<p>Hello all,
I have a bit of a dilemma. I have fairly severe seasonal affective disorder, and in that sense I would be happier at Stanford than MIT, but I feel a much stronger cultural connection to MIT. When I visited both this past summer, MIT was the clear winner, and this was confirmed by the Pugh Matrix I used to rank the schools I was considering, but in light of this terrible winter I find myself questioning the data. In general, I would never trust my own intuition over that of a carefully designed program, but I fear I may not have weighted climate strongly enough in my calculations. As we enter spring here in the Mid-Atlantic after one of the coldest winters on record, and my mood drastically improves, I find it increasingly difficult to choose MIT over Stanford.
I would really appreciate any advice, or simply reminders of why I fell in love with MIT in the first place. I'm posting this on the MIT board rather than the Stanford board because ultimately I know what I have to choose, I just want to be able to make that decision wholeheartedly.
Thank you so much in advance,
362e3238</p>
<p>There are treatments for SAD that are highly effective, including lightboxes. </p>
<p>I would not let SAD be a factor in where you go, especially if you found the fit to be better in the colder clime.</p>
<p>This really depends on how severe your SAD is and how well various treatments work for you.</p>
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<p>Sounds like you’re trusting your intuition one way or another, no? </p>
<p>First of all…did you get into both schools? The odds are you got into MIT EA and still waiting on Stanford’s regular decision results (they don’t come out until March 28 most likely) since you are posting on MIT thread…or I may have reversed it…and you are awaiting MIT results…</p>
<p>…this question is all MOOT before you have the “golden tickets” in HAND…because the odds of applicants getting into Stanford or MIT during the regular round is outrageously LOW. </p>
<p>…there will be dozens upon dozens of students posting similar threads (X vs Y) once ALL the decisions are in after the March carnage…why don’t you wait until then…</p>
<p>…and then you can post this same question in a more objective fashion under “College Search and Selection” to get less-partisan individuals to post responses…because if you post this question here on MIT forum you will get certain biased answers and you will get completely different biased answers on the Stanford forum…it’s human nature…</p>
<p>…because NO ONE can have spent 4 full years on both campuses as a “college” student to give you true pros and cons of both institutions…just not possible. And graduate school/professional school experiences at either institution is NOT the same experience…no matter what people try to say.</p>
<p>…regardless…the ultimate decision will be made by YOU.</p>
<p>…hope this helps.</p>
<p>Good point MITChris. That makes it even scarier!
gravitas2: Thank you for your comment. I got into MIT EA, and I received a Stanford likely letter.</p>
<p>@362e3238. Congratulations! You, indeed, have a wonderful dilemma at hand.</p>
<p>hey bro. I’m from the outsider point of view neither supporting Stanford or MIT. But I got to say this. This is my story. Harvard was actually my top choice. I got deferred early and still waiting. I also applied to MIT. A month ago, if I got accepted to both. I would choose Harvard over MIT. [Click</a> on this link to read the best blog, written by Chris Peterson, I’ve ever seen from anyone adcom officer](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/939227-reminder-no-one-not-even-me-can-give-you-an-accurate-chance-at-mit-p1.html]Click”>Reminder: No one, not even me, can give you an accurate chance at MIT! - Massachusetts Institute of Technology - College Confidential Forums) After reading the post, I started to question the meaning of going to college. I can’t speak for the rest of the world, but most people I know from my high school applied to the “Ivies” or other elite colleges like MIT, Caltech, Stanford more common than not because it’s prestigious and “top ranking” by USnews. MITChris once called USnews a scam and sham, which I totally agreed after reading the post. Of course, I was no exception. I applied to MIT because I feel like that’s where I belong (I’m not going to get too lengthy on why I love MIT. MIT was the first college I thought about applying since I immigrated to the US) but I would rather choose Harvard over MIT simply because Harvard ranked higher and #1 ranking… I was stupid or a prestige seeker, frankly speaking. More and more students apply to colleges based on ranking than good match or good fit. MITChris is the only one I know that denounces the ranking and clearly proclaim MIT doesn’t need to rank any higher and would be careless if MIT ranks very low. This astounds me so greatly that I’m thinking perhaps MIT is where I’m truly belong. </p>
<p>From what I know, other top universities including the Ivies have various strategies to try to very competitive for top ranking. MIT’s mentality of doesn’t care about the superficial ranking applies to real life perfectly well. If you’re a great university, why do you need to have some ranking organization tell you that with their terrible methods to rank. The success of the university’s alumni will prove it. Likewise, if you’re a great man, you don’t need anything to say that you’re are. Your great actions are sufficient to prove it. Actions prove much better than words. Albert Einstein was so great not because some news claimed he was a genius. He proved it with his works, theories. MIT really tries to take in the best fit for their school without even thinking about strategies to get their rank higher. I would rather be in a community of best fit-variety-great people than in a community of all smartest-boring geniuses. [One of my favorite paragraphs about MIT.](Last but not least, remember that no one profile - no matter how impressive - represents "the perfect match.) These are the reasons that dig up my deep passion for MIT years ago. Hopefully, I help you stir up your dormant passion for MIT :D. </p>
<p>Sorry, this is sort of very long. I’m so jealous of you bro. I probably don’t even get in to neither MIT nor Harvard, haaaa, but as far as I concern I’ll be happy in the end, thanks to MITChris who enlightened me from the abyss. I used to think that it’s the end of the world if I don’t get accepted to any “top” college. I already get accepted to a college (not even close to be a top college) that I also like, so things work out just fine. If MIT chose you, it certainly means something… Perhaps you and MIT are the perfect fit? And it doesn’t matter where you go. You will be great I bet. The question here is where do you belong? Congratulation and good luck on making the best choice for you, of course. Bottom line: the choice is yours. </p>
<p>Comment deleted.</p>
<p>@lifemeaninseeker That’s a really good point. Thank you. Your second link doesn’t work, however.</p>
<p>Well, seeing as your matrix is just a visual representation of your perceptions and opinions, you are trusting your intuition.</p>
<p>Ultimately, only you can help yourself in this situation. </p>
<p>You were accepted into two of the selective/prestigious universities in the country and now your decision is being based on weather?</p>
<p>Some guys get all the luck… </p>
<p>Anyway, if your SAD would interfere with your day-to-day life and ability to do school work then definitely go for Stanford. </p>
<p>@immasenior That’s true. MITChris made the same point above. </p>
<p>@JerseySeed It’s certainly not based solely on the weather, but I do have to factor that in. Thank you for your input.</p>
<p>Side note: I find it really interesting that multiple people have used terminology implying that I’m male. That’s not a criticism, just an observation.</p>
<p>362e3238, you must remember that MIT is in a well-lit metropolis with many indoor venues. It’s not like you’re stuck in the wilderness in a cabin with just a woodstove and a pair of boots. When it gets dark in Cambridge, you ride the well-lit T train to Central Square or Harvard Square and eat with friends and fiends in a well-lit restaurant; study in well-lit buildings, and so forth.</p>
<p><a href=“What we look for | MIT Admissions”>http://mitadmissions.org/apply/process/match</a> that is the second link I posted. You probably read it already but well, it is a good reminder of the match between you and MIT! </p>
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<p>god that would be the best </p>
<p>for me, i mean. not for OP. </p>