<p>I'm going to apply Early Action to either Yale or Stanford. I know they're on opposite sides of the country, but I love them both for different reasons (not a legacy at either school). If anyone has an advice about either school that would be great! What are the differences in student life? What type of student goes to Yale? Stanford? </p>
<p>I want to major in literature or maybe biology
I'm very involved in orchestra and newspaper</p>
<p>Stanford has a comparitively awful music program, from what I've heard. A lot of students are involved musically, in spontaneous groups and things, but not in the official orchestra. I want to concentrate on Neuroscience and music, and Yale is better by far for the latter.</p>
<p>Otherwise, Stanford is a terrific school. The weather is much nicer than at Yale. The surrounding city isn't as run-down. It's a lot bigger, in terms of student body and campus. The architecture is more Spanish, if you're into that. There are a lot of palm trees. It's newer, cleaner, and currently more popular with acceptees than Yale is (at least over here). The sort of people I know who went to Stanford were valedictorian-types: high-achieving, high-scoring, well-spoken and involved. Their admission system is a bit of a mystery, though. One person gets in while another with identical stats does not.</p>
<p>I prefer Yale, partly because I've spent my entire life in California. I'm sick of the heat and the dang sunshine :) Most other people welcome it. Yale has the residential college system, which I would prefer to an overwhelming university where you intermingle with everyone for a while before getting to know people. The people there are very nice, as I'm sure they are at Stanford, but the school is more obviously wealthy. If you want something at Yale, they give it to you. They give you a whole lot you didn't even know you wanted as well.</p>
<p>They are about equal in terms of prestige. The Yale Daily News is nation-renowned; I don't know about the Stanford paper. Both are great for literature, and they cost about the same. That's all I know.</p>
<p>I think if you really don't hold much preference over the other right now, and they're both SCEA, you should just apply to the one you have a more likely chance of acceptance :)</p>
<p>"If you want something at Yale, they give it to you. They give you a whole lot you didn't even know you wanted as well."
tkm, could you elaborate further. What's "a whole lot"? </p>
<p>hey libs, I had (am still having) the exact dilemma. but i'm pretty sure i'm going for stanford early (if i don't change my mind for the billionith time again). the funny thing is that i'm not exactly sure why its stanford. i just went with my guts. i mean, really, there are so many things that turn me off about stanford... the spanish archtecture for one (i'm more into the gothic) and their dorm system and i could just imagine myself actually missing snow... and oh god as i write now, i feel like i've made a mistake....again. URGH</p>
<p>criminallycrude-</p>
<p>I have the exact same issue!!!! I love the whole ivy league architecture thing....the house system at yale, the cold weather, but for some reason I have a better feeling about stanford. I think i'd like the kids who go there better but I'm not sure why. I attended a summer program at Stanford several years ago and I loved all the students I met...and the food on campus is amazing! As is Palo Alto!</p>