<p>I know that at many levels this is an absurd question, but I'd like anyone's subjective input about places similar to Yale. The urban, residential college, mid-size, academically challenging feel. Note Columbia, BU and NYU were deemed "too urban"...</p>
<p>With admissions to places like Yale or Brown not a certainty for anyone, I'm interested in schools just a peg or two below in selectivity. Johns Hopkins, maybe? Thanks!</p>
<p>I think Rice may be the closest -- urban, academically challenging, intellectual yet collaborative and quirky, residential college system, university setting.</p>
<p>UChicago, BC, Tufts, Georgetown, WashU, UVA.</p>
<p>BTW: Have you looked at Columbia? It's an enclosed campus that doesn't really have the same feel as BU or NYU, and Morningside Heights is not midtown Manhattan. But CC is also extremely selective so it's not much of a help.</p>
<p>it's helping me refine my question. Didn't mean to knock Columbia, I think we're dealing with the concept of NY as too big. Moderate or big Greek influence is also out -- does that knock out UVA?</p>
<p>Any other suggestions -- even if we lose one of my stated criteria? Thanks!</p>
<p>Ford1998: Haha. Don't be silly. Columbia doesn't need us to defend it. Knock away if you desire. Just relaying info. as we CC'ers do.</p>
<p>Is it Yale or urbanity that is most desired? </p>
<p>If you have a girl Wellesley is very near Boston with beautiful gothic architecture.</p>
<p>Penn.</p>
<p>Although only a mile or so from Center City Philadelphia (and all the great culture, history, restaurants, and night life that it offers), Penn's campus has much less of an urban feel than Columbia, NYU, or BU, with about 270 acres of green, leafy areas and beautiful shaded walkways. Certainly an academically challenging atmosphere, an amazing array of course offerings and programs, and generally a bit less selective than Yale and Brown (although admission to Wharton is about as selective).</p>
<p>Definitely worth exploring and visiting.</p>
<p>of which the urban aspect is but a small part. It's NOT the Greek life. It is the academic challenge, the residential college system, the physical attractiveness of the campus, and, yes, the prestige doesn't hurt but isn't vital. All of the places suggested so far I think anyone would be pleased to admit attending. </p>
<p>She (my daughter) is considering and has no problem identifying small LACs she might be interested in. It's the mid-size schools that intrigue yet frustrate us...</p>
<p>Someone said tufts, tufts is in not really urban, its in a suburb of boston, so mabey 30 minutes away form a city, its a pretty rural campus.</p>
<p>U of Chicago has everything you want [ and don't want].</p>
<p>Columbia isn't close to Yale in terms of student life. I would look at Brown, Stanford, Northwestern, Penn, Georgetown, Tufts, Wash U and maybe Vassar.</p>
<p>Take a look at the Patriot League schools: The</a> Patriot League - Official Athletic Site
Small to mid size and very well respected.</p>
<p>yes
yes</p>
<p>10 chars</p>
<p>(Tufts is not rural! Are you joking? It's 10 minutes outside Boston in a community where everyone rides the subway into Boston for work!)</p>
<p>Trinity is the closest, obviously. :)</p>
<p>It's the second oldest college in Connecticut, right behind Yale. It has the urban locale, the selectivity, the academic rigor, the close-knit, residential factor, small size and a 100-acre, architecturally rich campus.</p>
<p>Yale is also just a short train ride away, if you feel so inclined as to visit.</p>
<p>Actually somewhat urban:
Brown, Penn, Northwestern, Rice*, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Boston College. </p>
<p>More suburban, but close enough:
Princeton<em>, Stanford</em>, Villanova</p>
<p>*Has residential colleges as far as I know</p>
<p>Penn also has residential colleges (including resident faculty, themed programs, etc.), called college houses:</p>
<p>College</a> Houses and Academic Services</p>
<p>Virtually all freshmen live in them. A lower percentage of students from other undergraduate classes also live in them.</p>
<p>I had forgotten about Villanova, great suggestion along the lines of what I'm trying to get at. WashingtonU, Stanford, et al are extremely selective. I'm looking for suggestions a little further down the HYPs chain. Rice, Tufts and Johns Hopkins are keepers, because, although extremely selective, they seem to be somewhat more realistic than Yale. BC is a great suggestion, but way too close to home!</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions -- and keep them coming!</p>
<p>Tufts is not a rural campus... It's in residential urban (lots of triple deckers/two family houses.) Ten minute walk to subway, bus in front of the school, and easy access to Harvard Square, Cambridge, Boston. </p>
<p>Not particularly like Yale in feel, but a great school on its own merits.</p>
<p>Ford1998, my D was looking for the same things in a university as you. She chose WashU in St. Louis. Beautiful campus, easy access to the city, medium sized school, highly ranked...etc.</p>
<p>"easy access to the city"</p>
<p>Having spent some time tooling around St. Louis area:</p>
<p>You mean by car, I guess right? That would make sense to me, so far as that goes.</p>
<p>Is there any relevant, viable public transportation in that area?
And you can't walk to anyplace, can you?</p>
<p>To me that area felt a lot more suburban than urban. It did not feel like Yale's part of New Haven, even vaguely, to me.</p>
<p>Did I miss something? (could very well have)</p>