What makes the social life of Harvard so different form Yale?

[Anonymous]

Given that the schools seem so similar, it seems hard to grasp. So Harvard has final clubs, which seems something like fraternities. There is some vague complaint about "social spaces." I suspect it has more to do with the grinder/networker personalities of the students drawn to Harvard, but as has been noted frequently on DCUM, the "vibe" of most T20 are fairly joyless now, so this is certainly not unique in any way.

[Anonymous]

It's mostly that Yale sets you up really well, really early with the different residential colleges and culture. People seek Yale for the collaborative environment and Harvard because "It's Harvard"

[Anonymous]

It’s more that Yale has abdicated any effort to be seen as academically rigorous, so it has to compensate by stressing how much fun it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s more that Yale has abdicated any effort to be seen as academically rigorous, so it has to compensate by stressing how much fun it is.

Is that really true, though? I mean, the students take more classes (most semesters 5, vs Harvard's 4), which actually seems a bit too heavy. In what way is it less academically rigorous? I have heard Harvard students complain about the workload a lot, but can't figure out why that would be case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Given that the schools seem so similar, it seems hard to grasp. So Harvard has final clubs, which seems something like fraternities. There is some vague complaint about "social spaces." I suspect it has more to do with the grinder/networker personalities of the students drawn to Harvard, but as has been noted frequently on DCUM, the "vibe" of most T20 are fairly joyless now, so this is certainly not unique in any way.

Different schools in different cities? Sorry but your intro is confusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given that the schools seem so similar, it seems hard to grasp. So Harvard has final clubs, which seems something like fraternities. There is some vague complaint about "social spaces." I suspect it has more to do with the grinder/networker personalities of the students drawn to Harvard, but as has been noted frequently on DCUM, the "vibe" of most T20 are fairly joyless now, so this is certainly not unique in any way.

Different schools in different cities? Sorry but your intro is confusing.

Why is this confusing? Harvard and Yale are similar in many ways, including the students they attract and the structures of their schools. Harvard and Yale are more similar than Harvard and Arizona State.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Given that the schools seem so similar, it seems hard to grasp. So Harvard has final clubs, which seems something like fraternities. There is some vague complaint about "social spaces." I suspect it has more to do with the grinder/networker personalities of the students drawn to Harvard, but as has been noted frequently on DCUM, the "vibe" of most T20 are fairly joyless now, so this is certainly not unique in any way.

You will have to wait at least one year before I can answer with some authority. My DC will be upcoming freshman at both Harvard and Yale. I will distill DC’s experience at both universities and share the precious gem with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s more that Yale has abdicated any effort to be seen as academically rigorous, so it has to compensate by stressing how much fun it is.

True. My kid has no interest in applying. Too woke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s more that Yale has abdicated any effort to be seen as academically rigorous, so it has to compensate by stressing how much fun it is.

True. My kid has no interest in applying. Too woke.

Why at all do they care about how woke someone is? Are they too stupid to debate someone on their views?

[Anonymous]

Harvard is bigger and much more integrated into Cambridge and city of Boston. New Haven is kinda dumpy, kids stick much closer to campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given that the schools seem so similar, it seems hard to grasp. So Harvard has final clubs, which seems something like fraternities. There is some vague complaint about "social spaces." I suspect it has more to do with the grinder/networker personalities of the students drawn to Harvard, but as has been noted frequently on DCUM, the "vibe" of most T20 are fairly joyless now, so this is certainly not unique in any way.

Different schools in different cities? Sorry but your intro is confusing.

Why is this confusing? Harvard and Yale are similar in many ways, including the students they attract and the structures of their schools. Harvard and Yale are more similar than Harvard and Arizona State.

Thread title asks "what makes social life of H and Y so different?" Wouldn't it make more sense in your initial post to share the differences between the two as you perceive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given that the schools seem so similar, it seems hard to grasp. So Harvard has final clubs, which seems something like fraternities. There is some vague complaint about "social spaces." I suspect it has more to do with the grinder/networker personalities of the students drawn to Harvard, but as has been noted frequently on DCUM, the "vibe" of most T20 are fairly joyless now, so this is certainly not unique in any way.

