<p>I posted this on a main messageboard and the Brown board but I thought those with firsthand experience at Yale could give me a better perspective. Well I've narrowed my two favorite schools down to Brown and Yale and I can't decide which one I want to apply early to. I have legacy at both and I definitely want to apply early to one especially since it maximizes my chances due to my legacy advantage. I know at Yale it's early action so theoretically I could choose between both schools if I were to get into both but Yale will also be near impossible to get into this year more so than ever and I'll probably have a better shot of getting into Brown. I know that everyone says don't do it according to chances but being that I pretty much can't decide between them it might end up that way so please don't preach to me about that. However, i was wondering which one y'all think I should honestly apply early to. Can you guys try to sway me to one side or another using specific examples, you know give me some pros and cons etc. Thanks.</p>
<p>Both amazing schools</p>
<p>Cant go wrong at either</p>
<p>Like Tim said, both are amazing. I was in the fortunate position to be accepted at both. The nudge for me in Yale's favor was the sheer excitement of every Yale undergrad I met while visiting. It just won me over. Not that Brown students weren't enthusiastic but the Yalies were just over the top -- it really attracted me.</p>
<p>Visit both schools. Talk to many students. Get a "feel". Both are amazing institutions. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Oh, one last thing: I preferred the residential college system over Brown's housing and greek emphasis. That's one specific I can give you.</p>
<p>well can someone at least give me some insight into the social scene at the schools i.e. greek life, party scene, how are the ladies etc. because obviously the academics we all know are top notch at each school</p>
<p>Agreed with T26E4. I'd go with Yale. "Academics are top notch at each" is a little misleading, given that Yale's resources are practically infinite in comparison to Brown's. Yale has about $2 million per student in endowment funds while Brown has less than a quarter of that... and trust me, that affects a lot of things that might not be apparent to the average applicant but will be apparent if you are a student there. I'm not criticizing Brown, which is also great, but it simply does not have anywhere near the firepower of a place like Caltech, Yale or Princeton in terms of undergrad program quality & resources.</p>
<p>Snake: consistently people are choosing to apply to yale due to its residential college system. For alumni, I'd say this is one of the most significant factors to their enjoyment of their time in New Haven. I know it's what I highlight whenever I do college fairs. Have a read here:</p>
<p>Coincidentally, the Greek system is not pervasive at Yale as much as it is at Brown. Not a judgment either yea or nay about Greeks but Yale's social scene is thriving without them whereas some schools need them or else they're sunk.</p>
<p>well how big is the greek scene at brown because i'd prefer a minimal greek scene</p>
<p>the Greek scene is minimal at Yale. Not so sure about Brown, but the number is 12% of students... so probably not that big.</p>
<p>Yale does have some Greeks but they will never be a part of your undergrad experience unless you actively seek them out.</p>
<p>I had to make this decision as well. It really came to down to the visit. I personally identified with Yale students (current and accepted) better than any other school I was accepted to. Emphasising someone else's point, Yale's financial resources are very impressive and add to a big $ per-undergrad difference. I really loved how Yale does not only acknowledge that its engineering programs are underrated and "second rate" to the people that don't matter, but it is also committing half a billion dollars into sciences at Yale within the next five years.</p>
<p>Bottom line, visit BOTH. Ultimately though, you can't really screw up. I definitely got the vibe that you need to seek out the Greek scene at Yale to notice it.</p>
<p>well im not really into the greek scene so is it not a big thing at brown either</p>
<p>It's more like $1.5 billion, not half a billion.</p>
<p>As the curriculum goes, Brown is basically no-holds-barred because you can create your own schedule; Yale is similar because it provides more freedom in courses, but not over the top. I'd like at least some structure, in my opinion.</p>
<p>Both great schools. I'd personally go for Yale, but then again I'd choose Yale over any other school. May I ask what you're considering for a college major?</p>
<p>As a Brown student I think both Yale and Brown are awesome! In fact, although I love Brown immensely I deeply regret the fact that I did not apply to Yale. Simply put, get a feel for each school by visiting. You really can not go wrong either way.</p>
<p>OK. Yale fanmom here. :)</p>
<p>My oldest just graduated Yale this semester. It's hard for me to imagine how she could have had a better academic experience. Every class she took was outstanding, by her measure. She found a major she loved and was able to work closly with one of the most well-regarded profs in her subfield, as well as well as many others. She had no problem getting great LORs from academic mentors whom any grad school would know and respect. She also received full funding for summer internships, after both sophomore and junior years. (Money matters.) Yale does have some breadth requirements, but she took a lot of classes just because they interested her - plenty of room in the schedule to play around as long as you're not trying to double-major.</p>
<p>Socially, there was almost too much going on. The hardest thing for her was learning that she couldn't do everything. It's easy to take on a lot at first, get a bit overwhelmed, and then feel the pain of having to cut things out. There's an amazing array of clubs and activites, and when you're not involved in your own, you're going to see and support your friends in theirs. By the time she graduated, she figured out how much she was able to handle without going too crazy. I think. At times she did go crazy.</p>
<p>Wonderful friends and great memories. Also, New Haven grows on you. It's a much more interesting and diverse city than people think until they spend time there. </p>
<p>The four years went by in a flash. It seems to me that the kids who do well at Yale are fairly outgoing, adventuresome types with varied interests and a pretty strong drive and work ethic. It's probably not fun for the timid.
No one has ever described it as a laid-back or relaxing place. Brown might be more low-key. Visit, and see which feels right for you.</p>
<p>Can anyone speak to competitive vs. cooperative vibe at Brown and Yale?
Many schools seems to be talking about cooperative spirit and study groups these days, but what's the reality?</p>
<p>Yale seems less competitive and friendlier, with students working together more. But that probably has a lot to do with the fact Yale has much smaller average class sizes in the most popular departments.</p>
<p>Thanks, posterx. What does "most popular departments" mean?</p>
<p>Posterx why do you say these things?! Why do you lie, deceive, and bring shame to Yale University? </p>
<p>Listen Purplexed and all the others deciding between Yale and Brown. BOTH are great schools, however I would like to point to Brown's ranking as #1 university with the happiest students 2nd year running. The reason I bring this up is that there is essentially NO peer-to-peer competition at Brown. It is simply a phenomenon rooted in each student's desire to reach his/her next academic level. This success, moreover, is not defined by the failures of their peers but the advances of their academic endeavors. Study groups, group tutoring sessions, proof reading essays are MASSIVELY common sights at Brown. </p>
<p>Yale may have a similar atmosphere, I do not know because I do not attend -just as posterx does and has not ever attended Brown. However, do to Brown's lower emphasis on grading, I believe it to be the less competitive of the two.</p>
<p>Both are friendly.</p>