I know that there have been threads about choosing between these two schools in the past, however, I need some unbias input, unbias being that none of you are my family members who have a clear opinion on this topic.
I was accepted at WashU earlier in March. It came to me as a total surprise seeing as they accept the vast majority of their class in their ED cycles. I visited in June 2018, and I really loved the campus. I know quite a few people who attend or who have attended, one of whom turned down UChicago for WashU engineering on a full ride and another who turned down both Cornell and Georgetown for WashU, and I have only heard stellar reviews. I have yet to meet a person who does not or did not love WashU, something I believe speaks volumes to the school and its environment.
Two days ago, I also got into Yale. I was so happy seeing as I had been deferred EA! I am really interested in their History of Science and Medicine major, something that WashU does not offer. I am not looking to be premed, but I do enjoy biology, and I know WashU is known for their biological sciences. In all honesty, I do not really know exactly what I want to study; I have so many interests in so many varying fields that I feel like I may do something totally to the contrary of what I have in mind now. On a different note, I live about an hour and a half from Yale and I have a sister who is so incredibly happy there. She really could not love the school, her professors, and her friends more. So, I have heard amazing things about both schools, and while I am leaning towards Yale, I feel like I am missing out if I do not consider WashU. I think I will have this feeling in the end because both schools are FANTASTIC and I hate turning down such incredible offers. I am extremely humbled to have been admitted at 2 of my top 3 choices, and I know it will be hard either way. Such a first world problem, I know, but any honest opinions would greatly aid me. 
@ctgirl2019. I am the father of a current 3rd year Yalie. She chose Yale over Harvard, Princeton, Penn, Brown, and Dartmouth. We as a family, knew from all of our research, that she would have a better quality of life at Yale. She is over the top happy with Yale. Now our youngest daughter, is in the position of choosing between WashU, Vanderbilt, Tulane, Georgetown, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Boston College and University of Georgia, our state school, with full ride. She has chosen WashU. What an incredible campus and community of people? First rate academics and that mid western friendliness. I believe that both schools have a laid back collaborative atmosphere. I really love the Residential College System at Yale. I love the South 40 at WashU. To many, the choice between the Ivy Leagues Yale, and a mid western school, the average joe, has never heard of, is a no brainer. To someone like me, it could go either way. Believe me, I know the cache, that comes with the name Yale. Go to Bulldog Days at Yale and Bear Days and WashU. I always say, that when you walk onto a campus, it will speak to you. See which school speaks to your heart, and follow your heart.
Since you live so close to Yale, will it be possible to visit WashU again? Maybe seeing school one more time might drive it one way or another. Yale is an amazing school – my husband works there and we live about 20 minutes away. For our son, he wanted to experience life outside of New England and the midwest has been a perfect fit for him. You certainly can’t go wrong either way! Congratulations!
Son is a double major (Biology/History) at WashU and although the school doesn’t have an emphasis/specific major in history of science/medicine, the department does offer specific courses in history of medicine/science. There is a professor who was the department undergraduate advisor who teaches courses in history of medicine/science.
There is also a freshman seminar class called the Art of Medicine which combines art, history, and a bit of sociology and how those disciplines have influenced modern Western medicine. Art of Medicine is offered as a minor at WashU as well.
It’s going to be a real flip of the coin to decide between Yale and WashU. I would go with the level of comfort.
If you were given a scholarship at Wash U, and deciding between it and Yale, that would be more difficult. But if your paying the same amount, with no benefits, for Wash U, I would choose Yale. There is no comparison. From our kids’ school, plenty of “regular smart” kids, with money, go to Wash U. Not so for Yale. It’s much more selective, and it’s financial aid is fabulous, so you will have a much more diverse community (Wash U is a very wealthy community). If you notice, the above poster’s child who chose Wash U, chose it over equal or lesser programs, not over Yale. Wash U is not in the same league as Yale.
Are the costs the same for both schools?
If you applied early to Yale, then it was your 1st choice, no?
Also, if you are not sure of what you are going to study and want options, then go to Yale.
To be honest, am not sure why this is so hard, unless there are other reasons you haven’t mentioned.
I would not say that Yale is better for every subject compared to Wash U. Yale’s engineering programs are no where near the caliber of Wash U. Wash U has better fine arts and graphic arts compared to Yale. Wash U has more intense medical and chemistry department compared to Yale, better labs at Wash U.
