<p>Would you ever choose Chicago over Harvard, facetious t-shirts aside? And why? Does Chicago have significantly stronger departments in anything (besides Korean, which is really a sub-department, but one in which I have a keen interest, and maybe economics)? I'm sure there are those who did it for financial reasons, but I got precisely $0 of aid from Chicago, so it ends up being a couple grand more expensive for me.</p>
<p>I confirmed chicago before hearing back from harvard because I believe the undergraduate experience is much better at Chicago. I have several friends at Harvard undergrad, and they are really struggling to find help from professors and other students because there’s so much competition and relatively little one on one attention. Chicago can be the same way, but I feel like everything is a bit less competitive for the sake of being competitive, and there’s more of a sense of open learning for everyone. I like the coffee shop culture as well. I think Chicago is just a better fit for me, and Harvard could just be a better fit for someone else.</p>
<p>I like Chicago better because of the quarter system, the house system, and the greater ability to double- (or even triple-) major. From my perspective as a math/econ guy, the academics have negligible differences with respect to quality (other than that Harvard has a really awesome Putnam team while Chicago does not; then again, I’d never come close to making Harvard’s Putnam team because Harvard attracts the IMO kids). I wish Chicago had Division I athletics like Harvard, but I’ll live with it.</p>
<p>I have to make this choice too. I have no idea what to do. </p>
<p>The major source of my indecision comes from the reputation of faculty being largely unavailable at Harvard. Is Chicago SIGNIFICANTLy better in this respect?</p>
<p>S1 has had terrific access to professors. It is one of the things he enjoys most about the University. It may also be helpful to read this post from another parent: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/896268-food-thought-admitted-students-perspective-parent.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/896268-food-thought-admitted-students-perspective-parent.html</a></p>
<p>When I went to visit Chicago, my host showed me a draft of one of his sosc papers that he sent to his professor to look over for suggestions. The professor returned over a full single-spaced page of commentary (on a five page double-spaced paper). From what I’ve heard, this is not at all uncommon.</p>
<p>I have had AMAZING access to professors here, especially in the East Asian division. The students and professors here are so tight that I have never felt any pressure at just e-mailing a professor in whose field of study I’m interested and asking to speak with them in person sometime. I’ve done this many times and met my thesis advisor in this fashion. I e-mailed him out-of-the-blue telling him that I had read some material on Meiji literature and that I was interested in doing research on it, despite the fact that I was then a math major. The first time we met, we spent 2 hours discussing the topic, my background, etc., and at the end, he told me he would be very happy to guide my research. Many of my friends have had similar experiences. The great part about Chicago is that undergrads, graduates, and professors are all very tight. Since graduate admissions is largely determined by professor recommendations, Chicago students often get into the graduate school of their choice.</p>
<p>Especially with regard to the OP’s interest in Korean, though… is it just the language or would you like to do research as well? Because I have been told that at Harvard, there are hardly any great researchers on Japan, despite the fact that Harvard has an excellent East Asian library. I don’t know if this is something that applies to Korea as well, but it might be something to look into.</p>
<p>Based on some of these posts, I am surprised if anybody would want to go to Harvard.</p>
<p>I went to Harvard a long time ago, but hang around here because my son got into Chicago and is seriously considering it. (Harvard is not in the cards for him. My older son turned down Harvard for Carnegie Mellon.) Harvard is not a place that will hold your hand, but it is possible to get to know your professors. When I was there, profs were in their offices for office hours wishing students would show up. It helps if you go into one of the smaller boutique majors instead of something gigantic like economics or biology. All the profs in my department that I took a course with knew me by name, and I worked with two of them closely when I wrote my senior thesis.</p>
<p>I’m actually really interested in Harvard for grad school (like PhD). I would turn down harvard undergrad simply because I want to go to their grad program.</p>
<p>I feel like there are so many resources there that I wouldn’t get to use as an undergrad that I could use as a grad student (as in research equipment and cooperation between the many boston area schools… plus Mass Gen Hospital). </p>
