<p>As someone who is somewhat familiar with both schools, I don’t think Yale and Brown are “totally different.” Socially, I think they are somewhat similar. I think they are more like each other than, e.g., they are like Duke or Stanford. </p>
<p>Unofficially, they vie with one another for the title of “the gay Ivy.” They both have strong performing arts scenes. Both are awash in a capella groups. Both have vibrant theatre scenes. Spectator sports aren’t that important at either. There are frats at both–in Brown’s case they have on-campus housing–but they don’t dominate the social scene at either. Sororities exist at both and aren’t as strong as frats at both. Brown also has a co-ed Greek house; I don’t think Yale does. More Yale students live on-campus at Yale than at Brown, which is partly because Brown has fewer rules requiring people to live on campus. Still, the vast majority of students at both schools live on campus. </p>
<p>I’m a parent and thus not the best source, but I tend to doubt that the drinking scene at Brown is much tamer than that at Yale. On campus, I doubt there’s much difference. (People who live off campus but not in Greek housing tend to drink less than people who live on campus.)</p>
<p>Quite seriously, I wouldn’t choose one over the other based on their drinking cultures because I don’t think there’s much difference…but again, I admit I’m a parent.</p>