<p>If you had a full scholarship to Stanford compared to an acceptance letter to Harvard what would you pick if money wasn't a problem? In terms of prestige, academics, every possible reason to pick one of these schools?</p>
<p>Stanford – nearly as prestigious, equal academics, better weather, better location. Nearly all the measures of Harvard that matter are virtually the same for Stanford. The choice should really come down to fit.</p>
<p>Is this a real life scenario? What sort of “full scholarship” are you looking at at Stanford that doesn’t have a similar counterpart at Harvard? Athletic?</p>
<p>Hold on…trying to feel sympathetic…</p>
<p>nope. can’t do it.</p>
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<p>Happier students too; at least that’s what I heard.</p>
<p>Yeah, Stanford is known for having some of the happiest students. Then again, that seems largely from the Princeton Review ranking, which is dubious. I’ve heard lots of Harvard students complain of the lack of undergrad focus, but I’ve also heard some Stanford students complain (though not nearly as much). After all, the grad:undergrad ratios at both are virtually the same. Perhaps the weather makes the students happier. =p</p>
<p>I’d pick Stanford over Harvard straight up. Better engineering and science, weather, atmosphere, location, etc.</p>
<p>It depends on what you mean by “if money wasn’t a problem” when paying for Harvard. Would the $200K stay in your pocket or your parents’ bank account if you went to Stanford instead? If your parents would be paying, how much do they have in assets? Is $200K a drop in the bucket to them, or is it a sum that might make a difference in the quality of their retirement years? Too many undefined variables to make an informed decision.</p>
<p>Standford, without a doubt. I think i mightve acutally picked standford over harvard WITHOUT the full scholarship.</p>
<p>I’m with those who say Stanford and like several others, I would have picked it straight up for a better combination of academics, social life and athletic life. Not to mention better weather, better scenery, better almost everything. </p>
<p>(I’ll be interested to see how many folks, that have no affiliation with the Ivies, will recommend Harvard.)</p>
<p>The one real negative of Stanford for me is its actual location: it’s in a bubble, and the closest city is Palo Alto, which isn’t a very interesting city IMO (not to mention it’s an expensive place). SF is a little far – San Jose is closer. Harvard’s right in Cambridge, which is a great city, right near Boston.</p>
<p>If I ever had such a choice, I would have picked Stanford over Harvard…no question about it!</p>
<p>Stanford FTW!</p>
<p>Harvard…Stanford is boring.</p>
<p>Surrounding area is a gentrified suburb with a fancy shopping mall.</p>
<p>I’d choose stanford just because it is more well-rounded (academic, sports, jobs, the region, weather…)</p>
<p>personally, stanford>harvard, regardless of money</p>
<p>I made this decision. I went with Harvard, but it wasn’t easy. Ultimately the urban setting and the randomized House system were the tip factors.</p>
<p>That would be a really hard decision.</p>
<p>I would probably choose Stanford, though, because of co-terminal master’s degrees and the LSJUMB.</p>
<p>^ Doesn’t Harvard have a “scatter” band as well? Although, it is not nearly as notorious as the LSJUMB.</p>
<p>It’s not that it’s a scatter band, it’s that it’s the LSJUMB.</p>