<p>Cant say that I'm surprised by what this article says... Stanford has come a long, long way in the last 30+ years.
It''s now the "dream" school for many students, especially those interested in Engineering and Computer science. </p>
<p>As they used to say in the 19th century-
"Go West young Man, Go West!</p>
<p>I wonder how much of this is that the younger people are less interested (more cynical?) about going into Investment Banking or Consulting - two areas that Harvard has done very well with employees.</p>
<p>With students around here, Harvard has a rep of being not very personal or friendly. My perception is that cross-admits between Harvard-Yale from around here often choose Yale, and cross-admits between Harvard-Princeton often choose Princeton.</p>
<p>I have one word for the phenomenon - Google.</p>
<p>The comments section of the New York Times story is full of insight, interesting arguments and sour grapes.</p>
<p>There are surely many explanations. One is the impact of athletic success. In each of the past four years, Stanford football has finished in the top 10 in both the coaches’ and AP polls, with the exception of finishing 11th in the AP this year. Research has shown that being ranked in the top 10 in the final AP poll is associated with an average increase of 6% - 8% in the number of students who send their SAT scores the following year.<br>
<a href=“http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/devin.pope/research/pdf/Website_Sports”>http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/devin.pope/research/pdf/Website_Sports</a> Econ Attention.pdf</p>
<p>Yeah but Stanford has been good at sports for years. Basketball team ranked number one in the 1990s. And the football team had stars like Jim Plunkett, Gene Washington, etc. Even since 2000 Stanford has been very competitive on the field and in the arena. Having Chelsea Clinton and Tiger Woods enrolled certainly brought notariety.</p>
<p>I thought it was interesting to see how the lighting and general “mood” changed in “The Social Network” when the action moved from Harvard to Palo Alto. From “life in the shadows” to “life in the sun.” </p>
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<p>One of the takeaways of the research is that the effect declines quickly. Jim Plunkett’s heroics came in 1970 and 1971. That has no impact on today’s high schoolers. Even John Elway graduated way back in 1983. Andrew Luck still has an effect though. </p>
<p>It’s all about the money. Fantasies of becoming the next tech zillionaire, wearing hoodies and playing foosball at work are trumping the East Coast routine of Harvard, investment banking, pinstripe suits and the overcrowded, aging Hamptons.</p>
<p>"…the overcrowded, aging Hamptons." LOL. Yeah, I was never impressed at the sight of Jay-Z and Donald Trump together at a Hamptons TV party. Blah blah and so faded.</p>
<p>Four summers ago I was doing a few hours of conversational English in a Chinese high school as part of a deal that let my kids attend. In the central China in an okay school, a 13 y.o. raises his hand and asks, “how do I get into Harvard?” Not Stanford. Doubt he had heard of Stanford.</p>
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<p>Elway maybe a Hall of Famer, but he and his Cardinal never beat Cal. :D</p>
<p>When I was growing in California in the 1970s, Stanford, not Harvard, was the Holy Grail of college admissions. </p>
<p>Why all the buzz about a Junior University?</p>
<p>Splitting hairs - both places provide great opportunities for their students.</p>
<p>You can also wear flip-flops year round at Stanford… can’t pretend that isn’t a draw ;-)</p>
<p>Interesting how the two tech zillionaires(Gates + Jobs) sent their kids to Stanford and not Harvard.</p>
<p>IMHO, that’s more of a “duhhh” rather than being “interesting”.</p>
<p>If your kid is from the West coast AND is interested in E Engineering , CS / or entrepreneurship, Stanford is the place to be. Harvard does not offer the depth or breath of classes in engineering that Stanford offers.
Nor are there thousands of job opportunities on the ECoast like there are here on the SF Peninsula .
So given the choice-why send them 3000 miles away?</p>
<p>\ As Bob Dylan said it best:
" the times they are a-changing! "</p>
<p>Do you know they actually study Engineering/CS, I highly doubt it? I think Jobs oldest daughter study art at Harvard but his only boy went to Stanford.</p>