<p>Hey - my name is Andrew and I'm a senior trying to decide between attending Yale, Penn, and Columbia. For me, and for anyone else out there who has to make a decision, I was wondering what insight you had about these schools in comparrsion to one another, or just alone.</p>
<p>Some of the things I was wondering:
-Academics at Yale, can they be applied to the real world, how are professors, how is class selection, what benefits do the shopping periods bring, what are some of the top majors, worst majors, atmosphere in terms of competition, ANYTHING else that you think may shed some insight</p>
<p>-Extracurriculars at Yale, what's the feeling on campus with these? Does it ever feel as if EVERYONE has some kind of leadership ambitions? What are some of the most interesting clubs to check out? Anything really...</p>
<p>-Students at Yale, Is there any trace of arrogance? Old money? Does it feel like a prep school? How much diversity is there really? I hear people are really nice at Yale - does it ever feel like people are too nice if that makes any sense... too willing to bring you into a group - is that ever sacrificed for the independence of someone at Yale?</p>
<p>Anything that you think may shed some insight would be REALLY appreciated!!!</p>
<p>Thanks,
Andrew</p>
<p>AIM: Amangino, feel free to IM me if you're also deciding or if you just want to chat.</p>
<p>For the most "collegiate" experience, I'd pick Yale.</p>
<p>What do you mean by that?</p>
<p>I'm also faced with this difficult decision, but I think I've narrowed it down to Penn and Yale.</p>
<p>Well, my name is Andrew also, and I chose Yale. Enough reasoning. Join me in the fall. :p</p>
<p>In all seriousness, though, I have never run into an arrogant Yalie. Everyone I've spoken to, either at Yale or at home (alumni and other acceptees), has been incredibly down-to-earth.</p>
<p>Also, if I may attempt to explain JohnnyK's comment, when compared to Columbia and Penn, Yale really does offer the most "collegiate" experience. Columbia is in the middle of a huge, bustling city, and you can feel it - there are loads of graduate students running around, the campus feels rather confined, and you can hear NYC all around you (and smell the subway...:(). Penn is very large (nearly 4700 more undergraduates than Yale) and is similar to Columbia in that it seems to lack a campus (granted, it isn't as bad, but it's very vertical). At Yale, with the residential college system, the undeniable focus on undergraduates, and the ever-present sense of tradition and community, you have the quintessential idea of college.</p>
<p>And if you're worried about New Haven, consider this: Penn is steps away from West Philadelphia, and Columbia is steps away from Harlem. ;)</p>
<p>Just a few thoughts...hope they help.</p>
<p>A word of defense for Penn: it most definetely does not lack a campus. Penn's campus is very clearly defined. College Green, Wynn Commons and Locust Walk form the heart of campus, standing there it is hard to believe that center city philadelphia is only 15 blocks away.</p>
<p>I wouldn't say that Columbia lacks a campus, either. In fact, the Morningside Heights campus has beautiful architecture.</p>
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A word of defense for Penn: it most definetely does not lack a campus. Penn's campus is very clearly defined. College Green, Wynn Commons and Locust Walk form the heart of campus, standing there it is hard to believe that center city philadelphia is only 15 blocks away.
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<p>I can attest to this.</p>
<p>Good points, thank you!</p>
<p>One thing though- what about if you are a city person? How is New Haven?</p>
<p>Also, does Yale have the variety of academic options that Penn has?</p>
<p>For example, while visiting Penn I took a pretty innovative course on Documentaries...it was really interesting to have a course so relevant to today! Know what I mean at all? Maybe this is a stupid concern, but what do you think?</p>