<p>I got into both Yale and Stanford but I have been unable to decide. I want to major in econ, but have an interest in entrepreneurship (I am planning to get an MBA later on). I'm also interested in design thinking (meche:product design) and computer science.
I will not have be able to visit yale, but when i visited stanford it felt big, and lacked the sense of community i felt at dartmouth. Also, it felt as if it would be more difficult to fit in, and a little too chill. In the future, I also want to be on the East Coast.
What do you think would be a better choice?</p>
<p>Didn’t you need to make your selection by May 1st? My D also was accepted by both Yale and Stanford. She decided that Stanford had MORE of a sense of community than Yale. Visit both and go with what your heart tells you! They are both great schools.</p>
<p>No because I got off the waitlist and I have to decide by tomorrow May 18. If you could please post your opinions and some facts that would really help.</p>
<p>Both are wonderful schools, and you will likely have a rewarding experience at both.</p>
<p>That said…if you plan on staying on the East Coast, I strongly recommend Yale. High school students tend to underestimate the potential importance of going to school in an area where you ultimately want to end up after graduation. Not only is the school better known and regarded in that area (for you, this isn’t a problem, as both options will be well-regarded nearly everywhere), but more importantly, you want to be able to access the network of friends/contacts you develop at school after graduation. Meeting talented, driven people that will end up in high places some day is probably THE single most important advantage you gain by attending an Ivy-caliber school. If those people will all be living two thousand miles away, you are losing a valuable advantage–not to mention it’s a bummer to hardly ever see your college friends again. This is PARTICULARLY important for those that want to go into business/finance.</p>
<p>I also recommend Yale based on the social scene. My friends there seem to have had better social experiences than those I know at Stanford (although this obviously varies greatly depending on the person). My friends at Yale sing the place’s praises like no other. They love it. My friends at Stanford like it there too, but have a little less enthusiasm about the social experience. Yale’s residential college system apparently leads to a very strong sense of community. Of the Ivies, Yale, Dartmouth, and Brown are generally known for having the happiest students and strongest sense of community. You can make a good social experience happen anywhere, but don’t underestimate the impact of the environment you’re in.</p>
<p>Hope this helps, and good luck.</p>
<p>Both are great colleges, but Stanford is markedly superior to Yale in the fields of MechE, CS and entrepreneurial education and opportunity. Stanford is well-recognized the world over, and that includes even the ultra-provincial East coast. Lots of East coast firms actively recruit here. Residential colleges are a plus for Yale in the opinion of some, while others appreciate the wide range of residential options at Stanford, and the opportunity to choose among those options each year as an upperclassman. The climate and setting of Stanford are beautiful; New Haven is pretty sketch and the winter weather is awful. Good luck with your choice!</p>
<p>From what I have read about Yale, the social scene at Stanford is much better. Title IX anyone? And where do you get the idea that Brown, Yale and Dartmouth students are the happiest? Emma Watson just stormed out of Brown!</p>
<p>From all the universities I have visited, I think it’s hard to beat the amazing balance that Stanford offers. There is a vibrant social scene that flourishes, partially because of the weather. Students are always out and about, having fun. But there’s also an obvious intellectual curiosity present that I really enjoy. It’s a great balance.</p>
<p>Brown is known for happy students as are the others. Anyway if you are doing or want to do anything entrepreneurial or related to technology or computers then Stanford. If not then both are essentially equals in every other area so choose the school that’s the right fit.</p>
<p>Just re-read your initial post. Stanford all the way. No other school comes close. You might be meeting VCs by your junior year at Stanford! Is choose it over any school in the world for a potential entrepreneur.</p>
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How sincere are your interests? If you are really gung-ho about startups, then Stanford seems like the place for that. If, on the other hand, you are more interested in the business side of entrepreneurship, and you have little intention of working for a VC firm, startup, or at a place like Google, then Yale should suit you just fine. </p>
<p>For instance, my friend went to Yale, majored in English, then graduated and worked at a nonprofit healthcare organization in Chicago for a few years (while also spending some time in China). He’s now in Yale’s MBA program. If that is more the path you think you want to take, then I’d recommend Yale over Stanford in fact. Stanford tech stuff is all about who’s starting up which company or who’s working at Facebook/Google/Apple.</p>
<p>Stanford “tech stuff” can also be about developing engineering skills that are most certainly applicable in the earth sciences. S had to decide between Yale and Stanford, and after a very stressful decision process decided to attend Stanford. Because Stanford has more research options for a student who does not yet know specifically which area of engineering he wants to enter, he chose Stanford. Stanford will not be for him “about who’s starting up which company or who’s working at Facebook/Google/Apple.” It will be about finding where he best fits in the cross-disciplinary approach to solving sustainability issues. Half of his heart and mine remains with Yale.</p>
<p>Tspwt5, your S can rest assured there’s a huge emphasis on sustainability research at Stanford, both in the engineering and earth sciences divisions (and across various other disciplines, actually). I think Senior’s reference to “tech stuff” focusing on Facebook, Google, Apple,etc. may have been in response to the OP’s statement that he is interested in CS, among other things. All of those companies compete hard to get the top CS talent from Stanford. I’ll bet all of your S’s heart will be firmly with Stanford as soon as he starts studying here, even though Yale is a great school.</p>
<p>^yes thank you, the tech stuff was alluding to CS+PD+entrepreneurship. I couldn’t think of a better word.</p>