<p>I was accepted to Harvard EA and Princeton RD. Obviously, I feel very thankful and fortunate to be in this position, but now I'm in a difficult position as I'm really interested in both schools.</p>
<p>I'm thinking about studying either economics or philosophy (though I know how easily preferences change). I've researched both schools and found only a marginal, negligible difference between the quality of their undergraduate programs in both fields (though please correct me if my assumption is wrong).</p>
<p>I've visited both schools overnight, and I've had the opportunity to talk extensively with current students and attend classes. If I had to go with gut feeling, I'd say I'm leaning to Princeton a little more because of the smaller, seemingly closer atmosphere and the better weather (I come from a tropical country). However, I'm also under a lot of pressure from family/peers/everyone-I-meet to go to Harvard, because of the power of the Harvard brand in getting an edge in the job market - especially overseas, where Princeton is less well-known.</p>
<p>To be honest, I think I would be happy at either school, but I want to make the best decision possible. If I go to Harvard, I'd also like it to be on the school's merits, not because of name value or some other arcane calculation; likewise for Princeton. I'd appreciate any advice you guys can give me. I've posted this in the Princeton forum as well.</p>
<p>Both schools are very respectable, although in my work (large company) Harvard is more prestigious in general when you talk about economics and business.</p>
<p>Please do not make your decision based on “the power of the Harvard brand” or anything like that. You can only take one job at a time; it really doesn’t matter if you could get five great jobs coming out of Harvard, but only four coming out of Princeton. If you can’t get good employment coming out of either, it’s going to be because of you, not because of the college. And, honestly, if your employer has no idea what Princeton is, you probably don’t want that job . . . even if you are coming out of Harvard. What’s so great about being more attractive to uninformed, unsophisticated people?</p>
<p>They really are completely equivalent opportunities, and it’s completely appropriate to make your decision based on any stupid thing that occurs to you: Cambridge MA vs. Princeton NJ, crimson vs. orange-and-black (no one, but no one, looks good in Princeton colors), the fierce culture of alumni loyalty at Princeton vs. near-indifference at Harvard, Harold and Kumar/A Beautiful Mind vs. Love Story/The Social Network, Briooke Shields vs. Natalie Portman, do you want to date law students and medical students?, whose food is better?, do you like the idea of eating clubs?, are you fiercely competitive?</p>
<p>OP, when you say “because of the power of the Harvard brand in getting an edge in the job market - especially overseas, where Princeton is less well-known.”" do you plan to work in business or banking with econ major and do you intend to explore overseas opportunities?
To be bland, Harvard is a brand overseas, like Coke, McD, for all the great unwashed, commoners, bus people, how you want to name them. They only know Harvard from the movies and because of the marketing that the school does. For many internationals they assume that if they graduate from Harvard it is as if they won the lottery and the money rain wil start. The elite class, since most countries outside the USA are highly social class conscious are well aware of the other ivies and many of the old money of internationals do not go to Harvard. It is similar to a comment that an admissions consultant made once on CC that she had observed that among well established people in the know who work at MIT/Harvard and in the area, they prefer the other ivies than Harvard. Think of it as everyone who wants to be somebody wears rolex and thinks it is a status symbol, but people who really have status and appreciate quality do not wear any rolex which can be purchased starting from 3k, but go for patek or lange. The schools are similar but they also have differences. They are not oposite poles like Dartmouth with Brown but they do have differences. Harvard is preferred by many who want the future rewards whereas Princeton is chosen by others because it has a reputation of being focused on undergraduate education. On the other hand, the crossadmits are 75% for Harvard. Some say the best education is a Princeton undergraduate and Harvard graduate degree. Read both catalogues, talk to students from both schools. Plus, do you want life in the city or a more traditional college life?</p>
<p>OP, I hate to say it but in today’s competitive world, the name of the university you went to is everything. Like Ana above said, people relate the name Harvard to success, and although there are lots of other amazing schools out there, like Princeton, Harvard holds a name that’s revered and respected in the world. I wont take sides, but I just needed to put that little piece of information out there
I know someone who works for a law firm and the UN, and they’ve always told me that a university’s name is everything - it becomes the student’s identity - e.g. people from Harvard might be classed as “smart” while someone from another college might be termed as “artsy” etc. So go with whatever college that you wont mind being associated with. If you’re looking for a bigger brand, go for it.
