Columbia v. Harvard

<p>aoe2guy, what are the lists of reasons to pick Columbia over Harvard?</p>

<p>The curriculum could be an important argument in favor of Columbia -- if you happen to like the Columbia curriculum.</p>

<p>Columbia has the Core, which makes it different from virtually all of the schools with which it competes for applicants (except maybe Chicago). </p>

<p>Harvard, on the other hand, has a somewhat incoherent curriculum that it is currently in the process of changing.</p>

<p>Something to be said of the Core. Some people may dislike its inflexibility, but Columbia and most of the students there firmly believe that it will make them a better person, and be able to conduct themselves much better for personal and professional purposes. No one likes to study, so sometimes it is good to have great classes to be required of you, as you will surely learn in them.</p>

<p>Another reasont to choose Columbia over Harvard is of course NYC, which actually is a deciding factor in many Columbia people's decision. NYC is the most fun, has the most opportunities, gives you the most real-world experiences (some people may not be able to handle this of course, and should choose a school with primarily a campus community), and is thus the best place to mature.</p>

<p>I don't know anything about Harvard.</p>

<p>what did hotpiece end up choosing?</p>

<p>yeah, i ended up choosing Harvard... although it was the hardest decision of my life. i was crying inside when i filled out the Columbia survey and had to decline admissions...</p>

<p>Would you have been crying inside even more the other way around? If so, you probably made the right choice, and congrats! :)</p>

<p>
[quote]
Would you have been crying inside even more the other way around? If so, you probably made the right choice, and congrats!

[/quote]
oddly enough, i probably wouldn't have been as upset if i had turned down harvard for columbia. i guess i sorta gave into the pressure from everyone around me. but whatever, life is what you make of it. so i will make life at harvard hella fly...</p>

<p>Uh oh. You sure about that? That's the worst reason to go to a school, if you'd be happier at Columbia in fact. I'm not trying to make you uneasy about your decision, but make sure you're ok with it, and not just "everyone around me is ok with it." Harvard is a big-ass name, but you have to actually live AT Harvard for four years for that name. Be a nonconformist, and go to the one you personally like more and fits you better.</p>

<p>like i said, i WILL enjoy my time at Harvard, so yeah, it is no big deal. i mean, the biggest thing Columbia had over Harvard was its stellar location, but i can visit new york whenever...</p>

<p>lol that argument almost got me to go to Penn over Columbia. Then a CC guy I met at a bar said "how many times do you get to be 19, 20, 21, and be in NYC every day?"</p>

<p>well, i'm sure Boston is a fun city too, although it is definitely not as fun as New York...</p>

<p>yup, whatever works for you dude</p>

<p>oh okay. i might choose columbia over harvard. how pathetic that nobody replies to my threads there. thanks everyone.</p>

<p>didnt i give a big reply?</p>

<p>i mean in harvard lol....</p>

<p>oh as an addition to that, i visit columbia last spring break; which envoked me not to apply to wharton. i felt like there is something in columbia which i really want. i'll soon join you guys!</p>

<p>oh you're a junior?</p>

<p>hotpiece, if you didn't make your decision yet, consider all the opportunities Columbia has to offer for internships/connections/location/FOOD/social life/classical education/extracurriculars. Everything is here. More often than not, Harvard kids come to NYC for summer programs and jobs. Think about Wall Street, Broadway, CNN, MTV, UN, Mt. Sinai and other top facilities where you can learn. </p>

<p>Also, NY is so raw...where else can you learn the true meaning of independence and cynicism.</p>

<p>Just my 2 cents</p>

<p>ohmywow, i already made the decision...</p>

<p>oops didn't really read the previous posts. have fun in boston</p>