<p>Yep I did. I found MIT's lack of balance off-putting. In the words of a family friend who is an MIT professor, "Humanities at MIT is a joke".</p>
<p>Also, I disliked the East/West split.</p>
<p>I turned down MIT to go to Stanford and I don't ever regret it. I met a few more who have done the same. Bikes at Stanford are just as efficient as Walking at MIT. I can get everywhere in under 5 minutes on my bike. Stanford really has such a nice relaxed atmoshere and the people are so awesome. MIT people always complain about the amount of work and how hard it is. Stanford is hard but people have an easier time decompressing thier stress. Campus is gorgeous and the weather is superb and the athletic teams are dynamite. </p>
<p>People will keep telling you about how nice the weather is and it can get kind of old but it is true. The weather here is perfect and that really affects your mood.</p>
<p>I did the same... turned down MIT for Stanford...
Stanford has nicer weather and a bit more of diverse culture.
I agree with those saying that there isn't really time to go 'exploring' all the time so it isn't a huge deal at either college. I didn't venture off the Stanford Campus more than 1-2 times a week. (no car might be a big reason!)</p>
<p>Even if you do get sick of Palo Alto there is still San-Francisco and Berkeley 30ish min away via Cal-Trian.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Even if you do get sick of Palo Alto there is still San-Francisco and Berkeley 30ish min away via Cal-Trian.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Uh, Berkeley is 30ish minutes away from Caltrain? How's that? Caltrain doesn't go to any part of the East Bay. </p>
<p>Even if you mean to take Caltrain and then BART, we're talking about an hour or so, if not more. After all, just Caltrain alone from Palo Alto to San Francisco takes 37 minutes, and that doesn't even count the time to get to the Caltrain station and then waiting for the train. Then you have to get out of Caltrain, walk to the BART station, wait for BART, and then take it to Berkeley. </p>
<p>Let me put it to you this way. Even if you were to DRIVE from Stanford to Berkeley, you're talking at least 45-50 minutes. And driving precludes all of the waiting around for public transportation and walking from one station to the next that you have to do.</p>
<p><a href="sakky:">quote</a></p>
<p>But the rejoinder to that is that, as stated above, the Boston/Cambridge metro area is one of the most vibrant college areas in the country, if not THE most.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Forget for a minute the comparison to Palo Alto. The whole "college town" aspect of Boston/Cambridge is overstated as it concerns MIT and Harvard.<br>
The reason is simply that most undergrads, especially at Harvard, are living in university housing, and the socializing is mostly intraschool (and often on-campus, though less so for MIT which has residences in Boston). MIT and Harvard also have somewhat younger and not-employed student bodies, so there is less of the scene where students live in off campus apartments, hang out in the bars (most are under the drinking age) and so on. </p>
<p>The college-town idea is much more true of BU/BC and some of the other schools in Boston (Northeastern, or the music and performance schools). There are bars and nightclubs all over Brighton that are filled with the student crowd. Nothing like that in Cambridge, if anything it is a more sedate grad-student and professional crowd with a few undergrads who make it out of campus occasionally.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The whole "college town" aspect of Boston/Cambridge is overstated as it concerns MIT and Harvard.</p>
<p>...There are bars and nightclubs all over Brighton that are filled with the student crowd. Nothing like that in Cambridge, if anything it is a more sedate grad-student and professional crowd with a few undergrads who make it out of campus occasionally.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, let me put it to you this way. What's a better college town - Boston/Cambridge, or Palo Alto? I rest my case. </p>
<p>Be honest: you know it's true. I think we all know that Palo Alto is not exactly the most interesting of places. Even if you think that Cambridge is boring (and if you think that, I shudder to think of what you would make of Palo Alto), it is very easy to hang out in Allston with the BU crowd. Or in Davis Square/Somerville with the Tufts crowd. Or in Boston proper with the Northeastern/Simmons/Emmanuel/Emerson crowd. There is no other school (or any metro area of any sort) near Stanford.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong. I like Stanford a lot. My brother went to Stanford. I almost chose Stanford. I greatly respect Stanford's role in the field of innovation and technology. </p>
<p>On the other hand, numerous people, including myself, have rightfully pointed out that Palo Alto (and all of Silicon Valley for that matter) doesn't have a lot of interesting things to do, especially if you're young. Even my brother freely admits this to be the case.</p>
<h2>What's a better college town - Boston/Cambridge, or Palo Alto?</h2>
<p>Boston, seriously there's no way to find good cheap eats in palo alto, everything is so pricy, it's ridiculous.</p>
<p>sakky, are you a college student now? If so, I'm amazed that you have enough free time to go off campus all the time. Most of my friends seem to have more than enough to do on campus to keep them entertained.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Most of my friends seem to have more than enough to do on campus to keep them entertained.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I've heard this from students there, and most seem to be satisfied with such an answer. But does Stanford have a zoo? Or a big aquarium? Or really interesting museums (I think it has some of those)? Or tons of cheap little ethnic restaurants and used book stores and easily-accessible night clubs and all that fun jazz?</p>
