<p>Aside from your pretty insensitive comment about Annie Le (whose murder actually has nothing to do with New Haven), who says people are more comfortable at night in Cambridge than in New Haven? That’s your personal opinion. In fact, if you look up “most dangerous college campuses,” MIT is more often on those lists than Yale is, by a lot (based on crime rates). Maybe you think Cambridge is fine and dandy at night, but not everyone will agree. I personally have never felt unsafe in New Haven before, night or day.</p>
<p>I understand your point about not stereotyping schools, because I get irritated when people question Yale’s science programs, and I’m sure you get irritated when people question MIT’s social scene. But I don’t think that was the best way to make your point.</p>
<p>To respond to the OP, if you are interested in biomedical engineering, Yale has a great BME program. Even in terms of rankings, it places well (rankings vary a lot, so I’m not a huge fan of them, but for NRC rankings I believe Yale BME is tied for first). I’m don’t know about chemical engineering specifically, but I’m sure you know that Yale is expanding its engineering program and accepting more engineering students. In the past, Yale’s engineering departments have not been well-known, but that’s mostly because of size, not quality. In fact (not that I endorse this ranking at all), one ranking had Yale engineering as number 1 based on impact per paper; it had the least papers of any of the top schools, but per paper, it had the most impact by their metrics. My freshman organic chemistry class last year was filled with prospective chemical engineers, so the changes are already very noticeable.</p>
<p>My personal opinion is that you shouldn’t choose an undergrad school at this level on academics, but rather on feel. It’s Yale, it has a stellar science program, a great BME program, and an expanding engineering program. You obviously love it and didn’t like MIT that much. MIT might push you academically, but will you be happy? I don’t think Yale will limit you at all, especially if you’re interested in bio, biochem, BME, etc. as bio is Yale’s strength in science.</p>
<p>I used to be a prospective chemical engineering major, and I chose Yale over Stanford because I fell in love with the school. I’m not a chemical engineering major anymore, but I definitely have never regretted my choice at all because I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life.</p>
<p>Also, why do you have attend the school that you are admitted early to? Whose policy is that? Your high school’s? Because it sure isn’t Yale’s or MIT’s. They are both EA, i.e. non-binding.</p>