I would like to ask you guys for some advice regarding the choice of school. I’ve so far been admitted to Penn and UChicago (also NEU, but I withdrew). I’ve also applied Harvard, Yale and Stanford RD.
“Hold it, isn’t Penn ED?” Yes, but the aid wasn’t good enough, so I’m filing for a reevaluation. This means Penn is out of the comparison, since it’s straightforward. If the price comes down to a good level, I’m going for sure. If not, I can’t. I did the RD applications just in case this happened.
I have not been admitted to HYS yet, and I realize that decisions may help a ton in making my decision, however I want to develop an internal ranking between Harvard, Stanford, Yale and UChicago, since I can’t say right now, and I wouldn’t want to have just one month to deliberate my life for the next 4 years.
My criterion:
Programs. The schools are all great, however I just want to know whether for an average (I’d like to think I’m average at these schools) student like me, will the programs be noticeably different, both in terms of teaching quality, intimacy and opportunities? All departments matter, but I’m most likely to major in something STEM related, followed by econ/psychology. No splitting hairs, just general
The culture. I prefer passionate classmates to classmates who see it as a chore and only do it for the grades. My idea of fun is being able to have interesting, spontaneous conversations. I prefer that there is no overly pervasive Greek/party culture (drinking/smoking is especially bad). Also, awesome things like scav are awesome.
I’m guessing career placement and advising is great among all 4, but do any stand out (for good or bad) in any field? Also, how tough is it to get research/internships?
Flexibility. This probably applies most if I do engineering, but also elsewhere. Will I have room to explore interests outside my major? To study abroad?
Location. There’s the matter of weather 10 points for Gryffinstanford, but also the city. This concern applies primarily to Yale and Stanford. Are the surrounding areas interesting enough (I say enough because I realize that I’ll be spending time primarily on campus)?
Admin. Is there a lot of red tape that I’ll need to have to cut through in trying to do things (say, starting a club)?
If you feel that there is a factor I’m neglecting, please let me know. Thanks everyone!
You’re way ahead of yourself. We don’t know your stats so perhaps you’re the extreme exception, an applicant with multiple acceptances from the likes of Harvard, Yale and Stanford. They are extraordinarily fine universities. They are not high schools. That you want to start clubs suggests that you don’t yet have a sense of what college is about. With RD rates in the 5% + or - range your chances of multiple acceptances are very low. Should you be fortunate enough to have such options repost and I expect you’ll get meaningful responses.
Yes it is a good sign that you were accepted at UChicago and UPenn, but that does not mean that you are going to get into Harvard, Yale, or Stanford.
For reference
2014 RD acceptance rates
Harvard 3.5%
Yale 4.6%
Stanford idk but it’s around Harvard and Yale’s.
If you internally rank them now, and then don’t get in to your top choice then you’d just feel bad. Without ranking them you can be like, “well I didn’t want to go there anyway.”
And UPenn and UChicago are great options. I’m having a bit of trouble understanding how UPenn did not give enough money. Are you sure you didn’t just want to get out of the ED agreement?
I disagree with the past two posts because you’re right: one month to deliberate what you’re going to do with your life for the next 4 years isn’t very long. I had to rank my top few colleges as I was applying in the fall. However, to assume you’ll be accepted at all or any of the three universities (HYS) is optimistic at best. With your ranking, you have to be careful when constructing it, because you don’t want to have Yale as your #4, and then you’re disappointed because it’s the only school you were accepted to. All of the schools you’ve been admitted to and have applied to are absolutely fantastic, so you should mentally prep yourself to react to 3 or 4 as “YESS, 3!” instead of “meh… 3.” You probably already realize this anyway.
In regards to your question, I’m vaguely familiar with all of these schools, mostly UChicago (applied there), and would have to put Stanford in front because:
Location. For STEM, Silicon Valley is literally right there. Further out, you have huge cities with endless opportunities in every direction. As you mentioned, the weather is gorgeous. The surrounding areas are indeed interesting imo, but that’s coming from a guy in a relatively small city. According to friends, the culture as they’ve experienced it is welcoming, and while there is a fratty feel, I would say it isn’t too pervasive.
I would put the other three in a three way tie. I feel like Harvard and Yale are definitely above UChicago in a few aspects of the college experience, but UChicago is so unique with scav and such that it can’t be ignored (that’s partly why I chose to apply there instead of the other two). However, one thing I noticed about UC was a little less flexibility because of the core requirements, and also location is definitely more dangerous than the rest.
A note on your criteria: The schools are so similar in the criteria you’ve chosen that you’ve made it a huge burden to deliberate between them based on these 6 categories (thus, a three way tie). Largely for these criteria it will all depend on how you take advantage of the opportunities available at each university.
If I were you, I’d go with my gut. Where are instincts telling you to go? Assuming you’re accepted everywhere, you’re going to have to make a really hard decision, and there’ll probably be no takebacks afterwards.
To complete @slights32’s RD rate list: Stanford acceptance rate for class of '18: 5.07 percent. Yeesh.
We’ve visited all 4 schools you mention. For an engineer stanford wins hands down. I don’t think you have to worry about too much drinking at any of these schools.
Correction for my last post, 5.07 is the overall acceptance rate. From that we can probably figure out a close acceptance rate to this year. EA applicants:acceptances this year were 7297:743. 10.2%. Last year they accepted about 2150 students. 2150-743=about 1400 spots. Last year, the ratio of ea applicants to all overall was 6948:42167. So, this record breaking ea record number of applicants will probably be around 16.4%. 7297/.164=44493, 1400/44493= A 3.1% RD acceptance rate for 2015. That matches with the H and Y stats already given. Posted my logic so someone can make sure the math checks out. Again, good luck @Daminark
Guys, fear not, I realize that my chances of acceptance are next to nothing. I’m not going to be dissappointed even if my last choice among the 4 is the only one I end up at, just that I don’t want to have only a month to decide.
@slights32 I’m not trying to get out of ED. I applied ED for a reason, and I’ll withdraw my other apps instantly if the price comes down. Something about that place is just… The price came out to be $30000, and my dad was just like “yeah, way too much money.” At the time, my Chicago offer was $21000, and even that was pushing it (now $11000 with a new scholarship), so I said that I’d add some more schools just in case Penn doesn’t change their minds, so that I’ll either have an alternative to UChicago or a bargaining point for aid.
Gut decision is hovering around something like Penn >= UofC and HYS, but I just wanted to get some suggestions. My classmates alternate between saying Yale, Penn and UofC, so I wanted some more opinions. I may just let the aid/acceptances decide if I remain at an impasse.
Let’s say that toward the end, the non-UChi schools fell out of favor, to the point where I pulled out of Harvard completely (didn’t want any pressure to attend if accepted). Waitlisted at Yale, and… I think I was rejected at Stanford, but maybe waitlisted. I didn’t see “We are delighted” (which inevitably comes at the beginning of an acceptance letter) and said “OK good you’re out”. Then Penn never came through on aid, so I took UChi (started to like them more than Penn, since the atmosphere at UChi rings with me better than anywhere, really)