<p>Prestige is not an issue at this level. The issue is fit. Unlike what one uninformed poster said above, admissions to ALL THREE are given to a “very special, select few.” The admissions results show that all three are extremely selective: Harvard admitted 5.9%;Columbia admitted 6.9%; Princeton admitted 7.2%. In other words, their admissions rates are comparable and each admits and enrolls exceptionally talented students. Any of the three will provide a spectacular education.</p>
<p>Let me stress, as someone with ties to two of the schools (Harvard and Columbia) the environments of the three are very different. As for Princeton, on Columbia’s semi-satirical wicicu pages, Columbians describe Princeton as the “anti-Columbia,” and there is some truth to that. Princeton’s historical reputation is for social exclusivity. I say, its HISTORICAL reputation. With its eating clubs and manicured suburban campus-scape it looks like that stereotype. But looks are very deceiving. It has changed and offers an extraordinary undergrad-focused education. Columbia is in NY and has a more urban, hip intellectual vibe. Columbia also has a required core curriculum. So, for all the historical complaints that Princeton is homogenous, snobby and exclusive, it is Columbia that requires immersion in the texts of “dead white males” through the reading-heavy LitHum and CC core courses. As well as music hum, art hum…You are required by Columbia to get a thorough grounding in the classic texts and works of western civilization. For those who attend, that is a major selling point of Columbia, you will graduate very liberally educated in the various intellectual and artistic traditions of western civilization. For me that is a huge selling point. For some, not so much. It might be argued that Princeton’s community is more collegial, because it is focused on the campus and those eating clubs, whereas Columbia students do have that streak of individualism that, also because they have NY, makes the experience less dorm-centered, and more de-centered. </p>
<p>As for Harvard? Like Columbia it has huge graduate departments (the law school, business school, med school…), therefore both Harvard and Columbia are less “cozy” for undergrads than is Princeton. As someone who taught there I can say Harvard’s students are exceptional, but no more so than Columbia’s or Princeton’s. What I noticed is that a lot of the students are DRIVEN to devote as much time cultivating their extra-curriculars as their academic studies, and for most of these one has to “comp” (or compete for spaces). There is also a huge stress level at Harvard, but I would expect that Columbia and Princeton have their stresses as well. Harvard has Harvard Square, an intoxicating little enclave full of energy and vitality. The rigor? The hardest thing about Harvard is getting in. It has notorious grade inflation which is not the case for P or C. Newsweek and other publications have labeled Columbia the most rigorous college, though this year it was number 2 to Stanford. The course load at Columbia is notoriously rigorous, five per semester as opposed to H and P’s four classes per semester. These publications also suggest that Princeton is more rigorous than Harvard. But…each is what you put into it and get out of it.</p>
<p>They are all exceptional institutions. But very very different. The story for you is FIT, FIT, FIT! Visit all and make your choice an informed one based on experience, not advice or “reputation.” </p>
<p>I don’t know if the kinds of celebrities they attract say anything. But Harvard is historically the home to generations of Kennedys and Roosevelts and Gores. One of Princeton’s more famous acting alums is Brooke Shields and its historical aura was immortalized by F. Scott Fitzgerald, not to mention by scientists like Einstein in the vicinity. Columbia has creative types like Alicia Keys, Jack Kerouac, Jake and Maggie Gylenhaal (sp), Joseph Gordon Levitt, as well as the current Prez. Is it relevant? Do they typify their alma maters?</p>
<p>Oh, and for what it is worth…In the most recent USNWR survey the schools were ranked as follows: Princeton #1, Harvard #2, and Columbia #4. In other words, they are peers. So, pick on fit.</p>