<p>I'm trying to decide between Brown and Yale and, honestly, Brown's CS department is advertised much more. I haven't heard anything about Yale's CS program, and nobody I know knows Yale for its CS. Then again, Yale is YALE and if its CS department is average, for Yale departments, then it's incredible, right?</p>
<p>Also, at Yale there's the option to get an MS and a BS in just four years, which is pretty cool.</p>
<p>What are Yale's computer labs like? I know there are labs in all the residential colleges, but are those old dinosaur clunkers or things a CS major can program on?</p>
<p>It is a very strong department, but Brown obviously has a strength in that area as well. I've known CS graduates of both who have gone on to start their own companies and do very well. I would choose based on where you feel most comfortable in terms of the overall undergraduate experience. Visit each for 2-3 days, talk with students and profs, sit on on classes, go to parties, and decide. The schools are very different in terms of social scene, housing / residential system, quality of facilities, average class sizes, diversity, etc. </p>
<p>One area where Yale may have an advantage is in terms of individual project funding, since (due to the size of the Yale endowment) they have fellowships available that fully cover summer research, travel, and/or independent research for basically any student who wants to do that, but that may not be of concern to you.</p>
<p>brown also has fellowships and undergraduate research stipends to cover indepent projects and summer work</p>
<p>All schools have some, it is a matter of degree.</p>
<p>Possibly relevant, definitely interesting - Talk</a> at Yale: Part 1 of 3 - Joel on Software</p>