<p>gquinit did not have to be so mean. you are the uptight one. lillyambers was merely expressing her opinion, which is completely accurate. it was also rude of you to call chronicidal's post useless. there's not need to hurt other people's feelings. undisclosed is right.</p>
<p>According to a New York Times study...73% of students chose Harvard over Stanford. </p>
<p>If I'm not mistaken, Harvard's yield is in the 80's, significantly higher than that of any other top college. I think that if you chose Stanford and even if you absolutely loved your education there, a part of you will always wonder "what if I went to Harvard..."</p>
<p>^ And the same part will wonder 'What if I went to Stanford...' if you go to Harvard!</p>
<p>^ that's true as well but asking "what if I went to Harvard" is more painful than asking "what if I went to Stanford."</p>
<p>
[quote]
Then why is it HYPS and not SHYP?
[/quote]
I never said Stanford was more prestigious than Harvard, but because many people reference the premier universities as "HYPS", Stanford's prestige is comparable to Harvard's; and at this level it is irrelevant which university is "better", because graduates of either of these universities can break into the same fields and accomplish the same things with relative ease compared to graduates of lower ranked schools.</p>
<p>Again, choosing Harvard over Stanford based on prestige alone is taking heavily into account what the layman thinks. Harvard will not open any more doors for you than will Stanford. I seriously doubt anyone here is tied with the esteemed "old boy network" Harvard is known for, and many people here aren't wealthy enough to even mingle with these folks meaningfully. Taking that into account, students here who choose Harvard likely go only for the name; once they attend more than a few regret their decision.</p>
<p>
[quote]
^ And the same part will wonder 'What if I went to Stanford...' if you go to Harvard!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It's just not the same..</p>
<p>Also, if Stanford and Harvard are so similar, then why not choose the school that the layman thinks is better? Wouldn't it be nice to tell whoever asks that you went to Harvard? There's no shame in that. </p>
<p>Obviously, if you think you will be miserable at Harvard, then don't go there. However, I really doubt that will be the case.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, if Stanford and Harvard are so similar, then why not choose the school that the layman thinks is better? Wouldn't it be nice to tell whoever asks that you went to Harvard? There's no shame in that.
[/quote]
It would also be nice to tell them you went to Stanford--but I agree, Stanford is no big deal, you know. </p>
<p>Stanford students are much happier than Harvard students. If what the layman thinks is more important to you than happiness and quality of life, by all means go to Harvard. Take note that the layman is the only thing distinguishing Harvard from Stanford.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I really doubt that will be the case.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Student</a> life at Harvard lags peer schools, poll finds - The Boston Globe</p>
<p>The survey includes all eight Ivies and Stanford.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Student satisfaction at Harvard College ranks near the bottom of a group of 31 elite private colleges, according to an analysis of survey results that finds that Harvard students are disenchanted with the faculty and social life on campus.</p>
<p>An internal Harvard memo, obtained by the Globe, provides numerical data that appear to substantiate some long-held stereotypes of Harvard: that undergraduate students often feel neglected by professors, and that they don't have as much fun as peers on many other campuses.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
On the five-point scale, Harvard students gave an average score of 2.92 on faculty availability, compared to an average 3.39 for the other COFHE schools. Harvard students gave a 3.16 for quality of instruction, compared to a 3.31 for the other schools, and a 2.54 for quality of advising in their major, compared to 2.86 for the other schools.</p>
<p>Students gave Harvard a 2.62 for social life on campus, compared to a 2.89 for the other schools, and a 2.53 for sense of community, compared to 2.8.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Princeton Review ranks the colleges with the happiest students:
Happiest</a> Students: The New 2008 "Best 366 Colleges" Rankings on The Princeton Review</p>
<p>Stanford ranks 5th, Princeton 4th, and Yale 9th.</p>
<p>So really, the people who choose Harvard go only for the name. But really, there's nothing wrong with that; students at Princeton, Yale, and Stanford will lead happier lives and have the same degree prestige as their miserable Harvard peers.</p>
<p>ill be enrolling at stanford next yr... but if i had to choose between harvard and stanford...i would be a little more inclined towards harvard.
and looking at many posts, it seems like harvard> stanford> yale=princeton.
but wtev, thats jss my personal opinion, but one thing that remains true is that in terms of quality of education, quality of ppl around, etc...those four are no doubt the BEST in the nation, perhaps even in the world. So it jss depends on personal preferences, and theres no meaning ranking them individually...i think.
