<p>I'm right now thinking between MIT and Columbia. I wrote my majors down as chemistry or environmental science. However, I'm equally likely to change my major to a social science, either economics or international relations.</p>
<p>MIT gave more financial aid, but a lot if it is work-study or loans. Columbia gave a bit less, but most of it I didn't have to pay back.</p>
<p>Will anyone tell me which school will be a better fit? I'm wondering which school is better for chemistry, environmental science, economics, or international relations. Also, I'm interested in what student life is like in these schools and what the students in these schools are like, in general.</p>
<p>For the sciences MIT will be much better as well as for economics, which it’s in contention for the top spot with UChicago. I’d guess Columbia would be better for IR but can’t be sure.</p>
<p>I think MIT has the edge in economics, chemistry, and envi. sci. Columbia IR is probably better, but I think if you’re definite within these four majors, then MIT is the choice. How much is the difference in grants between these two?</p>
<p>@An0maly: MIT gave me about $2,000 more than Columbia, but it’s pretty much all work-study. For Columbia, they gave grants and also a summer stipend.</p>
<p>What kinds of students go to these two schools? Is there are large variety, and what is the student life like?</p>
<p>Can you visit? How do you feel about being in Manhattan? Most people at Columbia consider it a huge plus…if it wouldn’t be a plus in your book, MIT might make more sense.</p>
<p>For someone who is deciding between Barnard and Tufts, it seems you have a lot of animosity against Columbia. This is not the first post where you seem to have it out for the CU… just sayin…</p>
UUhhm, yeah…MIT is great, but last time I checked, Columbia is great as well. It is not like we are talking Harvard v. Valley Community College…</p>
<p>Get a grip…</p>
<p>Also, can I assume you didn’t visit Columbia while considering Barnard? If you crossed the street, you would’ve seen that Columbia is also a great school and the people are also friendly ;-)</p>
<p>“It is not like we are talking Harvard v. Valley Community College…”</p>
<p>Well…</p>
<p>Chem:
MIT #1 (4.9)
Columbia #11 (4.3)</p>
<p>Econ:
MIT #1 (5.0)
Columbia #10 (4.3)</p>
<p>Environmental Studies isn’t a very well-developed discipline yet, but neither Columbia nor MIT are top schools for it, and “International Relations” is quite ambiguous and inconsistent among different institutions. Columbia has strong a strong PoliSci department and a strong IR program, but MIT is a world-famous university.</p>
<p>I certainly hope that young folks don’t choose a four-year, all-consuming college experience based on whether a particular department (which, after a couple of years in college, may or may not remain of interest) is ranked #1 or #11 in the nation. Choose your college based on what counts, i.e., where do you think you will be happiest and most successful?</p>
<p>P.S. I agree that MIT is world famous (as is Columbia). If, as a 17 year-old, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would want to pursue, for four years, and many years thereafter, math/science/engineering/economics, I would consider MIT. Otherwise, I would choose Columbia.</p>
<p>Camila Xeno Isabel, if anyone here were to regard your nonchalant favor of the idea on the other side of this thread, then you must sound like a hassle to even make such a statement.</p>
<p>From what me Smart Guy can tell, you don’t know anything much about colleges other than chasing after prestige to prestige. Financially and for the sake of my education, I’d pick Columbia over MIT since I can get the same Ivy League education anyways depending on where I go for certain fields.</p>
<p>For ex: As a Liberal Arts major, Columbia would be preferred than MIT. Anything with Math or Sci related, you can’t go wrong with either one, so just shut it.</p>
<p>Sorry if I’m being like an ass, but trusting you in the first place was like blindly running into a wall.</p>