<p>I was just accepted to both the University of Chicago and Harvard and am dreading having to decide between the two. Can anyone can offer a somewhat objective comparison? (yes, I know this will be difficult I will post on both forums) I can think of pros/cons for each, but I wanted to see if anyone else had more info that could help me make up my mind. Obviously, academics are amazing at both schools (although I do plan on studying Biology), so I guess I am looking more for a comparison of atmosphere/campus activities/etc. Input from current students would be especially nice, too you can only get so much from tours/websites (and believe me, I have researched plenty!) Thank you!!</p>
<p>go to harvard....</p>
<p>From what I have heard, go with your gut. You can get a great education at both but the environments are extremely difficult.</p>
<p>If it is a serious open question for you, I suspect some Chicagoward leanings, since Harvard would probably be considered better by most people (old, famous)</p>
<p>that is impossible. how could you have been accepted at both. you probably got accepted to harvard scea and they don't allow you to apply ea or ed to any other school, thus meaning there is no way you could have gotten into chicago ea. either you are a troll or you just lied on your harvard application of not applying anywhere else.</p>
<p>That's definitely a troll...</p>
<p>I saw your response on the other forum.....that you applied SCEA to Harvard and RD to Chicago, but received the answer from Chicago "early". ** If ** this is true (and that's a ** big ** "if"), you need to clear it up immediately. Call Chicago today and talk with someone. You could be in danger of losing both acceptances, if this misunderstanding doesn't get cleared up. </p>
<p>Are you sure you didn't check the "wrong box" on the Chicago application? You'd better look at your paper or online copy before you make the call.</p>
<p>I would also tell your school guidance counselor immediately. Don't wait till school restarts.</p>
<p>I am hoping you are a troll. Otherwise you may be in a mess of trouble.....</p>
<p>It's possible that if he turned in his Chicago packet before the EA deadline (some people are very prepared), Chicago made a clerical error and thought he was applying EA. That, or he lied to Harvard.</p>
<p>Anyways, I would choose Harvard. Same great intellectual environment as Chicago, but with grade inflation (this is a good thing), better and wider course offerings, and some semblance of a social life. Besides, you really can't beat going to the most prestigious school in the world.</p>
<p>WOW. thanks for reminding me (a girl, btw) why I was so hesitant about seeking advice on the CC boards. You guys are painfully hostile and suspicious.</p>
<p>In fact, Brown, I am neither a troll nor a liar. You're right jpps1--it was a clerical error. I know it wasn't me...I made photocopies of every application I submitted and just double checked. Every Regular Decision box is checked. I called them up and the guy I talked to sounded pretty embarrassed. They going to fix it, but they haven't yet told me what that means for my app. Theoretically, they do not give preference to EA applicants so they can't really withdraw my acceptance without making themselves look bad. But then again, who knows with this kind of thing. let's just hope both schools understand that none of this is my fault in any way. Just another instance of my getting screwed over for trying to get something turned in early... </p>
<p>well, thanks for nothing, i guess. except a whole lot of name calling. my fault for thinking I could get friendly advice from you guys... believe me, if i knew an easy way to do it, i would post scanned copies of my apps and acceptance letters.</p>
<p>You have to admit...that is an INCREDIBLY odd thing to happen and an even stranger thing to ask.</p>
<p>Eatsleeprun, Howd you get accepted to both (Im just curious) GPA, ECs, Recommendations, Private or public school?</p>
<p>my bad. the chances of that happening are slim to nill. sorry for the harassment. im not usually like that, but i just cannot stand trolls (except for maybe iwannagoIVY). peace</p>
<p>It's not THAT odd to get accepted to both. i mean, if you think about it, they are kind of looking for similar applicants...at least that has been my impression.</p>
<p>here are my stats, nove (copied from an earlier post):</p>
<p>Stats:
SAT I: V750 M720 W770
SAT IIs: Lit 740 Math2 800 Physics 760
ACT: 34
GPA: 4.06
Rank: 1/270ish
Other stats: 3 AP classes as junior (Phyiscs B--5, Statistics--5, English Lang--3) 4 AP classes as senior (Bio, Calc BC, Spanish, Literature), National Merit Semi-finalist
Subjective:
Essays: Harvard--not particularly creative but well written and an impressive story, Chicago--the weakest of my essays, but not that bad. just not "quirky" in the way one would want it to be for UChi
Teacher Recs: one good, one excellent
Counselor Rec: eh...long but relatively impersonal (just listed credentials)
Hook (if any): I was a part of a group of 5 high school students who founded (and have maintained for the past 3 years) a 5k run/walk in my area. Proceeds go to UNICEF for children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Location/Person:
State or Country: Michigan
School Type: public high school of about 1200 students, suburban but located in a well-known college town
Ethnicity: white
Gender: female
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: a combination of my hook and, for Harvard, legacy (only 1 generation, my dad)
EC: Cross country (3 yrs varsity, academic all-state), track (many injuries, though), National Honor Society (President this year), local hospital volunteer throughout all of HS</p>
<p>cool..............</p>
<p>Harvard, Chicago is depressing and will suck your life away from you</p>
<p>eatsleeprun,
congrats on both acceptances. I am glad that you got the error cleared up - it could have been a problem. Best wishes wherever you attend!</p>
<p>that's awesome that you got into both...I know you are dreading having to make that decision, but you have to admit, its a pretty nice dilemma to have...</p>
<p>All I can say is the same thing kodama said, go with your gut...is visiting them out of the question?</p>
<p>Cami215's post was full of suspicion and a lot of quotes...I thought it was a presumptuous post. I think she's one of those moms who is too involved in his/her kids' life though I might add Ohio_Mom is a good resource cuz her kid already got in. I would go psycho if my parents cared that much about my college future except to sign the checks on-time. Congrats, eatsleeprun, for getting in to both schools.</p>
<p>Some articles you may want to consider:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.opinionjournal.com/forms/printThis.html?id=110006623%5B/url%5D">http://www.opinionjournal.com/forms/printThis.html?id=110006623</a>
<a href="http://iotu.uchicago.edu/presentations.html%5B/url%5D">http://iotu.uchicago.edu/presentations.html</a>
<a href="http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2000/03/07/opinion/399.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2000/03/07/opinion/399.shtml</a>
<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200503/douthat%5B/url%5D">http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200503/douthat</a>
<a href="http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0310/features/zen.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0310/features/zen.shtml</a></p>
<p>Those articles seem a bit biased towards Chicago, heh. </p>
<p>I love the last link, though. And the concept of a "Suicide Prevention Day". I'm excited. iDad, I'm assuming you're an alumni from UChicago?</p>
<p>I am an alumnus; I went to grad school at Chicago. I'm not sure the article from the Daily Princeton does much to bias one toward Chicago.</p>