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Cambridge v. Harvard
Hi! I just found/joined this site and desperately need some help
I applied to and was accepted at Pembroke to read Oriental Studies. I interviewed in Dec and loved everything about it...I lived in London for 5 years and have lots of family in england (i now live in NYC) and they were all excited to have me on your side of the pond. I thought everything was all decided - I'd come in October.
Then I got into Harvard. This may sound like some snob bragging about their situation, but it's not - I really would love to hear someone's perspective on why Cambridge's system is so much better than that at Harvard. My dad went there and is really pushing for it, which makes more confusing for me.
thank you SO MUCH in advance,
KDL
I applied to and was accepted at Pembroke to read Oriental Studies. I interviewed in Dec and loved everything about it...I lived in London for 5 years and have lots of family in england (i now live in NYC) and they were all excited to have me on your side of the pond. I thought everything was all decided - I'd come in October.
Then I got into Harvard. This may sound like some snob bragging about their situation, but it's not - I really would love to hear someone's perspective on why Cambridge's system is so much better than that at Harvard. My dad went there and is really pushing for it, which makes more confusing for me.
thank you SO MUCH in advance,
KDL
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Kasihandehloh
Hi! I just found/joined this site and desperately need some help
I applied to and was accepted at Pembroke to read Oriental Studies. I interviewed in Dec and loved everything about it...I lived in London for 5 years and have lots of family in england (i now live in NYC) and they were all excited to have me on your side of the pond. I thought everything was all decided - I'd come in October.
Then I got into Harvard. This may sound like some snob bragging about their situation, but it's not - I really would love to hear someone's perspective on why Cambridge's system is so much better than that at Harvard. My dad went there and is really pushing for it, which makes more confusing for me.
thank you SO MUCH in advance,
daniela
I applied to and was accepted at Pembroke to read Oriental Studies. I interviewed in Dec and loved everything about it...I lived in London for 5 years and have lots of family in england (i now live in NYC) and they were all excited to have me on your side of the pond. I thought everything was all decided - I'd come in October.
Then I got into Harvard. This may sound like some snob bragging about their situation, but it's not - I really would love to hear someone's perspective on why Cambridge's system is so much better than that at Harvard. My dad went there and is really pushing for it, which makes more confusing for me.
thank you SO MUCH in advance,
daniela
Firstly, Cambridge is better than Harvard because Cambridge is where you want to go and Harvard isn't.
I have heard that Cambridge is better for Undergraduate as they focus more on the postgraduates at Harvard. I suppose the deciding factor is which education system do you prefer - there is little to distinguish them in terms of reputation (I suppose Harvard just about wins there) but the difference in terms of the style of education should surely be the deciding factor. I would guess if you know exactly what you want to study and want to focus on it then Cambridge would be the better choice.
Kasihandehloh
Hi! I just found/joined this site and desperately need some help
I applied to and was accepted at Pembroke to read Oriental Studies. I interviewed in Dec and loved everything about it...I lived in London for 5 years and have lots of family in england (i now live in NYC) and they were all excited to have me on your side of the pond. I thought everything was all decided - I'd come in October.
Then I got into Harvard. This may sound like some snob bragging about their situation, but it's not - I really would love to hear someone's perspective on why Cambridge's system is so much better than that at Harvard. My dad went there and is really pushing for it, which makes more confusing for me.
thank you SO MUCH in advance,
daniela
I applied to and was accepted at Pembroke to read Oriental Studies. I interviewed in Dec and loved everything about it...I lived in London for 5 years and have lots of family in england (i now live in NYC) and they were all excited to have me on your side of the pond. I thought everything was all decided - I'd come in October.
Then I got into Harvard. This may sound like some snob bragging about their situation, but it's not - I really would love to hear someone's perspective on why Cambridge's system is so much better than that at Harvard. My dad went there and is really pushing for it, which makes more confusing for me.
thank you SO MUCH in advance,
daniela
Ditto to what generalebreity said. If you love the idea of being here, more so than Harvard, then here is the place to be.
But more helpfully (maybe) for making a decision: here's a thread on bits about Cambridge students here don't like - the downsides: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=567595
I don't know enough (or, anything) about how student life is a Harvard, though, and without knowing that can't really begin to comment on how or why Cambridge might be better.
But, take it from the students who're here, it is a great place to be
...he was...joking.
v_v
v_v
come to cambridge
there are less americans over here
there are less americans over here
If you are a very bright student, you can skip grade easily in Harvard. You can also take courses that is not your major, in case you suddenly feel interested in something else, say music. My friend is in Caltech, she is a 1yr student, taking courses that is for 2nd/3rd yr. In Harvard, you will meet real bright people, cos Harvard is more selective and have lots of scholarship to attract bright students around the world. They kick people out if they don't do well, while Cambridge seldom do this.
Nicolish
I believe not... there were some other posts by him earlier about some crap about how people with accents were inbred...
Oh yeh, I remember that thread...
me smells a
Haha I guess it's good that I'm British then and aren't technically part of that "scum" ?
