Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Yale was our DC's (rising freshman) first choice after researching and visiting. My sense is that many of the kids who go there do so (rather than some other great schools) because they value what they sense is a warmer culture there that is focused on undergrads and really values intellectual interests -- not just professional success. The residential college system -- while not perfect -- does seem to be in a league of its own in terms of helping to create a more intimate school experience. But we really tried to mute DC's expectations and I suggest you do the same. If your child has the stats she should go for it, but it is really a crap shoot and no one should expect to get into these schools.

Did you see OP's comment in 08:33?

Missed that, thanks,

Anonymous wrote:The idea that someone would rank the ivies from worst to best is hilarious.

happiest. that's what the thread is about.

Great transportation from the DC area - Acela Amtrak

I went to Yale in the 80s. Loved my classmates and the atmosphere. Was not lucky with professors -- seemed to have a lot who really didn't work on teaching too hard. I hope that's changed, but can't see why it would ... Yale doesn't hire for teaching skill ... Also, I hope they treat financial aid kids better these days.

Anonymous wrote: Yale was our DC's (rising freshman) first choice after researching and visiting. My sense is that many of the kids who go there do so (rather than some other great schools) because they value what they sense is a warmer culture there that is focused on undergrads and really values intellectual interests -- not just professional success. The residential college system -- while not perfect -- does seem to be in a league of its own in terms of helping to create a more intimate school experience. But we really tried to mute DC's expectations and I suggest you do the same. If your child has the stats she should go for it, but it is really a crap shoot and no one should expect to get into these schools.

Did you see OP's comment in 08:33?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Yale was our DC's (rising freshman) first choice after researching and visiting. My sense is that many of the kids who go there do so (rather than some other great schools) because they value what they sense is a warmer culture there that is focused on undergrads and really values intellectual interests -- not just professional success. The residential college system -- while not perfect -- does seem to be in a league of its own in terms of helping to create a more intimate school experience. But we really tried to mute DC's expectations and I suggest you do the same. If your child has the stats she should go for it, but it is really a crap shoot and no one should expect to get into these schools.

In this sense, Princeton is another good option. Since it is a relatively small school, where undergrads outnumber grad students 2:1, and there are no Professional schools (No Law, No Med, No MBA), the education is very focused on the undergraduate experience. And you graduate without any student debt (parents pay their portion of the FAFSA parental contribution, that's it) -- I think other Ivys do the same, right?

Beautiful campus, though, like many Ivy league schools, there are a lot of legacy/wealthy families so there can be an adjustment if you are not in that crowd (though if OP is coming from DC region, I'm sure she is already in the upper middle class or at least used to navigating in such social waters, so no issue).

?? What is this? The EFC? THat is what most students take out loans to cover--there is often a big difference between the EFC and what the parents can actually afford to pay.

A little more about Yale's residential colleges:

The "brand new" ones were built in the 1960s. They are about to build two more.

Each student is assigned a residential college for the four years. That does not mean you live in that college for all four years, but it is where you take your meals, your campus mail, and have a lot of social activities and support (such as math and writing tutors). Even if you choose to live off campus, you are still associated with that college.

With two exceptions (TD and Silliman), all the frosh live on the Old Campus, but with other frosh from the same college.

Except for Stiles and Morse (the "new" colleges), the residences are centered around entryways rather than hallways. Depending on the building, there are 2-4 suites per floor.

I am closest to my team mates and to my residential college friends. Both groups span graduating classes, making regular class reunions a little less of a draw for me.

Not sure what the current percentage of legacy families is. Back in the 80s and 90s, it was a bit of a sticking point with alumni that legacy status really didn't confer an advantage on applicants.

More than half of the student body receives need-based financial aid. Keep that in mind when people mention "a lot of legacy/wealthy families".
http://admissions.yale.edu/financial-aid

Anonymous wrote: Yale was our DC's (rising freshman) first choice after researching and visiting. My sense is that many of the kids who go there do so (rather than some other great schools) because they value what they sense is a warmer culture there that is focused on undergrads and really values intellectual interests -- not just professional success. The residential college system -- while not perfect -- does seem to be in a league of its own in terms of helping to create a more intimate school experience. But we really tried to mute DC's expectations and I suggest you do the same. If your child has the stats she should go for it, but it is really a crap shoot and no one should expect to get into these schools.

