<p>Harvard is more prestigious than Princeton. Just ask the international community.</p>
<p>"Harvard is more prestigious than Princeton. Just ask the international community."</p>
<p>And just ask the man in the street in America. In fact, why not ask everyone in the world who knows almost nothing. Harvard will always win by this. Big deal.</p>
<p>And this is one reason why students aim for Harvard.</p>
<p>that's the only reason kids aim for the ivy league, the name....if you stripped the prestige and the name, and had hs seniors decide between them and all the small liberal arts schools, i doubt you'd see 20,000 applications to harvard...probably less than 10,000</p>
<p>im no different, and it makes me sick when a kid tells me they're applying because of the campus or a certain program...acting as if the name had nothing to do with their selection</p>
<p>Well...</p>
<p>i don't want to go to Harvard necessarily, but their math deapartment is good.
But, Princeton's is also very good..</p>
<p>If I were a super math guy I would want to go to MIT, Harvard, or Princeton....mybe even U.of Waterloo</p>
<p>"Harvard is more prestigious than Princeton. Just ask the international community."</p>
<p>I don't disagree. But citing statistics on students choosing Harvard over Princeton doesn't necessarily prove your point. There are other factors.</p>
<p>"im no different, and it makes me sick when a kid tells me they're applying because of the campus or a certain program...acting as if the name had nothing to do with their selection"</p>
<p>You should learn to be less judgemental. I don't think anyone denies that name plays some role in their decision; but for some people it just matters way less than for others. Perspective's an important consideration. If prestige were a high priority for everyone, more people would matriculate, more would apply--Harvard's numbers aren't perfect. I also wouldn't overlook the fact that the recent jump in the number of applications likely had more to do with HFAI than purely with prestige. Isn't it also legitimate that many people want to come here simply because of generous financial aid? </p>
<p>I'm not denying that prestige plays a factor. But I think it's important to consider equally, perhaps even more legitimate motivations for coming here. Prestige is important but it isn't as immediate a priority for many people as, say, the strength of the engineering program, whether double-majoring is an option, financial aid, etc. I guess the question, which can't be answered, reads: If the engineering sucks, or the major you want isn't offered, or you can't afford to come, will prestige really make a difference?</p>
<p>Harvard is the entryway to the corridors of financial and poitical power in this country. If you are interested in law, politics, government, economics, definitely go for it.</p>
<p>If you are a science/math/engineering type I don't think it matters nearly as much.</p>
<p>Also, for the rest of your life, people will just assume you are smart.</p>
<p>Frank</p>
<p>I agree. Prestige, along with Frank's reason, are key factors behind students choosing Harvard.</p>
<p>well said beprepn, saxfreq, i dont want to turn this into a heated exchange, but it's comments like yours that are what i was talking about...of course, harvard's academic programs are excellent, but if it's financial aid people are after, more would matriculate at princeton no?...also, without its name or prestige, harvard is no better overall than any of the top thirty colleges in the country, i dont care what the rankings say, they're arbitrary when it gets to the top of the list</p>
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also, without its name or prestige, harvard is no better overall than any of the top thirty colleges in the country
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<p>I'll venture to disagree. I don't necessarily think Harvard's the number one university out there, despite what rankings say; but I do think that it's prestigious for legitimate reasons, more than "just because." </p>
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If you are a science/math/engineering type I don't think it matters nearly as much.
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<p>My point exactly. Harvard's "Prestige" and whatnot matter less to certain people, ie people who know there are better programs elsewhere. But that doesn't mean the people who choose H over P do it primarily for reasons of prestige; I think that assumption is just about as silly as assuming most people here are geniuses.</p>
<p>Be careful, do not choose a school based on prestige alone.</p>
<p>You are much better off going to the place that you feel fits you. . .I mean, don't go to your community college, but when you're looking at top universities and colleges, you need to choose the school that fits your needs.</p>
<p>Because you had never considered Harvard before people started telling you to apply there, I would not recommend you consider it your first choice school without first visiting and assessing how well the school is what you want.</p>
<p>Prestige is great, but remember you will be living at your school for the next four years. If you think you might be interested in Harvard, apply to keep your options open. BUT Harvard is completely different from Dartmouth. If Dartmouth seems to meet what you're looking for, go to dartmouth. </p>
<p>I wanted a down to earth school where I could study biological engineering, with strong departments in humanities for electives, active student musical organizations, a small city/town, and active campus life. I chose Cornell, and I love going here. . . .</p>
<p>Be true to what you want, don't go to Harvard to gain the respect of those around you. Your own drive to succeed will mean much more than any prestige brand name ever will. The key to Harvard's success is not the brand name, but the drive and ambition of the students who attend. You will do best in an environment that you feel fosters such drive, the school that's right for you. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Click on "We Didn't Go To Harvard", by Cayuga's Waiters:</p>
<p>i disagree with the poster who said Harvard is the entranceway to political and financial power. There are so many other factors and saying something like that is ridiculous. <em>Yawn</em></p>
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If you are a science/math/engineering type I don't think it matters nearly as much
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<p>Dude, u must be living under a rock if u believe that Harvard's science and math programs aren't strong.</p>
<p>i have a question byerly, if harvard sets you up for a great life, why is it you spend all your time on this website?...i thought with a harvard degree you might be more...idk, what's the expression?...useful?...in demand?</p>
<p>"i disagree with the poster who said Harvard is the entranceway to political and financial power. There are so many other factors and saying something like that is ridiculous. "</p>
<p>I think that Harvard connections help in certain circles, however you are making the assumption that there are a finite numbers of important positions and that simply isn't the case.</p>
<p>"Dude, u must be living under a rock if u believe that Harvard's science and math programs aren't strong."</p>
<p>No. He just knows that there are arguably better programs elsewhere.</p>
<p>comon guys, legally blonde wasnt about dartmouth! seriously though, harvard has been the definition of success in america for years. pop culture references spread far and wide. family guy's road to rhode island song had a line about being rejected from harvard and being forced to go to brown. the fresh prince of bel air had a joke about how being sent to penn was bad (though on that show carlton liked princton) even so, people look differently at a harvard grad. they dont even have to be a grad, the just have to go to harvard or have gone there for even the briefest amount of time. bill gates went to harvard but dropped out for microsoft. </p>
<p>i dont agree with how this works, i think dartmouth, brown, and penn are fantastic schools, but going to harvard (or princton or yale and nowadays even stanford) is whole different world. im willing to bet in terms of academics, a lot of schools can rival or even beat the big H in terms of quality, but harvard has been the definition of prestige no matter how you look at it. </p>
<p>good luck to all who have applied! its great to be accepted, but if you dont get in, dont feel you are missing out-at least in terms of education. all you're missing is that instant recognition of prestige, but you can make up for that by excelling in your field.</p>