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<p>I would furthermore point out that because of Harvard’s extensive crossreg policies with MIT, you can go to Harvard and basically get a semi-MIT engineering degree. Such a program will be branded as a Harvard degree (which will impress the layman), but can consist of largely MIT coursework (which will impress the eng grad schools, should you choose to go down that road). In fact, I would say that it’s basically a “wink-of-an-eye” understanding that if you are a Harvard engineering student, you will probably spend quite a bit of your time at MIT. </p>
<p>As to why, if you’re going to cross-reg at MIT a lot, why don’t you just simply go to MIT in the first place, I would say that first of all, that presumes you have that choice. As you know, admissions tends to be fickle. I know people who got into Harvard but not MIT (although, granted, vice versa is more common). There are also people who matriculate at Harvard fully intending to major in something like physics or mathematics at Harvard, but then later find out that they like engineering too so they either switch into that or try to pull off a double-major. For example, I would say that a Harvard double in math and CS is a pretty darn strong combination. And then of course there are those people who aren’t really sure that they like engineering and just want to try it out, but with the option for a full slate of humanities and science courses (and also couldn’t get into or don’t want to go to Stanford). MIT, despite all its latest efforts, still has weaknesses in offering a full portfolio of non-tech majors, something that Harvard clearly does not suffer from.</p>