<p>Assuming I somehow got into both Harvard and Yale (the probability of that is...well...diminutive haha), which is the better option?</p>
<p>Aside from the obvious aspect of location, what are their biggest core differences? I'd appreciate qualified alumni/faculty opinions only.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>It depends on what you want to study and what your extracurricular interests are. They simultaneously are and aren't all that different. There are a number of old threads on this topic if you search. I'd wait until I had an acceptance letter from both in hand to worry too much about the fine points and then I'd make up my mind by doing an overnight and attending classes on both campuses.</p>
<p>^^^ AdmissionsAddict offers great wisdom...</p>
<p>Please let this thread die, as it is inviting a pointless debate. As AA stated, most people can't even decide between the two so it is rather presumptuous to speculate...</p>
<p>Thanks, guys : )</p>
<p>Well, see, I ask only because I plan on applying to a limited amount of schools (certain # of safeties, matches, reaches, etc.) so I really wanted to choose, or at least try to choose between the two.</p>
<p>I could throw darts, I suppose! haha</p>
<p>Unless you deem the application fee and extra time necessary for one additional application too costly, I recommend applying to both Harvard and Yale. You can make the decision between the two later if you're accepted by both because it would be unwise to assume all Ivy League admission committees would judge your application identically. Who knows? If you applied to Yale but not Harvard and Harvard would've accepted you, or vice versa, it would be such a disappointment. If, however, you do deem the additional fee and time too costly, research the two schools on their websites and publications and then select the one you prefer more.</p>
<p>If you get in, visit both. There is no other way to evaluate a school. NO other way.</p>
<p>I think this thread can be conducted in a civil and helpful way. </p>
<p>I had to choose between the two, and it's very hard for a lot of reasons. Foremost because they're both excellent schools and generally of a similar quality. But also because there's not much reliable and helpful information for comparing the two. For me, the best way to decide was to spend some time living on each campus (during the admitted students weekends, and more if you have friends you can crash with). Spending time living on the campus is important because you're going to be there for four years. Make an effort to meet a lot of people and try to get a feel for what the campus culture is like. (<em>Disclaimer: personal experience</em>) I kind of concluded that the ambient culture at harvard involved complaining about harvard, whereas yalies were more likely to be optimistic and proud of their college. As a yale undergrad, i can tell you that this is certainly not universally true; i know plenty of people who aren't yale cheerleaders, and some of them would have liked to go to harvard instead (i also know quite a number of people from my high school who wanted to go to yale, were rejected, and <em>HAD</em> to go to Harvard :-P). But i can definitely tell you that these people are the minority. Yale has a certain spirit of community to it that gets passed on. People who choose to live a cut-throat academic lifestyle often miss out on it; but again, those people are in the minority. I met and knew a number of harvard undergrads and alums who counseled me not to matriculate to harvard over yale, which was also a big factor in my decision. </p>
<p>Another very big side to look at is academics, and that's a harder realm to judge. To start, you probably will shift your academic focus during college, if you're anything like the majority of college students. So that will lessen the weight of any one department/discipline at Yale and Harvard in helping you make your choice. But also, it's quite hard to compare departments at two universities with the limited knowledge you have. You don't know how good the professors are, what the quality of the classes are, etc. And even if you ask undergrads, it's quite possible that with a change of professor, a class will be very different. Still, i'd say your best shot is to talk to undergrads in various majors, and ask specific questions. If you just ask, "how's Harvard's psych concentration?" you're likely to hear "It's great!" just out of courtesy. Of course, this requires that you know what makes a good major, which is often difficult to know before taking some college classes. You could ask about the quality of intro vs. upper level classes, the freedom the major gives you to explore other things, how open the professors are to accepting undergrads for meaningful research, what styles of teaching are used, etc. </p>
<p>The bottom line of the academic side is that it will be extraordinarily difficult for you to get a reasonable picture of answers to relevant questions, unless you're very focused. Which kind of sucks. But you do have control over deciding whether you like the campus, student body, organizations, recent alums experiences, etc. </p>
<p>I hope that was helpful, even though i only really gave you one point of comparison between the two. But even though i'm a Yale undergrad, i think it's a true point. It was a big factor in me deciding to come to yale.</p>