<p>I have been accepted to both colleges, and am in completely ambivalent position. I applied to MIT (MIT was my first choice) considering that it has an outstanding research opportunity for undergraduate students; but after watching videos of some MIT classes through Open-course-ware, I found that the interaction between students and faculty is virtually zero. It seems like a seminar or . </p>
<p>Im interested in physics. How is Haverford physics department compared to MIT?
Help me.</p>
<p>Also accepted to Swarthmore and Williams (early write), but Haverford and MIT are my top two choices.</p>
<p>I'll be completely honest with you. MIT was my top choice last year, but I was deferred and then rejected. I came to Haverford with the intention of applying to MIT as a sophomore transfer (I don't find out until May :( ). Anyway, Haverford has an amazing physics program. The school might not be widely known, but it's programs, including physics, are renowned amongst graduate schools et al. The small class size is wonderful as well; you learn to work with both professors and students; this is probably the only thing I would miss about the school. I'd rather not post any more out of fear of getting flamed by Haverford frequenters to this boad; but if you'd like to talk more, my screen name is x Hate5Six x.</p>
<p>Maybe you can sell me your admission to MIT...</p>
<p>You must visit both schools (and probably Swarthmore and Williams, too) and then decide! The experience you will get at the LACs and the one you will get at MIT will be very different. For many, MIT would be better, and it has the rep for being the best science school in the nation, but for others, a LAC environment would be better in both social and academic terms. It's a personal decision.</p>
<p>yeah .. between those schools you should pick between which you would be happier at, because honestly, academically, you can't really go wrong at either. quick question.. i'm waiting to hear from swarthmore, another one of my top choices aside from haverford... what is your reason for preferring haverford over swarthmore?</p>
<p>I know I'm not darkmatter, but the reason why I didn't apply to Swat was because I had heard some bad things about its workload/intensity/lack of fun.</p>
<p>let's be serious here. when you graduate and apply for a job or graduate school in the real world, MIT is gonna be the name that knocks people outta their chairs. people "in the know" will recognize haverford as a good school with a commitment to academics, but i'd bet most employers would have trouble telling you what state haverford is in, and might not know haverford from hobart from hartford i know theres more to college than brand name status, but what the hell, you owe it to yourself, i think MIT is the place for you.</p>
<p>You may be right to a certain extent, but I'd like to make a few comments. </p>
<p>Going to a name-brand school will help you in the first few years out of college/grad school, but the fact of the matter is that it won't matter 5, 10 years later. It really won't</p>
<p>To echo some advice given to me by my math professor, a MIT alum:</p>
<p>[paraphrased]</p>
<p>"MIT is great; but a company won't hire anyone from the bottom of a graduating class at any school."</p>
<p>Basically, you'll have to work a lot harder at MIT to stand out.</p>
<p>My sister graduated from Haverford last year and got a great job because the interviewer was a Swat grad...in the end, it also depends on who you know.</p>
<p>I may be a little biased here since I'm attending Haverford in the fall as an incoming freshman, but I really think you just need to visit both schools and see which atmosphere you like better, like RedBull298 says. Both schools are great, but you'll get very different experiences at both. MIT is a large and fabulous school in the heart of Cambridge, MA, which is known for being one of the toughest schools in the nation and has instant name recognition. Haverford, on the other hand, is located in a suburb of Philadelphia, and while it does not have instant name recognition, it is a lot smaller and will therefore has a much more community oriented feel which certainly boils down into the great student-professor interaction that people have at Haverford. Like I said, it's all about what you want. Good luck deciding. You really can't err either way.</p>
<p>To answer some of the queries
I have decided to attend either MIT or Haverford because:
MIT: opportunity to work on breaking research project and .</p>
<p>Haverford: I like Haverford than any other LACs (may be even MIT) because of its emphasis on character, integrity, and community. I want to do something in future that will help others, invent something that will afford general goods to public. Haverford is the best place in the planet where I can successfully hone such desires. Also I am not looking for high paying job. I just want the best education in physics, and at the same time grow as a 'person'.</p>
<p>The only thing that is holding me from committing to Haverford is the lack of enough research opportunity as compared to MIT. (not saying that Haverford lacks research opportunities) </p>
<p>To 3.14; I wish I can sell you my admission.</p>
<p>I think a liberal arts college will really let you develop and grow as a person, plus you can explore all your academic interests without the restrictions of 9000 distribution requirements. You may like physics now, but hey, who knows, there might be a really great history class that you love and maybe you'll be a history major/minor! If you have a job laid out and the rest of your life set up, MIT is the place for you. If you want an actual college experience, pick Haverford. You seem like the type of person who would really enjoy it.</p>
<p>Darkmatter, I liked Haverford and applied ED because of exactly what you're describing. I'm still deciding between majoring in sociology, architecture, or chemistry, but I know that whatever I do I really want to help people and make some meaningful contribution to society and don't really care about how much money I make. I liked other colleges, but Haverford was the only one I looked at that I thought would really help me grow as a person and help me achieve what I want to in live. It really does seem to have a commitment to helping others and just personal growth. I think that's what really sets Haverford apart from other LACs, and univerisities in general, aside from its academic reputation that's as good as any.</p>
<p>Darkmatter,
You have two terrific choices (actually four). One of my high school classmates chose Haverford over MIT, and another Swarthmore over MIT. The latter ended up going to MIT for a Ph.D. in physics. I went to Amherst and my junior year roomate ended up going to Yale for his Ph.D in physics, and was a professor at Princeton and UVa. The advantages of a liberal arts education are small classes (even at the intro level) and personal interactions with professors who are interested in teaching. You will not have labs or sections taught by graduate student T/As. If you choose to do research at Haverford, Williams, or Swarthmore, you will work directly with the prof. and not compete with grad students or post-docs. My friend from Swarthmore did summer research at MIT which also is an option. I am sure, profs at any of the fine LACs you are accepted to could help you land a summer position at a lab at a research university if you were interested in doing so. One more advantage over MIT, is you also have the opportunity to meet students with non-science interests and also pursuing such interests yourself in greater depth. Having said that, at MIT you will be surrounded by some of the brightest math/science students in the world and there will definitely be a wider range of research opportunities as an undergrad. Have you visited both Haverford and MIT-they are very different in terms of campus culture and atmosphere? I would go where you felt most comfortable.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for providing me such valuable suggestions. After visiting both colleges, Haverford and MIT along with swarthmore, amherst and williams, I have decided to enroll at Haverford. (I sent my enrollment form the day before yesterday). Again thank you for affording sometime to delve into my situation.</p>
<p>Congratulations, darkmatter, and welcome to the Haverford class of 2009!! I know that this was not an easy decision to make for you, and I'm sure you must feel relieved. Haverford is an amazing school (as my fellow Haverford CCers can attest to) and I congratulate you on becoming a part of it. Looking forward to seeing you and everyone else at the 'Ford come this August!! Congrats again :)</p>
<p>Congratulations on your choice darkmatter, and best wishes. The Class of '09 at Haverford will be an awsome group at a great school! Of course I may be slightly biased, my son will be attending in the fall.</p>
<p>Go to MIT! It is a much better school....Plus, Boston beats Philly any day! Haverford is really small and I hear that there's a lot of binge drinking etc. Also, I think that the prestige of the degree from MIT is worth a lot more.</p>