<p>I agree the best engineering students would prefer MIT or Stanford.
But Harvard is EQUAL to Stanford and MIT in all the natural sciences
(math, bio, physics, chem, geo, etc).</p>
<p>Why must Stanford be acknowledged as Harvards chief competitor? Not that it really matters who is labeled such, it just doesnt seem to be too many reasons to do it. There is more to comparisons than admit groups. I know kids from different parts of the country that were rejected from Harvard and accepted to Stanford and some that were accepted at Harvard and rejected from Stanford. They accept and reject different people, and then those different people tend to gravitate towards Harvard (far more often than not). 8/10 cross admits or so, some reports suggest. But what about Princeton? Yale? Why is Stanford the obvious chief competitor?</p>
<p>Nevertheless, Stanford must generally be acknowledged as Harvard's chief "competitor" - since it has usually had the largest common admit group with Harvard in recent years, and, along with MIT, the three have the greatest appeal for prospective science majors among top elites.</p>
<p>Science is all that matters now? Thats funny, considering that Harvard is particularly historically famous for its humanities and social sciences (such as Government and English). Sure, science is very important, and Harvard is known for that as well, but the viewpoint expressed by the quote seems unfair and uninformed. To say that either the humanities or the sciences or engineering or business alone means the most in life or about how good a school is is sort of ridiculous. </p>
<p>Isnt it reasonably to think that some engineering students want a more traditional college background than some of the most hardcore engineers? From what Ive read, Harvard has this. Some call it watered down engineering, but it seems to allow for a broader overall education and more freedom than the options at MIT with its minimal specialization or Stanford with its IHUM. Sure, MIT and Stanford are considered superior engineering schools when compared to Harvard, but there are some fantastic engineering students who are choosing Harvard for many reasons.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You are incorrect. Stanford was indeed ranked #1 by US NWR in the late 1980's.
I remember because I was applying to colleges in 1988, and I recall
seeing Stanford #1... this was before they used any statistics at all... it was based strictly on surveys of deans, admissions officers, etc.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I would like to see your sources. Information is readily available out there, so I would like to know what year you are referring to.</p>
<p>Since neither of you is providing a comprehensive list, I'd say that your assertion that Stanford has never been ranked number 1, and the counter assertion that it has, are equally unsupported at this point.</p>
<p>You are free to think I'm lying if you wish.</p>
<p>This contains an indirect confirmation that I am telling the truth:</p>
<p>We love you Byerly... We trust your facts and figures. </p>
<p>Maybe its time for this thread to die ...</p>