sooo, I'm stuck. no pun intended. I can't choose between what uni to apply to during EA 2024 as an international African student.
Stanford is Restrictive binding EA while MIT is non-restrictive EA
#MIT vs Stanford ED?
prime glen
PROS:
Stanford:
Has a wider variety of courses where I can diversify what I learn
Great weather & nature, similar to my home country :)
D1! great athletics and facilities (I'm an athlete)
Outstanding alumni network
Close to Silicon valley (idk if that's still a benefit now)
higher chances of getting a full-ride scholarship if accepted
hiking culture and amazing hiking locations!!
.
MIT:
prank culture :)
IHTFP
minor time difference from my home country (7 hours!)
engineering focused (pro & con)
cheaper flights and shorter flights from my home country to Boston compared to Stanford.
THE HOBBY SHOP! focused on hands-on learning (mens et manus)
it has been my dream uni ever since like my freshman year of highschool or even before
.
.
CONS:
Stanford:
has some snobby rich and privileged kids that get away with things easily
duck syndrome
massive time difference from my home country (10 hours!)
crazy expensive flight tickets and flights last more than a day :/
feel like Cali is too expensive for me to live in
the Stanford bubble
parties seem like they can get out of hand
.
MIT:
IHTFP
the winters are true winters (I dislike the cold)
Boston too city like and reminds me of NY (too busy & noisy for my liking)
engineering focus (pro & con)
feel like i'd experience more imposter syndrome here compared to Stanford.
D3 athletics :/
lacking foresty or green areas and hiking locations.
.
Kindly tell me what you think you'd do if you were in my position and why. EA for 2024 is opening this summer so I still have time.
MIT was the first US uni that I came across and I obsessed about it, I still do though as time passed. I learnt of other maybe better US unis that may fit better like Stanford though idk.
random fact: I love star gazing and I feel like the Boston city lights will cause light pollution and places like the Stanford dish would be great star gazing locations!!
also heard that Stanford has better food than MIT but not sure about that.
sonic panther
I would probably say apply for both and see what happens. Stanford would be my pick if I was you just because of all the pros. But if mit is not binding then I would just apply to both
prime glen
major either aerospace engineering or computer engineering for MIT but if I get into Stanford symbolic systems would be my top choice then the other two my 2nd and 3rd choice
you can apply to both unis even if one is binding?
sage willow
MIT has early action which is non-binding, but you can apply to as many other early action schools you want. However, Stanford has restrictive early action, which means that Stanford is the only early action school you can apply to (also non-binding).
But both don't have ED (binding)
prime glen
oh didnt realize thanks
clever trench
@prime glen why do you think that Stanford would cost less? MIT is one of the only schools in the world that is need-blind and full need, including for international students
We are one of only seven American universities that is need blind and full need, which means no student is disadvantaged in the admissions process because of their financial need. We meet the full financial need of all admitted students who apply for aid, which means we award financial aid based entirely upon your family’s demonstrated financial need—not any measure of merit.
And for most students with family incomes under $140,000 a year (and typical assets), we ensure that scholarship funding will allow them to attend MIT tuition-free.
In general, if you think that Stanford will give you a full ride, I would assume that MIT will do the same, so I wouldn't use money as a pro or con.