<p>Finally all my years of hard work are beginning to pay off - but how do I make the decision about the next step in my life's journey?! I plan to major in international relations, and even if I end up changing majors I know I whatever major I have will contain an international focus. Yale has its own institute of Global Affairs, while at Harvard the international relations major is just a subset of Government -- does that mean Yale's program is stronger? Is it true that Yale students are happier? If so, does that even really matter -- should not the education be number one? Is it wrong to go to Harvard just for the prestige and the location? Is it wrong to go to Yale over Harvard because of student sanity and that "community" feel (definitely augmented by their amazing residential college system)? Do ambassador's children, president's children, royalty's children, etc generally prefer one over the other (if i pursue international relations, it may be beneficial to go to school with some of the people with whom I will be dealing in the future). Is it true that Harvard kids have no fun? What do Yalies do in the middle of New Haven? Should the amount of fun even be a factor?! Which has the more extensive and connected/strong alumni network? Is the Yale/Harvard rivalry really that serious?! I realize I am so very blessed to have to make this decision, but honestly (if you cannot tell) it's driving me a little bit insane. I am visiting both campuses next week for Bulldog Days and Visitas -- any helpful things for which I should be looking out?? Any sort of advice is immensely appreciated. Thank you!</p>
<p>Cost difference?</p>
<p>the aid is the exact same !</p>
<p>@gregariousgirl2 think that you will probably come away from your visits next week with a much better idea than you have now. My D found them extremely helpful. I hope you are planning to stay overnight AND attend at least a couple of classes. If not, I would highly recommend you do both. If classes and overnight are not part of the events, just call admissions: it might even be more helpful to schedule those things for regular weekdays (not part of the accepted students event) to get a better idea of the actual vibe of the school. Sometimes the events are a little too orchestrated to let you get the real feel of things. Hopefully, like my D, one of these schools will elicit a strong gut reaction and you’ll know you are “home”… </p>
<p>Also- write down your list of questions and bring them with you. Ask them at the more formal Q&A events, and also just seek out some students on campus and ask them Don’t be shy… this is a major decision! </p>
<p>Good luck, and many congratulations. What a wonderful, wonderful “problem” to have :)</p>
<p>YALE!!!
Harvard is more for self absorbed and insecure people who need validation via the name of the school. Yale’s name is not to shabby either but is just a better all around school. and they have a neat video.
<a href=“That's Why I Chose Yale - YouTube”>That's Why I Chose Yale - YouTube;
<p>In all honesty, this decision will have to come down to personal preference. These are two of the three top schools in the country and neither is better than the other (regardless of what they’ll tell you, they are both fantastic). However, they are in very different settings. I would visit each campus and see which I prefer. Harvard, with its reputation, doesn’t have a campus to match its reputation. Yale, on the other hand, is a typical gothic campus. Harvard is across the water from Boston, which is great for lifestyle outside of studies, while Yale is in New Haven. I would visit both and maybe spend a week in each town and see which you prefer.</p>