<p>I just feel like the undergrad experience is better at Chicago, and I think that if I do it right at Chicago, then I can get to Harvard (or MIT) grad school without too much hassle. I feel like I could more easily talk to my professors (like, go grab a coffee because there are so many coffee shops on campus). It feels like the profs are much more approachable at Chicago than harvard. That’s just the feeling I get from the people I’ve talked with.</p>
<p>If you’re thinking about grad school at Harvard, or you aren’t a tech person (like, you wouldn’t go to MIT for grad school), then I would consider going to another university so that you can have Harvard open for grad school. It’s not that harvard undergrad is especially bad. It’s more like their grad program is especially good, so the focus is shifted towards grads (and away from undergrads). Why not go to the best, as in, the best program harvard has to offer, which would be the grad program?</p>
<p>Anyway, that’s my reasoning.</p>
<p>I think that post assumes that you can’t go to Harvard for both undergrad and grad, which I don’t THINK is true? Maybe, though… Just not sure.</p>
<p>I read it more that one wouldn’t want to go to the same institution for both undergrad and graduate school. Which I completely agree with. It’s good to get exposed to a new set of professors and ideas in grad school, I think.</p>
<p>I think, however, that it’s a fallacy that Harvard is better for grad students. House system etc. is all set up to make undergrads feel at home.</p>
<p>It is very difficult to compare Harvard to Chicago because so many things are different. One is the oldest in the US, with buildings in daily use that were built a century before the other was even founded. It sits in a fascinating multicultural environment known for its beauty and convenient access to the largest college town in the world.</p>
<p>The other is a johnny come lately, just over 100 years old, in a somewhat suburban area of one of the most vibrant cities in the country, close to a lake that looks more like an ocean to many people. </p>
<p>One has financial resources beyond the imagination of most universities. The puzzle is how they spend the riches. The other is well endowed, but known to practice a bit of midwestern frugality.</p>
<p>One has the most famous faculty in the world, who unfortunately often disdain teaching mere undergraduates. To compensate, it has excellent graduate student teachers. The other seems to have a faculty that actually likes to teach undergrads, even many of the famous ones. </p>
<p>A degree from one will have instant name recognition worldwide. The other will have name recognition in academic circles and the better educated. </p>
<p>I could go on but won’t. Only you can decide what matters.</p>
<p>One thing that sets them apart is that Chicago announced it is hiring 100 new faculty and moving ahead with construction plans. Harvard, because of a mismanaged endowment has had to cut back on hiring and building projects, and worse still, eliminate cookies at the faculty meetings.</p>
<p>^^^^ That was definitely a consideration in my decision. Chicago has more growth potential, so I think it’s a better investment. It looks like the school is on the up and up, especially as they have that whole econ department to manage their wealth. Of the profs I’ve talked with, their opinions of Chicago have been “they’re rich as sin and know what to do with it” and “I don’t know a single person in my department that wouldn’t speak of chicago in hushed tones.” It seems like the get a lot of respect in academia, and they earn it.</p>
<p>As far as grad school goes, it looks really odd to go to the same grad and undergrad if you’re going into academia (professional schools aside). It’s not that you can’t do it. It’s just not a normal thing to do. And really, who wants to stay in the same place for both grad and undergrad?</p>
<p>It’s not that it’s specifically better for grads… it’s more that the grad program is so ridiculously good that it outshines the undergrad program. Another point, it’s the undergrad program that brings in the money, but it’s the grad program that brings in the prestige and research impact that dominates the rankings.</p>
<p>Thanks for the things to consider, especially specifics. I am interested in studying Korean history as well as just Korean. I do want to go to grad school, I think, and am interested in general Asian and European history, but don’t want to tackle a third language in depth undergrad. (eg, Chinese.) I will probably do a “boutique” major, although I might end up in general history. I am also not really worried about professorial access because I am not going to be in a HUGE major and I am totally comfortable with teachers/professors expecting me to come to them, not them to me. I am a “please throw me into the deep end if the other option is being stifled” sort of person. You guys are so helpful!</p>
<p>Lirazel - which university has the stronger graduate program in your area of interest? Perhaps go there for the graduate degree and the other for undergraduate?</p>