<p>I am in the very fortunate position of being able to pick from HYPS, and after much gnashing of teeth and sleepless nights (not really), I have narrowed my choices down between Harvard and Stanford. I am a prospective economics major who loves to have fun as well as work, values collaboration over competition but thrives on both to some extent, wants both a lively academic and social scene, and is looking to enter the business field later in life.</p>
<p>So CC, how would you (objectively!) assess the schools with the diversity and quality of the student body, quality of extracurriculars, and quality of job placement in mind? I was also accepted at Wharton, but I am looking for a more holistic college experience as opposed to a pre professional one. I appreciate any and all help that the Internets would grant me.</p>
<p>Quality of student body similar, with perhaps an edge to Stanford in engineering and a slight edge to Harvard in most everything else (math, humanities, etc.) taking into account cross-admit data. Extracurriculars are very likely to be comparable as well, but Harvard has a superior music program; however Harvard's music program is inferior to Yale and Princeton's. In economics Harvard is more prestigious, but you can't go wrong with Stanford. As far as job prospects you will have a better network at Harvard (Wall Street) unless you're looking at Silicon Valley. However, despite Harvard's network advantage, both are comparably prestigious in any field of business (both have good representation at tech firms, investment banks, PE, etc.). </p>
<p>Stanford has undoubtedly a better quality of life, but Harvard also has MIT and BU students to mingle with. Anecdotally a significant number of students are dissatisfied with Harvard, and Harvard's academic atmosphere is cutthroat depending on focus. Stanford anecdotally has a more laid back, collaborative student body that is not nearly as cutthroat (but they are competitive, just not hostile). Harvard, since it's in Boston and has two neighboring colleges, has the better social scene; but as a Harvard economics major, and from anecdotes about its difficulty, you might not be getting out much. Stanford is more secluded and has less of a social scene, but you'll be in a closer-knit student body; not saying Stanford economics is any easier by the way.</p>
<p>Just from a personal vibe after visiting both student bodies, Stanford has a more "lively academic and social scene" while Harvard is a bit grittier and more broodingly and sarcastically intellectual. I find more depressed Harvard students than Stanford students. </p>
<p>This is indeed a very difficult decision, but if happiness is your number one concern, Stanford hands down; if the possibility of a better network tops your priorities, Harvard has the slight edge. With Stanford you'll have all the perks of Harvard minus (this can be good or bad) the intense intellectuality; you'll likely be happier at Stanford.</p>
<p>I would choose Stanford. Its the only school for me that wins over Harvard's ridiculously universal reputation. Its academically on-par, seems like a less cutthroat and pompous environment (the only harvard undergrad I ever met was a junior who truly believed democracy was over and was coming up with his own perfect government...which was pretty close to facism so I may be bias here), and a bit more lax. </p>
<p>Basically all the perks, none of the mess. I know someone who transfered from H to S and now refers to it as 'The good Harvard'.</p>
<p>My oldest kid went through this before, tossing and turning between the two after eliminating P, M. I say don't make decisions until you finish pre-frosh visits. Get some first hand experiences by staying in the dorms and going to classes and meeting people. You may find one more appealing than the other after the visits, which should be your decision. If still undecided after that, then do the drill down and see what really matter to you and make that as the basis for your decision.</p>
<p>I wish I had applied to Harvard! Harvard was always my school of my dreams but I felt too embarrassed to ask my teachers for a letter of rec for Harvard since I would look too much to be reaching for the impossible. Oh well. I got into Stanford. Stanford is a better school since it is more modern but I would go to Harvard! Harvard is the most prestigious school in the world! With a degree from Harvard, you will be able to secure a job anywhere! People say that it is not good to pick a school for prestige but come one, isn't nice to show off? People will look up to you if you go to Harvard. Stanford just does not have that instant name recognition. In fact, I didn't know about Stanford until my freshman year in high school. I completely envy you!</p>
<p>PLEASE don't choose Harvard because of the name. If you choose Harvard for something other than the name, that's cool. I just find it disgusting when people go gaga over Harvard just because of the name (and it's not like Stanford is a slouch anyway!).</p>
<p>Go with Harvard! Yes, people say don't choose a school because of it's name but come on! It's Harvard! You will have access to many job oppurtunities. Don't get me wrong, Stanford is great but Harvard is Harvard! Harvard is quite a powerful name. Many people I know don't know what Stanford is. On the other Hand, people from Ireland to Beijing know what Harvard is.</p>
<p>Lillyambers is TOTALLY correct!!! I mean prestige is EVERYTHING!!!! You will get job offers from everywhere even if you get failing grades because, come on, it's HARVARD!!!!! And when you go outside United States, make sure to visit Ireland and Beijing and let everyone there know that you graduated from HARVARD!!!! They will bow and worship you like the next George W. Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Easy gqunit. Nothing Lillyambers said was inaccurate. Prestige is not everything but if the applicant plans to relocate in other parts of the world it makes sense to go with the most universally recognized institution there is. Its a factor that has to be acknowledged.</p>
<p>hey yo undisclosed keep it cool... you don't have to get defensive for lilyambers; all I did was poke fun at people who would consider prestige as a top priority. Of course, if you are a non-science and engineering major and you somehow KNOW that four years from now, right after graduation, you will go to rural parts of third world countries and try to get a job based on prestige, Harvard is better choice. I never said that prestige is NOT a factor.</p>
<p>Ok maybe i am being mean. </p>
<p>But really, I just don't think prestige should be a major factor in deciding what college you go to.</p>
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Lillyambers is TOTALLY correct!!! I mean prestige is EVERYTHING!!!! You will get job offers from everywhere even if you get failing grades because, come on, it's HARVARD!!!!! And when you go outside United States, make sure to visit Ireland and Beijing and let everyone there know that you graduated from HARVARD!!!! They will bow and worship you like the next George W. Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!
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<p>Right my bad for thinking that post was a wee bit too aggressive. I'm so very uptight. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Harvard and Stanford's prestige are nearly equivalent in any reputable field. The only distinction you'll find is with the layman. There's no reason to care what the layman thinks about your degree; what matters is your happiness, success, and what you accomplish. You can do just about anything with either degree, and what you accomplish will speak for itself. Those who rely on their degree to gain respect in a cocktail party say, is either a pompous prick or didn't accomplish very much else.</p>
<p>EDIT: Also, people don't reference the most prestigious universities as "HYPS" for nothing; at this level of prestige, happiness and fit should truly be the deciding factor. And I wouldn't be saying this if it was HYPS vs. T30.</p>
<p>Look. No one here is saying that Stanford has better name recognition than Harvard. Harvard has been around here longer as de facto standard of an uber-elite education, and Harvard excels in many humanities/medicine/etc. categories. But, as the66afghans had said, "Harvard and Stanford's prestige are nearly equivalent in any reputable field." Especially in today's world, where technology born from the wombs of sillicon valley dominates our society, and when not all cultural, economic, and social interactions are limited to the east coast. Your employers are more than likely to recognize this, and therefore will not favor a harvard degree over a stanford degree. </p>
<p>chronicidal...i don't know. Do you? Because Harvard has more prestige than yale who has more prestige than princeton who has more prestige than stanford? Do you have empirical proof of this? No? Than please don't post useless comments like that.</p>