Is Washington U in St. Louis any better than Harvard?

taffyluchia · 03-20-2005, 03:02 AM

If I get asked why I applied to WU during my interview, I don't want to just say "because I got rejected to Harvard!" Is Washinton U better than Harvard at anything? I probably have another year or so until my interview, but your answer will help me decide on which schools to apply next year. Thank you.

P.S. I posted this on the Harvard board too in case you're wondering.

journogirl05 · 03-20-2005, 04:28 AM

It depends on what kind of person you are. It's not unusual for someone to turn down a HYP type of school to attend a school like Wash U, Northwestern, Duke, etc. Some people may be miserable at Harvard but would be happy at Wash U or a school like it.

What I think people need to realize is that schools like Harvard aren't good because of WHAT they teach, but WHO they teach. Harvard, because of its traditions and reputation, will probably always be "one step ahead" of schools like Wash U. It's...Harvard. If Wash U had a century-and-change head start on Harvard and a 10% acceptance rate, you might be singing a different tune.

Now, some of the stuff I've heard about Harvard (ie grade padding, that ridiculous comment the president made recently) makes me wonder why it's so desirable, but hey, it's Harvard.

If you're just worried about what you'll say in the interview, make sure you have a good reason as to why you're applying there. If it's because it's a "good school" (which, incidentally, is probably the big reason so many people apply to HYP), then you need to rethink yourself. Visit the campus, read all those mailers they send you every week. Research it. But I can guarantee that simply implying that Wash U is a "safety" school (as in, you're hedging your bets against HYP) will get you NOWHERE. Case in point...about 10,000 people hedged their bets on Wash U and LOST yesterday.

kb54010 · 03-20-2005, 08:03 AM

Undergraduate focus. Harvard...none. Wash U....more than none.

sabnetwork · 03-20-2005, 09:45 AM

Student opinions of Harvard.
Student opinions of WashU.

Harvard has (undeniably) the most prestigious name in the country; employment prospects after graduation will be hard to beat.
I've heard that the quality of life at WashU is much better, and the school focuses on undergraduates more. Harvard has very little to do with its students.

In any case, draw your own conclusions based on the reviews.

laurenemma · 03-20-2005, 11:07 AM

You posted this on the harvard forum and you didn't recieve many comments that were actually relevant than mine. What does that say about Wash U. I am applying to both, but there are bonuses to both schools that you have to find for yourself and talk about if an interviewer asks you about "Why Wash U?"

My Harvard Alumni interviewer actually went to Wash U medical school.

mike123 · 03-20-2005, 01:10 PM

Is is really up to you. Academically, I would say they are the same. Why? Read last month's article in The Atlantic, it really criticizes Harvard's "core" curriculum, lack of undergraduate attention/course guidance, and the grade inflation which has students not learning, but simply doing enough work for the B+. Of course it is a great school, but if you go to Wash U, form relationships with professors, involve yourself in research, and get good/great grades, i'm sure you'll be ahead than many Harvard grads. Especially if the atmosphere promotes you to do well: friends, little pressure, nice city, and such. THose rankings are BS. At the undergraduate level, one of the most important factors is if the professors care, not that they are at the top of their field (which probably doesn't come into consideration until the graduate level) Even so, Wash U still has plenty of field leaders, and is plenty academically challenging.
Even with the Harvard name recognition, a top Wash u graduate has little to complain about compared to the average, or even above average Harvard grad in my opinion.

anon311 · 03-20-2005, 01:39 PM

I don't think anyone would agree with the assessment that harvard and wash u are academically the same.

who are u kidding?

shostakovich · 03-20-2005, 02:45 PM

If both schools offer you admission, go to Harvard...

raven001 · 03-20-2005, 03:55 PM

WashU offers Merit Based aid, which Harvard does not. You could call that a plus. On the other hand, the reason they offer Merit Based aid is because they need to (in order to attract top applicants), whereas Harvard does not.

Edit: You're going about this all wrong. Instead of comparing WashU (an option for you) to Harvard (not an option), you need to be comparing WashU to ITSELF and looking for its individual strengths.

mike123 · 03-20-2005, 08:23 PM

"I don't think anyone would agree with the assessment that harvard and wash u are academically the same.

who are u kidding?"

Of course a top Harvard grad is probably more book-smart than a top Wash U grad, but they both offer small classes, great profs, smart motivated kids; trust me they aren't as different as you think academically. Both will have their share of idiots and geniuses. Its what you make of it, and both have alot of opprotunities to do so.

raven001 · 03-21-2005, 12:09 AM

One schools is notorious for attracting the best and the brightest, whereas the other is notorious for waitlisting the best and the brightest.

I firmly believe that one's education is MOST impacted by one's classmates, so I consider that distinction to be important. To argue that they aren't very different academically is silly - though WashU still arguably offers an incredible education.

faenix · 03-21-2005, 01:00 AM

*** are you talking about WAITLISTING the BEST and the BRIGHTEST?

Surely you're talking about WAITLISTING the IGNORANT and ARROGANT?

sempitern555 · 03-21-2005, 01:11 AM

IGNORANT and ARROGANT

I admit I was ignorant.... ignorant of the shady tactics that washu uses to run its admin office

such as using a huge marketing juggernaut to get lots of people to apply to make the college appear more selective and then waitlisting those who have a good/very good shot elsewhere and are using wash as a safety/match in order to increase their yield

journogirl05 · 03-21-2005, 01:18 AM

You know, everyone (including me) was b*tching about the waitlisting thing on Friday. But it's getting old. Lick your wounds and move on.

faenix · 03-21-2005, 01:31 AM

I'm glad Wash U's admissions "tactics" weeded out ignorant dolts like sempitern555. You obviously weren't good enough, keep yapping about how you were overqualified--you'll just look even dumber.

Its funny how you were so confident you'd get in, but when truth be told you were slapped with a WL, you immediately became defensive and blamed everything on the system.

You lost the game. Quit now before you make a fool out of yourself. And do go outside and get some fresh air. Your 1,400+ posts of arrogance and ignorance really do get annoying.