But don’t let your relatives dictate where you should go. :)</p>
<p>Harvard has the most prestigious name in the US, although Princeton isn’t far behind. Both are known internationally as well, although Harvard has more name recognition overseas than Princeton.</p>
<p>There are way too many people who didn’t go to Harvard or Princeton or another name brand school who are prominent and have made it big to say that your college brand means everything.</p>
<p>That being said, my recommendation is to go to the place where you fit the best and will have the most fun, because college isn’t only about books. </p>
<p>Harvard is in a city; most kids find it to be a fun and exciting city. There are all kinds of cultural places to visit and other fun things to do (assuming that you have money, which most college students don’t have, and there are a fair number of cultural events and places where you can go for free). There’s also a little bit of a crime risk, although not as much in Cambridge as in other schools in Boston.</p>
<p>Princeton is in a richy town, has a lot more space, and has more of the feel of the country gentleman’s estate. It’s much less cramped, the air smells cleaner, the campus has woods and trails along the canal, and you can even go for bike rides in the country once you get to know the lay of the land (I used to ride my bike 20 miles a day there, although some of my routes are now too built up to ride a bike without traffic). The crime risk is low, unless you decide to hang out in Trenton for some reason.</p>
<p>If you can, visit them both, and stay overnight with a student. See some classes, and find out what a weekend is like. That’s the only real way to find out which place is worth your money and four years of what is going to be a great adventure for you.</p>
<p>My view is that if your gut is telling you Princeton then go to Princeton. Both Harvard and Princeton are top notch. I think most people view Harvard and Princeton in the same upper tier of schools. </p>
<p>As for overseas, there is no doubt that among the general population Harvard is the bigger name. However, most executives at the bigger frims know how prestigious Princeton is and I really don’t think it will put you at a disdvantage.</p>
<p>I’m a Harvard alum. To be honest, it doesn’t matter. Don’t get too hung up on the name. It might make a difference if it’s the local flagship state school (the alum networks are somewhat different, esp if it’s not UofM or UVA or UCB, because the networks are a bit more local; but even then, it’s more a matter of taking advantage of the network than anything else. I personally just enjoy meeting really interesting people at events, and that’s something that Harvard has that’s hard to replicate. However, I’m of the school that if you’re gung ho enough, you’ll be OK wherever, though it might take a bit more work in certain environments), but between H and P, it’s not that big a deal. H might have an advantage with its professional schools (HBS/HLS/K school) but Princeton more than make for it with its slightly smaller (and hence, more tight-knit) undergrad alum network. </p>
<p>The real deciding factor should be whether you want to be 20 minutes from the city center vs. 75 minutes. With Harvard, you’re a T ride away from Boston proper, while the trek from Princeton to NYC is about an hour to 1.25 hours. Princeton has a more suburb-y/outdoorsy feel while Cambridge (at least the Harvard Square area) is more urban. </p>
<p>Anyway, I have a bunch of good P alum friends. Shoot me a PM if you want to discuss it further.</p>
<p>If you’ve visited both and like Princeton better, go to Princeton. “Most people would choose X” (even though, in this case, most of them haven’t had the opportunity to make this choice) is never a good reason to do X. You’re not most people, you’re you, and sometimes you’ll be best served by choosing the road truest to that you.</p>
<p>It seems like you think Harvard will lead you to more opportunities, which is, in the end, the most important thing about picking a college. The power of the name and the strength of the departments you’re looking into seem to make Harvard a good fit.</p>
<p>See internationally Harvard has a more name… but if you look job wise i think both will be equal because getting a job will depend on you… how ur interview goes etc etc…
If I was at your position I would go with Harvard… but if you gut feeling says Princeton then go with it, so that in life you know that it was ur decision and you will happy…</p>
<p>Wish you luck on whatever you choose and congrats for being accepted at both places! :)</p>
<p>I don’t know about internationally, but a Princeton degree is just as much as an asset in the U.S. as a Harvard degree. </p>
<p>Your gut is obviously telling you to go to Princeton, so I think this is what you should take. Studies have been done to show that gut decisions are often the best ones. In addition to the reasons you stated, there may be reasons you can’t articulate for why you are better off at Princeton.</p>
<p>I’m always intrigued by teenagers and adults that think you should pick a college based upon reputation. I’m assuming their reasoning is that jobs will be to easier to find with an ‘X’ diploma. </p>
