<p>Sferics, I hope you can make it to Stanford for Admit Weekend next week, which should definitely help you resolve this question. As a Stanford student with legacy at Harvard and a couple of other Ivies, I can attest that Stanford offers all the positives of top Ivy education and experience (yes, including comparable prestige, if that’s your thing 
), and virtually none of the negatives. I think you’re right that you’d get plenty of challenge from Stanford’s 51-53H series no matter how accomplished a math student you are upon arrival, and the same goes for the Physics 60 series. Academics here are absolutely top-flight across the board and opportunities for research are abundantly available to undergraduates from Day 1, if you’re ready for it. Access to Silicon Valley actually does make a considerable difference to the undergraduate experience for those with interests in tech and entrepreneurship, since lots of companies actively recruit undergrads here for internship opportunities, and often serve as guest lecturers as well. While there are mixed opinions about the humanities requirements here, in my experience they have been very worthwhile and well-taught. (Also, the very small Introductory Seminars with top professors in each department are amazing, and some of them can substitute for general ed requirements.)</p>
<p>As you know, the weather here is pretty great year-round. Though climate shouldn’t be a make-or-break thing, there’s no question it contributes to quality of life and student satisfaction and mood in a very positive way. It encourages physical activity, which in turn encourages health and fitness, and that reduces stress from the intense academic environment. Stanford is on a quarter system, while Harvard is on semesters, so things move very fast here, and you need to stay on top of things consistently. I find that the great weather and all the cycling around and other activity help me sustain high energy levels so that I have time for both intense academics and some purely fun pursuits.</p>
<p>Palo Alto is definitely more suburban than Boston (and even a bit more than Cambridge), but Stanford’s a complete community unto itself in many ways so I don’t have a problem with that. When urban cravings strike, you can take the Cal train to SF, and I’ve done that a few times this year and had a great time, but honestly most people are so busy here with academics and extracurriculars that it can be hard to find time. </p>
<p>Good luck with your choice!</p>