I can’t imagine another top school without a conservatory that is better for musically inclined kids. We looked at many schools and Yale was my son’s top choice largely for its combination of great academics and huge support for the arts. Even the little things like the posters in the admissions office displayed various arts groups. And at Bulldog Days the musical ensembles were prominently spotlighted. It seemed like so many people my son met played an instrument, or sang, or danced, etc. He has only been there a few weeks, but has already auditioned for and joined both YSO and an acapella group. But it he had not made these groups, there are SO MANY others that he could have joined. I can’t compare apples to apples to another school since he attends Yale, but the arts just seem so engrained and celebrated there that it seems hard to match.
That said, if a student wants a traditional music performance degree program/experience, then Yale is not the right place.
We were advised that if a student is not going to be a music major, it is almost better to attend a school without a performance degree so you will have more opportunities in the top ensembles.
Princeton is also good in the arts, but it just seems more a part of life at Yale. Just my two cents as a mom of a happy musical freshman!