MIT vs Hahvahd? Cambridge Rivals

<p>I am soo stuck between these two schools. I have been in love with MIT since I spent last summer there and I was pretty set on going there next year....until I got my acceptance email from Harvard. A lot of MIT friends are pretty big Harvard bashers too considering the long hacking rivalry, and I figured, by asking you all here in the Harvard forum, I could get an opposing opinion. I plan on going to both school's prefrosh weekends. </p>

<p>I am a likely biomedical engineering major, and probably pre-med. I think that MIT tops Harvard when it comes to engineering, but then again Harvard has the best medical school. I think that Harvard can give me a more well-rounded liberal arts education (I am rly interested in foreign cultures and history) and MIT will be more science/tech/math intensive (grr problem sets).</p>

<p>I am very interested in your thoughts? MIT or Harvard?</p>

<p>------Ashley</p>

<p>i think honestly either is great for what you want to do. but check out the campuses themselves. see how you feel when you are there. maybe talk to some professors and some students of the programs you'd want to study at both schools. you really can't go wrong... but i'd say that's how to go about it.</p>

<p>Personally, I'd say MIT undergrad and Harvard for Medical school. That combo cannot be beat. You were "set" on MIT, so you shouldn't fix that. It seems that you just want to go to Harvard because its Harvard. That's silly. Go to MIT, because it is the school you love.</p>

<p>I have to disagree with Excepted's advice. Making the decision to go to MIT because you assume you can go to Harvard Medical School later would be extremely unwise. I'm not sure what the acceptance rate is currently, but a simple Google search tells me that in 2004 it was less than 3%. The odds are not in your favor.</p>

<p>Having said that, I think you've got the right idea about visiting both schools before making your decision. I don't know about MIT's curriculum, but you'll definitely have ample opportunity to study foreign cultures and history (and more!) at Harvard. There are a lot of really interesting classes to take across a broad range of subjects, so a well-rounded liberal arts education is exactly what you would get.</p>

<p>I chose to go to Harvard after agonizing over the decision to say
'no' to MIT (despite the tube!!). I was always going to go to MIT
but in the end when I started looking at course decisions and
specific specialized research opps. the Harvard decision was
undeniably logical for me.</p>

<p>CPW is a major event at MIT the equivalent at Harvard is not a
major event (yes the parents thread makes it look like fun).
The pace lessens at MIT during this time so you
will see happy upperclassmen. The pace remains the same at
Harvard, you will probably meet relatively more students
rushing to their classes that seem less ready to answer your
questions. They are not being 'arrogant' just cognizant of the
mythical nature of the 'easy A' at Harvard.</p>

<p>Quite simply MITs prefrosh weekend will blow you away and
Harvard's probably will scare you away. Yet the reality once you join
the different schools may be quite different from your early perceptions.</p>

<p>You may have a miniscule advantage at MIT if you are premed because
of the relatively lesser degree of competition from your peer group who are
more into engineering etc.</p>

<p>Specifically, being a BME major at Harvard as a premed may not be a
wise idea. Look up the overall requirements and you will understand why
most premeds at Harvard concentrate in MCB/Neuro/OEB.</p>

<p>Both MIT and Harvard have great research opps. Harvard provides
a whole lot more opps. in organismic biology (OEB) and will in the future
let you explore Stem Cells in depth (SCRB). MIT has a great Course 20
selection. It is easier to get to Charles MGH and Longwood from MIT, but
keep in mind you may never have to leave the Harvard area if you choose to
research in other biology and chemistry areas.</p>

<p>Your freshman year will be very different depending on where you
choose to matriculate. Afterwards it is pretty much the same. At MIT
the GIRs force you to have a relatively challenging schedule in the
first year. At Harvard, you have the option of taking it relatively easier
in the first year. When someone points out about MITs P/F be aware that
the grades may typically get sent on request to certain medical schools.</p>

