The big question: Wharton or Harvard?

<p>Hi I'm a rising senior... My sister goes to Wharton ...but now she's thinking of transferring out. My aunt actually went to Harvard, and she's telling me Wharton is the best (she works on the street). I want to know pros vs cons on job offers, prestige, grad school, quality of education, reputation... Everything.</p>

<p>Ik Wharton has business and Harvard has econ. I'm leaning business but heck I'm 17! Idk what I want to do! My school doesn't even offer business or econ classes. Ik I'm interested in one of the two.</p>

<p>I have similar stats to my sister, so I do actually have a chance of getting in. But now it's time to decide if I'm going to ED Wharton or SCEA Harvard. I've visited both... They're both great... I'm just so ambivalent I'm leaving it up to my CC buds! Thanks!!</p>

<p>Your Wharton undergraduate degree will be a BS in Economics, it’s not a BBA.</p>

<p>Wharton and Harvard are really both neck and neck with prestige. Just that the general public is less aware of Wharton then Harvard. For finance, and Wall Street, I’d say that Wharton does edge out over Harvard. For everything else though, it’s a toss-up, and really depends on the student. </p>

<p>Don’t leave the decision to random people on an internet forum, decide for yourself. Both schools are great in everything you asked about (job offers, prestige, grad school quality of education, reputation). Worry about other stuff, like the campus, clubs you might like, etc.</p>

<p>I’m facing the same issue myself. When i visited both schools this summer, I thought Harvard was a better fit for me. So my question to you is: where can you picture yourself being happiest at? Then apply early to that school.</p>

<p>Thanks half water… Yeah it’s such a toss up!</p>

<p>Rokr could u explain why H was a better fit for you?</p>

<p>If you’re absolutely 100% sure you want to do something business-related, choose Wharton. If there’s any sliver of doubt in your mind that you might NOT do business, choose Harvard. Just my .02. </p>

<p>Also, you need to calm down with the posts man. If you create all these unnecessary hypotheticals in your head, you’re just going to be all the more disappointed if you don’t get in. You may have the stats to be competitive, but these days it really is kind of a crapshoot.</p>

<p>If you apply SCEA Harvard, you can still apply RD to Penn. You could potentially apply to both even if accepted early. Not so if you apply ED to Penn and get accepted. Really know if you want Penn before applying ED. If you are ambivalent, Harvard is your choice.</p>

<p>Given that you’re not 100% sure what you want (and haven’t had enough experience to determine whats appropriate) I would go to Harvard. Harvard gives you much more flexibility without sacrificing much if at all in terms of wall street opportunities. It’s undoubtedly higher prestige (equal on the street/higher elsewhere) and opens up a lot of doors. The tricky part is getting in. Good luck!</p>

<p>brownie123: I can’t really explain it, other than the fact that I could see myself happy when I was walking around Cambridge, and I didn’t really get that feeling in Philly. Plus, I liked the atmosphere in Harvard better. It’s something you gotta visit and check out yourself. And i’m happy I visited Wharton because I was going to ED there…</p>

<p>I also agree with everything breaker746 said. Right now, I want to do IB/go into buyside (PE/HF) but what if in 2 years I decide I want to go to medicine (my #2). Sure, you have Penn CAS, but a Harvard degree gives you so many more opportunities. </p>

<p>The other tricky thing for me is that i’m a legacy at Wharton, and when i talked to the admissions officer during my visit, she told me that the legacy is a big boost when doing ED, but not that much in RD. </p>

<p>It’s a chance i’m willing to take (and if i were to do this “statistically” this is the wrong choice since my chances are better at Wharton by far) but i didn’t love the school enough to do ED. And if i get rejected by Harvard SCEA and Wharton RD, so be it.</p>

<p>Seems like you’ve decided, but I will chime in anyway. </p>

<p>Harvard is Harvard. You cannot possibly go wrong with Harvard even if you tried. Wharton, on the other hand, if business is not your interest then there’s a big issue. If you have any hesitation at all (which it seems pretty clear that you do) then go Harvard. I like the idea of Harvard SCEA so that you can apply to Wharton RD and then decide.</p>

<p>Also, not sure if this has any weight on your decision, but I’ve HEARD (not witnessed/experienced) that Wharton is pretty brutal whereas Harvard is quite easy once you’re actually there; therefore, it is likely that you would get a higher GPA at Harvard, and since Harvard and Wharton are basically neck-and-neck, a high GPA is what it really comes down to in recruitments. </p>

<p>Lastly, consider the reasons your sister has for transferring. Is it because she realized business isn’t for her, or perhaps it was too competitive? Those are mistakes it’d probably be best not to make since having to transfer isn’t exactly ideal. Good luck!</p>

<p>Harvard for sure - Funny but Wharton has a tarnished rep when applying for jobs lately due to the mistrust for Wharton people Wall Street post crash- face it the publicity continues to go after so many alums who made fortunes according to the press at the expense of others. Take Harvard!!</p>

<p>

And you say this based on what actual data or facts? This is utter nonsense. :rolleyes:</p>

<p>^^Lol I’m more than willing to bet there were at least as many Harvard alums also implicated in that mess.</p>

<p>Good luck with your apps. I would say Wharton especially because Penn as a whole is a fantastic place to go undergrad. Penn has a very social student body, and you will be able to truly enjoy your undergrad experience.</p>

<p>That said, just because you are a legacy at both doesn’t necessarily mean you will be admitted. You appear to already be assuming that you will be accepted. Apply and hope for the best, and decide between the two if you are fortunate enough to have a choice. Otherwise, don’t get ahead of yourself.</p>

<p>Hi guys I am just curious about my chances at either of the schools… I am a rising senior at a very good private school in California. Here are my stats</p>

<p>GPA (my school does not weight): 4.00
Class Rank (does not rank, but Cum Laude Given to top 10 GPA’S) top 10/150
SAT: 2350 (800 M,750 R, 800 W)
SAT II’S: 800 Math II, 780 Chemistry, 770 Spanish Reading</p>

<p>Course Rigor (Maximum of 0 ap 9th, 1 ap 10th, 3 ap 11th, 3 ap 12th)
Senior core Courses (History, English, Vector Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Biology)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (10)
Varsity Volleyball 3x, conference champs
Varsity Soccer 3x
Varsity Baseball 3x, Captain, All-Conference
Math Club (President)
Dodgeball Club (Founder and president)
Business Club (Treasurer, manage some of the school’s $$$)
Service Organization (member, around 100 community service hrs)
Duke Talent Identification Program (2x)
Video Production: 3x, many videos accepted into state film festival
Internship: at an investment management company, one summer</p>

<p>awards(5)
All conference, conference champs (vball, baseball)
cum laude
national merit finalist
videos into film festivals
2nd in school math competition</p>

<p>recs will be very good, essay looking to be pretty good too… What do you guys think?</p>