conversations, rather than in brag-fest type situations. People talk about which profs are easy and gave them an A and which ones were jerks and gave them bad grades, etc.</p>
<p>so, can you guys tell me anything about the dorms and campus, etc? my parents are making me go to the Harvard overnight program, so I won't be able to visit Columbia.</p>
<p>Columbia2002 -- I should have been more precise. My son says his friends do not discuss their GPAs. I'm sure they talk about various classes and profs, the curve in a particular class, an exam and the way it is graded (CULPA is proof of that). I can only attest that he doesn't know what his friends have gotten in classes that he is also in, and I assume they also don't know what grades he received in those classes.</p>
<p>hotpiece -- If you're seriously considering Columbia, I'd really urge you to visit. It doesn't have to be during the event for admitted students, in fact, I think it's even better to visit a college when there are not special prefrosh events. Perhaps you could tack it on to the beginning or end of your Harvard visit. If you want to PM me with specific questions, feel free. I'm a parent, not a student, but I can give you some of the points my son made when he made his college choice.</p>
<p>sac, thanks for the advice. I wanted to visit the campus during the next 3 weeks, as my deposit is due on May 1. But there is just no time for me to really get away. At least, my parents have no time to take me to Columbia. so, if I choose Columbia, it would be sight unseen.</p>
<p>Do your parents have to go with you? Take a day or two off from school and go to Columbia. You're making a huge decision... what's 1-2 days of school?</p>
<p>missing school is not even a big issue (i have spring break pretty soon). i proposed to my parents that I go to NY with a few of my friends who were also accepted to Columbia. but they refuse to let me go. they think new york is too dangerous and i am too young.</p>
<p>It sounds as if they want you to go to Harvard. :)</p>
<p>they do want me to go to Harvard. they think that Columbia is too dangerous because it is in New York and there could be another terrorist attack. my parents are so lame.</p>
<p>Well, I'm a parent, and I understand their concern. I think about it, but I just believe that a terrorist attack could happen anywhere. In any case, you have great choices, and I don't think you can go wrong.</p>
<p>Yeah, sounds like they want you to go to Harvard. If it was Columbia vs. Square State U., would they really be bagging on NYC like that?</p>
<p>probably, Columbia2002. I got into Spelman College in GA a few weeks ago. And I got my Columbia decision before my Harvard decision. and when I told my mom that I got into Columbia, she kept telling me that Spelman is a much better choice, etc.</p>
<p>One of my daughter's friends is a Spelman grad and loved it there. She felt she got a lot of support. It is definitely a great option and worth investigating.</p>
<p>oh yeah, i agree that Spelman is a great school (especially since I got a full ride), I am just trying to narrow down my choices.</p>
<p>isnt there just as large of a chance of a terrorist cell striking boston since it is still a major port city? well anyway i know you will make the right decision not what your parents want you to go but where YOU wanna go. its 4 years of YOUR life....peace</p>
<p>If it would ease your (or your mom's) mind, NYC is the safest city over 100,000 in the nation, and Morningside Heights is the safest district in the city (that's what they told us during orientation). You can call security at any time to have an escort sent to take you back to the dorm, there are designated businesses along Broadway and Amsterdam that are "Safe Houses" or something like that which means that if you think you're being followed or something else creepy, you can duck in there and they'll let you wait there, call the police, etc.</p>
<p>My mom pulled out terrorist attacks too. Well, it's hard to argue that one. I wish I had had something to say to that one last year, or that I had one to give you now.</p>
<p>Foeget Everythingt, Take Harvard, Your Grand Kids Will Thank U For It.</p>
<p>Life Is Full Of Branding And Opportunities, Harvrad Just Get Syou More Of That. What U Do With It Is Up To You. Harvard Just Is Breed Apart As Of Now.</p>
<p>im a new yorker and just like most people im not looking forward to get a plane flown into me, but at the same time, everyone needs to be realistic. nyc will always be a popular spot for an attack, more than say montana, so it can't be disputed that theres not going to be an attack there again. there could be, but that threat lingers in other major cities in this country and abroad. if you're going to graduate one day, go to grad school in a big city, or have a family one day and travel, you're going to have to contact the real world where pretty simply: stuff happens.theres always gonna be a chance of a terrorist attack or something, but you cant let that kill all of your options. </p>
<p>what i would argue instead is that boston might be a better college town than nyc. its true that nyc has bars and clubs and everything, but its intimidating at first and the city's just bigger than you. i think boston and cambridge are much more manageable than nyc and don't destroy the traditional college experience. </p>
<p>nyc has a magnetic effect on columbia kids and thats where most of the social scene is. while ppl dont lock themselves in their rooms at harvard, boston is definitely more accomodating and supplementary to the social life rather than the core of it. you could potentially, in other words, have a damn good time on campus at harvard whereas that would be 10x as hard to do at columbia if you're talking about dorm parties.</p>
<p>and for the record, im going to columbia, so this isnt meant to be tilted towards harvard cuz there really is a good list of reasons to pick columbia over harvard.</p>