<p>Sorry for proliferating the board with yet another A vs. B thread, but it's been one of the issues that's been bugging me lately.</p>
<p>I was accepted to both Stanford and Harvard, and I'm leaning toward Stanford because it's close to where I live and I like the Bay Area (based on my visits to Berkeley and the fact that my girlfriend will probably go to Berkeley). Finance is not an issue, because both FA packets are very generous. </p>
<p>My parents are giving me hell for not considering Harvard more closely, so I leave it up to the CC boards that I've stalked for so long. What should I do?
My intended major is Physics and a couple of questions that I have are:</p>
<p>1) How strong is Physics at Stanford, when compared to Harvard?
2) I come from a lower class, Asian family. Are Stanford and Harvard student populations kind of stuck up like in the stereotypes, or are they very inviting?
3) What are pros and cons of the quarter system as opposed to the semester system? I know that people consider the quarter system a bit faster, but how do you actual students feel about it?
4) Is it difficult to get from Stanford to Berkeley? It sounds like a 1.5 hour train/bus ride; do any of you guys do this?
5) In respect to Harvard, does Stanford have better equipment? I'm aware they have a particle accelerator (yay, physics toys!) but what about their facilities?
6) How's the dorm life? What about activities around campus? I've gotten opinions from other people already, but I want more inclusive details.
7) Where should I go? (I expect lots of Stanford replies).
8) How does the coterminal program work? Is anyone planning on doing it?
9) I'm planning to go up to Stanford during Easter weekend, and hopefully taking a campus tour on Friday and a golf cart tour on Saturday. Is there anything else I should do? Can I drop into a class on Friday and just observe? I don't want to skip school all of April to visit Harvard too, so Stanford's my only school visit.
10) Any other details? Advice?</p>
<p>Like I said, I'm leaning towards Stanford, which is why I'm posting it here. Hopefully you guys can answer my questions and give your own personal insight into it! I'd appreciate if anyone could answer any amount of questions. </p>
<p>Thanks again!
-David</p>