Different schools in different cities? Sorry but your intro is confusing.

Why is this confusing? Harvard and Yale are similar in many ways, including the students they attract and the structures of their schools. Harvard and Yale are more similar than Harvard and Arizona State.

Thread title asks "what makes social life of H and Y so different?" Wouldn't it make more sense in your initial post to share the differences between the two as you perceive?

Sorry, I'll clarify: Harvard has a reputation of having a bad social life, with a lot of loneliness, lack of sense of community, bad parties which are few and far-between, and a cliquey students body filled with "networking" careerist types. Yale has the opposite reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given that the schools seem so similar, it seems hard to grasp. So Harvard has final clubs, which seems something like fraternities. There is some vague complaint about "social spaces." I suspect it has more to do with the grinder/networker personalities of the students drawn to Harvard, but as has been noted frequently on DCUM, the "vibe" of most T20 are fairly joyless now, so this is certainly not unique in any way.

Different schools in different cities? Sorry but your intro is confusing.

Why is this confusing? Harvard and Yale are similar in many ways, including the students they attract and the structures of their schools. Harvard and Yale are more similar than Harvard and Arizona State.

Thread title asks "what makes social life of H and Y so different?" Wouldn't it make more sense in your initial post to share the differences between the two as you perceive?

Sorry, I'll clarify: Harvard has a reputation of having a bad social life, with a lot of loneliness, lack of sense of community, bad parties which are few and far-between, and a cliquey students body filled with "networking" careerist types. Yale has the opposite reputation.

PP Thanks! Sorry, I'm dense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given that the schools seem so similar, it seems hard to grasp. So Harvard has final clubs, which seems something like fraternities. There is some vague complaint about "social spaces." I suspect it has more to do with the grinder/networker personalities of the students drawn to Harvard, but as has been noted frequently on DCUM, the "vibe" of most T20 are fairly joyless now, so this is certainly not unique in any way.

Different schools in different cities? Sorry but your intro is confusing.

Why is this confusing? Harvard and Yale are similar in many ways, including the students they attract and the structures of their schools. Harvard and Yale are more similar than Harvard and Arizona State.

Thread title asks "what makes social life of H and Y so different?" Wouldn't it make more sense in your initial post to share the differences between the two as you perceive?

Sorry, I'll clarify: Harvard has a reputation of having a bad social life, with a lot of loneliness, lack of sense of community, bad parties which are few and far-between, and a cliquey students body filled with "networking" careerist types. Yale has the opposite reputation.

It’s a bit sad that Yale boosters resort to this even though it was once seen as one of the top five schools in the country. What’s next - an update on how it has a great climbing wall and Taco Tuesday specials at Jonathan Edwards?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given that the schools seem so similar, it seems hard to grasp. So Harvard has final clubs, which seems something like fraternities. There is some vague complaint about "social spaces." I suspect it has more to do with the grinder/networker personalities of the students drawn to Harvard, but as has been noted frequently on DCUM, the "vibe" of most T20 are fairly joyless now, so this is certainly not unique in any way.

Different schools in different cities? Sorry but your intro is confusing.

Why is this confusing? Harvard and Yale are similar in many ways, including the students they attract and the structures of their schools. Harvard and Yale are more similar than Harvard and Arizona State.

Thread title asks "what makes social life of H and Y so different?" Wouldn't it make more sense in your initial post to share the differences between the two as you perceive?

Sorry, I'll clarify: Harvard has a reputation of having a bad social life, with a lot of loneliness, lack of sense of community, bad parties which are few and far-between, and a cliquey students body filled with "networking" careerist types. Yale has the opposite reputation.

It’s a bit sad that Yale boosters resort to this even though it was once seen as one of the top five schools in the country. What’s next - an update on how it has a great climbing wall and Taco Tuesday specials at Jonathan Edwards?

That's the point of the OP--what caused the reputations to diverge so much despite having so many similarities?