<p>Interesting coincidence...I was also originally studying biomedical engineering and debated (a little) between Harvard and MIT. My heart was pretty set on Harvard, though... Getting that well-rounded liberal arts education was important to me, and I wanted the diverse people and opportunities as well as academics. Also, I knew that my varied interests and indecisive nature could easily lead me to switch to a non-science concentration. Low and behold, I did switch and am very happy that I went to Harvard. LOL.</p>

<p>But it sounds like you may be more sure of your study plan, and it sounds like you may be leaning toward MIT the way I was leaning toward Harvard all along. ? Definitely visit both as a prospective student and get a feel for undergrad life. Consider how important those interests outside of science/engineering are, and find out more about those departments at both schools. Also keep in mind that you can cross register between the two schools, so at either school, you'll have access to courses at the other school.</p>

<p>synth - can you go into detail on your comparison of the prefrosh weekends? What would/will scare someone away from Harvard at their prefrosh week? I would love to be prepared.</p>

<p>My thoughts on this topic are that if my daughter were truly planning on BME, I would have pushed MIT but I am talking about BME to be an engineer not BME as a path to pre-med.</p>

<p>For a deep study of the biological sciences and not a to be a professions engineer, I would pick Harvard.</p>

<p>I guess it is lucky for my daughter that she was accepted to Harvard and not MIT because I've been loosing the "you'll love engineering" battle.</p>

<p>It does seem like the only reason you're still considering Harvard is the prestige. I mean, you seem to have already identified yourself with the MIT culture, so that should be the end of it.</p>

<p>I am not only considering Harvard for the name. Both schools recieve amazing recognition and are so prestigious, but thats not too important to me. I like them for the amazing opportunites and the challenging academics. I love the people at MIT and the atmosphere of the school, but then again I don't know ton about Crimson students/culture (I've visited informally & walked around the Yard, and I only have two friends that go there). I guess I need to visit to figure that out for myself. I love that Harvard is still in Cambridge too, so I wouldn't be too far from some dear friends over at MIT. Academically, idk. There are great opportunities at both schools, but I think it ultimately comes back to whether I prefer a liberal arts or a technical education. Its a good point that there is cross register between the schools, but I think people mostly use the cross register for foreign langs that aren't available at both schools. I'm not 100% on BME, I could see myself switching to to another science major, but I am pretty set on medical school. Would any pre-meds know if it easier to get into HMS if you go to Harvard college? I appreciate all of your advice, its given me a lot to think about it.</p>

<p>If the fin aid is about the same, go to MIT.</p>

<p>"I think that Harvard can give me a more well-rounded liberal arts education (I am rly interested in foreign cultures and history) and MIT will be more science/tech/math intensive (grr problem sets)."</p>

<p>Well, that's largely right. MIT as an institution is devoted to science, first and foremost. Every single student there must have strong competency in this area, regardless of their other achievements and interests. Does that match your mindset? Do you see science/engineering as just one of many equally important facets in your worldview? Or is it front and center for you?</p>

<p>I think some MIT students might be bored or feel that they are wasting their time if they had to take Harvard's requirements in literature, history, etc.</p>

<p>Smoda, at CPW, students get a ton of free stuff (I collected an astonishing
9 T-shirts); at Harvard its the 'class of yy' pin and a few knick knacks. </p>

<p>At Harvard, the financial aid people and the alumini who greet you are going to be
the kindest and will actually carry on a conversation. The majority of students are
rushing by to get somewhere. From the outside in this may look really rude especially
when the students at MIT go out of there way to chat.</p>

<p>The reality is Harvard students are every bit as friendly but their calendar is not
pre-frosh-friendly and hence the potential for mismatch in perceptions is quite
likely. Harvard students also typically are going to follow Bambi's mothers advice
(WDW fans should know what I mean)- I think it is a maturity thing. Most other
schools including MIT students may indulge in trash-talk. The more polite ones at
MIT may not trash-talk but will tell you about 'their fire-hose' leaving it to your
imagination that students at Harvard are drinking from this weak stream of
intellectual dribble (while the MIT students are valiantly struggling with their
psets). (he, he and no one over at Harvard is going to mention they do the MIT
psets from the Open Courseware for practice before they settle down for something
more satisfying :))</p>

