[gsivil]

I have visited SF only for a bit and I had the chance to visit Berkeley and Stanford. I really liked the city a lot and I want to give you my two cents about these two Universities. If you get accepted by these Universities (and let's say you do not have any offers from better places on the East side) do not hesitate in accepting it even for a second. Stanford stands out not only as academic institution in terms of ranking but as a feeling in the campus. But Berkeley has the advantage of being so close to SF.

All the best for your choice and your trip

[bugsy]

If he's doing engineering there's not much on the east coast other than MIT. Stanford, CalTech and MIT are the three on the top and there is a big gap before the next one down.

Of these three, Stanford is the only one where a normal social life is possible, assuming that's desirable.

[gsivil]

I do not know what he is about to study but for example in CS there are very very good places on the east besides MIT.

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-gradu...

The OP does not want to get details info in rankings and at such a top level I think being in Berkeley or Stanford or Cornell or Princeton is not so different.

[bugsy]

Cornell and Princeton have very poor engineering schools compared to Stanford. Princeton's physics and sciences are great, but not engineering is not comparable at all.

[_delirium]

From the perspective of CS academia, I don't think of Stanford and Cornell as having particularly noticeable prestige differences. Stanford is considerably larger, so is better-known in more areas, while Cornell specializes in a few, with a math-heavy, formal focus. Stanford's business/VC connections are definitely better known, though.

[mdon]

You clearly have no understanding of the enormity of the eastern time zone if MIT is the only engineering school you can think of.

[bugsy]

I can think of dozens of engineering schools. I listed the only one in the east that is comparable to Stanford or CalTech, not a comprehensive list of all the schools that are not as good. I hope now you understand the purpose of my previous post. Thanks.

[snikolov]

Your social life is largely what you make of it. I haven't hung out much at Stanford, and I'm not sure what the parent considers to be a normal social life, but as an MIT student, I would advise the OP to not let such stereotypes deter him from considering MIT or Caltech or any other top school.

[nostrademons]

CMU, Olin, UIUC? (Technically, two of those three are in the Midwest, but close enough...)