<p>I hate it when people start a sentence with “In this economy . . .” but in this economy, it’s difficult to find a job period. I know several current Harvard seniors who are interviewing for dozens of jobs, but have yet to receive an offer, even though they have about a 3.87 GPA. The job market is very challenging even with an H or P diploma. According to the NY Times, the number 1 job for college graduates is bartender/waiter!</p>
<p>As you will be spending the next four years at college, you should pick a school because it’s the “right fit.” What does that mean? At any college you will be spending about half of your time in class or studying. The rest of the time – the other 50% – you will be free to do whatever you want: hang with friends, extracurricular activities, work, etc. The environment and people you do those things with matter a lot – and following your gut, wherever it leads you, is probably the best advice anyone can give you!</p>
<p>I’m a Harvard undergrad doing a philosophy secondary (a minor), and I have to point out that we have a really good philosophy department. There’s a really strong tradition of good analytic philosophy here (Quine, etc), so if you’re into that, Harvard would be the place to go. The philosophy department is also pretty well-integrated with the Mind/Brain/Behavior program, so even though there are a few old fogies - the stereotypically austere and metaphysical philosophers - there are also a lot of younger, hip people doing young, hip, new things. For example, I’m taking what is essentially a philosophy of biology class where we get pretty deeply into biological processes like evolution, gene replication, etc. Cool stuff! </p>
<p>That said, we don’t have much Eastern/alternative philosophy - which I personally think is fine, but some people want to study that stuff. (There are courses on it, but they aren’t in the philosophy department, and I don’t think they would generally count for a philosophy degree.)</p>
<p>The phil department is also extremely fun to be an undergrad in. There’s a really great head tutor, good classes, engaged grad students, etc. </p>
<p>So if you’re seriously interested in studying philosophy, I would really consider H. Not so sure about econ, though.</p>
<p>Feel free to PM me/reply if you have more questions about philosophy here - or about anything, really!</p>
<p>There is something incredibly special about the Princeton undergraduate experience that can only be described by attending this great institution.</p>
<p>^(Assuming alumni giving rate is caused by happiness, and not how much donations are solicited, whether donations are given because of Princeton’s unusually good financial aid, even for an Ivy, and a need to give back, how small of contributions are asked for, or any number of things.) </p>
<p>As an earlier poster said: YOU CAN’T GO WRONG! Just go wherever you feel like and not whichever has “better” statistics or poster opinions. :)</p>
<p>You’re absolutely right ([The</a> Philosophical Gourmet Report 2011 :: Overall Rankings](<a href=“http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/overall.asp]The”>http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/overall.asp) demonstrates as much). For what it’s worth, the philosophy majors I’ve met are overwhelmingly pleased with the department, especially with its smaller size (because all Princeton students have to write a senior thesis, being in a smaller department–which econ, with a couple hundred majors a year, is not–is a big benefit, since your adviser won’t be juggling multiple theses). Like Harvard, Princeton philosophy is mostly centered around the analytic, although there is a Philosophy track in the Classics departments if you’re interested in Ancient Philosophy instead. (And if Classics or Ancient Philosophy interests you at all, Princeton has one of the best departments in the country.)</p>
<p>On the other hand, Econ at Princeton is a mixed bag. While some seriously important research happens here (see the Nobel prize winners this year, Paul Krugman works here, etc), the size of the department means undergraduate experiences vary widely. There is also a finance certificate (“minor”) that I don’t know much about. </p>
<p>All in all, any differences in the reputation of H and P’s departments won’t matter much unless you’re planning on going to grad school. In that case, you might want to consider more carefully which school’s department is really gung-ho about the type of philosophy or econ you’re interested in. Otherwise, the more obvious differences between the schools’ atmospheres should come into play: suburban v. urban; proximity to NY v. practically in Boston; eating clubs v. room parties/finals clubs/etc; vocal school spirit v. quiet pride; undergrad focus v. presence of grad/professional programs; etc etc.</p>
<p>Feel free to PM me with any questions! My “top three” last year included H and P–and I couldn’t make up my mind until May 1st–so I’m happy to share my experiences with you.</p>
<p>Go with your gut, but try to go to Visitas or Princeton Preview!
Visiting campus a while back was what convinced me to choose Princeton over Harvard. Make sure to check both campuses out!</p>
