<p>Harvard isn't really known for its engineering programs. Will a math/sci/engineering person fit in at Harvard?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Others know more about this than I do, but I think you have two separate questions here. Engineering is (possibly?) a bit iffy. But “pure” math/sci are unquestionably incredible at Harvard, and there are definitely lots of fun sciencey types to hang out with.</p>
<p>Harvard engineering is on par with most of the top school. It’s obviously not as big as the MIT program but Harvard is pouring lots of money into their engineering school. I can see new buildings being built as I type this message so it’s growing fast. When Harvard wants to get something done, expect it to be done fast. The engineering school alone has a larger endowment than most entire universities in the US.</p>
<p>Good, and improving. Should be able to overtake Princeton Eng. at some point for tops in the Ivy league, but certainly not close yet to being on a par with MIT and Stanford. It is unclear whether and when any of the announced plans will benefit the class of 2012. Also, seem to be narrowly focusing on certain niche specialties, like bioengineering to bootstrap off the med schools reputation and facilities. Similar to duke. But if you can’t find the courses that you want at Harvard you should be able to cross register at MIT.</p>
<p>Princeton as top Ivy League Engineering? Cornell says hi.</p>
<p>One thing to keep in mind about Engineering is that if you wish to pursue the BS degree, chances are the number of electives you will be v. few (unless you take more than five classes a semester). This is because the accredited program requires a certain number of courses. But on the other hand, Harvard requires you to take 7 cores (at least as of now) and expos, and if you did not fulfill the foreign language requirement, then you have 2 more classes to fulfill. Thus, a very packed schedule. </p>
<p>However, this isn’t to scare you away, but to allow you to realize the implications of going to a school with a lot of distributional-like requirements. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if it turns out that you can’t fit all of the classes you need for engineering in 4 years, the powers that be are usually pretty forgiving for letting engineering students stay on for an extra semester. </p>
<p>Math – all the people I know who are majoring in it are really happy with the department. A lot of the classes are small, and you get the chance to know the professors. </p>
<ul>
<li>Tlon_Verb
survivingharvard.com</li>
</ul>
<p>Can you give me why do you want to go for Harvard Engineering if you are accepted to say, MIT and Stanford? By this, I am not saying that Harvard Engr is not good. I know that they are good, okay?</p>
<p>I don’t think you would choose Harvard engineering over MIT and Stanford for the department offerings - though it’s possible there are certain subfields at Harvard that our particularly good. You would choose Harvard or MIT over Stanford because you liked the East Coast/Boston area location. You liked being on an urban campus that is more integrated with the city. Or you might just like the feel of the campus better - Stanford seems a little less intense and a little more country-clubbish to me. (My impression only, based on short visit not any real knowledge.) You might choose Harvard over MIT because you wanted a higher concentration of people less like you (humanities and social science majors), because particular ECs at Harvard attracted you (Crimson, Lampoon etc.), or because you like the residential housing system at Harvard’s better than MIT’s system.</p>
<p>No offense but I think all those reasons are too vague and abstract. They do not give SPECIFIC reasons to the “why” question.</p>
<p>I don’t think there are more specific reasons. It’s possible there are specific differences in the course offerings, but that’s something that you’d have to research on your own. My son made the comparison for computer science and turned down Harvard for Carnegie Mellon. He didn’t care about the areas in which I think Harvard trumps CMU. His decision was department specific. That may be the same for you. In which case you should do the same thing he did - your homework. Talk to professors at the schools, look at the course catalogs, look at the research production, ask about graduate placements and salaries.</p>
<p>I chose Harvard engineering over MIT engineering. </p>
<p>While I know that Harvard only has one engineering major and compared to MIT, well, MIT is outright known for engineering, there were a lot of other factors for me. </p>
<p>1) Financial Aid (And MIT did not send me an updated financial package until May 1st…after I committed to Harvard)
2) Diversity of students and course offerings (aka the majority of them are not in the sciences and engineering)
3) I can cross register at MIT if I want to.
