<p>Both schools have huge wideband alumni networks, that can't be a factor.</p>
<p>I will say that here in the Northeast most people have no idea how good Stanford truly is. However, as Stanford continues to get better and better that will probably change quickly. Both schools have great alumni networks.</p>
<p>In terms of weather, it is not a deciding factor but there is no question that the Stanford weather is appealing, especially having lived in the Northeast all my life. Ahh... sunshine and palm trees.</p>
<p>A friend of mine made her college decision by putting both responses and deposits in envelopes, walking to the corner, putting them both in the mailbox, and seeing which one she wanted to take out. She had a moment of exceptional clarity and immediately knew which one needed to come out of the mailbox.</p>
<p>YMMV, especially if you need to find a mailman to get the other letter out of the mailbox. :)</p>
<p>can someone compare econ and polysci for the two schools?</p>
<p>From what I have read both schools are ranked near the very top in both economics and political science. You can check the US News Graduate Rankings just to get a basic idea of how good the departments are but both are phenomenal in the two fields. In terms of general reputation, Harvard probably gets the edge in these areas while Stanford has a great reputation in the sciences.</p>
<p>There really is no comparison. Go with Stanford. The weather is nicer, too!</p>
<p>I would vote for Harvard. Like it or not, Harvard is Harvard and does have that killer name that no other school can match. It's not fair, but that's the way it is. If there is one school that everybody has heard of, it's Harvard. More to the point, if you go to Stanford, a lot of people are just going to think you did so because you didn't get into Harvard. Again, it's not fair, but that's the way it is.</p>
<p>I would also discount the discussion of the strength of major that has been expressed here on this thread, simply because it is highly likely that you will end up in a career that has little to do with your major anyway. Let's face it. Most math majors do not become professional mathematicians. Most history majors do not become professional historians. Most physics majors do not become professional physicists. And even if you do take a job that is related to your major, it is highly probable that you will end up switching careers. I believe CNN once estimated that the average American switches careers (not just jobs or employers, but entire * careers *) about 4 times in their lifetime. Hence, it is extremely likely that you will eventually find yourself in a job that is not related to whatever you studied in college. </p>
<p>But that Harvard name lasts forever. No matter what career you end up in, that Harvard brand name serves as a signal that, if nothing else, at least you were good enough to get into Harvard. Again, I think that it's not really fair that Harvard has such a powerful brand name relative to everybody else. But hey, life is not fair.</p>
<p>Go to Stanford. Harvard may have that tiny extra luster to the Joe Schmoe on the street but hey, you won't be looking for a job from that Joe Schmoe on the street. Those who matter will know that Stanford is Harvard with MUCH better weather and less snooty people.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Stanford is excellent, but its not comparable to Harvard. I would go with Harvard.</p>
<p>Stanford.</p>
<p>I visited Harvard. I absolutely loved it.</p>
<p>At the same time, I live in California, I have parents who both went to Stanford and relatives who have done the same. ALL of them were into physics and math, every single one was completely satisfied with going there then and where they are now.</p>
<p>I stayed around Harvard for a while, the people were wonderful. I liked the buildings and campus a lot, although I'm biased towards that because I've seen Stanford my entire life.</p>
<p>But at Stanford, everyone's still a superhero. Except everyone's extremely laid-back, but ambitious at the same time.</p>
<p>There's virtually no competition, and you're still getting a high quality education.</p>
<p>I'd say almost everything is virtually the same (or maybe not the same, but just as good), except the lack of competition and weather at Stanford. It sounds like, at least for sure, the weather's already important to you. Go for it, go to Stanford.</p>
<p>lol.. what i would do to have this choice next year....</p>
<p>I say it comes down to geography... which is closer to home?</p>
<p>Also, Stanford obviously has the nicer weather, so if that plays into your decision Stanford definetely wins.. Boston weahter sucks...</p>
<p>Also, Stanford's grading and testing methods are very interesting.. I hear theres alot of cheating lol but I DO NOT know for a fact so don't quote me haha</p>
<p>Harvard beats Stanford anyday. It's the #1 university in the world... While Stanford is only #4! </p>
<p>And I am not biased. I plan on going to Stanford, mainly because I doubt I'd get in Harvard... even though one of my parents went there...</p>
<p>Well, good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input.</p>
<p>I live in the Northeast but the distance is not really a huge factor for me. It is a pain to travel out to Stanford but then again since I have lived in the Northeast all my life it would be cool to experience California.</p>
<p>An earlier post mentioned that if I went to Stanford, especially being from the Northeast, most people would assume that I got rejected from Harvard. Even though they are both amazing schools, I have to say that in this region almost nobody is aware of how good Stanford is and would definitely make that assumption, even though it has little validity. Basically, Harvard is Harvard and it is recognized everywhere in the world as the gold standard in education.</p>
<p>BUT at the same time, everything about Stanford appeals to me: the academics, the atmosphere, the weather, the people.</p>
<p>Nothing is going to change and I will eventually have to just make a decision realizing that either one is awesome.</p>
<p>i would go to harvard if you plan on working on the east coast, stanford if west coast.</p>
<p>"Stanford is excellent, but its not comparable to Harvard. I would go with Harvard."</p>
<p>"Harvard beats Stanford anyday. It's the #1 university in the world... While Stanford is only #4! </p>
<p>And I am not biased. I plan on going to Stanford, mainly because I doubt I'd get in Harvard... even though one of my parents went there..."</p>
<p>Some of the comments in this thread are hilariously ignorant. I sincerely hope you're being sarcastic; if not, I highly doubt that you'll be admitted to either insitution, let alone Stanford.</p>
<p>Stanford.</p>
<p>As they are nearly identicle academically, I think you better look at student life. Way better weather and NCAA 1 sports.</p>
<p>However, the real reason why you should go to Stanford is that its the farthest away. It will break you out of the East Coast shell and be a much more diferent environment than Harvard.</p>