<p>(Also wanted to add that Hanna hits it on the head in terms of the comments on
intellectual balance)</p>

<p>
[quote]
Most other
schools including MIT students may indulge in trash-talk. The more polite ones at
MIT may not trash-talk but will tell you about 'their fire-hose' leaving it to your
imagination that students at Harvard are drinking from this weak stream of
intellectual dribble (while the MIT students are valiantly struggling with their
psets). (he, he and no one over at Harvard is going to mention they do the MIT
psets from the Open Courseware for practice before they settle down for something
more satisfying )

[/quote]

This isn't trash talk?</p>

<p>I don't think MIT's schedule is intentionally CPW-friendly -- it's a weekend. Most people at MIT have fun on the weekends.</p>

<p>I don't know the percentage of Harvard undergrads who are admitted to HMS, but about 10% of MIT applicants to HMS are accepted.</p>

<p>MIT has three day weekends = greatness</p>

<p>
[quote]
Most other
schools including MIT students may indulge in trash-talk. The more polite ones at
MIT may not trash-talk but will tell you about 'their fire-hose' leaving it to your
imagination that students at Harvard are drinking from this weak stream of
intellectual dribble (while the MIT students are valiantly struggling with their
psets). (he, he and no one over at Harvard is going to mention they do the MIT
psets from the Open Courseware for practice before they settle down for something
more satisfying )

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yeah, but to be fair most people from MIT wouldn't find a class like "Physics for the Life Sciences" satisfying... You can't blame MIT for not having classes Harvard noobs would find engaging...</p>

<p><em>ducks</em></p>

<p>ash-ash i too am deciding b/t MIT and Harvard with the same career path for now but i do like the diversity at H and the availability of many ecs but still undecided</p>

<p>I think you should choose Harvard. If you are interested in also getting a well-rounded liberal arts education, it’s the place to go. After all, you can easily cross-register for engineering classes at MIT if you really want to - ask someone about this. The student bodies are very different, and you must visit both campuses yourself before you can understand this clearly. Prestige is not solely superficial - it’s part of the overall perception held by many people (and potential employers) of a particular school.</p>

<p>MIT does have the same liberal education. It has a few more requirements in the sciences, but it is MIT and you knew that, that’s why you applied. There are just as many EC’s at MIT than at Harvard. Again, it seems you guys want to choose Harvard because its Harvard. MIT is AMAZING. The same firms come to recruit at MIT, if not more. MIT students are known to be unbelievably brilliant.</p>

<p>There may be as many different ECs at MIT as there are at Harvard. But if ECs are important to you, Harvard is unbeatable and quite different from MIT. MIT does not offer anything equal to, for example, the Crimson (a daily newspaper vs. MIT’s twice-a-week option), or the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, or the Lampoon, or the Institute of Politics, or the Let’s Go Guides…more than any other single factor, it’s these organizations and their resources that distinguish Harvard.</p>

<p>I will say that there are some Harvard ECs that MIT students can participate in if they want to, like many of the on-campus musicals. There usually aren’t a ton of MIT students auditioning, but they are allowed to if they want to.</p>

<p>okay yes MIT is AMAZING. I know. from 3 day wknds to fun ECs like underwater hockey clubs and making ice cream with liquid nitrogen, its just cool. </p>

<p>but am rly concerned with how hard it is going to be to maintain a high GPA, which is sooo necessary for med school (<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/541176-so-pre-med-mit-pretty-much-impossible.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/541176-so-pre-med-mit-pretty-much-impossible.html&lt;/a&gt; ). And I’ve heard so many compliments of Harvard’s pre-med advising…</p>