<p>To whoever mentioned Harvard: I actually didn't have a good impression of the campus. It was nice to be sure, but it was more "meh" than anything else. </p>
<p>Yale was absolutely gorgeous in every respect. The architecture really did it for me. </p>
<p>Princeton was pretty, but it was too pristine and picture-perfect to the point where it got on my nerves, if anyone else knows what I mean. It was like being in an antique shop and not being allowed to touch anything. Putting all that aside, everything was nice to be sure, but nothing stood out as "wow" as it did at Yale. </p>
<p>Vassar also had a really nice campus. It had a very interesting blend of gothic and colonial architecture and lots of open green spaces, not to mention the flora. </p>
<p>But Stanford is stunning. It's architecture is stunning (even though to some Stanford is the world's largest Mexican restaurant) and at 8000+ acres, it's so easy to just submerse yourself in the middle of it all. </p>
<p>Between HYP. I would say Yale and Harvard were both incredible. Yale's gothic architecture is stunning and Harvard's red brick buildings are pristine and historical (and the city rocks). Princeton had a great campus but it felt weird, like not somewhere I would want to go to school. It felt like a bubble. I am seeing Stanford soon, heard it was absolutely incredible.</p>
<p>Princeton had a great campus but it felt weird, like not somewhere I would want to go to school. It felt like a bubble.</p>
<p>Exactly how I felt. Not necessarily the bubble part (as Vassar and Stanford also have bubbles) but Princeton did have that annoying "vibe" that I mentioned earlier.</p>
<p>Supposedly Dominican University/ Rosary College in River Forest, IL is remarkably beautiful.
I really like the University of Chicago campus too.</p>
<p>So many great ones. My favorites -- UVa, Rice, Yale, U-Washington, SMU, U-Colorado, UCLA, Hamilton, Wellesley, Arizona. These don't do that much for me -- Columbia, UPenn, Vanderbilt, Tulane. Architecture at Cornell not great although the setting is. Harvard not as beautiful as you would expect, though some wonderful historical gems. Emory pretty setting, not great architecture or layout. Northwestern pretty but not as outstanding as I expected. Chicago has that daunting gothic arthictecture, but had a dreary aspect. There are many others I want to see.</p>
<p>Stanford is a giant campus of Taco Bell outlets for all I am concerned.</p>
<p>Cornell possibly has the most stunning setting in all of academia. And for those who bemoan its architecture, the campus acts as a fantastic compilation of different styles, making it a wonderful living museum.</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins is just like Harvard...with more pristine cleaner and crispy white georgian style federalist era architecture...alot more cleaner with new brick pathways througout the campus that is very well crafted... Though the buildings are no where near as tall. Some infact are far more intricate...and older of course. More noticeable wear and tear obviously.</p>
<p>I think Harvard's ugh...walkways are crap. This is coming from a guy that had to walk through Harvard yard everyday afterschool to get to the subway.</p>
<p>EDIT: BTW, MIT's campus is butt ugly.... :( Had to put that out there.</p>
<p>I thought hopkins campus was nice, but nothing outstanding. Everyone I talk to seems to rave that Stanford has one of the prettiest campus' there is.</p>
<p>The most beautiful University campus (as opposed to LAC campus) that I have seen in North America -- and one of the most varied in style and feel -- is still the University of Wisconsin. Everything from modern urban areas to traditional quadrangles to stately old buildings to spectacular views, on a hilly setting along a gorgeous lake, and with the Midwestern advantage of four distinct seasons with all the changes of color and feel that provides.</p>
<p>This topic calls for an almost completely subjective response, of course. My sense is that many people have fixed in mind that a University should be of rather ruthlessly similar gothic style throughout, with a heavy dose of vines and ivy. I appreciate that style, and the schools like Yale and Chicago and many more that have it, but I don't love it. Similarly, I have seen Stanford, and it is a beautifully kept campus, but it seemed very monochromatic to me.</p>
<p>Of course, while I have seen an awful lot of campuses over the years, there are a lot I haven't seen that I would like to see for myself.</p>