You've probably noticed that I haven't been blogging. Haven't really had much to say.
Stanford's victory over VA Tech last night got me thinking, though...
No one disputes that Harvard is the most prestigious academic institution in America. It's pretty much Harvard, then everyone else.
Stanford, though, is right there at the top of the "everyone else" list.
So, let's say that in terms of academic prestige, if Harvard rates 100, then Stanford comes in at 93 or 94.
But now let's look at sports. Stanford has won the Director's Cup--which recognizes the most successful college athletic program--for the past 16 years in a row. Harvard's never finished in the top 10.
True, Stanford owes much of its athletic success to country club sports like tennis, swimming, and golf. But Stanford baseball is a perennial powerhouse, and the football and basketball teams are often in the top 25. This year, Stanford football will finish third or fourth in the final rankings, having lost only to Oregon, which is playing for the national title next Monday.
Harvard can't even dream of such things.
As for quality of life, Stanford's campus is as beautiful as Harvard's (though it's a different kind of beauty); the weather is gorgeous, not Massachusetts-dreary; and San Francisco is a stone's throw away, with Napa and Lake Tahoe just a bit farther.
All things considered, this is what I conclude: If you want the most prestigious degree you can get, go to Harvard. If you want the best imaginable college experience, Stanford's got it...easily.
