Making College Decisions
This page documents how various students made their college decisions, including what schools they considered, which they chose, and why.
John's Choice: MIT over Stanford and Harvard
Major: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Academic Considerations
- Desire to study electrical engineering alongside computer science (rather than pure CS or symbolic systems)
- Preference for MIT's stronger FPGA and circuit design coursework
- Access to cross-registration opportunities at Harvard for humanities coursework
Community and Resources
- Emphasis on surrounding oneself with capable peers and mentors
- Value of informal learning through hallway conversations and collaboration
- Access to entrepreneurship support, including the MIT 100K competition
- Availability of affordable legal counsel for startup ventures
Lifestyle Factors
- Geographic preference to leave California for the college experience
- Interest in diverse activities beyond academics (sports, arts, social life)
- Appreciation for MIT's less athletics-focused culture
Philosophy
College selection should be driven by:
- Genuine enthusiasm for the chosen institution
- Alignment between personal interests and institutional strengths
- Recognition that education quality varies less than peer networks and available resources
- Willingness to actively create opportunities rather than passively accepting them
References: Paul Graham's essays on college and entrepreneurship.