<p>Hallowarts - would you say Bill Gates is 'richer' than Warren Buffet because Bill has more money on a per capita basis (per member of his immediate family). Fact is, Harvard's $34.9 billion is over double Princeton's $15.8, making Harvard richer in any meaningful sense of the word (how's the financial aid coming over there?).</p>
<p>Princeton simply has more money to devote per student. Harvard may have more money overall, but Princeton students (particularly undergraduates) have more money potentially going there way. </p>
<p>It's not like it actually matters though. Both of these schools, along with a few others, have so much money that their financial resources already seem limitless.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Fact is, Harvard's $34.9 billion is over double Princeton's $15.8, making Harvard richer in any meaningful sense of the word (how's the financial aid coming over there?).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, Harvard has a larger endowment. But I think it would be a mistake to discount the importance of endowment per capita. The University of Texas system has a $15.6 billion endowment. Caltech's endowment on the other hand is only $2.3 billion. Depite Texas's larger endowment, there are fewer resources available to individual students than at Caltech. Clearly, Caltech is in a better financial position than Texas. I don't see why the same logic shouldn't be applied to Harvard and Princeton. Obviously, Princeton needs to step up and match the new aid initiatives at Harvard and Yale. Because of its endowment, it should have no trouble doing so.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>I think for all of Harvard's graduate schools that I've seen data for, the best-represented undergraduate institution is Harvard<<<<</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Just<em>forget</em>me: I thought it is just otherwise and the school encourages ppl to go somewhere else for graduate school to avoid inbreading. If what you said is true, it is not a good practice.</p>
<p>cc2, you're both right. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) shares a common faculty and academic facilities with the College. GSAS tends to encourage Harvard undergraduates who want to do academic graduate work to get exposure to a different faculty at a different school (though certainly there are Harvard undergrads who stay on to do graduate work at GSAS). On the other hand, the professional schools - e.g., law, business, medicine - have their own faculties and academic facilities, so there's less of an "inbreeding" issue. At these schools, Harvard tends to be the best represented undergrad institution.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I, personally, was turned off by Harvard's blatant graduate-school emphasis. (6,700 undergrads, 12,400 grads)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Harvard's larger student body and graduate schools, combined with its unbeatable Cambridge location, were precisely the reasons my D preferred H over any other Ivy. P's insular location, combined with small size were reminiscent to her of her high school environment, which she was anxious to leave behind. In her view, the amazing resources and talent she would be surrounded by due to H's awesome graduate programs was a major plus. There are nearly 3 times the number of brilliant minds on H's campus vs. P's. She was not disappointed.</p>
<p>prospect2013: did you choose Harvard or Princeton, if you started this thread because you received offers from both schools?</p>
<p>^political, there are many H v. P threads if you’re looking for more insight. Happy deciding! I was stumped last year as well.</p>