Harvard or Columbia - Where would you go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The athletes' issue is a colossal scam. No business being at a place like Harvard when they are nowhere near the academic credentials from high schools that others admitted have who go there. A real joke. The athletic conference traps the admissions into accepting many athletes to fill the many sports teams each of the colleges must field.

No one says that athletes don't work hard once there. But they just do not have the stellar grades, scores that most of the other students have. It is quite insulting to perpetuate this scam and pretend to be the best with such double standards. No way !

Their business at Harvard is that Harvard wants them. Harvard is a private club. Harvard can have athletes if they want.
That’s how it works.
- person who is indifferent to athletes though happy to have my kids on team sports , if they want, for health or camaraderie.
Same for Amherst and Williams. They have super students and they pile up on athletes. Not everyone is brilliant. No one pretends they are. The school chooses. They own the deck and deal you in if they want to.

Harvard is partly owned by taxpayers because it's partly funded by tax money. If it wants to be a racist organization, I should be allowed to withhold funding if I want to.

[Anonymous]

I would choose Harvard, but Columbia is fantastic.

Both are remarkable colleges.

Really, it does not matter. What is most important is which one the son/daughter will feel is a fit.

Columbia has wonderful core courses consisting of small classes. I read that 80% of the classes at Columbia College are 20 students or less, and that the teachers get to know the students. Also, New York City runs circles around Boston for culture, museums, music, restaurants, internship opportunities. New York is not expensive for students, and there are student discounts on many things.

[Anonymous]

Harvard for sure. Columbia lies about its CDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would choose Harvard, but Columbia is fantastic.

Both are remarkable colleges.

Really, it does not matter. What is most important is which one the son/daughter will feel is a fit.

Columbia has wonderful core courses consisting of small classes. I read that 80% of the classes at Columbia College are 20 students or less, and that the teachers get to know the students. Also, New York City runs circles around Boston for culture, museums, music, restaurants, internship opportunities. New York is not expensive for students, and there are student discounts on many things.

I’m a Columbia grad. The Core was one of the greatest academic experiences of my life. Columbia College and Barnard College classes are small. All University “V” courses which are open to the School of General Studies are larger. I also attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and took Harvard grad courses. I’d choose Harvard unless your son is enamored of New York.

The thing at Harvard is which Harvard you attend. Most attend a great school. But about a third attend the Harvard of “final clubs” which provide amazing connections.

[Anonymous]

Columbia SEAS for engineering.

[Anonymous]

Harvard, even for engineering.

[Anonymous]

For undergrad? Neither.

[Anonymous]

How could he be in both already?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How could he be in both already?

Old thread. People are crazy about Columbia's <4% admit rate. All the Columbia rejects and crazies are coming out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How could he be in both already?

Old thread. People are crazy about Columbia's <4% admit rate. All the Columbia rejects and crazies are coming out.

That <4% admit rate is probably a lie too.

[Anonymous]

This cannot be a serious question.

Harvard has a reputation as the best, here and internationally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would choose Harvard, but Columbia is fantastic.

Both are remarkable colleges.

Really, it does not matter. What is most important is which one the son/daughter will feel is a fit.

Columbia has wonderful core courses consisting of small classes. I read that 80% of the classes at Columbia College are 20 students or less, and that the teachers get to know the students. Also, New York City runs circles around Boston for culture, museums, music, restaurants, internship opportunities. New York is not expensive for students, and there are student discounts on many things.

There’s another thread saying Columbia lies about its class sizes. As a Columbia grad, I can attest that almost all Columbia College courses, including all the Core courses, are under 20 students. School of General Studies courses are often much larger but no one must take courses at the School of General Studies. Many Columbia College students do take SGS courses because it’s easy to get a high grade in courses at SGS, which has virtually open admissions.

[Anonymous]

I would choose Columbia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would choose Harvard, but Columbia is fantastic.

Both are remarkable colleges.

Really, it does not matter. What is most important is which one the son/daughter will feel is a fit.

Columbia has wonderful core courses consisting of small classes. I read that 80% of the classes at Columbia College are 20 students or less, and that the teachers get to know the students. Also, New York City runs circles around Boston for culture, museums, music, restaurants, internship opportunities. New York is not expensive for students, and there are student discounts on many things.

There’s another thread saying Columbia lies about its class sizes. As a Columbia grad, I can attest that almost all Columbia College courses, including all the Core courses, are under 20 students. School of General Studies courses are often much larger but no one must take courses at the School of General Studies. Many Columbia College students do take SGS courses because it’s easy to get a high grade in courses at SGS, which has virtually open admissions.

So it should advertise itself as Columbia College and not University.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is still trying to get over the shock of getting into both incredible schools. Commitment deadline is coming soon, and while the decision is his entirely, I was curious to see what insight people might give.

DS has flip-flopped between engineering and liberal arts for over a year now. If he goes to Columbia, he'll do engineering for sure (with a minor in humanities, probably). If he goes to Harvard, everything's up in the air.

Costs are very similar.[/quote


Yale. Or Princeton.