<p>it seemed to me that the Yale info session guy and the Yale tour guide was alot more spirited and excited to talk about Yale than the Harvard ppl.</p>
<p>The Harvard tour guide was just talking in monotone while the Yale tour guide was actually telling personal stories and tradition.. the harvard guy just kind of repeated everything that was in the guidebook..</p>
<p>i dont know.. maybe it was just because the weather in cambridge that day was really disgusting (the really light rain that falls down like needles and makes everything feel humid)</p>
<p>I replied to the same question over on the Yale forum but for the benefits of the readers here: DOn't let one unimaginative tour guide sour you on H. It's an absolutely wonderful place. For one of the better discussions about the differences btn the two, go to this thread over on the Parents forum</p>
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<p>DOn't let one unimaginative tour guide sour you on H. It's an absolutely wonderful place.<<</p>
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<p>^^I agree. You shouldn't reject any of the top schools on the basis of one kid. We toured HYPSM, and I think the worst tour guide was at Princeton -- but I still think that Princeton is a terrific school. We were just unlucky that day.</p>
<p>I liked the Yale tour guide -- seemed like a decent down-to-earth guy. I particularly remember the Harvard guide because she was a senior. Seems like nearly all the other tour guides were sophomores. And as you might expect from someone who was just about to graduate from college instead of just barely a year out of high school, she was VERY articulate, poised, and polished -- a terrific representative of what four years at that school might do for you.</p>
<p>We did Harvard and Yale tours two years in a row. First year it was Yale. The Harvard info session was dry and the weather was bad. Second year it was just the opposite. The Harvard guide was a senior, enthusiastic, knowledgeable. Its a shame that one personality can sell or put you off a college, but it happens.</p>
<p>Perhaps I'm just bitter, because a few of my close friends were rejected as Admissions Office tour guides, but I think Harvard does a relatively poor job of choosing students to represent the school. My tour guide when I visited (a few years ago... getting old!) was rather uninspiring... seemed like he had a bland speech memorized. Had a great time at Yale with two hilarious guys (although my dad thought they did too much entertaining and not enough informing).</p>
<p>In any case, for future visitors, if your admissions office tour is disappointing, think about hopping on one of the tours that leaves from the visitor's center (in the Holyoake Center by the Harvard T-stop). They're given by Crimson Key members who tend to be some of the most outgoing/friendly people on campus (again, biased, many of my friends are in Key).</p>
<p>Visits are pretty important–I couldn't imagine attending a school I'd never visited. If finances are keeping you from visiting, many schools will subsidize your trip to their admitted students weekend.</p>