I thought the same about the better undergraduate experience (the supervisions and MUCH smaller classes), and I just felt much happier when I visited Pembroke and Cambridge in general than when I spent the weekend at Harvard. But other ppl have brought up the matter of funding - since Harvard has more money (correct me if I'm wrong), they would be able to fund more, as long as I had the incentive to make it happen.
I'd like to work with Asia in the future (not sure yet exactly in what capacity, as I'm only 18 and am a girl, which may narrow the chances anyway) and so I think the depth that Cambridge's Oriental Studies goes into would be the ideal, whereas Asian Studies in the US is usually a joke. Does anyone who's reading O.S. now (I'd be doing Chinese and either Japanese or Persian) have any pros and cons of that tripos?
Does anyone know how the alumni network is at Cambridge?
Sorry if any of what I said is unnecessary - I've slept no more than 2 hours a night for about 2 weeks now...
I thought the same about the better undergraduate experience (the supervisions and MUCH smaller classes), and I just felt much happier when I visited Pembroke and Cambridge in general than when I spent the weekend at Harvard. But other ppl have brought up the matter of funding - since Harvard has more money (correct me if I'm wrong), they would be able to fund more, as long as I had the incentive to make it happen.
I'd like to work with Asia in the future (not sure yet exactly in what capacity, as I'm only 18 and am a girl, which may narrow the chances anyway) and so I think the depth that Cambridge's Oriental Studies goes into would be the ideal, whereas Asian Studies in the US is usually a joke. Does anyone who's reading O.S. now (I'd be doing Chinese and either Japanese or Persian) have any pros and cons of that tripos?
Does anyone know how the alumni network is at Cambridge?
Sorry if any of what I said is unnecessary - I've slept no more than 2 hours a night for about 2 weeks now...
Cambridge is in England. Automatic winner, no? 
Tom
here's a thread on bits about Cambridge students here don't like - the downsides: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=567595
I actually read that thread before posting my own (not wanting to take up anyone's time unnecessarily), but the suicide rates and hard work don't bother me that much. I'm more interested in the actual calibre (is that how it's spelled in the UK?) of the material I'd learn...and (I'll admit it) the relative prestige of the two. My dad is, of course, talking up Harvard and saying that everyone thinks it's just the best, but I've had a lot of people saying that Cambridge is the best uni in the world!
fastswift
If you are a very bright student, you can skip grade easily in Harvard. You can also take courses that is not your major, in case you suddenly feel interested in something else, say music. My friend is in Caltech, she is a 1yr student, taking courses that is for 2nd/3rd yr. In Harvard, you will meet real bright people, cos Harvard is more selective and have lots of scholarship to attract bright students around the world. They kick people out if they don't do well, while Cambridge seldom do this.
in Harvard alumni connections (which the OP has) help. And Cambridge do help with funding. And you get kicked out if you don't do well. You're talkng out of your arse.
Hmm. I guess you've found this thread, too: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=560908
I'm not sure there is anyone on TSR who's studied at both Cambridge and Harvard, and would be in a position to compare them for you, really.
As regards prestige...afaik the Cambridge brand is as good as the Harvard one, globally. But the Oriental dept.'s reputation, specifically, I'm not so sure about...didn't the uni try to close it down recently? And I believe I've heard people suggest that in Britain at least, the top dog for that kind of course is SOAS rather than Cambridge. But reputation, well, it's a very debatable thing. And probably not what you want to base your choice of uni on. Tbh, both Cambridge and Harvard will look good on a CV or whatever. You actually enjoying your 3 years' of study is the more important point...
I'm not sure there is anyone on TSR who's studied at both Cambridge and Harvard, and would be in a position to compare them for you, really.
As regards prestige...afaik the Cambridge brand is as good as the Harvard one, globally. But the Oriental dept.'s reputation, specifically, I'm not so sure about...didn't the uni try to close it down recently? And I believe I've heard people suggest that in Britain at least, the top dog for that kind of course is SOAS rather than Cambridge. But reputation, well, it's a very debatable thing. And probably not what you want to base your choice of uni on. Tbh, both Cambridge and Harvard will look good on a CV or whatever. You actually enjoying your 3 years' of study is the more important point...
fastswift
If you are a very bright student, you can skip grade easily in Harvard. You can also take courses that is not your major, in case you suddenly feel interested in something else, say music. My friend is in Caltech, she is a 1yr student, taking courses that is for 2nd/3rd yr. In Harvard, you will meet real bright people, cos Harvard is more selective and have lots of scholarship to attract bright students around the world. They kick people out if they don't do well, while Cambridge seldom do this.
I've got to admit, it's refreshingly amusing to hear someone complain Cambridge isn't selective enough
I was in a similar situation until about 4 weeks ago - I got into Stanford (unexpectedly) and my parents were telling me not to decline the offer so quickly - after all, it wasn't dependent on STEP grades as my Cambridge offer was - but I did in the end when the decision deadline came (Isn't the deadline the same for Harvard? If so, then surely you already made your decision?). The deciding factor for me, funnily enough, was the fact that you must take courses outside your major - specifically, the general education requirements. One man's meat is another's poison. While I don't mind learning a bit of everything, I would rather do that at my own leisure and not have to do homework and undergo assessment for it. (I've had enough of writing essays for English and history and the like - I didn't drop it two years ago just to take it up again at university!)
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