So the conclusion is, just go wherever u wan--regardless of what others say-- and be thankful u hab an opportunity to make such choices</p>
<p>I chose Stanford over Harvard last year. Go to both admit weekends and see which one you like more. You'll find a fair share of kids caught in the same (fortunate) dilemma. Of the five kids I hung out with at both visiting weekends, half went to Harvard, half to Stanford (including myself in this total).</p>
<p>Ultimately, you can't go wrong.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Princeton Review ranks the colleges with the happiest students:
Happiest Students: The New 2008 "Best 366 Colleges" Rankings on The Princeton Review</p>
<p>Stanford ranks 5th, Princeton 4th, and Yale 9th. So really, the people who choose Harvard go only for the name. But really, there's nothing wrong with that; students at Princeton, Yale, and Stanford will lead happier lives and have the same degree prestige as their miserable Harvard peers.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That is profoundly stupid. You're assuming that the only two factors that people take into account when going off to college are a) reputation and b) the Princeton review listing for happiest students. :rolleyes:. So if they're going to H it HAS to be because they don't care about being happy (or rather about Princeton's mass survey statistic on the concept of 'student happiness'), not about the dozens of other factors that may make H the better choice of the two for an individual student. Riight.</p>
<p>And really, in either case to reduce your college choice to "princeton review statistics" is far more misguided (again, harsher word) than to go by reputation, which is actually a pretty big factor depending on what and where someone wants to go in life and what they plan on doing.</p>
<p>You just seem bitter about Harvard for some reason. Less than a week after admissions results. Hmm...gee, I can't figure out why.</p>
<p>Stories9 has it right though: Visit the campuses and choose based on your impression (it's very unlikely that you'll like both equally). You cannot go wrong.</p>
<p>You don't prove your point by focusing on one piece of evidence while disregarding the other; the evidence shows Harvard students are unhappy. Should I bring up a report from the Harvard Crimson that follows up on the Boston Globe report?</p>
<p>
[quote]
You're assuming that the only two factors that people take into account when going off to college are a) reputation and b) the Princeton review listing for happiest students.
[/quote]
No I'm not; learn how to read. And don't kid yourself, prestige is by far the number one factor in many students' college decisions. I'm saying at this level of prestige, the benefits of choosing Harvard over Stanford are minute, and that happiness and quality of life should be the deciding factor at this level. Stanford students are undoubtedly happier than Harvard students, thus why I believe Stanford is the right choice. You lose nothing by choosing Stanford over Harvard other than the "what if...?" factor due to some mysterious aura of prestige. Of course, there are many who want prestige over quality of life, and thus will choose Harvard. </p>
<p>
[quote]
the dozens of other factors that may make H the better choice of the two for an individual student.
[/quote]
Please name these "dozens of other factors". </p>
<p>
[quote]
And really, in either case to reduce your college choice to "princeton review statistics" is far more misguided (again, harsher word) than to go by reputation, which is actually a pretty big factor depending on what and where someone wants to go in life and what they plan on doing.
[/quote]
Nice job focusing on the Princeton Review statistics while conveniently sidestepping the other evidence. </p>
<p>Harvard ranks near the bottom in quality of life according to the Boston Globe report, so regardless of your perceived legitimacy of the Princeton Review, the Boston Globe's report remains, as does the Crimson's follow-up report. </p>
<p>
[quote]
You just seem bitter about Harvard for some reason. Less than a week after admissions results. Hmm...gee, I can't figure out why.
[/quote]
Ad hominem arguments will get you nowhere. I'm not a senior and did not even apply to Harvard.</p>
<p>Anyway, it all boils down to your impressions upon visiting.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You don't prove your point by focusing on one piece of evidence while disregarding the other; the evidence shows Harvard students are unhappy.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I "focused on" the only argument I cared to directly refute. The wonders of quoting.
Your overall point of "really, the people who choose Harvard go only for the name" was still extensively addressed.</p>
<p>
[quote]
And don't kid yourself....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Thanks for keeping me grounded.</p>
<p>
[quote]
...prestige is by far the number one factor in many students' college decisions.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Really?? So hats why we've been getting 'School A vs School B' threads like this one for the past week with students weighing in all the factors being making a decision. Because in the end it all comes down to a ranking for them- they're just killing time here...finally an explanation. :rolleyes: Baseless assumptions based on stereotypes.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Please name these "dozens of other factors".
