Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 12:34     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
I sent my kid to the admitted student day programs at each of the schools he got into (cal tech and mit) and that really helped him to decide. He picked mit physics and had a great experience.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 12:25     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DC is having a hard time deciding where to go. Not set on a major. Likes CS, Physics, mathematics but also has a creative side and enjoys art. Likes many aspects about Princeton, Yale, Brown and Duke. But I think it will come down to Harvard, Stanford and MIT. We feel very fortunate he has many great choices. It was an unexpected result. Would appreciate any advice, thoughts, experiences. Thank you.


Gosh, what a problem to have. I don't think I know anyone that's gotten into Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. Obviously an extraordinary kid. All three schools will open all the doors regardless of career goals. I'd focus on peer group and where they feel most at home and most challenged.

We're a Stanford family, and I can say that school has changed a lot over the past 30 years. It feels increasingly cold, soulless, and more corporate. Also, it's hypersensitive to micro-aggressions and identity type stuff. A lot of students seem to just put their head down and quietly get through their four years because it's such a good brand. But I don't think anyone really enjoys Stanford anymore. Harvard undergrad has its own issues - far too many "hooked" students. A genuinely bright student may feel out of place, particularly if interested in STEM. Harvard has been forced to put students in remedial math these days because admissions takes in so many unprepared students. So that leaves MIT. That's where you'll find the most raw brain power. Obviously, it excels in CS, math, and physics. There's nothing better in the world than MIT for STEM. But it is also very solid in humanities. Their English department, for instance, is outstanding. In the end, it will depend on the student. If introverted, Stanford. If they want to coast, Harvard. If they want to be really challenged, MIT.



I agree with all of this, but think Harvard quite resembles the way you describe Stanford now too. There is a reason MIT is the top dream school these days.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 12:09     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
Anonymous wrote:Most likely a troll post but only one of the 3 schools is strong academically these days. Other two are mere ghosts of what they once were.


Not a troll post. My kid really did get accepted to all of these schools (and others with merit scholarships) and is having a difficult time deciding. She Financial aid is about the same except for Duke and Brown which would be notably more expensive for us.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 12:09     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
I don’t know if there is objectively dominant option here, really has to be an individualized decision for your child. I was at a Harvard reception for local admits (including my kid) yesterday and there were two kids I talked to that had similar interests and decision sets. One dreamed of starting his own company one day and was leaning towards Stanford, which made a lot of sense. The other was high level interested in finance but didn’t want to be pigeonholed in a quant role. He was leaning to Harvard because he thought he could the broadest exposure to critical thinking skills there and cited navigating the current tariff crisis as a use case. That made sense to me too.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 11:48     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
Anonymous wrote:DC is having a hard time deciding where to go. Not set on a major. Likes CS, Physics, mathematics but also has a creative side and enjoys art. Likes many aspects about Princeton, Yale, Brown and Duke. But I think it will come down to Harvard, Stanford and MIT. We feel very fortunate he has many great choices. It was an unexpected result. Would appreciate any advice, thoughts, experiences. Thank you.


Gosh, what a problem to have. I don't think I know anyone that's gotten into Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. Obviously an extraordinary kid. All three schools will open all the doors regardless of career goals. I'd focus on peer group and where they feel most at home and most challenged.

We're a Stanford family, and I can say that school has changed a lot over the past 30 years. It feels increasingly cold, soulless, and more corporate. Also, it's hypersensitive to micro-aggressions and identity type stuff. A lot of students seem to just put their head down and quietly get through their four years because it's such a good brand. But I don't think anyone really enjoys Stanford anymore. Harvard undergrad has its own issues - far too many "hooked" students. A genuinely bright student may feel out of place, particularly if interested in STEM. Harvard has been forced to put students in remedial math these days because admissions takes in so many unprepared students. So that leaves MIT. That's where you'll find the most raw brain power. Obviously, it excels in CS, math, and physics. There's nothing better in the world than MIT for STEM. But it is also very solid in humanities. Their English department, for instance, is outstanding. In the end, it will depend on the student. If introverted, Stanford. If they want to coast, Harvard. If they want to be really challenged, MIT.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 11:46     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
What are your son's stats? This is incredible .
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 11:42     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
OP: For Renaissance type intellects like your son, I would strongly think about Harvard. Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 11:39     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
Harvard
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 11:38     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
Anonymous wrote:I had this choice and went to Stanford. For me, I wanted to be in California, and at the time Stanford seemed more laid back. The latter probably isn't as true anymore. If your kid is more likely to lean STEM but still wants access to arts, then Stanford offers a lot on that front...I wouldn't go there primarily for that, though.

If your kid wants to stay close to home, then I'd probably lean Harvard over MIT for more balance between STEM/arts. But they do have reciprocity, I think, so they have some access to classes at both schools.


My kid was geographically mirror image of this. We live ten minutes from the Stanford campus and he wanted to explore the east coast. Ultimately picked Harvard and found his home in applied math. OP, congrats on your options, cannot go wrong whatever you pick.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 11:34     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
Assuming COA is all the same: If STEM, then MIT or Stanford. If "I don't know really and I might change majors", then Harvard (if long term they want to be in the East) or Stanford (if long term they want to be in the West).
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 11:25     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
I had this choice and went to Stanford. For me, I wanted to be in California, and at the time Stanford seemed more laid back. The latter probably isn't as true anymore. If your kid is more likely to lean STEM but still wants access to arts, then Stanford offers a lot on that front...I wouldn't go there primarily for that, though.

If your kid wants to stay close to home, then I'd probably lean Harvard over MIT for more balance between STEM/arts. But they do have reciprocity, I think, so they have some access to classes at both schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 11:24     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
Trolls
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 11:24     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
Most likely a troll post but only one of the 3 schools is strong academically these days. Other two are mere ghosts of what they once were.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 11:24     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
Community college. Save the dough.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2025 11:21     Subject: Harvard or Stanford or MIT
DC is having a hard time deciding where to go. Not set on a major. Likes CS, Physics, mathematics but also has a creative side and enjoys art. Likes many aspects about Princeton, Yale, Brown and Duke. But I think it will come down to Harvard, Stanford and MIT. We feel very fortunate he has many great choices. It was an unexpected result. Would appreciate any advice, thoughts, experiences. Thank you.