hi! I’m drawn to all three of these colleges but I don’t want to apply to too many reaches (my college list is WAY too long). Could any current/former students give some insights on their experiences? What are some big differences? I’ve heard people talk about open curriculum vs. core, different locations, etc. But what are the impacts of these differences?
I really want to do STEM internships and study abroad- is there a lot of support available for these types of things? Also- I care a lot about the having a close-knit community (Yale’s residential houses sound really appealing).
I’m particularly interested in a math, physics, computer science or EE major, but I care a lot about the humanities as well. Yale’s Math and Philosophy major sounds super interesting. What are these departments like at each university? I feel like all of them must have good departments- are there any significant differences?
I think I want to apply early to one of these schools and I’m trying to figure out which one. Right now I’m leaning toward Yale SCEA, but I think that’s because I know more about it. Insights on the other schools (and Yale as well) would be much appreciated.
thank you so much!
Yale is a great undergraduate experience. Solid STEM opportunities, you seem to like a particular major, and it obviously comes with a lot of opportunity in terms of alumni networks etc. Also best financial aid of the three, if that’s a factor.
UChicago is intense, in both good and bad ways. Very demanding academically, grade deflation, stress and all of that, but for those who can handle it and desire ‘intellectual curiosity’ at every turn will find it fulfilling and wonderful. Solid FA, but probably not as good as the Ivies. No application fee for those who apply for aid, so why not send them an application? I found my UChicago app fun to create with the intriguing essay questions.
Brown is probably the most liberal arts college-y of the three, with its famous ‘open curriculum’ (don’t mention this in your WHY BROWN essay, as they hear about it all the time, FYI, just avoid that cliche) and it has a diverse student body. Academics are wonderful, plenty of opportunities. Perhaps less ‘prestigious’ (god I hate to even mention prestige because it’s so irrelevant in the long run at this level of university) than the other two but not even.
All three of these will have ABOUNDING opportunities for you in your area of study. 3 reach schools is NOT too many by any stretch of the imagination (I applied to probably 8+ reach schools and 4 worked out so why not roll the dice! Anywhere with a sub-20% acceptance rate is honestly a reach for everyone, barring some sort of extreme reason to know you’re guaranteed). In terms of where to apply early, pick where you like best. Brown ED does have a SLIGHT acceptance rate advantage, but not a noticeable one, as the early pools are simply stronger. Chicago EA and Yale SCEA do not have advantages, the higher % is merely a reflection of top notch applicants in the pool, recruited athletes and legacies. Also, UChicago is implementing (in addition to EA) rounds of ED I and ED II. There is no data about the comparative advantage of ED I vs RD or ED II vs RD or EA vs RD vs ED I etc etc etc, but one would ASSUME that ED I and II will have comparative advantages given that they’re binding (as in they can guarantee that you will give them $$$)
Good luck! Enjoy your college process and apply ANYWHERE your heart desires – request fee waivers if cost gets too much, I certainly did and it doesn’t affect admissions chances. Apply now so you don’t regret not applying to a certain school once you graduate (everyone has some regrets there).
@Senior2016M thank you!! Yeah, I hate talking about prestige as well. I agree that 3 reaches isn’t too many, but I’m applying to some selective LACs as well, so I was just trying to get some more information about these colleges to see if any could be weeded out. But it looks like I’m just going to apply to all of them though! There wouldn’t be any DISadvantage in applying EA, would there? I thought it might just be a good way to show interest. Also, I helped Yale organize their first Yale MUN conference in Taiwan in my freshman year when I still lived there- would that be an advantage in any way, you think?
@Senior2016M, are you a student at one of these schools?
@theledri
Certainly not a disadvantage to apply EA at all! Though it expresses interest, it does not do so to the same extent as ED for obvious reasons, as ED is essentially saying you’ll marry the school if it accepts your proposal. In terms of how potent this expression of interest via early application is, it would go ED > SCEA > EA > RD. My point was that you should pick the school that you like best. If you ADORE Brown, for instance, or any liberal arts college on your list, AND money isn’t an issue, then ED is a wonderful thing to consider. However, I would advise doing EA in some form so that you have financial options to weigh out, but again, if you love a school that has ED and it is ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT CERTAINLY your top choice, then ED can be a wonderful way to markedly increase your odds of admission.
As for the MUN conference, that is certainly a great thing to have on your application for any school, Yale included. However, the way that such a thing could be made advantageous in an application (in any meaningful sense within the context of 35,000 genuinely qualified and competitive applicants) would be to write an essay about your experiences in so doing (Yale supplement, why Yale perhaps? or what you enjoy/want to study? just thoughts) or with a letter of recommendation from a Yale faculty member with whom you worked closely on this organization process. (For letters of recommendation by the way, Yale requires 2 teacher evals and suggests 1 supplementary MAXIMUM. Though you could get away with 4 total, try your darndest to keep it to 3, though 4 is acceptable too. Absolutely don’t exceed 4, it’s just too many, especially with the counselor recommendation in the mix. Just a tidbit of advice while we’re on the topic)
LACs are wonderful places for undergrad study. I was between Williams and Vanderbilt this year and was so incredibly impressed with Williams and what the elite LAC has to offer. If I may point you toward some LACs that you should consider (in addition to those I don’t mention/those that may overlap with what you’ve already got on your list) I personally love the following:
Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Vassar, Grinnell, and Carleton. Just names to consider. If you want program/academic specific strengths of these schools, I’d be happy to elaborate further either here or on PM, or you can just search CC for the bajillion other threads that discuss such schools.
@lostaccount
No, I am a Vanderbilt student. Though I have been very involved at Yale as I live nearby, and college advice is very broadly applicable in the US context.