Anonymous wrote:A neighborhood kid recently turned down Harvard for Stanford and it was a source of discussion in the community. Some parents supported (not that it was anyone’s business) but others were shocked she would turn down Harvard. I feel like the education is of the same quality, Stanford is known for caring for undergrads more (though not significantly), and Palo Alto > Cambridge. If you would pick Harvard over Stanford, why?

Your “community” sucks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I chose Hopkins over Harvard (grad school) because it was better for what I wanted to study

We get it - you got into Harvard for grad school. You're amazing. Glad you posted about your Hopkins v Harvard grad school choice on a thread about choosing between Harvard and Stanford for undergrad. It's EXACTLY the same situation.

Sorry you missed the point of the post (which was not to impress strangers on an ANONYMOUS forum...duh).

The point was that ANY such choice can be based upon individual departments/majors, not the school overall.

I’d pick Harvard for the sciences/humanities/business. I’d pick Stanford for anything Engineering related.

I got into Harvard but went to Carnegie Mellon for my undergraduate studies - MechE

During a pandemic?

Easier to get there and back.

They both are good schools. Just be happy and let kid goes wherever she likes.

Anonymous wrote:I chose Hopkins over Harvard (grad school) because it was better for what I wanted to study

We get it - you got into Harvard for grad school. You're amazing. Glad you posted about your Hopkins v Harvard grad school choice on a thread about choosing between Harvard and Stanford for undergrad. It's EXACTLY the same situation.

Anonymous wrote:Why is this even a post? So stupid. You are kind of dumb if you are trying to parse through the prestige of Harvard vs. Stanford. I bet the kid is way smarter than op and realizes it makes no difference long term whether you pick Harvard or Stanford. The top 5 or 6 schools are exactly the same. You should pick for fit if you are lucky to have any options among them.

This!

I chose Hopkins over Harvard (grad school) because it was better for what I wanted to study

Either choice qualifies as being one of "the chosen ones". It could be a question of which geography one prefers. Entrepreneurs/tech folks prefer Stanford. More traditional career aspirants choose Harvard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Harvard name still means more

This statement means NOTHING.

DP. It is better known, especially internationally. When a movie picks an example of a college to symbolize a high achiever or high aspirations, Harvard will be chosen more often.

You can definitely debate whether this should matter at all, but PP’s statement certainly has a clear meaning.

I disagree. And even if those things were empirically true, they would pale in comparison to other issues and contexts.

For many, probably most, people this difference would be meaningless. But not for all, especially international students or those with strong international (particularly non-Asian) ties/interests because there really is a big name brand difference abroad.

I got into both law schools. My grandfather was shocked I was considering Stanford because, in his mind, you couldn’t turn down Harvard. This mindset is changing, but it is still out there.

Why is this even a post? So stupid. You are kind of dumb if you are trying to parse through the prestige of Harvard vs. Stanford. I bet the kid is way smarter than op and realizes it makes no difference long term whether you pick Harvard or Stanford. The top 5 or 6 schools are exactly the same. You should pick for fit if you are lucky to have any options among them.

In a given year, how many applicants get into both schools -- I guess it's less than 500 kids...

(assuming you did not apply ED and you are not an athletic recruit)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Harvard name still means more

This statement means NOTHING.

DP. It is better known, especially internationally. When a movie picks an example of a college to symbolize a high achiever or high aspirations, Harvard will be chosen more often.

You can definitely debate whether this should matter at all, but PP’s statement certainly has a clear meaning.

I disagree. And even if those things were empirically true, they would pale in comparison to other issues and contexts.

Cambridge is > than Palo Alto, especially for an undergrad who is not rich and doesn’t drive or won’t have access to a car. Boston’s a cheap/fast subway ride (Palo Alto doesn’t give you similar access to SF).

Harvard has a good name, good resources, good cohort but not good undergrad teaching