<p>Why does most people prefer to go to Harvard over MIT ? Can someone compare the pros and cons of both schools ?</p>
<p>Harvard is a bit more well-known, and MIT is specialized towards engineering and techy stuff (and is very well-known for them, whereas Harvard is not) while Harvard does a bit of almost everything, so it attracts all kinds that MIT doesn’t. That’s most of the reason.</p>
<p>So if you are techy, you’d be better off going to MIT and not Harvard ?</p>
<p>Yes, that is why it is called and “Institute of Technology”.</p>
<p>Most serious engineering students wouldn’t both applying to Harvard - they simply don’t have the breadth and depth in that area that other schools (like Stanford, MIT, Berkeley and Caltech) do.</p>
<p>I would pick Harvard over MIT. MIT doesn’t have south Asian studies haha</p>
<p>I you were planning to major in South Asian Studies, then yes you should pick Harvard over MIT. But if you just want to take classes, and are otherwise inclined toward a technical major, pick MIT. Unless things have changed, you can cross-enroll in classes, and get the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>A large percentage of humanities and social studies majors fear math and science. That is why most colleges offer easier versions of science courses for them to fulfill their breadth requirements. MIT does not offer those easier versions and requires all students to take math through multivariable calculus, physics, chemistry, and biology.</p>
<p>I think most of Harvard’s engineering majors aren’t even ABET certified. So why would a prospective engineer even think of going there?</p>
<p>^ A prospective engineering major might prefer Harvard if (s)he has no intention of becoming a practicing hands-on engineer, but instead wants a career in business consulting, entrepreneurship, or investment banking. A high percentage of recent Harvard grads have entered such fields (for which general engineering, in the context of a broad liberal arts education, could be good preparation).</p>
<p>Harvard does have very strong programs in science, mathematics, and CS.
[NRC</a> Rankings Overview: Physics - Faculty - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“NRC Rankings Overview: Physics”>NRC Rankings Overview: Physics)
[NRC</a> Rankings Overview: Chemistry - Faculty - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“NRC Rankings Overview: Chemistry”>NRC Rankings Overview: Chemistry)
[NRC</a> Rankings Overview: Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology - Faculty - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“NRC Rankings Overview: Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology”>NRC Rankings Overview: Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology)
[NRC</a> Rankings Overview: Neuroscience and Neurobiology - Faculty - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“NRC Rankings Overview: Neuroscience and Neurobiology”>NRC Rankings Overview: Neuroscience and Neurobiology)</p>
<p>I would add that MIT is notorious for its grade-deflation, while Harvard is known to have a bit of grade-inflation. This is likely a big issue for people who are very GPA-conscious (ie pre-meds).</p>
<p>MIT and Stanford took no one from the waitlist but Harvard & Yale did this past year. Something to think about.</p>
<p>Keep in mind:</p>
<p>The Doctor: 1
Hahvahd: 0</p>