<p>When my son’s class at Eton had their farewell meeting with the Headman-- he told them that for good or for ill, regardless what they do somewhere isn the first two sentences of their obituary will be that “Mr X was an Etonian.” That you will be forever stamped and that some will hate you and some will love just on that fact alone. The H Bomb is not as big but pretty close. </p>
<p>Whe I was at yale when I was asked where I went to college i would reply “In Connecticut” which was typical to most of us. I dare say that most harvardians answer “In Cambridge”. or “In Massachusetts.”</p>
<p>Just know that either school will mark you as friend or enemy by many who have no idea of anything else about you.</p>
<p>I went to Harvard undergrad and Yale grad school and, more recently, have had family at each. It’s hard for me to imagine two more similar schools, in terms of academics, structure, housing system, student body, extracurriculars, etc. I find it very difficult to believe that someone who would be happy at one would not be happy at the other. So I’d suggest finding whatever reason makes sense to you for choosing - be it location, gut feel, a class you sit in on, students you meet, or just flipping a coin - and it will be the right choice.</p>
<p>Based on what ivyalumni suggests, if one were planning a career in Global Health, concentrating on field work in developing nations, would having a Harvard degree also likely give a professional the most initial credibility and perhaps safety?</p>
<p>Totally agree with cosar. This is the same school in two different locations. I thought one location was an easy win. If you don’t, go wherever you feel like and it’s going to be a virtually identical experience.</p>
<p>@texaspg - That’s terrible advice (“Go to Y undergrad, and then Harvard Med”). HMS accepts a minute fraction of its applicants - even those applying from elite schools. It’s not something anyone can count on. OP should choose the undergrad institution s/he thinks is the best fit, be it Harvard or Yale.</p>
<p>What can I say - I take things for granted and am assuming she can make it since she seems really bright. If I said the reverse you will have a case that Yale Med is very difficult too.</p>
<p>It is interesting to me that a bunch of people here seem to have gone to both places. I do know it is extremely (probably exponentially compared to undergrad) hard to get into HMS. However, with a gap year it does seem possible as long as you do the right thing (I know at least a few people who went from Rice, one went to another country and spent an year in an AIDS clinic, one went to LSE as a Marshall scholar etc). These two people had given up admissions at Baylor in order to get into HMS by taking the gap year.</p>
I agree with this–I think this is the main reason for the difference in “tone” or “vibe” between the two schools (and it’s not that much of a difference). You might observe Dartmouth and Columbia as greater extremes of this difference.</p>
<p>“Well I am extremely interested with Neurology. Harvard has a Neurobiology undergraduate degree program, but I have also heard that Yale’s Neurology program is excellent.”</p>
<p>So, my son’s experience might be relevant. He had to make the same choice between H and Y three years ago. He went to H and started to conduct mentored research at a neurobiology lab of HMS by end of the first semester as a freshman, with a Harvard College Undergraduate Research Fellowship. He’s been working at the same lab ever since, 8-12 hours/week during the semester and full time in summers. He’s very happy about it…</p>
<p>As a H student, I can attest to the deeply layered advising and support that H has. Freshmen have a peer advisor who only advises 3-5 other students, an entryway proctor, usually a h college grad, who is an invaluable resource to his/her entryway of 18 or so students, and an academic advisor.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your input! I’m sorry I didn’t respond earlier, I got caught up with actually making the decision. I chose Yale, all of your advice really helped :)</p>