So decisions are extremely soon and I have no idea where to go. Stanford has quarters and schools spirit and the chance to learn new things. Harvard has the history the freshmen dining hall, nicer dorms. I feel like I might regret not going to Harvard but I dont know why. Stanford is a lot more inclusive and I might be able to join clubs and learn things despite being a beginner. Harvard is father away so I feel more independent there. Im more humanities oriented. I think I like that Harvard is more urban
I didnt make any friends at Stanfords weekend and didnt like it all that much, is this indicative of what being a student there will be like? Just how bad are thr winters at Harvard? I liked their spring time weather better. I dont love how Stanfors is so spread out.
I think that visiting Harvard first influenced me a lot in that I compare things. And I got really sunbjrned at Stanford.
I enjoy the general idea of Harvard more but the logistics or Stanford more.
The student bodies at both schools are very goal driven, kids very into hot pursuit of their own thing, if anything, Stanford a bit more traditional rah rah re: sports and campus centric culture. Winters will be cold and snowy at Harvard but indoor activities abound in Boston/Cambridge - yeah, much more urban than Pablo Alto. Academics outside STEM will be stellar at both, wouldn’t factor in. Only you can figure out where you’ll be happiest. Reputations are both through the roof great, career aspiriations will be similarly aided with pig skins from one or other.
If you can already see yourself walking through the campus at Stanford thinking, “I could have been at Harvard” that may tell you something.
No time to muck up your decision with little specifics, those should have been resolved already - take the irrelevant factors out and get to the real ones. Yes Palo Alto weather is easier/nicer but you are only at college four years. Snow can be fun when you are young and not shoveling it off a car. At least it doesn’t have to be such a big deal, you are not 80+ years old needing to live in Arizona yet.
I think you have wanted the adventure of Harvard for a long time, but now that it is in reach, you are just a little scared. But some the biggest and best adventures/experiences in life are the ones that scare us a little bit. It’s normal.
But let’s face it, great problem to have, congrats on two wonderful choices! Press submit and don’t look back - you have a lot to look forward to at either school.
@LindsayHarvard you cannot go wrong here. You are one of the very very few people lucky enough to be choosing between the top 2 schools in the country… Unless you were studying engineering (which you are not), fit should be the only consideration. Looks like your heart is set on Harvard so go for it.
@LindsayHarvard Congrats! Very happy for you. I was thinking about you a lot because my D who is attending her top choice never had a second thought…until…wait for it…9:00pm on May 1st! Ha, it was just Fomo, which is completely normal with big decisions. The next day it was like the 10 minute crisis never happened. May 1st is brutal for thousands no matter how sure they are (or not).
Just like buying a first house, when going to bed the night the contract has been signed, ya lay there thinking “should I be doing this???” Big decisions have to have angst or they aren’t big decisions.
Thanks for updating and enjoy a glorious four years at Harvard.