Harvard or Columbia - Where would you go?

[Anonymous]

Columbia - cuz he can BOTH engineering AND humanities core.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard, from an overseas perspective. We lived in Asia and it is said "Harvard" is probably the most valuable 'brand name' in all of Asia. It's an instant door opener in the business community in some countries.

I think I'd also rather be a student in Cambridge than in New York. I love NY, but the idea of four years there in 'student mode' would be a bit rough.

In many foreign countries, Harvard has less of a pull than state unis simply bc there aren’t many Harvard grads in position of power. Those who studied overseas and returned (and are now in position of power) often went to less expensive unis such as the U of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard, from an overseas perspective. We lived in Asia and it is said "Harvard" is probably the most valuable 'brand name' in all of Asia. It's an instant door opener in the business community in some countries.

I think I'd also rather be a student in Cambridge than in New York. I love NY, but the idea of four years there in 'student mode' would be a bit rough.

In many foreign countries, Harvard has less of a pull than state unis simply bc there aren’t many Harvard grads in position of power. Those who studied overseas and returned (and are now in position of power) often went to less expensive unis such as the U of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA...

I've lived overseas and my experience is they'll know Harvard, Stanford, and MIT and associate them with the top level in education. They don't distinguish as much between schools that are further down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard, from an overseas perspective. We lived in Asia and it is said "Harvard" is probably the most valuable 'brand name' in all of Asia. It's an instant door opener in the business community in some countries.

I think I'd also rather be a student in Cambridge than in New York. I love NY, but the idea of four years there in 'student mode' would be a bit rough.

In many foreign countries, Harvard has less of a pull than state unis simply bc there aren’t many Harvard grads in position of power. Those who studied overseas and returned (and are now in position of power) often went to less expensive unis such as the U of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA...

I've lived overseas and my experience is they'll know Harvard, Stanford, and MIT and associate them with the top level in education. They don't distinguish as much between schools that are further down.

They may know Harvard and Oxford. But if the hiring manager is from Minnesota - and there are many more from Minnesota than there are from Harvard or oxford - guess who he or she will pull?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard, from an overseas perspective. We lived in Asia and it is said "Harvard" is probably the most valuable 'brand name' in all of Asia. It's an instant door opener in the business community in some countries.

I think I'd also rather be a student in Cambridge than in New York. I love NY, but the idea of four years there in 'student mode' would be a bit rough.

That's interesting! We're a rather "Americanized" Asian family, so what we know about the Asian perspective on name brands has really only been hearsay. And yes, NYC really is quite overwhelming. DS's main concern is if all his Columbia classmates opt for NYC-based socializing instead of on-campus fun.

We're from Hong Kong and the name 'Harvard' is more prestige than Rolls Royce, Channel, Gulfstreams, or any other brand you can think of. As mentioned by another poster it's instant access to the halls of finance and power, and connections with many of the movers and shakers that run Asia. Not saying that a Harvard person is any more talented than a Columbia person--far from it. Hell the most impressive people I met in HK went to schools like Illinois and Michigan, but as far as the Oxbridge - Harvard - Yale - Stanford - Princeton - Imperial crowd, Harvard will get you in while Columbia will not. And while this may not be a selling point, being a Harvard grad will excite just about any potential mother-in-law in China

Right now there are only about 12 kids per class from China and 2 kids per year from Hong Kong at Harvard College. This is from literally 10,000 bilingual kids with better SATs, grades, and likely experiences than other applicants. It really stands out in Asia.

How about Tsinghua or Peking? Will future mother-in-law get just as excited?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard, from an overseas perspective. We lived in Asia and it is said "Harvard" is probably the most valuable 'brand name' in all of Asia. It's an instant door opener in the business community in some countries.

I think I'd also rather be a student in Cambridge than in New York. I love NY, but the idea of four years there in 'student mode' would be a bit rough.

In many foreign countries, Harvard has less of a pull than state unis simply bc there aren’t many Harvard grads in position of power. Those who studied overseas and returned (and are now in position of power) often went to less expensive unis such as the U of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA...

I've lived overseas and my experience is they'll know Harvard, Stanford, and MIT and associate them with the top level in education. They don't distinguish as much between schools that are further down.

You seem to be suggesting OP's kid should be picking a school based on the name recognition of Harvard among ill-informed middle managers at some random company in China? How sad. Scores of American universities besides Harvard have been full of international students for a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard, from an overseas perspective. We lived in Asia and it is said "Harvard" is probably the most valuable 'brand name' in all of Asia. It's an instant door opener in the business community in some countries.

I think I'd also rather be a student in Cambridge than in New York. I love NY, but the idea of four years there in 'student mode' would be a bit rough.

In many foreign countries, Harvard has less of a pull than state unis simply bc there aren’t many Harvard grads in position of power. Those who studied overseas and returned (and are now in position of power) often went to less expensive unis such as the U of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA...

I've lived overseas and my experience is they'll know Harvard, Stanford, and MIT and associate them with the top level in education. They don't distinguish as much between schools that are further down.

You seem to be suggesting OP's kid should be picking a school based on the name recognition of Harvard among ill-informed middle managers at some random company in China? How sad. Scores of American universities besides Harvard have been full of international students for a long time.

