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

[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.

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.

!!

[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.

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,

Is that a hook?

[Anonymous]

I think Hermione Granger did something like this, so it is not unprecedented. But that was to double her course load, not to attend two schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

because campuses have become a hostile environment for many. Look at DOJ's law suit against Pomona and Occidental college just filed by DOJ, Dept of Education and the Brandeis Center charging severe infractions of the jewish students civil rights under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Students are leaving because it isnt safe. A female Jewish student left Occidental in January because she didn't feel safe there. Six or more students left Yale and are suing using a powerful New York firm to litigate under the 1964 act. The Brandeis center is being represented by Arnold & Porter pro bono.

[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

you havent seen the residential colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

i don't understand your point. All of the first year Harvard grads live in Harvard yard so get to know one another. Then they pick their residential college for the next three years. At Yale you go right into your residential college so forfeit the Harvard yard ecperience. either system can be a plus or minus depending upon your kid. I know many Harvard undergrads who were unhappy but i suspect they are the type who would have been unhappy anywhere. I loved my time at Harvard. My Yale friends were miserable at Yale. Like anything in life it's what you invest and make of it.

[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.

Not quite. Won't disagree with Harvard. It's not great when neighboring MIT is known as the party school in Cambridge.

But Yale really hasn't gotten over an incident from some years ago. Progressive students really bullying a residential professor and her family - for saying students are responsible for their Halloween costumes. It destroyed careers. Videos were everywhere. It made it clear Yale is a very different place these days.

Definitely not the fun school of yore.

And then the Tiger Mom drama.

This is all years ago now, but it's a stressful place where most people walk on eggshells in a not great city. Not a fun school for most.

[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.

Not quite. Won't disagree with Harvard. It's not great when neighboring MIT is known as the party school in Cambridge.

But Yale really hasn't gotten over an incident from some years ago. Progressive students really bullying a residential professor and her family - for saying students are responsible for their Halloween costumes. It destroyed careers. Videos were everywhere. It made it clear Yale is a very different place these days.

Definitely not the fun school of yore.

And then the Tiger Mom drama.

This is all years ago now, but it's a stressful place where most people walk on eggshells in a not great city. Not a fun school for most.

None of this is accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

because campuses have become a hostile environment for many. Look at DOJ's law suit against Pomona and Occidental college just filed by DOJ, Dept of Education and the Brandeis Center charging severe infractions of the jewish students civil rights under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Students are leaving because it isnt safe. A female Jewish student left Occidental in January because she didn't feel safe there. Six or more students left Yale and are suing using a powerful New York firm to litigate under the 1964 act. The Brandeis center is being represented by Arnold & Porter pro bono.

?? There is no such lawsuit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

NP, but no, they're probably worried that having the debate at all will lead them to be a social pariah

[Anonymous]

Progressive students really bullying a residential professor and her family - for saying students are responsible for their Halloween costumes. It destroyed careers. Videos were everywhere. It made it clear Yale is a very different place these days.

This is how the press portrayed it.FIRE manufactured the incident.Reality was very different. The woman was the associate master and the criticism was related to her email to students in the college.

[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.

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,

Is that a hook?

Umm, this is 2024, not 1974. Being able to manipulate physical laws is now a requirement for a competitive candidate to any T10, at least at places like HYP, Stanford, and Duke. I hear Brown and Dartmouth are willing to accept some candidates who can't manipulate quantum physical laws with ease, but better apply ED--regular round, all bets are off. Sorry.

[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.

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,

Is that a hook?

Umm, this is 2024, not 1974. Being able to manipulate physical laws is now a requirement for a competitive candidate to any T10, at least at places like HYP, Stanford, and Duke. I hear Brown and Dartmouth are willing to accept some candidates who can't manipulate quantum physical laws with ease, but better apply ED--regular round, all bets are off. Sorry.

Thanks for the laughs, guys! 😀

[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.

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,

Is that a hook?

Umm, this is 2024, not 1974. Being able to manipulate physical laws is now a requirement for a competitive candidate to any T10, at least at places like HYP, Stanford, and Duke. I hear Brown and Dartmouth are willing to accept some candidates who can't manipulate quantum physical laws with ease, but better apply ED--regular round, all bets are off. Sorry.

I did know a guy who was enrolled at two colleges when I was in school: the public his parents would pay for and the elite private one he was paying for solely with loans. They were in the same city, though, and he still had a breakdown trying to make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yeah, I didn't care much for Harvard architectural. It was so colonial, and I grew up in VA where everything was colonial or a 20th C homage to colonial. I liked Yale overall with the exception of the Brutalist buildings that looked like they were plucked right out of DC. Who knew DOE got relocated to New Haven?

My kid is at a different Ivy and loving it. Friend who went to H got kind of snobby (was really nice before). Friends who went to Y --both nice, but one down to earth and the other a bit full of himself. Who knows if the colleges were a big factor or if this would have been the case anywhere.