<p>As we all know, Yale is super selective and it's hard to know if you have a chance at getting in. So I wanted to know if anyone knows of any less selective colleges that are similar to Yale (gothic architecture, residential colleges, happy students, good orchestra, good academics). I know a few that are similar, and I've searched the board but I haven't really found a lot. So if anyone has any colleges that share similar qualities with Yale, please help.</p>
<p>University of Chicago (not MUCH easier, albeit easier).</p>
<p>Duke (same gothic architecture, happy students, good academics, not that easy to get in to).</p>
<p>Rice in Houston.</p>
<p>I second Rice! When it came down to deciding where I’d go, it came down to those two - Yale won because of better financial aid, and it is Yale, after all.</p>
<p>No place is all Gothic, and few have as much as Yale. But, in addition to places already named in this thread, you can find a significant Gothic presence at Boston College, Cornell, Georgetown, Princeton, Sewanee, University of Richmond, and Wash U. A special case is the University of Pittsburgh, whose campus is anchored by a 42-story Gothic tower, the Cathedral of Learning.</p>
<p>The buildings at Rice, however, are neo-Byzantine rather than Gothic in style. But Rice did copy its residential college system from Yale, has a strong music program (a conservatory, actually), etc. Still very competitive admissions but not as tight as Yale’s.</p>
<p><a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rice_University_-_detail.JPG[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rice_University_-_detail.JPG</a></p>
![http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rice_University_-_detail.JPG[/url]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rice_University_-_detail.JPG%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
<p>Northwestern has your last 3 characteristics but not the first 2. </p>
<p>It was my daughter’s “almost-as-good-as-Yale-but-less-selective” college.</p>
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<p>There is only Yale.</p>
<p>I’m not sure Rice and NW qualify for “good orchestra” unless the OP plans on attending a conservatory.</p>
<p>Ahem,</p>
<p>abbreviation for Northwestern = NU</p>
<p>not “NW”</p>
<p>I’m sorry for not using the surely universal abbreviation:</p>
<p>[College</a> Confidential - Search Results](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/search.php?searchid=30680391]College”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/search.php?searchid=30680391)</p>
<p>You should be.</p>
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<p>The OP did not specify personal participation was a goal. However there are musical opportunities for non-conservatory students at both schools. Exactly how much and to what level of quality would require research.</p>
<p>My D had looked into voice at NU (not the school of music or the joint degree program) and there were plenty of opportunities there. I am not sure about instrumental music.</p>