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Learn to search. If you'll notice you're on a college board with both a Stanford and Harvard forum. These forums have well over a hundred threads each ranging from program offerings, professors, campus settings, resources available, areas of interests, student bodies, geographical locations, etc....But why bother with facts when sweeping generalizations are so much powerful, correct?</p>
<p>
[quote]
really, the people who choose Harvard go only for the name.
[/quote]
Thats just precious. Let's continue....
[quote]
Nice job focusing on the Princeton Review statistics while conveniently sidestepping the other evidence.</p>
<p>Harvard ranks near the bottom in quality of life according to the Boston Globe report, so regardless of your perceived legitimacy of the Princeton Review, the Boston Globe's report remains, as does the Crimson's follow-up report.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That whooshing sound you just heard was you narrowly missing the point. I was talking about all instances of defining 'student happiness' by statistics. (I have nothing against the Princeton Review in particular). Surveys are meant to give broad overviews of general tendencies. First of all to survey something as undefined as 'happiness' is not as cut and dry as say, 'which school has the highest students to bathroom ratio'.</p>
<p>Furthermore the extent to which you are applying this nominal ranking ('See! School A's happiness is higher than school D. You will be happy at A and unhappy at D! Its statistically undeniable' Akzeptieren Narren!) is where the 'profoundly stupid' kicks in and a reverse of ad populum in itself, defining individual opinion by mass tendencies. (logical fallacies are just gosh darn fun, aren't they? :) )</p>
<p>
[quote]
Ad hominem arguments will get you nowhere.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Doesn't mean they're not fun.</p>
<p>With that said, i think the conclusion we've both reached here is that a visit to the schools is the best tiebreaker possible so with that I say cheers to this thread because I have a doozie of a twosie on the way.</p>
<p>Cheers Y'all! :D</p>
<p>I personally really like Stanford but it's all up to you. Congrats on your acceptances! That is amazing!</p>
<p>Go to Harvard, cause it is known around the world!!!!!! Even little kids in undeveloped countries have heard of Harvard.</p>
<p>So...when you use your abilities to further ECONOMICALLY enslave children in the third world, they will know that it was a Harvard graduate that did it.</p>
<p>: )</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments so far everyone, I'm still struggling, but a decision is starting to foment here. Please don't let this desperate plea from a college hopeful degenerate into an imbroglio of sniping and stat wars =( I just want to be educated and happy.</p>
<p>so metfan is a white slave owner? that wasn't even funny</p>
<p>let's stop bashing on each other :( </p>
<ol>
<li>Academics - Equal, in that Harvard humanities > Stanford humanities, and Stanford tech > Harvard tech. But as an undergraduate you can't go wrong with Harvard tech or Stanford hum. Stanford's hum are right behind Harvard's (in rankings, at least) and harvard students can take classes at MIT. Also, I have never taken a class taught by a TA, grad student, or a "lecturer." I am sure it's the same case for harvard. Plenty of research opportunities for both, etc. etc. etc.</li>
<li>Global prestige - Harvard. Of course, its up to you to decide whether this is a factor. </li>
<li>Athletics - Stanford. Yes, Stanford gives out Athletic scholarships, leading to more athletes, possibly compromising overall intellectual integrity of student body. But these athletes add to the diversity of the university, and Harvard doesn't win directors cup for 12 years in a row for having the best sports program in the nation. Stanford athletes are far from dumb, are fun to hang out with.</li>
<li>OVERALL atmosphere, quality of life, weather - Stanford. </li>
<li>City life - Harvard</li>
</ol>
<p>most importantly, it's up to YOU to decide which of these factors will influence your choice.</p>
<p>I noticed Harvard doesn't even have a spot on this board. How elitist is that?
I think the winter in Cali. would beat the winter in Mass. unless you just enjoy cold weather.</p>
<p>This year Harvard and Stanford's admit weekends are the same, so even if I could go (I can't) I couldn't go to both.</p>
<p>But I did go to MIT's CPW and then slipped over to Harvard. I concluded that Harvard is better as a grad school and not so great for undergrads, and most students did just seem interested in the name. I think I'm choosing between Stanford and MIT.</p>
<p>Lol, there's only 1 place where you'll find people saying "Dammit! I got into Stanford! This was my SECOND choice! I HATE life!!"</p>