This reminds me of when I was in graduate school in the late 1970s and worked at Saks Fifth Avenue in store number one (the one on 5th Avenue, of course). I was struck by people who bought garments only because of the label and designers name, even when there were other garments that were superior in construction, wearability, value. Some people HAVE to have the name. It really does boil down to how important it is to say you attended Harvard as an undergraduate versus graduate school.
However, the vast majority of people will choose Harvard, if only for the name.
lol @ sour grapes
Everyone's different...I can't stand the idea of going to a LAC so I never even considered applying to amherst, swarthmore, etc. If you're obsessed with the "perfect undergraduate experience," guess what....it ain't happening no matter where you go.
piccolojunior, I'm having the perfect undergraduate experience! Amherst is right for me, although it definitely isn't for everyone. I don't think anyone should give up on having a great experience before they even go to college. Going in with the right open, positive attitude can make all the difference.
piccolojunior, small LAC aren't for everyone. If you want huge classes, anonymity, big college sports, greek life, etc. then you don't want a LAC. I was a Visiting Professor some years ago at UCLA and the place is so enormous you have to take buses to get around campus. But, it's a wonderful university. Undergraduates simply have a different experience there. In big universities, students do have to find smaller communities via fraternities and sororities, or other organizations to find a sense of community and identity. On LAC, the entire campus is a community (or at least that's the philosophy, the campus is a family). Undergraduates on most large campuses are taught by graduate students. I know because I've taught undergraduates as a doctoral student. At UC-Berkeley, the classes are so big that you can simply watch them on podcast. If you want close relationships with faculty and an opportunity to know most of your fellow classmates, then going to the LAC is the best choice. Some people don't need or want this.
Everyone's different...I can't stand the idea of going to a LAC so I never even considered applying to amherst, swarthmore, etc. If you're obsessed with the "perfect undergraduate experience," guess what....it ain't happening no matter where you go.
Are you stalking me?
I didn't expect to get into Harvard, so I don't have sour grapes.
I applied to Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia, and in my opinion Amherst beats both Harvard and Columbia hands down. Princeton, it's very arguable.
Enjoy having most of your classes taught by TAs, by the way.
Also, it's far worse to be a sore winner than a sore loser.
I still don't understand why you IM'd me to tell me that Harvard's food is great, considering you knew I wasn't admitted.
P.S. Harvard doesn't even rank on the Princeton Review's list of "Best Campus Food," whereas I get to choose between eating at one of three schools: Bryn Mawr, Notre Dame, or Middlebury
Replies to: Harvard vs. Amherst
I was referring to the fact that Harvard is aiming for an 85 percent yield this year.
Amherst is clearly superior.
However, the vast majority of people will choose Harvard, if only for the name.
Why do most people choose mainstream brands which have reliability? Because that's how market forces work.
Definitely...
lol @ sour grapes
Everyone's different...I can't stand the idea of going to a LAC so I never even considered applying to amherst, swarthmore, etc. If you're obsessed with the "perfect undergraduate experience," guess what....it ain't happening no matter where you go.
Are you stalking me?
I didn't expect to get into Harvard, so I don't have sour grapes.
I applied to Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia, and in my opinion Amherst beats both Harvard and Columbia hands down. Princeton, it's very arguable.
Enjoy having most of your classes taught by TAs, by the way.
Also, it's far worse to be a sore winner than a sore loser.
I still don't understand why you IM'd me to tell me that Harvard's food is great, considering you knew I wasn't admitted.
P.S. Harvard doesn't even rank on the Princeton Review's list of "Best Campus Food," whereas I get to choose between eating at one of three schools: Bryn Mawr, Notre Dame, or Middlebury
this thread has stopped being helpful.