Harvard? Princeton? Yale? Please Help!

College Search & Selection
21

<p>^ wait r u serious? I heard Princeton had crzy grade inflation and that Harvard has slight deflation. you prolly are right though but i guess i have had the wrong info.</p>

22

<p>Unlike law school admissions, med school admissions is not really numbers based. A say 3.0 from Princeton will get you into med school with EASE assuming you are otherwise up to snuff. A say 3.7 and its hello Harvard Medical School. Man congrats. I say pick which one you like, because they are so close academically.
I would give so much for a choice like this lol.</p>

23

<p>I'm not sure how much this will help, but my dad went to Harvard and LOVED it. He didn't mind the large lecture halls for beginner courses and had small classes for the more advanced courses. He loved Cambridge, and still tells me how great of college town it was. I think he used the word "happening" haha.
And besides, it's Harvard. There's no better reputation than that.</p>

24

<p>My daughter is currently at Harvard and she loves it too. You can't go wrong with any of these three great schools, but if you like Harvard don't let the CC Harvard-bashers discourage you. You will very likely have a great experience and a great education at Harvard.</p>

25

<p>thanks to everyone for all the info its great!</p>

<p>coureur, how much do you know about your daughters academic experience? does she enjoy her classes? how big are intro courses? anyone know if there is a significant difference in class size for..lets say an intro chem or intro bio class at harvard compared to princeton/yale?</p>

26

<p>Roll a dice. If you get a 1 or a 2 pick Harvard. 3 or 4 pick Princeton. 5, 6, pick Yale. ;)</p>

<p>Seriously though, any would be amazing. I think were I in your place I would be choosing between Harvard and Princeton.</p>

27

<p>you know that's not a bad idea swuster....and ya i'm kinda leaning towards those two...just a gut feeling i guess</p>

28

<p>o yeah i had another quick question...does anyone know if harvard has some sort of study abroad connection with oxford and/or cambridge...i was born in england so id love to go back :)</p>

<p>and also something that intrigued me is I heard of opportunities to take courses at MIT if you're enrolled at harvard...anyone know how that works?</p>

29

<p>For pre-med Yale is an excellent place to go (check mdapplicants.com for admissions results for HYP to medical school). Not as competitive as Harvard (in terms of grades) because the student body is slightly less accomplished, but they have roughly the same track record at getting people into top medical schools. People tend to be happier at Yale as well and the student body doesn't take itself as seriously. Princeton is a more conservative, uptight place. Harvard is nerd heaven. They have a lot of students that have already made significant contributions in the form of research to the scientific community more than Yale and if they are MSTP candidates you will be competing with those kinds of superstars.</p>

<p>Overall I would be pulled by the prestige of Harvard but as a premed I would pick Yale.</p>

30

<p>Remember: Yale has grade inflation still without the bad reputation for grade inflation. Princeton has introduced grade deflation. Harvard has also reduced its grade inflation + your fellow students are tougher competition. </p>

<p>Yes, you can take courses at MIT if you are at Harvard, but usually it is MIT students going to Harvard to take classes because it is easier to get high grades at Harvard for MIT students (especially in the sciences, math, and engineering but also the humanities and social sciences).</p>

31

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<p>Yes, she is enjoying her academic experience a lot.</p>

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<p>I don't know about Princeton or Yale.</p>

32

<p>If at all possible, you need to visit. These schools are all so great that it would be silly to choose based on something like how much grade inflation they have. If you go and take a tour, you will know which one is the place for you.</p>

33

<p>Well,congrats.I didn't read whole thread but depends in what you want to do.Can't go wrong with harvard though.</p>

34

<p>my 2 cents - you'll do fine academically at any of these
base the decision on the fit of the environment, which is very different</p>

<p>Princeton
- in the middle of no where
- retail shops are concentrated at one end of campus
- little-to-no traffic on campus, certainly no thru traffic
- about 1 hour to Phillie or NYC</p>

<p>Harvard
- in the midst of young, lively, bustling Cambridge
- campus is a defined space, integrated into the surrounding retail environment (more so than Princeton)
- easy travel to Boston</p>

<p>Yale
- very integrated into the surrounding environment
- easy travel to Boston or NYC
- much more urban-feeling than H or P</p>

<p>My dd was waitlisted at H&Y, and accepted at P, which was her 1st choice, as she really wanted a defined campus, without thru traffic.</p>

35

<p>I'd pick Yale. Residential colleges, anyone?</p>

36

<p>A note of caution: Don't believe everything you hear about grade deflation/inflation at these schools.</p>

37

<p>Harvard over Princeton over Yale for the fit with pre-med/biochem focus.</p>

<p>Princeton over Harvard over Yale for the sports.</p>

<p>I love Yale and would prefer it as a college per se, but I don't think it is so hot for premed/biochem types. Of course, college may change you and you may no longer be a premed/biochem type in a couple of years.</p>

<p>All JMHO.</p>

38

<p>ya im not set on being a pre-med i have a pretty open mind but I definitely am going to work towards the ultimate goal of med school.....</p>

<p>i am planning on visiting all three schools in a couple weeks...any ideas on what to specifically look on/focus on when im there?</p>

39

<p>"any ideas on what to specifically look on/focus on when im there?"</p>

<p>Enjoying yourself and meeting as many people as possible. This is the fun part!</p>

40

<p>i plan on it....ill try to get a feel for the community and the attitude of the student body....i dont want a place to nerdy i don't think i'd enjoy it so hopefully ill feel confortable</p>