<p>I know there have been threads like this in the past, but my situation is a bit different. I was accepted to Yale SCEA and received a likely letter from Brown last week (yay!) I know a million people would kill to be in my position, but I have a feeling this is going to be a VERY difficult decision for me. I've been to both campuses twice and here's what I've gleaned:</p>
<p>Yale: more intense, prestigious, intellectual, better targets what I'm interested in (humanities/art with a concentration in film photography/American studies), better facilities BUT didn't get the "at home" feeling whatsoever, New Haven isn't the greatest, and, naturally, quite intimidating. </p>
<p>Brown: more laid-back & down to earth students, more of a "hippy/artsy" school, felt immediately at home, Providence > New Haven, lots of freedom BUT doesn't target what I'd like to study as well, seems actually quite similar to my high school experience (partially why I felt so at home?), less prestigious (though I think that's a silly reason not to go), the "easy" choice according to my family (not academically, really, they want me to go outside of my comfort zone).</p>
<p>Since this is such a personal decision, I realize that, ultimately, it's me that's going to have to make the final call, but I'd love to read some of your guys' insight(s). I've also posted this to the Brown boards.</p>
<p>As much as I love Yale, I think you’re undermining the home feel. I would hate to go anywhere, regardless of the benefits, if it didn’t feel like home. Happiness is important, and while Yale feels at home for many, if it doesn’t for you, I think it may be harder to find happiness. </p>
<p>Although it’s hard to say, I’d probably choose Brown. Academics isn’t everything in undergraduate education and if you feel Brown is the place to be for you I think you won’t be disappointed there. It still has a great academic reputation. And you can focus more on your field of interest during your graduate years. I know it’s kinda cliche and I don’t know you so I can’t really tell but anyway - so many students fall in love with a totally different field from what they thought would be their life-long focus. Maybe it’s not your case but on the other hand, who knows?</p>
<p>RE: Princeton and Stanford. I actually didn’t get to visit Princeton, but from what I’ve read it seems like quite a beautiful place (very magical campus). The only thing that I don’t think I’d LOVE is that it doesn’t seem to have that “artsy” or “alternative” atmosphere that Yale and Brown seemed to, though I could definitely be wrong about that. </p>
<p>Stanford was absolutely wonderful, and staying in California has its pros and cons. That said, I felt like the campus was (physically) a bit too large for me. I don’t LOVE the idea of having to take a bike to every class, though I’m sure I’d get used to that in no time.</p>
<p>My advice would be to ignore the city of New Haven or size of stanford campus in your decisionmaking and think of the school itself along with the departments and students. </p>
<p>If you are set on your major, you should delve into the faculty, their interests, the type of students in that department and ask the departments to provide you with some student contacts to understand if you feel comfortable with the school.</p>
<p>You haven’t mentioned cost so I don’t know if plays in your decision. I would venture that the financial aid award would be better at Yale than Brown. As of two years ago, for a family with a $60,000 income the net cost for Yale was around $4,500 and $12,800 at Brown. At $120,000 income Yale was $15,800 and Brown was $36,795. Stanford and Princeton’s aid was very similar to Brown.</p>
<p>I would just follow your heart! If you end up going to Yale because you feel obligated by some outside force, I think you might end up regretting the decision. Don’t let yourself be buffeted by your family’s wishes. Weigh your options very carefully; consider available opportunity, consider realistically the trajectory you want your life to take, but most of all, listen to what your heart is telling you. It is right much more than you may think.</p>
<p>In my opinion, you can’t go wrong, Brown or Yale. You’ve been blessed with a spectacular opportunity. Whichever school you end up choosing, take that and run with it. Don’t waste one second wondering what could have been if you’d chosen the alternative, and your four years of college will be well spent. I sincerely wish you the best of luck!</p>
<p>Jared94: I’m 100% Caucasian (with Eastern European roots several generations back, more specifically). I’d rather not post my stats, but they were <em>honestly</em> nothing special and quite below the norm in terms of GPA. Proof that you don’t necessarily need any hooks/ridiculous stats to get into these schools. I have a love of learning, a fascinating (if I do say so myself) extracurricular life, and a personality. </p>
<p>Thank you all so much for the advice thus far; keep it coming! :)</p>
<p>Congrats lacesea! You must have something special…please share with us! I can see from a past post that your ACT composite was 32…certainly admirable, but with an acceptance at Yale SCEA and a likely letter from Brown there has to be something else. Just peruse the past posts and you will see that tons of people with ACTs of 32 are rejected in the past from both those schools. In fact, that seems to be the norm. Any clues or hints for us peons who probably will get rejected from all those schools you applied to? Are you geographically desirable? Or was it just amazing essays?</p>
<p>I’m not geographically desirable whatsoever, and to remain anonymous, I’d rather not share what I do extracurricularly here. Sorry! I’m not trying to be mean or standoffish in any way/shape/form, but I’m just choosing to keep these things to myself. Anyway, I suppose I’ll have to visit Bulldog Days/A Day on College Hill to really figure out what I’d like :)</p>
<p>Also, I hate to sound rude, but I think a lot of people on College Confidential (and those applying to top-tier colleges) tend to be lackluster in the personality department and rely solely on statistics to get them in (though I know that’s a gross generalization). What I will say is that a bulk of Yale’s accepted students are in the 32 - 36 range for ACTs (refer to Yale’s official Class of 2015 profile). If you read the kinds of students on CC that are rejected, no matter how amazing their GPA/score are, their extracurricular affairs tend to be somewhat run-of-the-mill. I think the combination of my essays, extracurricular activities, interview, and recommendations really set me apart from the crowd. I might not be your typical genius, but I’m a really passionate and free-spirited guy, and those qualities must have shined through in my essays/supplements.</p>
<p>I thought the same thing after a while. It’s not all stats. Personality is very important and I’m sure you showed that well. Good luck to you in your decision!</p>
