<p>if you had to pick between harvard or columbia, where would you go? and why?</p>
<p>Well in my case, Harvard wasn't even in the question because Columbia's Japanese department was much better. Imo you have to look at your departments of interest.</p>
<p>Also there are things like location and core requirements...which could be positives or negatives for each school depending on your preference.</p>
<p>I would pick Harvard, because I like the Boston area. :) There are valid arguments for both, however.</p>
<p>Damn that's a hard choice. I'm leaning to Harvard because of the academics and nature of the school, but to Columbia because of the location.</p>
<p>Yeah, different people have different reasons for choosing whichever one they would choose, each reason equally as valid as the next.</p>
<p>Personally, I would choose Harvard because I hear Columbia is more medicine-y than economics-y (and Harvard is very economics-y; Niall Ferguson anyone? :)) and I'm not a big fan of NYC. Not to mention that Columbia's propinquity to Barnard pretty much means the college student population in that area is 75% girls.</p>
<p>Over than on account of an overwhelming city lust, I imagine most people would turn down Columbia for Harvard.</p>
<p>kwu, I don't think that's true at all. I would never go to Harvard but would LOVE to go to Columbia.</p>
<p>I don't understand why anybody would turn down Harvard. It's costs either nothing or next to nothing, it's the most prestigious school in the world, it's close to Boston, and it's alumni network is strong. You must really hate Harvard.</p>
<p>Columbia because of the location and because my sister goes there so I already know how it's like and I LOVE IT.</p>
<p>It really depends on your intended major(s) and how you feel about NYC.</p>
<p>I'm a bit tired of New York myself, so I'd go with Harvard, but that's simply a personal choice.</p>
<p>Harvard, to cross register at MIT.</p>
<p>COLUMBIA....omg... i wish i was in this position</p>
<p>Columbia because Harvard doesn't offer my major.</p>
<p>Harvard. NYC might be a good place to be an adult or even a grad student, but for an undergrad, Cambridge/Boston would be better.</p>
<p>Personally, I would pick Harvard simply because it is in Cambridge, not Morningside Heights.</p>
<p>Even though Cambridge/Boston isn't as student-friendly as it used to be, and even though the Orson Welles theater and Steve's Ice Cream have closed.</p>
<p>thanks for all your responses</p>
<p>i want to pursue acting and pyschology....and the only way I can make it in acting is in NYC, but I just visited to Columbia, and yes the 70:30 boy girl ratio does bother me quite a bit and I also felt like the school wasn't very united. I know and appreciate that the academics at both schools are going to be top notch, but most importantly, I just want have fun and be happy in college. Harvard has the perfect college atmosphere I am looking for, and you know...I hate myself for saying this, but it's harvard...lol...how do you turn down Harvard? </p>
<p>but then again...I don't want to spend my life wondering if I pursued acting in NYC...so where where where Columbia or Harvard?</p>
<p>Definitely Harvard for location, atmosphere, course breadth in the subjects I'm most interested in. (Though I'd choose Yale and Brown and probably Dartmouth and UPenn over Columbia and Harvard!)</p>
<p>Columbia has a better looking diploma and the baby blue Football uniforms are pretty classy as well.</p>
<p>Harvard. i didnt really like columbia while visiting. something about the campus, it was so small. and even though i do love NYC and its a lot closer to home it just didnt have "it". i also got the feeling that i was alotttt dumber than the other kids on the tour, didnt get enough of the "fun" vibe. i wouldnt have even chosen columbia if i had applied an gotten in</p>
<p>now ive never visited harvard either but i know a bunch of harvard kids and of course they have nothing but good things to say. contrary to popular belife, they dont think their above everyone else. boston is the best college town in the world. and ive heard harvard kids know how to have a good time. and honestly, almost nothing can top the connections you get from being a harvard alum.</p>
<p>Harvard of course... how can anyone ask such a question?? Cambridge beats the depressed NY neighborhood were Columbia is at, and you do not have to deal with the incessant protesting for everything in the world that goes around at Columbia..</p>
<p>How many students does it take to change a lightbulb at Columbia? 21. One to change the lighbulb, 10 to protest the changing of the lightbulb and another 10 to mount a counter protest.......however at Harvard you only need one, and the world revolves around him.....</p>