<p>I took into account zenkoan’s point as well. I will probably live on the East Coast for the rest of my life - either in DC or NYC. Spending at least four years someplace very far away from my current and possibly future home was a part of my decision (although I decided that when I applied, not in choosing, but alas). Weather was also a huge part of my decision. Although the weather at Stanford isn’t perfect - there are rainy days (weeks) of course - it’s a hell of a lot better than the weather at Yale. I was extremely bummed that Stanford isn’t urban, but I’m not sure I’d call New Haven urban either… Palo Alto and New Haven are both lacking as “cities,” although in very different ways.</p>
<p>Yale strikes me as stuffy. It’s very traditional - both in the college experience and in the academic experience. Depending on who you are, this can be a pro or a con. Stanford seems much more open to new things: it seems like it is more flexible and changing with the tides. Yale is also a place of more obvious affluence and snobbiness - in my opinion - whereas at Stanford, the students seem more low key.</p>