Harvard vs Princeton

College Search & Selection
1

<p>After doing a couple hundred hours of research and visiting both, I still find it impossible to decide. I am interested in computer science/economics/math/finance, and my ultimate goal is to find success in finance, corporate management, or entrepreneurship. I really like the ORFE program at Princeton, but the options offered by applied math in the econ track at Harvard are attractive as well. My impressions so far:</p>

<p>In favor of Harvard: central location, ability to take classes at MIT (although it doesn't seem like many kids take advantage of this), that extra little bit of prestige, slightly better track record with top MBA admissions (especially to Harvard Business School), no grade deflation=less stress/more free time?</p>

<p>In favor of Princeton: ORFE is tailor-made for my academic interests, it (seems) like I will come away from the school having actually learned more because of its rigor, it is closer to home, I will not have to do a work study job (the work study money will be given to me as a grant) so I will have more free time (don't know how important this extra bit of free time is) </p>

<p>I also might end up pursuing computer science as a major, in which case the program at Princeton (seems) to be markedly stronger than that at Harvard.</p>

<p>Essentially, what I ask is this: which school will give me the best possible combination of rigorous education, ability to get into top MBA programs, and recruitment by top employers (finance firms, tech giants, etc.)? I think I will fit in well at either school, so my priorities are best education + best future school/job opportunities.</p>

<p>Thanks so much. </p>

2

<p>Harvard and Princeton are equally rigorous schools; you’d have virtually equal chances of getting into business school after either one of them (especially given that it’s really your employment opportunities that determine that) and equal access to recruitment by top employers. Honestly, they’re so equivalent on those areas that I think you kind of <em>have</em> to choose based on other factors. Princeton is a more undergrad-focused institution than Harvard, and it’s in the small town of Princeton - equidistant (roughly) from New York and Philadelphia but not in the middle of either. Both are easily accessible by train. Harvard’s pretty close to Boston, closer than Princeton is to either city. They also have different residential lives - Harvard has the residential colleges, which sound like a really cool system, whereas Princeton has the eating clubs you join in your junior year. It’d be nice not to have to do work-study, but honestly work study is like 10 hours a week and probably won’t make a huge difference.</p>

3

<p>^Agree. You are down to hair splitting. Go with your gut. Which excites you more?</p>