Yale vs Stanford?!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I was pretty set on going to Stanford and doing their Science, Technology, and Society major. Either that or it was management marketing or advertising - anything related to those.</p>

<p>But I disliked Stanford's overall atmosphere, almost to a point of strong, strong dislike. But I LOVED yale. I felt like it was the one for me, and I felt myself loving it more and more. But unfortunately, I can't make a college decision based on which campus I liked. I have to think about academics. Yale does not have anything that I would see myself doing, or maybe I'm just looking at the wrong places. The STS major at stanford seemed like a perfect match for what I wanted to do in my undergrad education. Yale does not offer such interdisciplinary majors, which is keeping me from making a final decision.</p>

<p>So based on my academic interests in things like STS, marketing, or advertising (that general theme) which school should I choose? Financial aid was generous on both sides, so FA is not a problem. Please help and any input would be greatly appreciated! I've pasted the stanford STS intro for more clarification.</p>

<p>"STS is an intellectually challenging, interdisciplinary undergraduate program. STS teaching and research are predicated on the belief that science and technology are two of the most potent forces for individual, societal, and global change. Students will study the natures, causes, and social consequences of scientific and technological developments, how science and technology function in different societies, and how social forces attempt to shape and control these forces to serve diverse interests."</p>

2

<p>I would choose Yale. While academics are important, it is more important that the school “fits.” However, you also have to see yourself going there, so take another tour or peruse their websites…that might help you decide. Bit definitely, choose Yale if it feels right. </p>

3

<p>Look through the Yale course catalog…you would be able to explore the same territory as Stanford’s STS major if you wanted to. Remember that some interests can be better served through internships and summer jobs. This choice seems very clear from your description of your reaction to both visits.</p>

4

<p>I think that Stanford would be a better choice since Yale exclusively focuses on the liberal arts and its curriculum most likely doesn’t offer a major or certificate that will provide you with sufficient coursework in advertising and marketing.</p>

5

<p>^^It is not necessary to major, or even have sufficient coursework, in advertising or marketing to obtain employment in those fields. In fact, many hiring managers in those fields would be pleased to receive interest from a Yale grad (or a Stanford grad for that matter).</p>

6

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<p>Of course you can. In fact, this is the way you SHOULD choose. Most prospective college students change their major, but you will have to live and work in the atmosphere you choose for four years; not only that, but you will be tied to that university as an alumna/us for years to come. You want it to be a place that has warm memories and nostalgia attached to it. You could probably be happy at either place, but if you know that you preferred Yale, why not attend Yale?</p>

<p>Yale has an undergraduate major called History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health (see here: <a href=“Undergraduate Major | Program in the History of Science and Medicine”>Undergraduate Major | Program in the History of Science and Medicine). You can focus on science, technology and power (or one of the other four pathways). Their equivalent to the introductory course in STS is “Science & Technology in the United States”, which is the history of the rise of science in the U.S. It’s heavy in the history of health and medicine in the U.S., but a lot of the classes are focused on science and technology more broadly. There are also many great scientific disciplines at Yale that you could take classes in to supplement your major - like astronomy (“Life in the Universe”), computer science (“Computer Science and the Modern Intellectual Agenda”, “Law, Technology, and Culture”, “Control, Privacy, and Technology”), cognitive science (“Sign Languages and the Mind”), engineering (“Frontiers of Biomedical Engineering”), geosciences (“Energy Technology and Society”, “Natural Disasters”, “History of Life”) and math (“Mathematics in the Real World”). That’s not even including [all</a> of the classes actually offered in the department of History of Science, Medicine and PH.](<a href=“History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health < Yale University”>History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health < Yale University)</p>

<p>Yale also have a Special Divisional Major, which is basically an independently constructed major that you do with a professor or two. So if you don’t like the HSMPH major, you could construct a major very similar to the STS major at Stanford using this option.</p>

<p>If you’re interested in marketing/advertising or management, you can take some courses in psychology - the principles of marketing and advertising (and management) are based upon psychology. For example, there’s a class called Psychology of Social Decision-Making. Yale also has a major in ethics, politics, and economics. You also might be able to take a graduate class or two at the School of Management.</p>

7

<p>Yale probably </p>

8

<p>The reason to visit a school is to help you determine what schools are good and bad fits. You should never ignore your gut feeling during this process. If you disliked Stanford and loved Yale, it seems to me you have your answer. Most people change majors through the course of their college years and I have no doubt that you will find one or more things that will pique your interest at Yale. I don’t know about Yale, but many schools even allow students to create their own interdisciplinary majors/minors.</p>

9

<p>Yeah. if you hate the place then there are no point in going</p>