<p>I know people who prefer New Haven and I know people who prefer Cambridge. It really comes down to personal preference so those of you making the Harvard vs. Yale decision should really visit both towns to get your own impression.</p>
<p>Here are the five things I like best about each place, many of which have already been mentioned by others.</p>
<p>New Haven:</p>
<p>1) Nature is much more accesible w/out a car. East Rock park is only 1 mi from campus. There is also West Rock and Magby resevoirs 3miles away. </p>
<p>2) Great, cheap ethnic restaurants are very close/on campus. It’s so easy to get a delicious $5-10 meal. Food trucks are great. Good, cheap food is hard to find in Cambridge.</p>
<p>3) Cost of living is a lot less. $600 dollars gets you a nice 1 bedroom apt in New Haven vs. $1000 in Cambridge. This is important if you’re looking to spend summers on campus or move off campus.</p>
<p>4) Yale has a School of Music and a School of Drama so there are tons of free/ cheap performances on campus. There is more going on in the Boston area each night, but it generally involves a T-ride which adds time and planning. In New Haven, I went the concerts once a week; now in Cambridge, it’s more like once a semester.</p>
<p>5) There are a lot of community service opportunities in Cambridge and Boston, but at Yale they tend to be closer to/affiliated with the campus. </p>
<p>Cambridge:</p>
<p>1) Shopping is great in Boston! So many more stores for clothes, specialty food items, etc. No more mail order!</p>
<p>2) People want to visit you more often because you’re in a “big” city with more tourist activities. </p>
<p>3) Lots of clubs and activities not directly affliated with your school to join. Music groups, running clubs, etc. But as a student, there’s not much time to partake in this…</p>
<p>4) Boating is a lot more accessible in Cambridge. If you like sailing or crew, the Charles River is awesome and nearby whereas the Yale Yatch Club and the Boat House are each about a 25 min drive from campus.</p>
<p>5) The social life seems less campus centered in Cambridge than in New Haven.</p>