My son received an athletic recruiting offer from Brown, which he really likes as a school. He is also a legacy at Yale and Stanford. He did not like Stanford as much as Brown, but is intrigued by Yale. It’s not there is something particular he likes better about Yale – just that he worries he’s giving up a chance at a higher ranked school. He needs to decide whether to take the sure thing at Brown or try for Yale as a legacy. Any thoughts?
The difference in prestige between the two schools will be negligible, honestly. Yale is higher ranked than Brown, yes, but both are higher ranked than 99% of the universities in the nation. I agree with the above poster – your son should pick the one he likes better, regardless of ranking.
I could not agree more with the two comments above. The ranking is perhaps the least differentiating factor between Yale and Brown (they are both in the top 10-15 of any ranking out there; and even if there is a bigger difference, it should be the lowest of priorities as it carries little weight in graduate school or employment–the major reason for a successful applicant from a Duke, Harvard, Vanderbilt, Brown, Yale, Noter Dame, Emory, Johns Hopkins, Swarthmore, Pomona, Haverford graduate would not be from the name of the school but rather from how they performed while attending the school).
Providence and New Haven are quite different; the campus itself are quite different; the intellectual vibe are quite similar and so is their undergraduate emphasis and support; Brown’s open curriculum is unique, Yale’s residential colleges is unique; many other difference that should count more than ranking.
Nice problem to have, though!
What is that saying that goes “a bird in the hand”?
Unless you are absolutely sure your son will get into Yale, take the Brown offer. A legacy is not a sure thing by any means.
Would he play the same sport at Yale? Perhaps this should guide him. What is he hearing from the coaches in New Haven?
Is the coach offering your son a likely letter? This is the key. With the letter admission is a near sure thing. But the coach will expect commitment and to go ED. Unless your son is a superstar with another different hook admission at Yale will be unlikely even for a legacy unless a major donor. What are his grades and scores? Does he have anything else special?
Yes, the coach asked for our commitment to apply ED in exchange for full support, name on admission list, and, ultimately, a likely letter. He’s using a slot. No recruiting interest from Yale at this point, but walk on is always possible.
Unless he really prefers Yale, I’d say if he wants to play the sport and likes Brown then I agree with @wisteria100 about “a bird in the hand”. At that high level ranking is not a huge deal since all of the schools are outstanding and incredibly well respected- I can’t imagine that anyone’s long-term future would be compromised by graduating from Brown instead of Yale.
Without a sure hook to Yale it would be a very unwise decision to turn down the likely letter unless your son doesn’t want to play sports or for some reason is opposed to attending Brown. Unless his grades are perfect and he has a hook admission to any under 10% admission rate school is a crapshoot. This is an easy decision.
I agree with most of the above, but what are his academic interests, and career intents?
An academic recruitment offer means your son will almost certainly get into Brown. Take this opportunity. What if he doesn’t get into either Yale or Stanford after declining Brown’s offer? That’s actually very likely.
Unless Yale is prepared to meet the overtures of Brown, I agree with the above poster.