Though it still seems a bit surreal, I was accepted into Harvard (SCEA) and University of Chicago (RD). I don't want to give the "woe is me" impression, nor do I want to brag by writing this; I just am really conflicted as to where I should go come fall. I know there isn't a bad choice here by any stretch of the imagination, but I was hoping you all might be able to help shed some light on each school. There are so many differences, and yet they also have so many similarities. I was hoping anything you had to share about each school might help me at least start to further differentiate the two of them and to start making some progress on a decision.
I'm really interested in studying Linguistics and Near Eastern Studies (Cuneiform and Semitics), and both schools have stellar departments. If you do have anything to say about either, though, I would really appreciate it! I am also really interested in the social life at the schools, and I really hope to find social outlets that don't involve alcohol or excessive partying (not that I am opposed to partying every once in a while ;))) .
Thanks so much for any help, guys. CC helped me to get through this hectic year and all of the applications, and I'm hoping you all can help me one last time! Thanks, again!
I also realize that there are threads (though few) that already discuss this topic, but most of them are at least 5-6 years old. I know that both schools have changed a lot (especially UChicago), and I was hoping for a more current viewpoint. Thanks!!
Try as I might I canât imagine myself turning down Harvard for Chicago. Maybe I am too prestige focused and I should be more open-minded, but I honestly canât imagine myself doing it. I know it might sound superficial but oh well. In all honesty though while I think a school doesnât make you or break you, and obviously at a school like Chicago you will have al the opportunities in the world, the Harvard name on your resume and the environment you will find yourself in and connections you will make there is something quite remarkable in terms of opening up doors for the rest of your life.
Both schools are obviously very strong academically and in the departments of your interest. In terms of social life, Chicago historically has had a rather bad reputation as a social wasteland which I hear is still true but to a lesser degree than before. That said Harvard is not exactly known for its social life either, but it is definitely better than Chicago and also its location is better imo.
I guess if you are really torn the only way to make up your mind is to visit the schools and talk to alumni.
Study the Chicago Core carefully. I think its much stronger than Harvard by far for the core requirements. Harvard, you can put together a core, but no one will force you to do that. Chicago Core means you get a well rounded education. My sister did the Core in the 1980s. It includes Western Civilization, mathematics, science, English, foreign language. You cannot beat the Chicago Core for a solid education. Harvard does have the best library and a slightly better location. Students at Chicago are intellectual and intense. Harvard maybe less intense and more political?
^^^ Both my kids refused to apply to any college that had a rigid Common Core where studentâs must take a prescribed set of specific courses in order to graduate. They felt it was too much like high school. So, I guess itâs a âtoo each his ownâ kind of thing. Some kids love it, others hate it.
Almost everyone accepted to Harvard has at least one other acceptance to a top college. And everyone likes to feel theyâve done their due diligence and have made their choice based on logic and rational thought. But after all the thinking, questioning and evaluating is done - Iâll bet 100 internet dollars that you choose Harvard.
UChicago will be more intense, and everyone there will be more into theory. There is no culture of entrepreneurship, there is no engineering, and far fewer pre-professional types. UChicago is definitely more quirkier (though not overtly so). To me, these are all pros for UChicago. Harvard, on the other hand, also provides an amazing education. If youâre looking to go to med school or law school, you will have an easier time at Harvard due to grade inflation. If youâre not interested in whatâs in the Core at UChicago, youâd have a better time at Harvard. Harvard does have better name recognition than UChicago among the masses, though not necessarily in Academia.
My older son had to choose between Harvard and Carnegie Mellon in CS. He was shocked at how much he liked Harvard, but did ultimately decide to go to CMU. For him, absolutely the right decision, he was a computer nerd the core and probably would not have liked Harvard.
My younger son had to choose between Tufts and U of Chicago. He liked the core and the way it gives every student a common background. Ultimately he was afraid that it was a bit too intense for him, and chose Tufts. Heâs never looked back, but he often got irritated by the politics at Tufts and might actually have enjoyed a more strictly intellectual experience.
I think the thing that Harvard most has going for it is the residential college experience. Outside of academics itâs the most important thing about Harvard. The fact that 90% of students stay on campus and socialize in the Houses means that there is a smaller group within the larger college that you get to know that does not revolve around your major or your extra-curricular activities. I was not a science major, but many of my best friends were and I learned a lot just by hanging out with them. If you do go to Harvard, you will have to advocate for yourself. It is not a hand-holding sort of place. I was in a small major you had to apply to, and because of that most of my classes were small and intimate. I knew many of my professors well and had no trouble finding two to work with for my senior thesis. My friends in Government and Econ or Biology did not have the same kinds of experiences I did.
Go where you will succeed, be it a place that forces you to study and have a core like highschool. Or a more lax schedule that allows you to study what you like on top of setting a graduation plan of required credits for your major.
If you are an introvert or someone who is ok with very little fun and social activity, go to U of Chicago.
If you want to be able to have more free time and more opportunities to do all the college things normal people do, go to harvard.
