In CS, it actually does extremely well. The top students end up at quant firms, tech firms like Open AI, or create their own startups, or get admitted to top PhD programs. The next level ends up at the FAANGs.
Don’t know about engineering.
2 Likes
I really like how I could cross register at MIT if I choose to attend Harvard. I also liked the Cambridge/Boston area when I visited. However, I’m not sure if Harvard would be the best choice because their engineering program isn’t as strong as the other schools I got into.
1 Like
You can, if you wanted to. Cross-registering at MIT :: Harvard CS Concentration
Perhaps you could give a little more information about your likes and dislikes, what you are desiring most and what is a dealbreaker for you. That way people could discern better what might be a better fit for you but right now we’re just going based on the very limited information in your post
1 Like
In case people are wondering why I said this, it’s because for the past week, my son has been staying on Stanford’s campus with his former roommate who is now doing a PhD there, and visiting friends from high school now studying there. Small sample size, but they all report the dominant role of CS there.
1 Like
I’m not very interested in the humanities and am very passionate about most STEM-related subjects. Research and internship experience are important to me. I hope to go into the tech industry, and I like prototyping and designing things. I’m not sure yet if I want to focus more on the software aspect or the engineering side, but Mechatronics, Robotics, and Software Development are interesting to me. Thanks for your help!!
Given that, Stanford may very well be the best choice. See how you feel after a visit.
4 Likes
I think these answers remove Harvard. Contact students at these colleges to determine rigor and collaboration, but all of them will be or should be challenging. I continue to believe Stanford may be the best choice that provides wonderful options.
1 Like
There’s a reason that Stanford’s yield is over 80%.
Of course that’s true of Harvard too - it’s even a few points higher. Cornell’s yield is around 65%, and Caltech’s is around 44%.
This Parchment tool is fun to play with, too.
If you just go by these popularity-contest metrics, the answer is Harvard… but for your parameters, I think Stanford covers the bases better.
1 Like
I think DiscoTech (I’m assuming you’re attending?) will give you clarity on whether Caltech might be the right choice for you or not. Be sure to talk to as many students from as many of the Houses as possible. You’ll do a mini-rotation among the Houses, among other activities, so there will be a chance to meet different students. Hopefully, Admissions will give you a good match when they assign you to a House, too. The Houses mostly each have a distinct personality. The current students will give you the best possible picture of what life is actually like there which differs a lot from what you will hear on the forums. I disagree a little with the folks saying if you’re not sure Caltech is right for you, it probably isn’t. My son is very cautious and likes having as much data as possible before making decisions. Even though he received an offer REA, he went to DiscoTech, had a great time, but still waited a couple days to get some perspective on the event before accepting his offer. He loves it there now - it’s a great fit for him. Good luck and congratulations!
3 Likes
I would go Stanford primarily because you also have an interest in CS.
1 Like
Stanford, Caltech, and Cornell are all known for their strength in Engineering and CS.
Harvard is not, but I have the sneaking suspicion that since it’s Harvard, they probably punch above their reputational weight in those fields. I can’t imagine Harvard offering a subpar or even mediocre program. And since a far lower proportion of H students study those things (vs. the other three schools), you may have easier access to professors.
So – I wouldn’t just dismiss Harvard out of the gate for Engineering and CS.
If you think that you might change your major – as probably about half of college students do at some point – Harvard looks even rosier. Cornell and Stanford also have a lot of quality programs. Caltech is much more focused on STEM – they lack the breadth of the other three in the social sciences and humanities. The flip side is, you would be able to focus much more on STEM at Caltech – you would have to.
I think you should focus on basic fit variables, like location, weather (do you want four seasons, or SoCal, or NoCal?), setting (urban, rural, suburban), social/sports vibe, academic vibe, and curricular style.
These are all great schools, but they are different, and if you appraise them according to what’s important to you, you’ll make the right choice.
3 Likes
Harvard, like the other three, is ABET accredited for mechanical engineering, so its mechanical engineering major would not be considered subpar.
2 Likes