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

[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.

Meh, they are similar, most of the kids at both aren’t particularly social. For those who are, it’s finals clubs (I know Yale has something similar). Both have a house system, Yale starts it a year earlier. Both have grade inflation compared to other Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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"

But Harvard has all of the freshmen in Harvard Yard which promotes cohesion within the class as a whole, then they go into the residential colleges. Yale's don't start until the second year. I think that's a better system for building friendships. YOu know everyone in your class

[Anonymous]

I know a current student at Yale and he's happy. Alumni have also told me they appreciated their time there. I don't know current students at Harvard, but people of my generation who went to Harvard didn't love it... althought obviously they're happy for the opportunities it offered.

Just anecdotes for you, OP.

[Anonymous]

Why are you concerned about this, OP? As if your DC got into both and has to choose one and reject the other!

[Anonymous]

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

Harvard campus is much dumpier than Yale. But agree Boston is bigger

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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"

But Harvard has all of the freshmen in Harvard Yard which promotes cohesion within the class as a whole, then they go into the residential colleges. Yale's don't start until the second year. I think that's a better system for building friendships. YOu know everyone in your class

By college - does knowing your class matter? As opposed to meeting kids in general.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a current student at Yale and he's happy. Alumni have also told me they appreciated their time there. I don't know current students at Harvard, but people of my generation who went to Harvard didn't love it... althought obviously they're happy for the opportunities it offered.

Just anecdotes for you, OP.

My dh went to Harvard and loved it, so much for the power of anecdote. He was in a finals club, and played a sport. Still quite close to a number of friends from his residential house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are you concerned about this, OP? As if your DC got into both and has to choose one and reject the other!

Umm, you know it's June, so obviously no one is making a decision, which is usually done in April I think. Most people think (or should think) about their ideal fit and values before they decide where to apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a current student at Yale and he's happy. Alumni have also told me they appreciated their time there. I don't know current students at Harvard, but people of my generation who went to Harvard didn't love it... althought obviously they're happy for the opportunities it offered.

Just anecdotes for you, OP.

My dh went to Harvard and loved it, so much for the power of anecdote. He was in a finals club, and played a sport. Still quite close to a number of friends from his residential house.

Are the final clubs usually athletes?

[Anonymous]

yawn

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yawn

Why would you go out of your way to open a thread you're not interested in and then post this? Please explain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Harvard campus is much dumpier than Yale. But agree Boston is bigger

The Harvard campus being dumpier than Yale really surprised me. They do have some buildings with beautiful architecture, but they also had a very brief, weird period in the last century where their buildings look like they were built by the same architects that design prisons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a current student at Yale and he's happy. Alumni have also told me they appreciated their time there. I don't know current students at Harvard, but people of my generation who went to Harvard didn't love it... althought obviously they're happy for the opportunities it offered.

Just anecdotes for you, OP.

My dh went to Harvard and loved it, so much for the power of anecdote. He was in a finals club, and played a sport. Still quite close to a number of friends from his residential house.

[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.

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:

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.

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.

??

I take this to mean that the poster has a child that that is not bound by the laws of physics, and thus will be attending two different universities at the same time, and thus in a year will be able to accurately compare the two.