How to choose between HPYMS or whatever the acronym

<p>So, I'm starting to put together a list of schools to apply to, and I want some input regarding which of the most elite (choosing here between Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT, and Stanford) I should go for. I'm interested in pursuing a lot of science and math in college, and I want to leave doors open for everything ranging from operations research or finance to theoretical physics to computational neuroscience.</p>

<p>At the same time, I also want the opportunity to study significantly some social sciences like economics and anthropology, and I want to dabble in international relations, public policy analysis, and philosophy.</p>

<p>Ideally, I'd be able to draw from my peer group people interested in each of these areas. </p>

<p>I can imagine fitting in well to both a very work-intensive culture like MIT's and a more laid back school.</p>

<p>I'd like to avoid snobbiness as much as possible, although I realize some degree of elitism is inevitable in these schools.</p>

<p>I'm not looking so much for definitive preferences as features that distinguish these places apart, especially in relation to my academic interests, and if there's any more information that would be helpful, please ask.</p>

<p>I would say go for Princeton, MIT, and Yale. Princeton and MIT are more science-based 9rather than humanities) and I’ve heard that Yale is a lot easier to get into for students applying as math/science-related majors.</p>

<p>Each of these schools has strong programs in whatever you’re interested. Moreover, you don’t choose between HYPSM, those colleges CHOOSE YOU! If you’re priviledged enough to get accepted then you can be nit picky.</p>

<p>Ha! You get to choose among them only after you have been accepted by more than one of them, not before.</p>

<p>^Amen.</p>

<p>10char</p>

<p>All five of those schools fit your academic interests. If you do some searches on this forum, you’ll find thousands of threads over many years that discuss and compare the social aspects of those schools.</p>

<p>I’m trying to cut a couple of schools because I don’t want to apply everywhere. I know that these are reach schools; this question is about forming the reach part of my list.</p>

<p>Can you post the basics of your stats (i.e., rank, SAT/ACT, Subject Tests, brief run-down of EC’s)?</p>

<p>In general, if you are having trouble eliminating any of HPYMS (that is, they all appeal to you for academic and subjective reasons), applying to all of them is least likely to yield regret. The tough decisions about picking the place for you come after you have received your admissions results.</p>

<p>Try visiting whichever are close enough to visit and see if you’d feel at home on the campus.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.8w (lots of hard classes, some at college)
36 ACT
800s on phys, chem, math 2</p>

<p>ECs: Debate, math club, bunch of math contests, sci bowl, quiz bowl, a bit of volunteering</p>

<p>^ Then you are clearly a competitive applicant for all of those schools and stand an excellent shot of being accepted to at least a couple of them if you apply to all of them. My advice is to apply to all of them unless you find a compelling reason to not apply to one (or if you identify one that offers early admissions as your top choice).</p>

<p>Harvard then either Princeton or MIT then Stanford then Yale - in that order.</p>

<p>Try to look at the schools overall to see which appeal to you. Find out about the culture, the requirements, the access to undergrad research. You might have to split hairs between some. </p>

<p>You might also look at Brown if you haven’t. I say so because you are most likely to be able to do all the many things you want there because of the structure of the undergraduate requirements. Brown has an open cirriculum so you don’t have ANY distribution or general ed requirements. You choose your own courseload until you select your major, giving you max flexibility. And if you want to load up on classes outside your major you can take some pass/fail so you can still get the knowledge you are interested in, but concentrate on you gpa for your major, if you like. And Brown has pretty strong departments in all of the areas you mention. A bonus is the great access to professors and undergrad research opportunities. They are very interdisciplinary focused. Might suit you, certainly they have a lot of students like you.</p>

<p>Honestly they’re all so good you should find which one you like the best.</p>

<p>For your combination of academic interests, and for its strong undergraduate focus, I’d lean toward Princeton as the first choice (unless after visiting you don’t think it’s a good personal fit.) For the combination of math, physics, and economics, it may be the best undergraduate school in the country.</p>

<p>Not that you could go wrong with the others. Rather than eliminating any of HYPSM, a bold strategy would be to apply to all 5, along with a strong Early Action school as a backup. For someone with your high stats, Chicago is much more nearly a sure thing than HYPMS. It offers non-binding Early Action, so if you get good news early, you’d then have an excellent safety school (one with top notch departments in math, physics, economics, and anthropology). If you happen to get bad news early, you’d still have time to add additional match schools. </p>

<p>Especially if money is an issue, you also should apply early to a good financial safety such as your state flagship, making it 7 early applications (at least). If your family income disqualifies you for need-based aid, but money is still an issue, then you need to add more colleges with lower price tags or merit scholarships. You have lots of great choices so don’t get too hung up on HYPSM.</p>

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<p>Why? Harvard and MIT both have top programs in those three areas as well.</p>

<p>Princeton has much smaller graduate programs. There can be more focus on the undergraduate school. Many people argue that Princeton is the best undergraduate institution in the country. I personally would go based on feel. At this point that is all you can do. Apply to all of them. Try to eliminate as many as you can once you know which ones you get in. Try to attend the events for people accepted. If you cannot, then try to make a gut choice. Don’t over think this.</p>

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<p>Some people might see that as a bad thing.</p>