<p>Just thought it’d be interesting to hear what people have to say. . .</p>
<p>For me, the residential college system drew me in, then the more I learned about science and engineering at Y, I think that snapped the trap. I’m dying to get into Perspectives. ::crosses fingers::</p>
<p>The residential college system definitely was a major factor in my decision. Also, the sense of community, pride, and the opportunity to meet and befriend influential and exceptional people really appealed to me and influenced my decision to apply to Yale and not the other Ivies. The amazing facilities and opportunities (particle accelerators, undergrad research, etc.) made me choose Yale over Emory.</p>
<p>1st year course: Perspectives on science and engineering:</p>
<p>“”"
Welcome to Yale! I am a freshman taking Perspectives on Science and Engineering. It is a year-long course that introduces a class of about 60 freshmen to amazing Yale professors who are doing groundbreaking research in their fields. We meet once a week and alternate between lectures (from professors) and discussion sections, which are groups of about 9 or 10 students with two professors where we have the opportunity to discuss the research and its further implications. Upon completion of the course, every single student receives a summer stipend of about $4,000 to do original research with a Yale professor, either in New Haven or at a laboratory internationally. For example, I have a friend who is interested in Astronomy and Astrophysics, and is planning on spending the summer in Chile at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory!
“”"</p>
<p>I want that.</p>
<p>And the res college, the amazing general academic standards, the finaid, the student body and the fact that everyone seems to love it…</p>
<p>Gourmet heaven. And because people at Harvard, in my experience, were much more snooty, compared to the Yale campus where it was seemingly nonexistent,</p>
<p>I chose Yale because of Sam Tsui and the snazzy admissions propaganda video.</p>
<p>Jk. :P</p>
<p>I did choose Yale, though, partially because of its outstanding music program (I’m very excited to sit in the audience, haha; Idk that I’ll have time to participate), as well as family friends’ wonderful experiences at Yale (compared to sometimes lackluster experiences at other universities). Not to mention the incredible financial aid, the generally happy student body, and the undergrad focus.</p>
<p>Too many reasons, but a lot included the way of life.</p>
<p>I just really didn’t like Harvard when I visited it during Visitas. The dorms were not nearly as nice as Yale’s, and I was in Lowell, which is apparently one of the nice houses. Also, the residential college system at Harvard wasn’t as desirable as at Yale’s. I didn’t really like the attitude of the students I met there regarding Harvard, either, as one boy I talked to was unable to be positive about the “entrepreneurial” spirit (his own word). He mentioned that if you worked better under an immense and unspoken pressure coming from the students around you, Harvard would be great for you. I know that there is pressure at Yale, but it just seemed much less tangible there.</p>
<p>My decision to rule out Stanford was based largely upon the big divide between humanities students and the science/math students, as well as the lack of a cohesive housing system.</p>
<p>My decision to rule out Pomona…wasn’t really mine. I would have been extremely happy at Pomona. But, I know I’ll be happy at Yale too.</p>
<p>I chose to aim for Yale because Harvard seems a bit too overrated. :P</p>