<p>I am one of the lucky people to have a choice between two wonderful institutions, Harvard and Yale. I've visited both and I plan to attend the accepted students days later in April, and I have some idea of pros and cons of both. But I would be thrilled to hear from some people that had to make the same decision and what made them eventually choose the college that they did (in this board's case, Yale). I love both places and I'm sure I'd be happy at either, but four years is a long time, ya know? Important decision.</p>
<p>Also I posted a mirror image of this on the Harvard board, in case anyone saw the other one and wants to call me out on it.</p>
<p>First, congratulations. Not a student, but my son had the same choice to make last year. He chose Yale. My basic advice is to amass as much information as you can over the next few weeks and visit if at all possible. For some kids, the visit provides a clear answer. It didn’t for my son. In the end, though, he made his decision based on gut – with a solid foundation of knowledge. </p>
<p>No place is perfect, and there were definitely a few “slots” that Harvard appeared to fill better. No slam dunks, though, and he compared academics and extracurricular opportunities in excruciating detail. Let’s face it. When you’re dealing with H and Y, nothing is mediocre. </p>
<p>In the end, it came down to the aforementioned gut. Although he really liked kids he met at both schools, the residential college system at Yale won hands down. He also sensed that the undergrads at Yale were just happier with their experience, and in the end that mattered to him. A number of students at H, especially first-year boys, seemed somewhat flattened. Something to do with dependence on Finals Clubs for social life – apparently they’re relatively open to first-year girls, but not boys. I don’t know the details. </p>
<p>Anyway, it’s a tough decision, but an enviable one. Either way, you can’t go wrong.</p>