I only have a week left to decide… And I am even more conflicted after visiting both. Yale seems much friendlier and more of a community that takes care of its undergrads whereas harvard seems like I can easily get lost in it without anyone noticing. However, harvard has always been my dream school because of all the opportunities that it offers, whether they’re through the huge endowment or through the prestige of its name (which you can’t ignore). I also like how there’s more to explore in the city of Boston- museums, shows, internships, etc. Any thoughts or prior experiences with these schools, whether you are an alum, current student, or parent would be VERY helpful.
Wow that’s amazing that you got into both! What did you do in hs?? I’m in high school right now and my dream school is Harvard - I love Boston and I attended summer programs there and found the campus to be really welcoming. Both are excellent schools at least from what I’ve heard, but Harvard offers better financial aid and a cheaper tuition. However, Yale has smaller class sizes which might mean that the classroom experience is more engaging.
Overall, I’d probably consider your interests and go to whichever school is best suited to those interests. Harvard’s most popular majors are economics, political science, and psychology, whereas Yale’s are the same except with history instead of psychology. Really, both schools seem fairly similar and you’d probably do well at either, but best of luck!!
There isn’t a huge disparity in academics, prestige, post grad opportunities between Harvard and Yale.
Yale is every bit Harvard’s equal in these matters, and @kingslayer7 is correct about prestige, academics, and opportunities.
Internationally, I think the prestige factor isn’t as present for Yale as it is for Harvard. It would be helpful to hear some current students/alumni comment on this!
Based on what you wrote, Harvard for the city and the slight edge in prestige.
You will probably find an academic and social community there and not get lost.
Yale. From what you wrote, it sounds like you prefer Yale and are just caught up on the prestige. Yes, everyone idolizes Haaarvaarrdddd just a little bit more, but it doesn’t have any actual advantage.
Go where you feel you will be happiest and get the most out of the experience. We have several Harvard and Yale alums in the family and there is no meaningful difference in prestige. The difference in endowment on a per student basis is also minimal. As an aside, my wife attended Yale for undergrad and Harvard for grad school and vastly preferred the Yale environment. She found it more friendly and collegial. From her perspective, Yale had a sense of humor while Harvard was a little too self important.
Have you visited?
Boston …they don’t call it the Hub of the Universe for nothin’. Thurston Howell III; case closed.
They are both the top of the top schools. Go where it feels best to you. Is there a significant difference in the cost to attend one versus the other? That certainly would be a consideration.
Our daughter is a Sophomore at Harvard and she loves it. She is very content in all area’s.
Never heard of either of these schools. Are they in Idaho or something?
Go where your gut tells you, since you have already visited both and done the research. You can be very successful and happy at either college, but your gut reaction will tell you where you feel most comfortable for intangible reasons.
Go to Harvard! If you like your campus to be all in one place and not have to traipse through some not-so-nice areas to get to class, go to Harvard. Also IMO Harvard looks prettier (but I’m also someone who’s seen wayyy too much of Yale). You should definitely visit both and go to the one that “speaks” to you!
Oh whoops, I just read that you visited both already. If you’re worried about community, schools around Boston do meet-ups all the time, so there will be a larger (and probably more diverse) community if you go to Harvard rather than Yale. Yale is smaller, so that may or may not appeal to you.
Harvard undergrad has always been a more “goal-driven” place - one where those goals trump all else. You’re right in seeing Yale as offering more of of a truly integrated community giving more priority to friendship. Is Harvard’s marginally better international name recognition enough to sway you? Only you can answer this. Me? If Yale seemed a better fit I’d head there without a second thought.
Seriously!! Good for you !! Harvard is more famous for business and medical, and Yale is more in law and art especially music. If you have not decided the major, go with H !
I think Yale is like Princeton, Dartmouth and Brown in one key factor: they are more about catering to undergrads than to grad students, at least partly because they have relatively fewer grad students than most of their peers, including Harvard.
Another plus for Yale is the residential college system.
But as in any decision between schools, go through the fit variables:
Social
Environmental/Cultural
Cost
Academic (class sizes, programs offered, requirements, etc.)
Dorms/Food
I think if they are still tied after you have considered them for overall fit, you might give Yale a slight boost due to the slightly larger emphasis placed on the undergrad experience.