I got accepted to Stanford and MIT, but I don't know which one I should go to. I'm going to MIT next week and Stanford the week after that. I just want to here other people's opinions. I'd also appreciate advice for a college freshman who has a tough time making new friends.
2007-04-06 13:15:34 · 12 answers · asked by Blade Edge 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
I greatly enjoyed my four years at MIT, oh so many years ago. Yet as biased as I am toward the 'Tute, go to CPW and the Stanford equivalent with open eyes, heart, and mind.
What was great about MIT were the incredible opportunities, the academic infrastructure, and going to school with so many people who were far cooler and more intelligent than I was. You'll learn an amazing amount in your time there, and there is the good chance you'll have a blast doing it. Believe me, Boston is a great place to be a student.
I think you'll find you'll have to work at NOT making friends, at least during the first part of freshman year. A lot of MIT life revolves around your living group, and they'll drag you out (sometimes kicking and screaming into the shower, but that's another story...)
Yet I'm sure Stanford has pretty much the same incredible opportunity, academic promise, and really, really cool people. The Bay Area is also not a bad place to be.
Enjoy the visits, and enjoy the decision. I don't think you can make a bad one.
2007-04-06 14:00:24 · answer #1 · answered by Lee G 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Congrats on being accepted to both! No one I know gets accepted to either. All my smart friends go to Harvard. I'm quite biased because I've only visited MIT and I love it there, but I'll try to help you. I think a big factor in your decision can be location. MIT and Stanford are in very different places. On which coast do you want to live? Do you want cold, snowy winters? Or do you want to be able to go to the beach all year long (MIT isn't way far from beaches either though). Boston/Cambridge is sort of a big college town with all the schools there. Do you like that atmosphere? I don't know any numbers for whether MIT students get better and more job offers, but I have reason to believe that they do. MIT students are primarily in tech majors. Engineering is the biggest major there. Stanford's biggest majors are biology, econ, and poli sci. It's a lot easier to get a job in engineering with a bachelor's than it is to get a job in econ and poli sci (there's not too much you can do with just a bachelor's in those) and biology (purer science=fewer jobs. Try being a mathematician). Also, if you come out of MIT with an engineering degree, you're an "MIT engineer." Coming out of Stanford, you're a Stanford grad, which is fantastic, but there's no field where Stanford is the number one brand. You can be a "Harvard lawyer" or a "Wharton business grad." Stanford doesn't have something like that. In fact, MIT has such a great reputation that a high-tech corridor has formed in the Boston area. The people who build their businesses there came for MIT (and Harvard) grads, so they are eager to hire. No such corridor has formed around Stanford (but there is Silicon Valley somewhat nearby). MIT is pretty much *the* tech school. (There's also Caltech, but that's not one you're considering.) I think if you are leaning towards a math/science degree, you should go to MIT simply because of what it is and how it wants to educate it's students. But if you really feel that you might get a degree in a non math or science field, go with Stanford. Sorry I was so obviously biased and that I'm not super well-informed about Stanford. My friends brother went there and loved it, so I think it can be great for some people. Both my friend and her sister chose Cambridge, though they go to Harvard, not MIT. If you do end up going to MIT, take multivariable with Professor Auroux. He's amazing.
2016-04-01 01:16:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to CPW next week, and go to the Stanford thing. They will throw all the positives at you, though, so try to look through the rose-colored glasses and find the schools that is the best fit for you. Both are great schools for both engineering and science (and lots of other things, too). Each has its own personality.
As for making friends: have you joined the class of '11 Facebook page for MIT? (Stanford may have one, too.) It will help if you can meet people online with common interests--when you meet them, it'll be like you're already friends (but it is okay if it doesn't wind up working out!). You will be paired with an MIT student at CPW based on a form you filled out, so they should have something in common with you.
Good luck!
2007-04-06 14:28:19 · answer #3 · answered by kimpenn09 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mit Cpw
2016-10-12 22:48:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations -- lots of people would like to have your problem. It is hard to turn down either program.
If you want to major in engineering, mathematics, economics or business -- then MIT has the better undergraduate programs. For other sciences, they are probably equivalent. For almost anything else, Stanford is better.
I've lived in both areas (I got my PhD at Berkeley and taught at MIT one year). I prefer Boston to the Bay area -- but lots of people feel differently.
As for your other question -- you have to realize that college is not like high school. I never felt that I fit in while in HS -- but felt at ease in college. If you believe that you are a little geeky, then you may find it easier to make friends at MIT than at Stanford.
2007-04-06 15:24:38 · answer #5 · answered by Ranto 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well if you want to be a great engineer go to MIT if you want to be in California go to Stanford. If I was better in math and got higher grades in Cal then a B I would have chosen engineering for my profession instead of finance and investment banking and gone to MIT. But MIT grads get top jobs in the governments and in industry and great NASA pilots and astronauts have graduated from there. I would choose MIT
2007-04-06 13:25:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow... What a great problem to have. Two of the best schools in the world. Make your decision on a variety of criteria. I would include location, faculty, curriculum based on your interests. You could make based on weather to. Stanford would be the choice with that criterion.
As for making friends, get involved in things. There are clubs for just about everything you can think of. There is fraternity life as well, if that is your thing. But if you get involved, you'll get to know some people and you'll make friends that will be your friends for the rest of your life. College is a great experience. Enjoy it and work hard. Good luck to you.
2007-04-06 13:38:12 · answer #7 · answered by David G 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about these unversities. But I heard they are all great. So congrats! If I were you I'd absolutely pick Standford, it's better.
Having friends,
I have a lot of friends. You just have to be yourself. Say hi and be as friendly as you possibly can. Don't go mean and push everyone around. And if you have a bastard in disguise as a friend, you should terminate them as soon as you got the time. Don't be afraid and walk behind people's shadows, they'll think you're gullible and easy to deal with.
For me, making friend is as easy as a pie. Be friendly and nice. Of course, you have to stay loyal to them as you are loyal to your partners.
2007-04-06 13:54:17 · answer #8 · answered by Allis07 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
--1st year at one, and 2nd year at the other. The credits are entirely transferrable. Many attend more than one college; especially to go a year or so in another country.
2007-04-06 14:20:47 · answer #9 · answered by Mark 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe you should choose the college that best suits you, check out the campus the academics and the ec activities.. it is all about what you like... maybe one is closer to something you like than the other one, maybe one has a better (ex) law program than the other, it is all up to you, after all it is for your future, not anybody else's
2007-04-06 13:25:45 · answer #10 · answered by Lindsey A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