4) I want to apply to medical school, so I feel that the core and general requirements will offer me a broader, more liberal education, without getting distracted and just focusing on the science/engineering courses, which will help for medical school.</p>
<p>But we all know MIT does provides a great liberal education. I mean, come on, just look at the course offerings of their non-math/science related courses! So, why are you saying no. 4 then? 3 can arise a problem of scheduling conflict (if I am not mistaken) in the future since both univs have different structure. Correct me if I am wrong though. Unless the atmosphere is competitive, I don’t see any reason why diversity is a problem since you could always go out of college (not to mention no 3 and u can also x-register at Wellesley) and meet different kinds of people. Boston is full with students from different colleges, right? [Unless your univ is isolated. Well, it doesn’t] And not that you will befriend with all non-mathy/sciency students. That being sad, I don’t mean you should choose MIT over Harvard or vice versa or any college in particular. It is just that I don’t think your reasonings are strong enough. No offense again guys!</p>
<p>I’m sure MIT’s liberal arts education is fine, but there is a huge difference being at a school where 90% of the undergrads are in the sciences or business and one where it’s a much smaller percentage. If you are at MIT you have to try much harder to find humanities and social science majors. If you are the sort of person who would go to parties on other campuses (I never did), or would want to take a class in another town (seems like a huge amount of trouble) sure you can get all that at MIT. I think there’s a big difference when you can just stumble downstairs and eat breakfast with a friend majoring in English or spend the evening playing pinball with French majors. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer here. Some people will be happier at one school, others at the other, many would be fine at both.</p>
<p>BTW after next year cross registering at MIT should be a lot easier for Harvard students.</p>
<p>“I’m sure MIT’s liberal arts education is fine, but there is a huge difference being at a school where 90% of the undergrads are in the sciences or business and one where it’s a much smaller percentage.”
Is 90% a true figure? Can you tell me your source?</p>
<p>“would want to take a class in another town (seems like a huge amount of trouble) sure you can get all that at MIT”
I mean Harvard course offerings are large enough for you to not take that move if you don’t want to. H & MIT is very close together, right?</p>
<p>“If you are the sort of person who would go to parties…”
Aren’t H & MIT very close together?</p>
<p>“I think there’s a big difference when you can just stumble downstairs and eat breakfast with a friend majoring in English or spend the evening playing pinball with French majors.”
If intellectual curiosity is your main thing (which is a must in HYPMS+other top univ, not all though), you want to continue discussion out of classroom and hence, you want your friends to do just that (+other intellectual endeavor, I might add!). The knowledges in the world are too much for you too care about other stuffs (of course I am not saying extracurricular activities are important. Don’t get me wrong!). So, doing that sort of activities that you said will not be your no.1 priority (I am considering the mathy/sciency people here. No offense to the humanities people, okay! This also can be reverse to so that it will hold true for you guys). It will have place on your list but as I said, Harvard is nearby (and x-registering can get you friends). So, no big deal. Correct me if I am wrong, ok?</p>
<p>By the way, there is a right and wrong answer in here. It depends on what the person wants. If A wants X which only Harvard offers, then A will be happier at Harvard than MIT. But, this has simplify the problem by a large degree. Yet, it has a point.</p>
<p>“BTW after next year cross registering at MIT should be a lot easier for Harvard students.”
How do you know that? Source, please. Thanks!</p>
<p>And I am not saying it is a bad thing to have other majors in your univs since that will create diversity. I am just saying your reasoning is not concrete enough.</p>
<p>“BTW after next year cross registering at MIT should be a lot easier for Harvard students.”
“How do you know that? Source, please. Thanks!”</p>
<p>Harvard’s academic calendar is changing in 2009. This will make it easier to cross-register at MIT.</p>
<p>And I love diversity! Don’t get me wrong! I love to be in a community of different interests and cultures! My life will be more interesting that way.</p>
<p>mathmom was referring to the new calendar Harvard is adopting in 2009-2010 which will align much better with MIT’s.</p>
<p>TheVisionary - I think you need to stop thinking so abstractly, and start being more pragmatic. While MIT and Harvard are only 15 minutes away, they’re still 15 minutes away.</p>
<p>I don’t think I need to stop thinking abstractly. More abstractly+pragmatically will be better. Yet, you will not (and not be able to) be playing with all French majors (That would be interesting though!) in a game of say chess or pinball or anything, right? Besides, you will not do those stuffs everyday, won’t you? So, 10% is more than enough for you (+to form a lifelong friendship). No offense here again please! Once again, I am not saying that you should choose X univ over Y univ and vice versa here.</p>
<p>I am just focusing on our reasoning here so we will be able to make a very informed decision of what we really want out of college (So that we will not be disappointed later. Transferring just takes a lot of time & energy when you think of it. Better prevent than cure).</p>