Where did I mention middle management or a random company in China? Harvard has the highest and best name recognition period. MIT and Stanford are in the ballpark with Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard, from an overseas perspective. We lived in Asia and it is said "Harvard" is probably the most valuable 'brand name' in all of Asia. It's an instant door opener in the business community in some countries.

I think I'd also rather be a student in Cambridge than in New York. I love NY, but the idea of four years there in 'student mode' would be a bit rough.

In many foreign countries, Harvard has less of a pull than state unis simply bc there aren’t many Harvard grads in position of power. Those who studied overseas and returned (and are now in position of power) often went to less expensive unis such as the U of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA...

I've lived overseas and my experience is they'll know Harvard, Stanford, and MIT and associate them with the top level in education. They don't distinguish as much between schools that are further down.

You seem to be suggesting OP's kid should be picking a school based on the name recognition of Harvard among ill-informed middle managers at some random company in China? How sad. Scores of American universities besides Harvard have been full of international students for a long time.

Where did I mention middle management or a random company in China? Harvard has the highest and best name recognition period. MIT and Stanford are in the ballpark with Harvard.

And why is what the foreigners in Asia think about Harvard so important here? Is OP’s kid going to work in China?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard, from an overseas perspective. We lived in Asia and it is said "Harvard" is probably the most valuable 'brand name' in all of Asia. It's an instant door opener in the business community in some countries.

I think I'd also rather be a student in Cambridge than in New York. I love NY, but the idea of four years there in 'student mode' would be a bit rough.

In many foreign countries, Harvard has less of a pull than state unis simply bc there aren’t many Harvard grads in position of power. Those who studied overseas and returned (and are now in position of power) often went to less expensive unis such as the U of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA...

This is just flat-out wrong. Don't know what you're on, but for most people here (middle-class families in the DMV area), OOS UCLA and U Michigan are among the MOST expensive colleges to attend. Have you actually done any research?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard, from an overseas perspective. We lived in Asia and it is said "Harvard" is probably the most valuable 'brand name' in all of Asia. It's an instant door opener in the business community in some countries.

I think I'd also rather be a student in Cambridge than in New York. I love NY, but the idea of four years there in 'student mode' would be a bit rough.

In many foreign countries, Harvard has less of a pull than state unis simply bc there aren’t many Harvard grads in position of power. Those who studied overseas and returned (and are now in position of power) often went to less expensive unis such as the U of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA...

I've lived overseas and my experience is they'll know Harvard, Stanford, and MIT and associate them with the top level in education. They don't distinguish as much between schools that are further down.

You seem to be suggesting OP's kid should be picking a school based on the name recognition of Harvard among ill-informed middle managers at some random company in China? How sad. Scores of American universities besides Harvard have been full of international students for a long time.

Where did I mention middle management or a random company in China? Harvard has the highest and best name recognition period. MIT and Stanford are in the ballpark with Harvard.

And why is what the foreigners in Asia think about Harvard so important here? Is OP’s kid going to work in China?

It appears when the topic of college ranking and comparison appears on this board, people from Asian countries are eager to give out their opinions which they acquired when they were in Asia. Lots of time illusional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard, from an overseas perspective. We lived in Asia and it is said "Harvard" is probably the most valuable 'brand name' in all of Asia. It's an instant door opener in the business community in some countries.

I think I'd also rather be a student in Cambridge than in New York. I love NY, but the idea of four years there in 'student mode' would be a bit rough.

In many foreign countries, Harvard has less of a pull than state unis simply bc there aren’t many Harvard grads in position of power. Those who studied overseas and returned (and are now in position of power) often went to less expensive unis such as the U of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, UCLA...

I've lived overseas and my experience is they'll know Harvard, Stanford, and MIT and associate them with the top level in education. They don't distinguish as much between schools that are further down.

You seem to be suggesting OP's kid should be picking a school based on the name recognition of Harvard among ill-informed middle managers at some random company in China? How sad. Scores of American universities besides Harvard have been full of international students for a long time.

Where did I mention middle management or a random company in China? Harvard has the highest and best name recognition period. MIT and Stanford are in the ballpark with Harvard.

And why is what the foreigners in Asia think about Harvard so important here? Is OP’s kid going to work in China?

Thread has turned on itself; instead of meaningful input about the pros and cons of each school for undergraduates, it's a stereotypical exercise in confirming that an auntie in Seoul or some VC associate in Hong Kong will be more impressed with Hahvard. Who knew?

[Anonymous]

Much easier as a legacy to get into Harvard than Columbia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Much easier as a legacy to get into Harvard than Columbia.

This is why MIT students aren’t impressed by Harvard. All MIT students are qualified to be where they are. Not true with all Harvard students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much easier as a legacy to get into Harvard than Columbia.

This is why MIT students aren’t impressed by Harvard. All MIT students are qualified to be where they are. Not true with all Harvard students.

Who cares? MIT admits a lot of kids turned down by other Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much easier as a legacy to get into Harvard than Columbia.

This is why MIT students aren’t impressed by Harvard. All MIT students are qualified to be where they are. Not true with all Harvard students.

Who cares? MIT admits a lot of kids turned down by other Ivies.

There aren’t many MIT kids who can’t handle Harvard.
Some - but not all - Harvard kids can manage MIT.