D18 is thrilled to have narrowed down her choices to Harvard or Stanford. She is VERY committed to a pre-med track. Probable major will involve science/math, unsure of exact major yet. Unfortunately, she has not visited either school, and now of course cannot do so prior to making a choice on May 1. Financial situation is the same for either. Working in a collaborative environment is important to her, as is having professors who are approachable/available. (She is worried about this aspect at Harvard.) Location/weather is unimportant. Any thoughts on the quality of pre-med advising at each school, or any other points that might help with the decision? Especially interested in responses from folks who have first-person experience as a student or parent at either school. Thanks in advance for any advice, we truly appreciate it.
How does the cost compare with her other options? Medical school (if she gets in) is very expensive, so a lower cost undergraduate school could allow her to finish medical school with less debt to start a medical career. Of course, that can be irrelevant if you are willing to fully fund medical school as well as undergraduate.
She’s already considered all other options and the resulting financial situations, and these two are her top choices for undergrad.
If they’re affordable for you, it really comes down to preference than over anything else. I’ll say this…if you have to co-sign private loans to pay tuition, it’s not affordable, and that’s always the concern with private universities. Harvard and Stanford have been known to be generous with financial aid, so I could be wrong.
Two great options! I don’t have first hand experience, but can relate some second hand info.
A couple of members of my family have attended Harvard undergrad and their reports were that it was easier than high school. Others attended grad schools at Harvard and experienced medical difficulties during their time there. Harvard was especially understanding and let both people take the time they needed to get things in order. Both people took some time off and graduated with their Harvard degrees.
When we toured Stanford on the other hand, we were told that the “duck syndrome” was real. Students are smiling and serene on the surface, while furiously trying to get ahead underneath.
Both are generally regarded as relatively easy grade schools. If she picks math for a major, Harvard will have stronger students in the major than Stanford, but that might not matter to her if her goal is medical school rather than competing to shine for a graduate program in, say, research math.
On balance I think I would go with Harvard - I like the feel of the place more than Stanford and prefer the semester system to the quarter system. If she does not have a strong preference for weather, then that negates one of the great benefits of being on the Peninsula in the SF Bay Area. Obviously, she can’t go wrong with either and congrats to her for having such great options!
@bouders @OneMoreToGo2021 Thanks so much for the helpful comments!! Yes, her goal is definitely pre-med, I would be very surprised if that changes over the next 4 years. Would be very appreciative of any comments re: the quality of the pre-med advising and research/shadowing opportunities at either school. Thank you!