Harvard and MIT ( from the Outlook magazine)

Quants vs Quals

Much has been said about the cultural differences between Harvard and its neighbour, MIT, the latter allegedly being quantitative in its approach, the former more qualitative. The story goes that at a local Cambridge supermart, an Express checkout counter had a great big sign above it saying, ‘FOR SHOPPERS WITH 5 PACKAGES OR LESS’. A student lands up here with a trolley piled high with groceries. The cashier turns to him, wearily, and asks, “So, are you one of those Harvard grads who can’t count, or one of those MIT ones who can’t read?”