<p>I have been recently admitted to two schools for the pursuit of a Masters degree, Stanford for a degree in Management Science and Engineering as well as Harvard for Computer Science.</p>
<p>I am having a hard time deciding between the two, I have an undergraduate degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering and Economics and want to enter the world of technology entrepeneurship, most likely via venture capital, management consulting or a start up (my own or someone else's).</p>
<p>My question is, of the two degrees which would be serve me towards this goal?</p>
<p>I know the Harvard brand carries more weight than Stanford, but the courses at Stanford seem more relevent (although somewhat 'fluffy'), while Harvard curriculum seems somewhat intense, more focused on the technical aspects. Of the two, which would provide me with a better career in the fields mentioned above?</p>
<p>I'm not entirely sure, but I think MS&E is geared towards people like you. Stanford also places you almost smack in the middle of Silicon Valley where there are lots of opportunities to do things like that.</p>
<p>I wouldn't have thought this would even need asking. I would think between these two for what you want it is Stanford hands down, andn Sly Si said why.</p>
<p>But just to be fair, what about the Harvard brand and the department aim of cultivating leaders in technology. Isn't that what Harvard is all about? I know MIT is all about cutting edge developments, but I thought Harvard was supposed to teach you how to lead...do you think this should play a role in my decision whatsoever? I am worried about Stanford's fluffy -although extremely succesful - reputation. It is known to churn out solid fluff, although I am very interested in the fluff. I am so confused!!!! What should I do? Should I be a prestige whore and sell my self or what!?</p>
<p>stanford brand > harvard brand in terms of prestige when it comes to technology. Ask ANY sane person on this forum and the rest of the world. They agree. Of course, if you are interested in business / management aspect, you may want to take another look at Harvard. But did you get into hbs?</p>
<p>yes, graduate school is different from undergrad. Stanford is very well known for technology and you'll be living right smack dab in Silicon Valley. I know the feeling cause I had to choose between the two of them (for undergrad). I don't want to be a hypocrite but in your case, I'd choose Stanford. The prospect of internships and jobs after college is greater at Stanford than Harvard.</p>
<p>Sorry, I know, you're going to pass up the chance of getting to tell everyone you're going to Harvard. But think about what's best for your career</p>
<p>My concern over 'fluff', and by 'fluff' I mean the fact that there are no hard skills learned (it seems managerial skills, negotion skills, marketing...etc don't get much of a good rep) but the courses seem more relevent to me since this is what I want to pursue. Just seeing how China and India are begining to dominate the IT sector, I'm trying to understand if taking a risk with a degree in management vs. something more substantial in tech would be a good idea.</p>
<p>But all the fingers point at Stanford. Good call on catching my ego driven desire to say I went to Harvard, because although I'd hate to admit it, its quite true. Stanford has a rep for being laid back and not very academic, but maybe thats a good thing when it comes to actual day to day living...Thoughts?</p>
<p>"Stanford has a rep for being laid back and not very academic", but it isn't really that true. Sure I'd say they are more laid back than Harvard, but not very academic? You have to be kidding me. Furthermore, "laid back" is relative. There are still kids who stress about their grades and are extremely ambitious, which is to be expected considering Stanford's standards for admission. Now, I really have no premise to discuss which graduate program would be better for you (as I'm going to be a college freshman in the fall) but I would say that you certainly shouldn't choose on brand name when both schools are equally prestigious.</p>
<p>Harvard is, in general, not more prestigious than Stanford. For grad school, the prestige of the department matters a lot more, and for computer science, Stanford's got a leg up on Harvard if anything. As Cervantes said, when the choice is Harvard vs. Stanford, don't choose on brand name.</p>
<p>By the way, Stanford's laid-back reputation is more of an undergrad thing.</p>
<p>If it were Harvard UNDERGRAD in whatever, including computer science, I'd probably be tempted to pick Harvard. Master in computer science at Harvard? Well, maybe you can hope they don't know better but for those in the know, it's not really that impressive. I don't consider Harvard's master degree anywhere close to its undergrad or its biz/law/MBA programs. Stanford's gradaute engineering degree carries more weight.</p>
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technology entrepeneurship, most likely via venture capital, management consulting or a start up (my own or someone else's).
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<p>In the past 2 decades, Stanford grads are the ones that are known for them, not Harvard grads (except maybe Harvard MBAs).</p>
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It does not polish you too much by saying that you went to Harvard for computer science.
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<p>College, yes. Master degree? No. It's better than Harvard extension but still. :rolleyes:</p>
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It does not polish you too much by saying that you went to Harvard for computer science.
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If it were Harvard UNDERGRAD in whatever, including computer science, I'd probably be tempted to pick Harvard. Master in computer science at Harvard? Well, maybe you can hope they don't know better but for those in the know, it's not really that impressive
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<p>Um, Harvard has the #16 ranked computer science program according to USNews. I think that's quite impressive considering the fact that there are literally hundreds of computer science programs out there.</p>
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And Stanford has the #2 ranked computer science program according to USNews. Just pointing that out even though its not relative to the OP =]
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<p>Exactly, it's not relevant to the OP, because he didn't get into the Stanford CS program. </p>
<p>Furthermore, according to the OP, it doesn't seem like he's very interested in getting a pure CS-type job anyway, and certainly not an academic/research CS role. Hence, his attending "only" the #16 ranked CS program (which is actually a highly impressive ranking) would hardly hurt him. </p>
<p>Look, let's be honest. VC firms, consulting firms, or startups don't really care about the specific ranking of your specific program. For example, Harvard has "only" the #17 ranked graduate program in French, and CUNY is actually ranked higher. But does anybody really believe that VC or consulting firms are really going to hire somebody with a French degree from CUNY vs. one from Harvard?</p>
<p>Exactly Sakky. The only pure CS program I applied to was Harvard, because ultimately that is not what I wanted to do. I applied to Harvard to get the brand, the connections and whatever else to help me get into the aforementioned fields of startups, VC's or management Consulting. The CS degree was just a general degree I thought could work, wheras stanford's is directly more relevent to my interests, it just seems less selective...Harvard acceptance rate 13 % vs. Stanford 27% (even though this years number is lower)...</p>
<p>Obviously you know your answer, and you will reget if you don't go to Harvard. With 34% of Harvard UG can not find a job this year, good luck when you get your MS in computer science.</p>
<p>Actually, I think I'm leaning towards Stanford at this point, I just think challenge generally leads to more success but I guess that isn't always necessarily true...</p>
<p>ewho, how are you so sure the OP will regret it if he doesn't go to Harvard? I don't think the decision's as obvious as you think it is--and if it's obvious, I think if anything it's obvious in the other direction!</p>