I know that H is Harvard, Y is Yale, S is Stanford, P is Princeton but what are MC?
<p>MIT
CalTech or Columbia</p>
<p>The C is for Cal Tech -- However, it's highly debatable whether or not Cal Tech can be grouped with the indisputable Top 5 of Harvard, Yale, MIT, Stanford and Princeton.</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>I've never heard of HYSMPC. It was always HYP, HYPM (for east coasters), or HYPMS.</p>
<p>Oh I didn't know that's what M and C stood for. Thanks. </p>
<p>Why is M and P considered better than Stanford? Before coming to this board I never heard of MIT before. Harvard, Stanford, and Yale have always been considered the best with princeton and the rest behind.</p>
<p>Yeah I'm from New Jersey and I always thought Stanford was considered more popular than Princeton. Stanford is Stanford. It has a powerful ring to it I guess. It's probably the second most prestigious school after Harvard.</p>
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Before coming to this board I never heard of MIT before.
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<p>You've never heard of MIT before? You've never seen the movie Good Will Hunting?</p>
<p>It's interesting how so many people don't know too much about colleges. Too many students and parents are obsessed with the top schools that many other fine institutions are overlooked. I was shocked when I actually heard the terms "safety Ivy" and "lower Ivy". It amazes me (not in a good way) when I see people crying that they only got into Brown when they wanted to go to Yale. It's good to set high standards and lofty goals, but many people's college expectations are blown way out of proportion.</p>
<p>Anyway, to answer the OP, those abbreviations are used to designate the very top tier of schools. HYP and HYPS are commonly used and compared to each other. MIT and Caltech are often added to the acronym because they're just as selective and prestigious, but it's difficult to compare them to HYPS because the tech schools have a self-selected applicant pool (especially Caltech).</p>
<p>Personally I think the C should be Columbia. And yes, I know you don't care what I personally think.</p>
<p>Princeton has a longer and more respected history behind it.</p>
<p>STANFORD ISNT EVEN AN IVY, IT MUST SUCK LOL ...jk</p>
<p>I also think that the C should be for Columbia, especially after admissions season this year.</p>
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Princeton has a longer and more respected history behind it.
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<p>Huh? Princeton has a longer and more respected history than who? If I remember correctly Princeton was the fourth college, coming after both Harvard and Yale.</p>
<p>oops, misread your post, sorry hamster.</p>
<p>What's wrong with Hamster's math? College of William and Mary is #2, Harvard #1, Yale is #3 in terms of the date of the college's founding...</p>
<p>Harvard's main competitor is Stanford in terms of the overlap of the applicant pool. Although Harvard does win the majority of cross-admits (as it does with every other school including Yale and the other ivies), Stanford is the new kid on the block. It's only a matter of time until Stanford takes the top spot. </p>
<p>The economy, culture, and technology has already shifted westward. Given California's state-funded stem cell research, it looks like the west is going to maintain its prestigious spot. Stanford can only benefit from this.</p>
<p>To add to what collegeperson12 said above, Stanford's new SEQII (second Science & Engineering Quad) will place it as the top university in America, if not the world, when it's completed in the next eight or so years. While Harvard shares such ambitions to keep its current status as the No. 1 university in America, because of obstacles and delays in building its new campus in Allston (across the Charles from Cambridge), it will be surpassed by the kid from the West. Local opposition and changes in direction will keep the new Harvard campus (and realignment) from happening for the next 30 or more years. All of Harvard's influence, prestige and money can't make it move any faster. In the meantime, Stanford will continue to rise -- and rise and rise -- to the very top of the pantheon. As Napolean (I think) said, youth will always betray the old.</p>
<p>"Princeton has a longer and more respected history behind it.</p>
<p>STANFORD ISNT EVEN AN IVY, IT MUST SUCK LOL ...jk"</p>
<p>Ivy has nothing to do with standing it simply includes schools in the northeast. It is a conference. Stanford is just as competitive.</p>