If you want to go to NYC, for any job, business, Wall Street, banking, law, Yale is better for connections back east. If you want to become a US Senator, Yale is great. If you want to head to law school later, Yale might be my pick. If you want to get into Warton at Penn, go to Yale first!
Yale will open some doors for the top business and law school entrances in the country. . But for a solid SCIENCE education, Wash U would be my pick, for biology, chemistry and engineering education , for certain.
If you sail, Yale is fantastic ! Wash U is friendly, all the way down to every administrator high and low, greeting and helping undergrads, and making your day go better, and supports students very well. St. Louis is an up and coming city and the the Forest Park is lovely. St. Louis as a city is a better place to live than New Haven CT, in my opinion.
Nice restaurants and a greater city to learn from, St. Louis is just fabulous.
Your quality of life matters too. If you may go into law or business, though Yale should be your pck.
I would pick Yale over WashU for undergrad regardless of the subject. I think for undergrad the overall quality and strength of the school matters a lot more than the strength in a specific department. At Yale you will have a really unique college experience, surrounded by some of the smartest kids in the world, and near-unparalleled access to resources. And make no mistake, an engineering grad from Yale who has done well has any opportunity available to them in tears of jobs and grad schools.
Think of this. If you went to Yale and hated it, could you easily transfer to Wash U? Yes. If you went to Wash U and hated it, could you easily transfer to Yale? No. This is your shot at arguably the best university in the nation. Take it.
FWIW, my H has a group of friends from long ago, all very smart. They were the school nerds. They all got into normal Ivies and similar. The 2 smartest of them got into and went to Yale. Fast forward to today. They are all very successful, but the 2 who went to Yale have achieved at the very highest levels of their fields. Is that because of Yale or what Yale saw in them? I don’t know. But why wouldn’t you want to surround yourself by the very best when you were given that opportunity?
Both excellent schools. what would you be “missing out” if you chose Yale? Sorry, just don’t see it. Sure, WashU maybe strong in bio, but its not exactly like Yale STEM is below a regional state directional school. (Hint: Yale is at least top 10 in bio, and top 5 in several rankings.)
Unless you fell in love with WashU or received a big merit scholarship, Yale is the easy answer here.
I’d go to Yale.
Me too. Hands down.
Yale.
Yale! Unless there is something specific at WashU that Yale can’t offer, go to Yale. You say only positive things and it is an amazing place. I’m a bit sad my son will be graduating. A word on science - he has had amazing research opportunities with wonderful professors and mentors. He was well prepared for grad school apps and was accepted to many top schools in the country, and his Yale classmates were similarly successful. He is heading to Harvard for a fully funded PhD. Good luck!
Yale is very hard to beat for an undergraduate degree. Only Princeton and Stanford (occasionally MIT and Caltech) have the edge in my mind.
I would consider going to WashU if this was a question about medical schools.
@Penn95 I agree 100%
“I would pick Yale over WashU for undergrad regardless of the subject. I think for undergrad the overall quality and strength of the school matters a lot more than the strength in a specific department. At Yale you will have a really unique college experience, surrounded by some of the smartest kids in the world, and near-unparalleled access to resources. And make no mistake, an engineering grad from Yale who has done well has any opportunity available to them in tears of jobs and grad schools.”
I am perhaps one of he few people who can say that they have taken classes at both Yale and WashU - in both cases I was still in high school actually. I grew up blocks from WashU and spent a summer term at Yale and then took advanced Calc at Wash U my senior year of HS. Both schools are great, but if given the chance, I would choose Yale without hesitation. I think WashU is in a nicer area (next to Forest Park!) compared to New Haven, but for everything else, Yale gets the nod. Best of luck in your decision.
Thank you all for your input; it has been of great use during my decision process. I also was admitted to Michigan, but seeing these 2 options, I kind of brushed it aside (maybe too hastily?). I did not apply for aid at any of the schools. I am especially glad that I did not at WashU seeing as they are need aware; in retrospect, that could have jeopardized the outcome. Anyways, I have decided on Yale. I know WashU is a fantastic school, but I feel as though Yale is not something one can easily pass up on. I am going to Bulldog Days tomorrow, and I am so excited! When I toured campus a while back, I felt as though I “fit in.” Overall, I could see myself thriving at any of these schools, but I must decide, thus I have! Boola boola! 
Congratulations!
Congratulations!