<p>If Harvard didn't have a history of attracting the top students, it would not be as well-regarded as it is presently. But I also can promise you that if Harvard were a trashy, poorly-funded place, its level of prestige would drop off very quickly. The most able and ambitious students surely would be judicious enough to avoid a place that was not taken care of. Times and opinions change, and they can often change drastically.</p>
<p>Years ago, Penn was not looked upon as well as it is today. On the back of its strong Wharton business program, and with its aggressive use of Early Decision, it has risen to 4th on the US News Rankings. I know many truly outstanding, dare I say, Harvard caliber students that chose Penn early - specifically the Huntsman and Wharton programs. Ten years ago, would they have considered Penn nearly as highly? I personally doubt it.</p>
<p>Look at Duke as well. Duke is a baby in the world of Ivy-level education. Yet Duke's outstanding research and superb programs have attracted many standout applicants - applicants that could perhaps even go to Harvard or Yale. Many of these candidates, years ago, might have chosen other programs over Duke. Now, Duke is considered more selective than some of the Ivies.</p>
<p>I guess what I'm saying goes beyond just Harvard. It applies to schools in general. No school can maintain its prestige in the cutthroat world of college applications, and Harvard has to work to maintain its number 1 ranking. If a majority of Nobel Laureates chose Stanford over Harvard, then Harvard would lose some of its prestige. The game is entirely relative, and while some schools are hedged against some potential issues, no school is altogether immune.</p>
<p>Joey</p>