<p>
[quote]
No, that I would dispute and strongly. Sure, most Stanford students have bikes. But Harvard and MIT are well-connected via public transportation. Hence, I highly doubt that it truly takes "much less time" for Stanford students to get around.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Is this some sort of joke? This is the most asinine argument I've seen you make. Excuse the ad hominem, but it's just mind-numbing. I've followed a normal freshman student from class to class in a bike. We were both on bikes. His longest trip was from his english seminar to his physics class. Roughly 1 minute? Maybe as much as 2 minutes, even? To suggest...no, I can't believe I'm even dignifying your assertion with a response. This must be a joke.</p>
<p>
[quote]
That is NOT the whole friggin' point - unless you're lazy. I agree with you that if you're just lazy and you don't want to go out and meet people and you just want to stay in your cocoon, then Stanford can offer a more diverse experience. But come on, with Harvard a short subway ride away away from MIT, and other schools like BU, Northeastern, Tufts, etc. not much further away, as well as the general diversity of Boston being readily available, if you can't meet a diverse set of people as an MIT student, it's because you just don't WANT to do it. And if you don't want to do it, then there isn't a whole lot that anybody can do for you anyway. THAT is the whole friggin' point.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Um, because you completely missed my main point AGAIN (either because you're stupid or you're doing it intentionally, and I don't think you're stupid so I'm leaning towards the latter), namely that it's hilarious to compare the potential relationships with a) people you live with and b) people you see on the streets walking from a local donut shop, I'm just going to copy and paste my previous argument again. It holds just as true now as it did before, mostly because you didn't actually say anything to refute it.</p>
<p>It's a whole 'nother level of exposure to have diversity at your actual school, with the people you interact with, speak with, eat with, study with, have fun with, travel with, and spend 95% of your time with, as opposed to some people your walk by and nonchalantly chat with at a local pizzeria. It's not even a comparison, because at Stanford you'd be exposed to different sets of people not just on a social level, but on a residential and academic level. Which is the whole friggin' point.</p>
<p>And no matter how hard an MIT student tries, or how unlazy he/she is, there is nothing they can do to emulate this environment of diversity. This is the friggin' point in a nutshell. Oh, but do feel free to continue using my terminology "friggin' point," as if it somehow belittles my argument and strengthens yours.</p>
<p>sakky,</p>
<p>
[quote]
Honestly, what's the difference between a 10 minute commute (like pearlygate said) and, say, a 20 minute commute (and 20 minutes would be a very long commute indeed from MIT to Harvard)?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That tells me you don't even know much about Stanford. The commute between classes NEVER take 10-min on a bike. I don't know why pearlygate said it's 10-min; maybe she was just riding her bike very slowly or maybe she just felt it was 10-min when really it took her only 5 mins. </p>
<p>Also, I second what Hrteeexz said. It seems like you don't really know how most college students socialize, interact, and form their circles of friends.</p>
<p>I agree with Sam Lee it never takes me more than a few minutes to get from one class to another (you can always tell how much time it takes if your classes are back to back because they usually give you 10 minutes in between them and quite frankly I never use more than half that to get to my other class (and I've had classes and the other side of campus!)</p>
<p>I do freely admit that Palo Alto isn't what most people would define as a 'college town' but I like it. I go there at least once every couple of weeks and I have dinner there (not cheap I know but sometimes you just can't stand campus food anymore) and take a walk. Its a pretty nice place if you like that kind of thing (I do)</p>
<p><a href="sakky:">quote</a>
Well, let me put it to you this way. What's a better college town - Boston/Cambridge, or Palo Alto? I rest my case.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>ok, but didn't the posting you're replying to begin with the words "forget for a minute the comparison to Palo Alto"? </p>
<p>Interesting as the MIT-Stanford comparisons are, my comments (which you don't seem to disagree with) were about the concept of Cambridge as a "college town". Ithaca NY, Austin TX, Tuscaloosa AL and State College PA are college towns. The stretch of Boston along the Green Line from Brighton to Back Bay is college student heaven, is a major applicant magnet for all the Boston schools other than Harvard and MIT, and can be called a college town. </p>
<p>The part across the river, in Cambridge, is something different and probably unique nationally. Certainly a great place to be as a student, but (what may come as a surprise to those who haven't been there) it's not College Town USA.</p>
<p>I don't care whether it takes 5 or 20 or 30 minutes to get from one class to another at Stanford..and I don't care if Palo Alto is boring. There's probably enough to do at the campus already</p>
<p>I'd choose Stanford over any college anyday.</p>
<p>if I get accepted.
