Grad student quality of life at Stanford and Harvard?

[xbomber88]

Can anyone tell me about the quality of life as a grad student at Harvard and Stanford? I've been accepted to the PhD physics programs at both schools and have no idea which one to choose. Since both schools are excellent academically and I don't yet have a specific area I want to specialize in I think I'm mostly going to make my decision based on the quality of life at these schools. For example: do the grad students socialize and work together with each other or do they just do their own thing? Are the other grad students and professors there friendly? Do people there just spend all of their time in the lab or do they have a life outside of physics? Things like that. Anybody know anything about these schools?

[worriestoomuch]

Congrats on getting to choose between Harvard and Stanford! Perhaps the best way to get the answers you're looking for is to contact current Physics grad students at both institutions. If you have the opportunity to visit the schools, that would be a great way to gauge the quality of life. Otherwise, see if the professors that admitted you can give you student e-mails. Be sure to talk to a few different people as one student's grad school paradise may be another's nightmare.

Edited March 10, 2011 by worriestoomuch

[oiseauaudio]

I don't know anything about the Physics department at either school, however i can tell you that most people I met when I was visiting Harvard (students and professors) were really really nice and friendly. i got a really good vibe. i worked at Stanford for close to 4 years, and can tell you that my experience of interacting with profs and students alike on a day to day basis was pretty different. i definitely didnt get the same vibe that i got from Harvard folks. Also, to be completely honest, I'm not a huge Palo Alto fan. around campus, it's not that diverse.....there's a main street "California Avenue" where all the shops/ student cafes and restaurants are, and that's OK, but I really like Harvard Square and Boston a lot more.

Definitely go check out both places, if you can before you make your decision. Just my 2 cents, but I don't know anyone who is at either place for Physics unfortunately.

Good luck and congrats!!!

i'll be at Harvard in the Fall for a Master's in Education!