Pierson vs Davenport

Colleges & Universities Yale University
1

<p>Are there any major differences?? My mother was in Davenport and my father was in Pierson, so I am trying to decide which college I would rather request.</p>

2

<p>Which parent is more nostalgic about it? Choose that one.</p>

3

<p>Actually nostalgia isn’t that good of a criteria. Nostalgia is heavily defined by the unrelated personality of a person.</p>

<p>ANYHOW, I’m not sure why, but isn’t Davenport supposed to be the “best” one?</p>

4

<p>If you’re definitely choosing one of them (rather than entering the lottery), take Davenport. I personally cannot stand being inside Pierson’s dining hall - everything is white, making it look like a mental institution (the rest of the college is beautiful, but I can’t imagine eating the majority of my meals in that dining hall).</p>

5

<p>I stayed in Pierson College (the actual college, not on Old Campus) during Bulldog Days, and I absolutely loved it. The suite in which I stayed was really nice, I loved the bright and airy dining hall, the underground facilities (ping pong and foosball tables, buttery, etc) were awesome, and the courtyard is plenty big to allow for some frisbee or soccer or whatever.</p>

<p>The two colleges are so similar that you really can’t go wrong; I mean, they’re connected underground, after all. Pierson was great, but if I were you, I’d go with Davenport… people seem to regard it as one of the physically nicest colleges at Yale (though Pierson’s up there too).</p>

<p>EDIT: Wait, wasn’t the housing form due on May 5th?</p>

6

<p>choose davenport - much better freshman housing</p>

7

<p>Pierson alum weighing in here. </p>

<p>There’s nothing wrong with Pierson; it’s lovely, despite some people’s aversion to the dining hall: [Google</a> Image Result for <a href=“http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/bts/archives/renovations/05_piersonCollege/images/1_sm.jpg[/url]”>http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/bts/archives/renovations/05_piersonCollege/images/1_sm.jpg](<a href=“http://■■■■■■■/unj5n]Google”>http://■■■■■■■/unj5n)</a> (Click on photo to enlarge).</p>

<p>Still, I’d choose Davenport… mostly because Pierson freshmen these days are housed in Lanman-Wright (formerly Wright Hall), which has always been - and remains - the worst housing on Old Campus. Also, Davenport seems to be riding a wave of college spirit these days: [Yale</a> Daily News - One Yale, a dozen ways](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/university-news/2010/04/20/one-yale-dozen-ways/]Yale”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/university-news/2010/04/20/one-yale-dozen-ways/)</p>

<p>But, honestly, you couldn’t go wrong either way. Besides, tastes are personal. My son, who could have chosen JE (beautiful, IMO), preferred Pierson’s courtyard, college library, and basement facilities. If you have the chance to visit, it’s best to form your own impression.</p>

8

<p>It’s a tough decision - but I think Davenport is definitely the way to go. Pretty amazing freshman housing, the college itself is beautiful, the rooms are nice, the dining hall is pretty good, as is most of their facilities, and it’s a little more accessible than Pierson is. Pierson is also beautiful, IMO, it’s HUMONGOUS, and the college is pretty social (Pierson freshmen are among the more social freshmen on campus).</p>

9

<p>Pierson has Master G. </p>

<p>Here’s something a Pierson resident wrote a couple of years ago. I can’t vouch for the facts (most money of any college? not sure about that one) but that characterization of the facilities, and the love for Master G, who has the respect of all Yale students, is real. </p>

<p>OK, first of all, Pierson is AWESOME and it is SERIOUSLY the best residential college at Yale. I’m not kidding. </p>

<p>Here are some reasons:

  1. Master G is incredible. Everyone in Pierson loves him so much-- infact, two of my Pierson friends recently got married and they asked him to be the wedding officiator! When I had a personal concern senior year, I emailed him, and he immediately e-mailed me back and we had a phone chat, even though it was late at night. Incredibly caring. He is like a second parent to a lot of us, makes dorky dad jokes, combined with jewish-mother worrying and concern. </p>

<p>2) Pierson has A LOT more money than the other colleges. Our senior happy hours and wine tastings spoil us rotten! we have truffled cheese and imported beers. Every other Sunday there is an exclusive lox and bagel brunch. Master G always says “food is love” in Pierson, and he really lavishes a huge amount of the budget on excellent study breaks. Other colleges get pizza and soda. We get real Italian gelato, flown in, sushi, and chocolate fondue. I’m not exaggerating!</p>

<p>3) Combine #1 and #2 and you never really have to worry about anything, ever, at Yale. For example, my friend got an excellent summer job at Yale, but couldn’t cover her rent costs, and she talked to Master G and he arranged for her to have a summer stipend fellowship. Similarly, when a paper I wrote was accepted at a national literature conference, I talked to Master G and he helped me cover my travel expenses! Every spring the seniors go on a trip to Italy HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by the college. </p>