In this sense, Princeton is another good option. Since it is a relatively small school, where undergrads outnumber grad students 2:1, and there are no Professional schools (No Law, No Med, No MBA), the education is very focused on the undergraduate experience. And you graduate without any student debt (parents pay their portion of the FAFSA parental contribution, that's it) -- I think other Ivys do the same, right?

Beautiful campus, though, like many Ivy league schools, there are a lot of legacy/wealthy families so there can be an adjustment if you are not in that crowd (though if OP is coming from DC region, I'm sure she is already in the upper middle class or at least used to navigating in such social waters, so no issue).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved the residential college system of Yale and the residential housing system at Harvard. Both make the big university feel more like a SLAC.

What does this mean? As far as I see, it means a grad student and family live on the first floor of the dorm. True? What else? (DD is looking at a school that claims to have the same modeled after Yale -- and I can't get the gist of it.)

Yale has 12 residential colleges. You stay in that "college" the full four years, unless you decide to move off. Almost all of the colleges (except the brand new one) are gorgeous. You must have a student ID to get thru the iron gates into your college and then another pass to get into your dorm, and then key to your room . . . .so if you are worried about security, don't. Here's the wiki on the 12 colleges. My son stayed at Jonathon Edwards College. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_residential_colleges.

Harvard's system is a little different unless it has changed when I went there. There you spend your first year with all other freshmen in the freshman quad. At the end of the year you select which of the houses you want to live in for sophomore years and up. Certain Houses have certain reputations so there is much talk about which House to choose.

In both schools, a headmaster and wife live in with the students.

!!!

Even Hogwarts has had headmistresses...

Sorry, You are right and I realize now I was also sounded sexist - it was just male headmasters when I was there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved the residential college system of Yale and the residential housing system at Harvard. Both make the big university feel more like a SLAC.

What does this mean? As far as I see, it means a grad student and family live on the first floor of the dorm. True? What else? (DD is looking at a school that claims to have the same modeled after Yale -- and I can't get the gist of it.)

Yale has 12 residential colleges. You stay in that "college" the full four years, unless you decide to move off. Almost all of the colleges (except the brand new one) are gorgeous. You must have a student ID to get thru the iron gates into your college and then another pass to get into your dorm, and then key to your room . . . .so if you are worried about security, don't. Here's the wiki on the 12 colleges. My son stayed at Jonathon Edwards College. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_residential_colleges.

Harvard's system is a little different unless it has changed when I went there. There you spend your first year with all other freshmen in the freshman quad. At the end of the year you select which of the houses you want to live in for sophomore years and up. Certain Houses have certain reputations so there is much talk about which House to choose.

In both schools, a headmaster and wife live in with the students.

Thanks for the explanation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved the residential college system of Yale and the residential housing system at Harvard. Both make the big university feel more like a SLAC.

What does this mean? As far as I see, it means a grad student and family live on the first floor of the dorm. True? What else? (DD is looking at a school that claims to have the same modeled after Yale -- and I can't get the gist of it.)

Yale has 12 residential colleges. You stay in that "college" the full four years, unless you decide to move off. Almost all of the colleges (except the brand new one) are gorgeous. You must have a student ID to get thru the iron gates into your college and then another pass to get into your dorm, and then key to your room . . . .so if you are worried about security, don't. Here's the wiki on the 12 colleges. My son stayed at Jonathon Edwards College. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_residential_colleges.

Harvard's system is a little different unless it has changed when I went there. There you spend your first year with all other freshmen in the freshman quad. At the end of the year you select which of the houses you want to live in for sophomore years and up. Certain Houses have certain reputations so there is much talk about which House to choose.

In both schools, a headmaster and wife live in with the students.

!!!

Even Hogwarts has had headmistresses...