<p>I chose Columbia over Yale and never regretted it. For me, the Core and NYC were too appealing to pass up.</p>
<p>I was ED to Columbia, but I was debating up until literally the day I submitted my app between Yale SCEA and Columbia ED (in fact, Yale, Columbia and EA UChicago were the only apps I completed). I switched briefly to Yale, but my guidance counselor insisted that Columbia was the right choice for me. I’m still 100% sure which school I would have preferred to be honest, as the two primary things that I like about Columbia (above comparable schools) are the performing arts and the core. And I think Yale Directed Studies would have been an okay substitute for the core, and performing arts at Yale seem pretty intense, what with the dramat and such.</p>
<p>Still, being in NYC is so amazing. NYC is infinitely better than New Haven. I’m still not positive where I would have landed if I had the opportunity to go to both, though. But DEFINITELY Columbia over Princeton or Harvard, in a heartbeat, just because the Columbia culture is much more “me” than either of those two.</p>
<p>I’ve noticed that among my friends (and on here) Yale is generally the “other” school, either because people applied to Yale and were rejected or because they were accepted to both or because they seriously considered applying but did Columbia ED instead. Perhaps the culture at the two schools is similar?</p>
<p>I went to the recent Days on Campus event at Columbia this past weekend and met 3 students that picked Columbia over Harvard (accepted by both).</p>
<p>For me, I applied to and got accepted by Columbia ED. It was always a toss up for me between Columbia and Harvard. I definitely prefer it over Yale, Princeton, and Stanford though. Princeton may be a true “college” experience, but I disliked its semi-remote location. Yale had too much of a pretentious vibe when I visited and the surrounding area is probably as dangerous as it gets. I grew up in the Bay Area and love it to death, but Stanford isn’t really in the greatest location if you don’t have a car to access the opportunities around the bay.</p>
<p>I got in ED to columbia. For me it was between Columbia and Harvard. I had legacy at Harvard, but chose ED to columbia because - let’s be honest - it’s the best place EVARRR</p>