:D</p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck bright eyes :)</p>
<p>There was a kid at our school who graduated in 06 who turned down MIT for Stanford mainly because he got deffered in EA admissions at MIT. He got annoyed because this kid was absolutely legendary at our school for Math & Science especially because our school is not a math/sci type its more of a private liberal arts centered school with a strong math department. Honestly his reasons didn't seem right but I guess every person is different.</p>
<p>Thanks superwizard :]</p>
<p>I know one who did turn down MIT for Stanford..his name is Fuzzylogic...:)..</p>
<p>
[quote]
That tells me you don't even know much about Stanford. The commute between classes NEVER take 10-min on a bike. I don't know why pearlygate said it's 10-min; maybe she was just riding her bike very slowly or maybe she just felt it was 10-min when really it took her only 5 mins.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Uh, no, this seems to tell me that YOU don't know much about Stanford. 10 minutes is probably about right. We're not just talking about riding around on the bike. It also includes getting onto the bike, getting off it, locking it up (or, rarely, carrying it in). All of those things are included in travel time.</p>
<p>But, again, even if it's 5 minutes, as you say, again, is that really THAT much shorter than the commute between MIT and Harvard? </p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, I second what Hrteeexz said. It seems like you don't really know how most college students socialize, interact, and form their circles of friends.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Uh, it seems like YOU deliberately choose not to understand what I am talking about. Of course I always have agreed that most people will just socialize with the people immediately around them.</p>
<p>But that's not the point. The point is that you COULD socialize with others in the Boston area. And if you have the drive to do it, then you will. Now, I agree that plenty of students just don't have that drive. But if you do have it, then the Boston/Camb area offers a vast plethora of social resources to you. In contrast, Stanford is basically within a bubble. </p>
<p>Sure, I agree, if you're lazy and you just don't want to meet people outside of your immediate group, then Stanford offers a more diverse social atmosphere. But if you actually want to meet people, then that's a different story.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is this some sort of joke? This is the most asinine argument I've seen you make. Excuse the ad hominem, but it's just mind-numbing. I've followed a normal freshman student from class to class in a bike. We were both on bikes. His longest trip was from his english seminar to his physics class. Roughly 1 minute? Maybe as much as 2 minutes, even? To suggest...no, I can't believe I'm even dignifying your assertion with a response. This must be a joke.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, this is indeed a joke, and a mind-numbing, asinine one at that. I can't believe that YOU'RE even dignifying this thread with a response, if dignity is indeed the right word, because you are deliberately choosing not to understand what I am talking about.</p>
<p>Nobody is denying that Stanford is easier to get around than going from MIT to Harvard. But that's not the point. The point is that getting from MIT to Harvard is still pretty short, and is therefore hardly a serious social barrier. Neither is getting from MIT to BU. Neither is getting from MIT to downtown Boston. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Um, because you completely missed my main point AGAIN (either because you're stupid or you're doing it intentionally, and I don't think you're stupid so I'm leaning towards the latter), namely that it's hilarious to compare the potential relationships with a) people you live with and b) people you see on the streets walking from a local donut shop, I'm just going to copy and paste my previous argument again. It holds just as true now as it did before, mostly because you didn't actually say anything to refute it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No, you hilariously and intentionally (or perhaps stupidly) missed my point again, over and over! Once again, you are simply emphasizing the point that you just don't want to put in any effort to meet people. Fine. Then just say so. </p>
<p>
[quote]
It's a whole 'nother level of exposure to have diversity at your actual school, with the people you interact with, speak with, eat with, study with, have fun with, travel with, and spend 95% of your time with, as opposed to some people your walk by and nonchalantly chat with at a local pizzeria. It's not even a comparison, because at Stanford you'd be exposed to different sets of people not just on a social level, but on a residential and academic level. Which is the whole friggin' point.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Uh, that is NOT the whole friggin' point, and you know it. (Or maybe you don't know it). Come on, use your imagination. Social and cultural events occur all the time in the Boston area, and are readily accessible. As a simple case in point, the MIT salsa-dancing club attracts a wide variety of students from all of the local schools, and is secretly (or perhaps not so secretly) is a stellar opportunity to meet eligible people of the opposite sex. Heck, I seem to recall in one of those classes, of all the women who showed up (and there were plenty), not one was from MIT. They were from Harvard, Tufts, BU, and other schools. That's just one very simple example where numerous cross-social opportunities abound. </p>
<p>Whereas, at Stanford, the only people you can really meet easily are other people at Stanford. Nothing wrong with that, but we have to respect the fact that that is a constrained set. Stanford basically sits on an island unto itself. Any social event that happens at Stanford is unsurprisingly going to be populated by almost all Stanford people. </p>
<p>
[quote]
And no matter how hard an MIT student tries, or how unlazy he/she is, there is nothing they can do to emulate this environment of diversity. This is the friggin' point in a nutshell. Oh, but do feel free to continue using my terminology "friggin' point," as if it somehow belittles my argument and strengthens yours.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>And no matter how hard a Stanford student tries, there is nothing he can do to emulate an entire major city right next to them. Or having numerous local universities all nearby. And that is the whole friggin' point. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Oh, but do feel free to continue using my terminology "friggin' point," as if it somehow belittles my argument and strengthens yours.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It certainly does, and I certainly will.</p>