<p>I know there have been threads like this in the past, but my situation is a bit different. I was accepted to Yale SCEA and received a likely letter from Brown last week (yay!) I know a million people would kill to be in my position, but I have a feeling this is going to be a VERY difficult decision for me. I’ve been to both campuses twice and here’s what I’ve gleaned:</p>
<p>Yale: more intense, prestigious, intellectual, better targets what I’m interested in (humanities/art with a concentration in film photography/American studies), better facilities BUT didn’t get the “at home” feeling whatsoever, New Haven isn’t the greatest, and, naturally, quite intimidating. </p>
<p>Brown: more laid-back & down to earth students, more of a “hippy/artsy” school, felt immediately at home, Providence > New Haven, lots of freedom BUT doesn’t target what I’d like to study as well, seems actually quite similar to my high school experience (partially why I felt so at home?), less prestigious (though I think that’s a silly reason not to go), the “easy” choice according to my family (not academically, really, they want me to go outside of my comfort zone).</p>
<p>Since this is such a personal decision, I realize that, ultimately, it’s me that’s going to have to make the final call, but I’d love to read some of your guys’ insight(s). I’ve also posted this to the Yale boards.</p>
<p>Don’t know too much about doing Photography/Art at Brown, but I do know someone double majoring in American Studies and Visual Arts that I could get more insight from if that’s what you want :)</p>
<p>i<em>wanna</em>be_Brown: I’m not a big fan of the open curriculum; I tend to like semi-structured learning environments. I LOVE the residential college system to death.</p>
<p>Lapras: I would LOVE to hear about that person’s double-majoring experience.</p>
<p>^Haha you got me!
No really though, not at all. I’d prefer you feel at home wherever you go. If you choose Yale, I’ll be glad to see you there (assuming I get in haha). Regardless, I’ve felt wrong at places before and it’s ugly. If you can’t mesh with the environment, you can’t be happy or learn as much. Of course, you can get used to it or it can grow on you, but I wouldn’t take a gamble like that with something this big and scramble to transfer later on if it doesn’t work. </p>
<p>Hey lacsea, congrats! I’d kill to be in your position when I apply next year haha! But from reading your post I personally would say Brown. I do not have a penchant for Brown (Yale is actually tied for my 2nd choice, hope I get in) but think about it. You have to be at this school for 4 years. In that time, you really want to be happy in your environment, and if you are happier at Brown, you will probably do better in school as well. So my two cents say Brown over Yale because of that “fit” factor.</p>
<p>^
really? Did we read the same post? The OP said they love the Yale college system and aren’t a huge fan of Brown’s Open Curriculum. Honestly, if you are enjoying Brown, you’re barely going to get into Providence, and I imagine it’s a similar thing at Yale. Kind of seems to me like it’s Yale by a land-slide unless I’m misreading what “intellectual” means or if the OP really, really liked the ethos of their high school and want’s college to replicate that.</p>
<p>@overachiever01: Just to clarify, I applied EA to Yale as opposed to ED to Brown because I didn’t want to make a binding commitment. It seemed like the best solution. Thank you for all of the advice, everyone! Keep it coming :)</p>
<p>Don’t know if financial aid will be a factor. If so, obviously you will have to add that to the mix. If you are exactly 50/50 undecided, go back (again) to each campus for a full overnight stay once you do know that you got into both, (preferably NOT during the madness of ADOCH or Yale’s equiv (which are at the same time, I understand) but when the schools are in “regular functioning” mode. Ask around and likely you can find a student who will let you bunk over and help you find some other students in areas you think about studying to attend some classes etc. If you can’t do that, or to find out if you are really sitting on the fence, I ask students to pretend that someone else is saying to them you “HAVE to go to” and see how they feel about giving up the other one. It has to be your decision really if you can, not anyone else’s opinion. Where will you be less likely to be saying “if only I had gone to X instead”?</p>
(preferably NOT during the madness of ADOCH or Yale’s equiv (which are at the same time, I understand) but when the schools are in “regular functioning” mode. Ask around and likely you can find a student who will let you bunk over and help you find some other students in areas you think about studying to attend some classes etc. If you can’t do that, or to find out if you are really sitting on the fence, I ask students to pretend that someone else is saying to them you “HAVE to go to” and see how they feel about giving up the other one. It has to be your decision really if you can, not anyone else’s opinion. Where will you be less likely to be saying “if only I had gone to X instead”?</p>