Some of you are trying to “call my bluff”. I want to be clear that this post is 100% authentic. And no, Columbia is most certainly not, on average, on the intellectual level of HYP(SM) when accounting for the number of students whose only reason for applying was being starstruck with the city.
Come on, people. I know you do your research. All it takes is a simple search of the cross-admit comparisons between Columbia and ANY of HYPSM. Columbia gets blown out of the water vs. all of these schools. If a smarter and more accomplished student has a better option, why wouldn’t they take it? Not to mention, Columbia’s ED policy is in direct contrast to HYPSM’s REA/SCEA. The ED acceptance locks in lower-quality students, unlike EA which still affords higher-quality students who are accepted the ability to explore other options. Not to mention, ED > EA in terms of acceptance rate. Even WITH an ED policy in place, Columbia has a miserable yield compared to HYPSM.
Want more definitive proof? Simply search up the number of National Merit Scholars attending each school. 69/1092 = 6.3% of class (Columbia College). 195/1655 = 11.8% (Harvard). 147/1150 = 12.8% (MIT). 90/1343 = 6.7% (Princeton). 124/1578 = 7.9% (Yale). 157/1697 = 9.3% (Stanford). Columbia simply does not match up.
No, I’m not going to turn this ship around. I will not visit counseling services, either, because I know I am right.