<p>Yes, I've been back to New Haven many times since I graduated. I was in the first class to graduate from the School of Management.</p>
<p>Eclectic is a word that covers many evils. And I'm not sure I'd use "New York City" and "New Haven" in the same sentence. My point is this - why would anyone want to spend four years in New Haven going to Yale if you could actually live someplace nice and have an equivalent education - let's see, UCLA, Dartmouth, Bowdoin, Duke, Stanford, UCSD, UCSB etc etc. In today's world, what you produce and not where you went to school will make the difference.</p>
<p>All of the schools you mention are in rather idyllic surroundings, unlike most cities in the world - except UCLA. Westwood's nice, but not far from <em>gasp</em> poorer sections of Los Angeles. I'd pick living at Yale over UCLA any day.</p>
<p>I was glad my kid wanted to get out of her protected suburban bubble and experience a city, warts and all. I consider it part of her education.
She loves, btw. Calls it "new heaven."</p>
<p>So Oib, you graduated yale in 1978? Much has changed since then.<br>
New Haven is indeed undergoing a renaissance and is far removed from the near 30 years ago when you were a student there. </p>
<p>Other college locations that you mention like Dartmouth, Bowdoin, Duke, Stanford aren't ideal either (I've lived in palo alto and durham, both of which offer far, far less than new haven to college students; Bowdoin and dartmouth are removed from civilization in general, great if you are a hiker, sucks if you like any semblance of a city life). The UC schools are wonderful in their own right, but academically and resource wise, UCSD and UCSB aren't really in the same league as Yale or for that matter some of the other schools you listed. They are however definitely better locations than new haven if that's what you are looking for. </p>
<p>The poorer sections of new haven, while intimidating, are very valuable to the experience at yale. They ground you, reminding you that the ivory tower of yale is not the real world. And in that perspective of the real world, students are inspired to social action and community service (which is why Yale has the largest student run community service organization in the country, Dwight Hall). I think this stregnth of yale is overlooked too much by wary seniors who are justifiably tentative to make the transition to independence next year.</p>
<p>I've spent my life working in and close to cities. I knew that would be the case and it made sense for me to do my undergraduate years in a more rural setting. I guess what's going on in New Haven is a renaissance if you compare it to Hartford. As for Yale having the largest student student run community service organization, you'd think after all of these years that someone would have gotten to the root cause of the problems instead of just feeling better about helping people who are at the bottom rung of the system. I live very near to Newark, New Jersey. I spend a lot of time in Newark. I'd like to have those who served on the school board in Newark arrested for what they've done to the kids there - Newark actually spends MORE per student than the wealth communities around it. I suspect New Haven is the same. Funny how many Congresspeople send their kids to private schools but oppose school vouchers.
I'm not disparaging New Haven - but if you're motivation for living in a down and out city is to help people, there are far worse cities and neighborhoods than New Haven.</p>
<p>The root cause of the historical collapse in new haven (and many other cities) is that the primary industry which had originally spurred the city's creation and growth (I think it was shipping and steel) has crumbled. Neither yale nor its students can ever fill that industry void, but they can help with community service. With investment, a good mayor, and time, New Haven will again find its niche (and more importantly, a population proportional to its economy).</p>
<p>No,, Byerly - not after dark. (doesn't it get dark pretty early in the winter?) I'd say straying too far alone after about 10pm isn't the smartest, although kids do it all the time. With two or more, you're fine just about anywhere, though. My D and her friends are out late coming from the theater, restaurants, etc two or three times a week and they've had no problems - they just go in groups.
If you use the same common sense you'd use in any urban area, you'll be fine!</p>
<p>Yale and the surrounding area has a very active night life - students are everywhere after dark - much later than I would care to be! Waht's great is there are so many restaurants, bars, etc. very close by that you don't have to stray too far to have a good time.</p>
<p>There about as many sirens as there are bums. And let me tell you, the number of homeless you run into on a daily basis is staggering if that's not something you're used to. But I will take the bums (and never having a penny because I cant say no to someone asking for money) and all the sirens night and day if it means I get Yale.</p>
<p>in fact byerly living in yale can actually be viewed as a good experience because every day you are encountered with the nitty gritty of the tough life which many people have. This can lead to increased compasion anda search for solutions. Of course, I am revealing my bleeding heart intentions but... Great Society all the way!!!</p>
<p>"There about as many sirens as there are bums. And let me tell you, the number of homeless you run into on a daily basis is staggering if that's not something you're used to."</p>
<p>I'm one of the co-coordinators of the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project, and I'd first like to suggest that we please avoid words like "bum" to describe all homeless people since "bum" is charged with all sorts of connotations of being lazy and deservedly disadvantaged.</p>
<p>That said, Im from a suburb of Augusta, Georgia, and I see no homeless people in my neighborhood at home since this residential area is fairly spread out in terms of houses and businesses. After a pretty drastic change in environment from my move to New Haven, I think that what I found most surprising about the city were not the couple of panhandlers around campus; rather, I was shocked by the large homeless people you dont see by just walking around campus. More than 1,300 people are homeless at any given time in New Haven according to a count in 2003. New Haven actually draws a large number of people seeking social services since surrounding suburbs do not provide them themselves. This situation is a constant battle as New Haven has a budget deficit and literally cant afford to expand needed services. </p>
<p>As someone noted above, this is where <em>students</em> can make a large difference. By actively working in the community to alleviate social problems such as homelessness, students can learn extremely valuable life lessons while helping other people. I speak from experience because some of my most cherished Yale memories arent from President Levins welcoming speech or The Game. Rather, I experienced them in settings such as Harmony Place a cooperative community center run by the homeless and Yale students.</p>
<p>These experiences are largely why I love Yale and think that New Haven provides priceless experiences and opportunities to learn. And on the issue of whether or not I feel safe in New Haven, Ive walked around alone or with a couple of friends at night without fear. I think its just a matter of getting around the city and off the couple of blocks that are Yales campus! Im extremely glad that I chose to go to Yale <em>because</em> of New Haven not in spite of it. New Haven's a great place, and if you are considering working in the community or social activism during college, you've found your second home.</p>
<p>I'm sorry I meant nothing derragatory in the least by the term "bum" , i only employed it because i have this anal retentive thing about trying not to use the same word if I know of a synonym, obviously giving no thought to connotation. My heart genuinely goes out to those who are in such dire straits and I can empathize as I come from a family who has known nothing but poverty, food stamps, assisted living, etc. Were I accepted to Yale I was planning on joining some sort of service organization that addresses the issue of the homeless so it's good to know about the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project. Thank you.</p>
<p>Oh, geesh! I'm sorry if I sounded mad or offended. I didn't mean to criticize you as a person. I just try to get people to think about the some of the words that we just throw around because they often carry value judgments. </p>
<p>Best of luck in your applying to Yale! If you want to know more about community service, I'd be happy to tell you what I've been up to these past two years or so :).</p>
<p>Oh, by the way, anyone who thinks any sort of corporation (ie, Yale University) gives a damn about helping the less fortunate (aside from either some sense of rectitudinous sense of self-fulfillment or disingenuous altruism which works excellently as PR) has been misled.</p>