Well those are my top 3 (in order of preference). I have a couple of UC’s and other OOS reaches too, but I’d really rather go to one of the three you already mentioned hahah. I think the problem is that I really don’t vibe with very many campuses besides those three, bar a few exceptions.
I’m a STEM nerd, and I like doing cool nerdy things. That puts MIT and GT at the top. I really hate Cali weather (sorry! Grew up in the NorthEast) so that immediately almost scratches Stanford off the list. I got the impression that UCB was more focused on making good engineers while Stanford promotes a more entrepreneurial student, so if I had to stay in Cali, I think that’s the choice I’d make. If it came down to it, I’d rather be a first-rate cancer researcher than a mediocre scientist invested in startup culture. It’s a weird preference, but we play the cards we’re dealt. (Not to say that Stanford isn’t absolutely phenomenal in science and engineering. I just think the fit isn’t really there for me and I wouldn’t be happy there)
Harvard was a no-go the second I stepped onto campus for a visit. Can’t explain it, won’t explain it. Bad fit for sure. On the other hand, Duke was fantastic. I’d apply ED if I didn’t have to give up those other three.
Then there’s a whole bunch in the middle (Emory, Cornell, etc.) I’d be cool going there, but I wouldn’t realistically go if I had the choice of the top three.
Thanks for your reply on this old thread!