ATTN: attend/live by Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Carnegie Mellon, Vanderbilt, Rice, or Harvey Mudd??

Hi, the schools in the title are the ones to which I've applied. I want to know everything there is to know about them, and so I'm trying to find people who attend them (currently or alumni), or who live in the area and have things to say.

I'm interested in:

**student social life--party school? too serious? do they get involved (extracurriculars, politics, etc)?
**student attitudes--stuck up? helpful?
**administration--helpful or annoying?
**weather!!
**tall good-looking guys?? j/k (Honestly, though, I've heard of colleges where it just seems everyone is really short, and being a 6' tall female, I want tall guys!! lol)
**Anything else you know! I just listed the above for ideas, but if you have something to say please say it!!

thanks so much for input!!

-sky

 

Uhhhh...where are your safeties?

 

I can give you some information about the esteemed Central Michigan University, if you'd like.

 

I had my Harvard interview this evening. That was intimidating :/

EDIT: Heh, Olsen Twins, if she had put CMU instead of spelling out Carnegie Mellon you could have helped her!

 

hehe

According to the Princeton Review, CMU, HM, and Vandy are safeties, and the rest "good match"--no "reach."

But no, I'm not basing my life on what the computer tells me. I agree about CMU, for sure. But I'm probably applying to Northwest Nazarene University, too, b/c it will pay full tuition (National Merit) and is close to home. NNU is my real safety. But I don't want to go there!

-sky

 

well, I live five minutes from CMU. only thing I can comment on is the weather. There is none. The sun never shines in pittsburgh. it's cold, it's rainy. there's a big glare that comes from above the clouds, but we're lucky if we see the sun three times a year. snow is sportatic as is the temperature. Last week it was in the fiftees. Now it's somewhere below twenty and snowing all day. bad weather.


edit: CMU is kinda big league in tech stuff to be a safety.

 

If I was looking for a college, I'd be interested in what types of programs they offer, and how these are relavent to what I want to do in life. The name of the school means nothing, unless they offer the program that you are interested in.

 

FateNaberrie, I had my first interview (Rice) yesterday. So now I know what to expect. I've been waiting for Harvard and the rest to contact me about interviews... What was yours like?

Liz: argh. The one thing I dislike about the schools in PA and the Northeast is the cold weather. Oh well.

I'm interested in physics (and astronomy) and computer science. I'm certainly not applying for the name. These are just the schools that stood out for everything they have to offer.

About CMU being a safety: I don't know, but I've always felt pretty sure about getting in. Maybe I'm wrong, but I have high test scores and a very strong academic record... And to be honest, being a girl will help too!

-sky

 

Vandy only has one bar. Whether that means they all drink in dorms, I dunno

 

The Harvard interviewer was very...nerdy. It was pretty easy, as my other interviews were, not as scary as I hyped myself up for. Oh, but they do ask for class rank and Test scores (AP/SAT/SAT II) so y'might want to bring those along if you don't have them memorized. I didn't know my SAT II's and so it wasn't so good.

Oh, and I know someone (well, a brother of a former friend) who's graduating with a BS in Physics this year from Harvard (yes, Natalie's class)... which is only of consequence because you mentioned Physics, but I couldn't exactly put you in contact with him. Except he's part of the Well Hung Jury which is a local improv troupe. So yeah, there might be contact info at the other end of the link...

 

What do you mean "only one bar"?? I'm confused.

What is the guy's name? There are short bios. Maybe I'd be able to look something up.

-sky

EDIT: physics may be overrated or whatever you think, but it's still my passion. And I fully intend to get my Ph.D. in astrophysics.

 

Physics is overrated. Its an academic field that pretty much requires you to get a PhD, and that program will take you into your thirties. That is, unless you're a genius.

 

Aaron

Physics teachers (at least at my school) are exceptional at explaining things and making it fun. I don't know if this is a somewhat universal physics thing or what, but I can see why someone would want to study Physics with teachers like the ones here.

 

Your schools are very difficult, however, just basing it on social activities, admin, etc will not help you out if you want to get a good education which all of these schools provide.

I go to Fordham in NYC and I didn't apply to those schools, but I did apply to Penn, UVA, Washington&Lee, Penn State and Boston U. I got in 3, rejected in 3. You need some safe schools.

And you'll have a good time at the school depending on how you utilize your time there, not what is there.

 

I'm just trying to decide between these seven. Before I ever get acceptance/rejection letters, I want to have a pretty fair idea of a ranked order that I would prefer to attend them. The only thing to change that would be financial aid offers.

 

only one bar = literally ONE bar on/around campus

However, you are obviously very intelligent, so drinking and ass are probably not you top priorities.

 

However, you are obviously very intelligent, so drinking and ass are probably not you top priorities.

Does that make me unintelligent?

Gosh darnit, I knew there was a reason.

EDIT: physics may be overrated or whatever you think, but it's still my passion. And I fully intend to get my Ph.D. in astrophysics.

I was just venting at the lack of job opportunities with my Physics degree. It was, and still is, my passion (astrophysics as well). I respect people with PhD's in this field immensely, and I still hope to get a masters in astrophysics once I'm done with my Engineering grad work.

In short, I was kidding. Thats a great field to go into if you're willing to do the work.

 

LOL
Well, you are right. I would rather there be no drinking at all, but I'm certainly expecting it. Oh well.

 

I don't think you're unintelligent DOT

You seem to be very focused, just remember to balance what you like with somewhere where you'll fit in and feel comfortable.

 

WKU is but an hour from Vandy and my cousin went there. Nice campus (both of them) and everything you'd want.
6' 2" here LOL

 

I went to Pitt, which is right next to CMU. If you want to pursue computer science, then CMU is a very good school for that. The people I know from there are all pretty nice and some like to party, and some don't.

If you want a good idea of the setting, watch the movie Wonder Boys, as it is set on the campus. If you hate cald weather, then stay away. If it doesn't bother you though, then give CMU some thought. CMU is also just a few minutes away from many things to do around Pittsburgh.

 

Most Ivy Leagues fulfill 100% of Financial Aid needs, so you'll probably get as much as you need from most, if not all, of these.

 

I can give you some info on Harvard:

Good school overall. Classes can be really hard though. Expect to work your ass off for four years. Very competitive.

Social life is outstanding. Huge numbers of on campus parties as well as lots of off campus bars and hangouts in Harvard Square. You'll also have opportunity to mingle with students from all of the other schools in Boston (MIT, BU, BC, Lesley U, just to name a few).

Boston can be cold as hell in winter (in fact its 15 degrees here right now) but I think everything else that Harvard has to offer makes up for it.

If you get accepted Harvard has some of the best student financial aid packages of any school. They'll help you out in any way to make sure you can pay for it.

 

go and study in Europe - thats my suggestion a much better experience overall !!!! (learning in another country).

The University I went to was more than 500 years old thats older than some people's countries have been around

malkie

 

Rice is a very small school, located in the middle of Houston. Great education but if you're looking for a "college" experience go somewhere else. The real college atmosphere's with good academics in the state of Texas are at UT and Texas A&M. (Texas Tech has good partying, but is located in the armpit of west Texas and isn't the greatest in terms of academics.)

Of your list, you should look hardest at Harvard and Yale, depending on whether you are more liberal or conservative.

Both have good campus atmosphere's and partying and of course the academic reputation is hard to beat at eiher.

Good luck with your college search.