I am not saying that harvard is easier, but the potential is there within your field of study anyways.
Chicago core makes a premed major much more difficult, while at harvard premed has the potential of being much easier(in relation to having to take the core classes)
Visit the schools, figure out what your niche is. Donât lie to yourself either.
If you know you will be too stressed out under greater academic pressure, that is ok. Just keep that in mind when you make your choice.
Goodluck, seems you have the world at your finger tips.
Harvard is tops for leaders and prestige, but Chicago is tops for intellectuals. You are likely to be challenged to your capacity at Chicago and there will be no escape. If you want preparation for an academic career, Chicago is unparalleled. They donât give âGentlemanâs Bâsâ .
Harvard - youâre already defined as a success just by being there, you can challenge yourself if you want, but nobody is going to make you. People will look at you differently for the rest of your life. They will give you the benefit of the doubt.
Harvard is more pretentious because of what people had to do to get in. Chicago students are more self-deprecating. Hence the expression âwhere fun goes to dieâ. At Chicago, youâll find some students in their lounges doing homework in groups on Saturday night - and loving it. But youâll find everything social youâll find at any other college with 18-22 year olds too.
You should definitely visit both, but if you chose Chicago over Harvard, you wouldnât be the only one making that choice.
Congratulations! I was accepted to UChicago, too, and Iâm waiting for Harvard now.
The reason why I would choose UChicago over Harvard is because of the âsocial sceneâ. Yes, I guess itâs true that the academic program at UChicago is more rigorous, but the people who go there are the kinds that combine work with playâthe whole culture, the way Iâve perceived it so far, seems really fun and quirky. Iâm not sure how much research youâve done of each college, but UChicago organizes the largest scavenger hunt, they have a zombie apocalypse squad etc. As someone who is nerdy, UChicago seems like a great place to have fun. Are you in the class of 2020 Facebook group? I am, and the people whoâve introduced themselves are great and I canât wait to meet them!
This has been a comment more in favour of UChicago, but I am sure Harvard is a great school (duh). I just wanted to express my opinion, and hope it helped you a bit!
I do think Chicagoâs âWhere fun goes to dieâ is a huge exaggeration.
I meant to say a few posts back that my son would have liked Harvard fine, but he wouldnât really have taken advantage of its best points. (Stellar ECs, the house system, exciting courses outside his major.)
My sonâs school had three kids who chose other schools over H last year - One each to UChicago, Yale and Brown. My advice, fwiw, would be to visit both schools, ignore the prestige factor and choose the school where you feel most at home.
Lots of good points. Donât forget, too, to compare the locations. Chicago talks about all the resources of the city, but getting to them is a trek, with or without a car. In Cambridge, you can just hop on the T. The weather is also much worse in Chicagoâbitterly cold winters, oppressively hot and muggy summers. Though Harvard isnât as known for its social life as, say, Yale, thereâs probably a heck of a lot more of it there than at Chicago. Plus, outside of academics and the professions, many people later on will have no idea that Chicago is a top private universityâtheyâll think itâs a city college. No joke. Youâll never have that problem with Harvard. (FWIW, my son chose Stanford over Harvard last yearâwith difficultyâbut would never have considered Chicago. Ask yourself whether you really want your college experience to be âthe life of the mind.â)
I just want to say one thing. @Planner and others, I think you guys should let go of your obsession with prestige. Not everyone shares your idea of what constitutes a âprestigiousâ university⊠and worldly as it may be, as related as âprestigeâ may be to your idea of how successful it can make you, the ability to really apply yourself to something, to work hard, be creative, relate to people⊠these are all things that make a bigger difference than the brand name of a University. Iâm sure you all know this. Why would you arbitrarily restrict someoneâs college choices if they know somewhere may be good or even revolutionary for them, if they know itâs a place they could truly thrive? And @Planner, your dismissive statement about the life of the mind shows that you have little understanding of the University of Chicago.
@neweducation I actually have no âobsession with prestigeââquite the opposite. In fact, the college I thought would be âbestâ for my son had far less prestige than the ones he applied to and ended up getting into. Nor did I ever imply that Chicago was not prestigiousâof course it is. But outside of certain rarefied environments, in the âreal world,â many people have never heard of it and assume itâs a city college. Similar situation with Pennâmany assume itâs a state school. No one makes that mistake with Harvardâthatâs just a fact. And as for my understanding of the University of Chicago, itâs on a par with anyoneâs. Thatâs why I offered my input to the OP. Just factors to be consideredâobviously if the OP visits Chicago and feels itâs a better fit than Harvard, that would be the school to choose.
Another way to look at it is that the investment bankers go for the ivy kids because they are often so prestige and achievement driven and very risk adverse. How else can they get people to put in the 100+ hour weeks at such a miserable job.
Read Robert Frostâs The Road Not Taken.
Harvard is the safer course - the road not taken. Chicagoâs âLife of the Mindâ is the one thatâs harder and potentially more fulfilling - the road less traveled by. Most people would take the former.