<p>Hey everyone! Out of all the colleges I got into, I think I've come down to Harvard vs. Yale. I'm interested in studying a combination of Economics and Political Science (or Government, as they call it at Harvard!) </p>
<p>Please help me make an informed decision!</p>
<p>Have you visited both schools? That’s the best way to get the feel for the campus culture, and that’s likely what your decision will come down to. Academics at both institutions are superb.</p>
<p>Yes, I’m definitely visiting but I wanted some information prior.</p>
<p>You haven’t given posters too much to go on. Econ and Poli Sci will be great at both schools. What other factors are important to you in a college? </p>
<p>My son had the same choice to make when he was a senior. He compared academics and extracurricular opportunities at H and Y in excruciating detail, but that comparison didn’t provide a clear answer. In the end, it came down to gut. Yale’s residential college system won hands down. Mostly, though, he concluded that Yale’s campus culture would suit him better than Harvard’s. He is extremely happy at Yale. He’s blown away by the intellectual prowess of some of his classmates, but also says the majority, even the brainiest, are non-competitive (except with themselves), collaborative, and even self-deprecating.</p>
<p>Sorry, Econ and Poli Sci? Not my area of expertise but when i hear those two majors, I think Yale and Yale (Most Interns on Wall St? How many recent presidents?)</p>
<p>Perhaps even more than most fields, it’s very important to make the right connections in Econ/PolSci. At Yale all the ‘big name’ professors teach undergraduates. You’d also have the possibility of taking Directed Studies in the first year which is known to be a brilliant basis for future Econ and PolSci majors. We also have the combined EPE (Ethics, Politics and Economics) major which appears to be a perfect fit for your interests.</p>
<p>Ditto yale2014’s post. Econ and PoliSci are part of the nucleus of general interests at Yale. If you are coming to Bulldog Days, I recommend you attend a YPU party debate, look out for political organizing events (Yale Dems are the largest group of this type on campus), and attend a Directed Studies or intro PoliSci lecture or section. Intro econ is a boring, homogeneous good at both schools. You’ll get a list of recommended lectures when you show up, but don’t be afraid to go off the grid, either.</p>
<p>It might also be good to talk to some professors at both schools about the differences they perceive between Y and H curriculums. Finally, I’ll say that the belief that Yale’s institutional focus is on undergraduates is completely true, even in your freshman year here you’ll be astounded by the attention that is lavished on you, regardless of your academic interests.</p>
<p>Ah! Thanks nickknack! Your advice was really helpful! </p>
<p>I’m interested in doing a double major in Political Science and History at Yale - is that fairly doable? (As opposed to Government being nearly impossible to dual concentrate with anything at Harvard). </p>
<p>One of the big draws about Harvard in terms of the field I’m interested in (Political Science/Government) is the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (not that I’ll actually study there, but it does offer institutional support) and also the IOP - with lots of political talks and internship opportunities etc. </p>
<p>Does Yale have a similar infrastructure for those activities and opportunities?</p>
<p>If any Yalies who happen to know, can offer their views - that’ll be great! Otherwise I’ll take those questions with me to BBDs I suppose. :)</p>
<p>I don’t know how H Bus Sch faculty are accessible for Harvardians but at Yale, Sch of Mgt faculty and classes could be had by Yale undergrads. I took a few good ones when I was there.</p>
<p>You certainly want to look at the faculty at both schools and see if one or the other has folks who seem to reflect your interests.</p>
<p>Yale doesn’t have anything equivalent to the Kennedy School, and Yale’s school of management doesn’t have the scale or prestige of the Harvard Business School. But the graduate schools at Harvard at pretty much geared to supporting their own students – undergraduates don’t very often take courses there.</p>
<p>You generally have little contact at Harvard with the graduate schools. They are in their own worlds. Especially HBS. It’s not only in a bubble, but it has a deflector shield for the rest of life.</p>
<p>The only important factor is which place you feel fits you best. The academics are not distinguishable. You may read, for example, that they have some big name this or that - both do - but then decide never to have a course with that person. Pick where you feel you’ll be happiest.</p>
<p>skylitup-</p>
<p>The short answer is no, we don’t exactly have a Kennedy School, but the School of Management and the Law School both have excellent reputations and are generally accessible for undergraduates. Having never gone to Harvard, I can’t verify the observations that T26E4, Opensecret, and Lergnom made, but I can say that I’ve found SOM and the Law School to be distant but not impenetrable. Fall semester, the Law School’s foremost constitutional scholar, Akhil Amar, taught a class on the Constitution that was open to undergraduates. Similarly, past and present deans of the Law School haven’t been afraid to show up and teach or lecture to undergraduates.</p>
<p>In terms of guest lecturers and speaking engagements, Yale won’t sell you short of opportunities. This year, I’ve been able to see two Supreme Court justices and three current and former heads of state (and Clinton is coming in May), and at least 5 senators and congressmen have come around campus. Some come and speak exclusively to undergraduate organizations, especially the YPU and Yale Dems. I’ve found that it’s relatively easy to attend guest speaking engagements at the Law School and School of Management, mostly I just show up and ask politely, even when they’re closed to undergraduates. </p>
<p>Finally, one thing you don’t hear as much about is how easy it is to get involved in local politics. To give you an idea: Local aldermen (city council members) are always looking for Yale students who want to assist local political projects, the campus has its own student alderman and ward committee, and Yale students are currently coordinating the on-campus Census collection. Yale students will also periodically lobby at the State Capitol or work with local elected state leadership on statewide issues.</p>
<p>“You generally have little contact at Harvard with the graduate schools. They are in their own worlds. Especially HBS.”</p>
<p>One exception is that at Harvard, HBS students or alumni live in every House. They are extremely helpful in figuring out what path is best for you and how to get in. If you have the chops, you can also do research with the professors there. I know one person (an Applied Math major) who did tons of work at the B-school while still an undergrad.</p>