I’m trying to decide between Harvard, Stanford, and Michigan. The draw for Michigan is that they probably have the best sports management program in the country and I love sports. I could very easily see myself pursuing a job with an NFL team or the NFL media, but I’m not 100% certain that this is what I want to do. I was admitted into Michigan LSA and Sports Management is in the school of Kinesiology, but it would be possible for me to pursue a dual degree in Sports Management and something in LSA (I’m undecided but maybe CS, economics, sociology, etc.). That way I wouldn’t need to 100% commit to a job in sports but I’d still have the chance to pursue it. I also love that Michigan has great sports and I’ve heard that it’s one of the most fun schools to go to. It’s in a great college town with solid greek life and a reputation for being a party school.
I’m thinking about Harvard because I’ve always wanted to go to school there since I was a little kid. I love Boston and I’m drawn to the Harvard prestige. I’m thinking about Stanford because I love the campus, it’d be nice to be in the good weather, and it has solid sports (although the football and basketball are nowhere near Michigan). I also love the Stanford prestige.
What should I choose? Should I go with Harvard or Stanford for the prestige and location or Michigan for the Sports Management opportunity, sports, and overall student life?
Harvard has no sports management program. Seems like it would be odd to go there where no program exists. UM is a great school, if they have an existing program why not go there?
I am not a fan of specialty degrees unless the job really requires it(accounting, nurse, etc). Nobody in a sports firm would say “I like everything about you, just wish you had a Sports Management degree”. However, it may cause some issues with other employers.
If I’m reading the OP correctly, then OP was admitted to into both LSA AND the School of Kinesiology. So, OP in theory receive a degree from LSA, which has about 45-50 departments in Top 10 or so in the US (according to Michigan), and also get a degree from the School of Kinesiology in Sports Management.
Honestly, I have no idea what to suggest or recommend to the OP.
My D18 loves Michigan and sports. Michigan has many elite men’s and women’s teams. The football team played in the CFP, both men’s and women’s b-ball teams play(ed) in March Madness, the hockey team will play in the Frozen 4 this week, both gymnastics teams are outstanding (the women are defending national champions), the wrestling team just finished #2 in the NCAA’s, etc.
But Harvard is Harvard and Stanford is Stanford.
I live near Stanford. The campus is beautiful and the weather is essentially “shorts and flip-flops” weather nearly year round. BTW, the Stanford women’s teams are typically excellent, like soccer, basketball, etc. The women’s b-ball team has a commit from a 6’7" HS senior from CO, the #1 recruit in the US.
Yes, that’s mostly correct. I have been admitted into LSA, not Kinesiology yet, but I talked to an academic advisor and it seems like it’s very possible for me to get approved for a dual degree as an LSA student. So I would end up with one degree from LSA (undecided, but maybe CS, economics, etc.) and one degree in Sports Management from Kinesiology.
I agree with Eeyore. In your case, you have interests but not a defined path with certainty.
And honestly, I think you would have a better chance getting a job with an NFL team or be offered a variety of other opportunities with a degree from Harvard in general studies rather than a specialized degree elsewhere, including from a great university like Michigan.
A Harvard degree will open many doors for you that would otherwise be closed. Just ask Mike McDaniel. He was a history major at Yale. And now he is the head coach of the Miami Dolphins … in his 30’s.
