DD got into both and chose Stanford. Like your DD she didn’t know what she wanted to study so academics didn’t come into play with her final decision. She preferred Palo Alto to New Haven and has not regretted her decision. She has loved being able to ride her bike to the farmers market or to the mall to workout at places like Barry’s Bootcamp, Pure Barre or soul cycle. On weekends, she frequently rents a car at the Enterprise on campus which rents to Stanford students under 25. She has gone to many places including Napa, Big Sur, Capitola, Halfmoon Bay, into SF, Carmel, Sausalito.... As a parent, it would have been nicer to get in the car versus a plane to go visit her but once you arrive Palo Alto is much nicer than New Haven and has many many more hotel choices. Two of my kids, including DD who is currently attending Stanford, have done YYGS so between YYGS, college visits, and Bulldog days I have had numerous occasions to stay in New Haven hotels. I definitely feel she is much safer on campus at Stanford and would have worried about her going back and forth from the freshman dorms to the residential college late at night. I do not understand why Yale has not taken a page out of Penn’s book and drastically increased security around Campus and past it’s perimeter. |
Ok then. For the kids hitting up soul cycle and taking weekend jaunts to Sausalito and wine country I guess the choice is clear. |
hahaha |
There’s a reason houses in Stanford/Palo Alto cost upward of $3M - it’s a fantastic place to live. Also there are allotment gardens and arguably the best dining halls in the nation. Fantastic exercise facilities (even for non athletes) and access to the outdoors. |
Are they going to college or joining a country club? |
Yes. Awful land use policy screwing over most who cannot afford to live close in. I had to live in a dump in East Palo Alto in grad school. The area might be nice, but not $3 mil house nice. |
Curious why you didn’t live in grad housing? My DW lived in a brand new studio for $1600 (paid for by his department as a grad student). I’m assuming OP has an undergraduate student so she will be living in the dorms. |
Avoid New Haven until pigs fly. |
Stanford sounds much more neat and tidy and sterile but seriously, majority of students at Yale and Stanford are from deep in the bubble. Pick your poison. |
So presumptuous O.P. Your kid will likely be rejected at both. Come back + tell us. |
Yale hands down |
Sadly true. Also, what kid can’t decide between Stanford or Yale for early action? They are very different places. |
One big difference, if you family is on the east coast, it is easy to take a train from New Haven. Palo Alto is nicer (in terms of quality of life and weather), but more expensive and far from the DMV. |
Which school is better for what your child wants to study?
Would he have strong feelings about the differences in architecture/style of campus? |
op here. of course everyone knows its a crapshoot. but dc can take a chance. and I'll be back in December of 2021 to tell you all what happens |