<p>4) our facilities are the best. We have the most beautiful gym int he basement, we share facilities with Davenport via underground walkways. So you get the best of both worlds-- Pierson antique printing press, Davenport digital media labs, two cafes for study snacks (Butteries), all-new kitchen facilities, pool tables, etc. </p>

<p>5) The senior singles are gorgeous and the suites are all recently renovated (during the 2003-2004 year) so you’ll always have hot showers, beautiful rooms, etc. And they preserved a lot of the original antique hardwood floors and brick fireplaces, so it’s a great combination of tradition and modern conveniences. </p>

<p>6) I had my doubts when I saw LW, but I really got close to my other Piersonites and you end up totally bonding as a class and making friends with Saybrugians across the courtyard. Plus, the LW courtyard is really the most ideal, central hub for socializing… none of the other fresmen dorms have such a nice seating area. The rooms are small and kind of bad, but suck it up and think about how awesome your other 3 years are going to be!!</p>

10

<p>Everyone says that about Pierson’s dining hall, but honestly at BDD I didn’t find it bad at all. Have you ever eaten in a public school cafeteria? </p>

<p>LW, however, sucks. I was hosted there. The rooms themselves were okay, despite the dirty floors and peeling wooden walls; there was plenty of space and I got a bed, unlike other pre-frosh. However, the bathrooms were absolutely terrible. Holes in the walls were plugged so that the wind wouldn’t whistle through, and only one shower worked.</p>

11

<p>I stick with my original advice. Which parent cares more about your choosing his/her college? That’s the one to pick. Any other differences shake out within 30 minutes of arriving on campus.</p>

12

<p>Riverrunner’s post is exaggerated. </p>

<p>With regard to #2: [Pierson</a> budget to be slashed, says PCC president The Yale Herald](<a href=“yaleherald.com”>yaleherald.com)</p>

<p>also, (my college) berkeley, which doesn’t have a particularly large reserve of alumni funds, has plenty of study breaks with sushi and chocolate fondue. not really that special. </p>

<p>3) A senior trip to italy sounds pretty legit. not going to argue with that one. But any master/dean should be able to help you find grants and fellowships. </p>

<p>4) the facilities are shared with davenport. shared. that means it doesn’t matter which college you’re in (i.e. not a particular advantage of pierson)</p>

<p>5) Davenport has equally good housing, with the same special features</p>

<p>6) LW is actually the least desirable freshman housing. In my freshman year, it had roaches.</p>

<p>I’m not trying to rain on riverrunner’s parade, and i’m glad that he/she has lots of college spirit. Pierson is def. great… all the colleges are. But you should pick Davenport.</p>

13

<p>Hi kwij,
I was quoting a student who was in Pierson two years ago. I liked the post because it features Master G, and stuck to illuminating positive aspects of P without disparaging any other college. I really couldn’t let a comparison of P and D go by without mentioning Master G. He is the soul of the college and devotes himself to creating the ultimate Yale undergrad experience. He knows his charges, he knocks himself out to connect with them by spending countless hours having meals with them, participating in crazy stunts with them, and making himself available for any sophomoric crisis. He does work hard to put $ in the hands of students who come up with ambitious summer plans, even this year. I don’t know if he’s “better” than any other Master at Yale. If they’re all this good, no worries about the decision.</p>

14

<p>davenport, no contest. everyone know pierson is the poor man’s davenport. plus their cheer is irritating.</p>

15

<p>^^well, yes, no one can defend that cheer.</p>

16

<p><<everyone know=“” pierson=“” is=“” the=“” poor=“” man’s=“” davenport.=“”>></everyone></p>

<p>This is one of the more foolish comments I’ve seen here; it says more about the writer than about his subject. For the record, I have never heard anything even remotely along these lines about Pierson v. Davenport before.</p>

17

<p>Davenport’s cheer sucks too, just for the record.</p>

18

<p>amciw, that’s true, but at least theirs doesn’t last as long. Pierson’s is terrible and interminable.</p>

19

<p>jeez calm down now, i was being facetious. there is nothing wrong with pierson; every college is great. many of my closest friends are in pierson and i think they have more spirit than most other colleges. anyway i think it’s clear which college i’m in and the statement i jokingly said is something i’ve heard from davenport alums, also said jokingly obviously.</p>

20

<p>Whenever I pass by the Davenport’s game room/buttery, there are always people down there socializing and having fun. Whereas when I go through Pierson’s game room/buttery, people are studying. I don’t know which you prefer.</p>