<p>So it's like this. My [Asian] mother is convinced that Harvard is the only good school out there. However, Chicago is my dream. When I try to tell her that Chicago is much better for me, she immediately writes me off, saying I have no idea what I'm talking about and that she knows what's best for me. </p>
<p>What I need you to do (please and thank you) is to detail how Chicago is better than Harvard, basically. Nothing about its "quirkiness" (how I hate that descriptor), or how such and such is so cool. I need something that will appeal to her black and white sensibilties, that I can print out and give to her. Stuff like Nobel prize winners, decorated faculty, titles of hard-sounding classes. I realize I could probably do all this myself, but if it came from An Internet Stranger, I have a feeling it will have more impact. Please please please. I really really really want to go, and her disapproval is the last thing I need.</p>
<p>In terms of Nobel prizes, Harvard has 75, Chicago has 81. But frankly, I doubt those 6 Nobel prizes are going to sway your mom. You need to have a serious conversation with her about how you think Chicago is a better school for you, and how the odds of getting into harvard are miniscule. I think unalove will probably have something better, but anyway that's just my two cents.</p>
<p>The only metric I know of where Chicago beats Harvard (there are a lot where Chicago ranks with Harvard or near Harvard) is the baccalaurate origins of PhD recipients survey deal, where it shows Chicago sending on a higher percentage of students to PhD programs than the big H, though Chicago is not the victor in this rank.</p>
<p>PM interesteddad or vossron to source it and find more information about it.</p>
<p>You know, this issue is relevant only if you apply to and are accepted by both colleges. There are probably a couple hundred students in that position every year, out of the 35,000 or so who apply to one or both colleges.</p>
<p>If it turns out you are in that position, then it won't exactly be a tragedy of epic proportions if your mother "forces" you to go to Harvard (or if, equally likely, you convince yourself to do that, like 99% of the others in that position). Harvard is a fine university, in a great city, that attracts wonderful students. Attending it would not be a Fate Worse Than Death, even if you are naturally the sort of intellectual semi-nerd who might feel more at home at Chicago. There are far more similarities between the two colleges than there are important differences, and even a diehard Chicago partisan could admit that some of the important differences may cut Harvard's way (such as, better average financial aid, a fabulous housing system, the largest permanent capital any non-governmental entity has amassed in the history of the world, a better location within its city, and more attractive school colors).</p>
<p>So, objectively, it's a fight you're not likely to have, and if you have it you're not likely to win. Don't worry about it too much. If you apply to both colleges, and only Chicago accepts you, then (a) you will be in very good company, and (b) your mother will find plenty to love about Chicago.</p>
<p>I have to agree with JHS that there really isn't any sense in fighting about this now since the odds of getting into Harvard are so low for everyone. As lazydog said, you can always sabotage your Harvard application. Chicago isn't that easy to get into either so I hope you are applying to some safer options than just these two schools.</p>
<p>Maybe I shouldn't have so much said how Chicago is better that Harvard, but how... impressive/awesome it is?</p>
<p>I realize that it's an unlikely fight, and I'm being kind of ridiculous, but I need to have something to tell her when she dismisses my claims, you know? This made better sense in my head.</p>
<p>At this point, there are probably fewer than 15 truly world-class comprehensive universities in existence world-wide, places that do everything (or almost everything) extraordinarily well, including all aspects of the humanities, social sciences, math, and hard sciences. They are incredibly precious; it's a privilege to be a student at any of them. The University of Chicago is one.</p>
<p>Realistically, if you get into Harvard I would say go. As much as a like the U of C, there a mobility into practically anything you desire that comes with a Harvard College degree. I have seen bottom of the barrel UG's I TA'd in Cambridge walk into decent jobs and rather reputable (by professional standards) master's programs. Further, the ones who put in the effort (and that is a lot of them) seem to be only limited by their individual array of interests as far as the future goes. Is the placed overhyped? Certainly but that is why it has the magic. Moreover, there is real intellectual substance at the core, far more so than the How Harvard Ruins the World genre of post-graduate and professorial tell alls let on. </p>
<p>But Chicago is not going to be a hard sell if you get rejected from the H bomb. Just roll out the rankings and so forth on the Wikipedia page and that should do it. Also, you can troll facebook and find Asian alumni who recently went on to Johns Hopkins Medicine, Stanford Law, MIT Engineering, etc. and then ask them to send you an email of support.</p>
<p>If one were using professional "output" as the end metric, certainly Harvard would beat Chicago, but personally I don't think that's always the best way to choose a school unless you're solely looking to earn back the money you've invested into a diploma.</p>
<p>Where I think Chicago can trump Harvard-- note the operative word here is can-- is in the kind of undergraduate experience we tend to offer. I can understand a student jumping for Chicago and being lukewarm for Harvard (that was my situation) but I also agree that Harvard would make a great school for the OP, as it would for almost anybody who is admitted.</p>