New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and boasts a beautiful shoreline along the Long Island Sound. Founded in 1638, New Haven created what is now known as the “Nine Square Plan” recognized as a National Planning Landmark. Additionally, New Haven is home to Yale University and founded the first public tree planting program in America giving the city the nickname “The Elm City.” The large, deep New Haven Harbor and the pronounced reddish basalt trap rock ridges, respectfully known as East Rock and West Rock, are the best-known geographical features in the city.
Right up there with Oxford University in the United Kingdom or Harvard or Princeton here in America, Yale University is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in the Ivy League. Five U.S. Presidents and 19 U.S. Supreme Court Justices claim Yale as their alma mater; the Yale Law School is just about the best there is. Famous jazz songwriter Cole Porter wrote the school fight song about their famous blue bulldog mascot 'Handsome Dan’—blue is the school color, and the Bulldogs are the official sports team. This sprawling, scenic campus is located in the chilly industrial New England city of New Haven, Connecticut. Campus buildings vary in style from Gothic to super-modern. The Yale Art Gallery has an amazing collection, and the secret society of the Skull And Bones is also located here in special buildings called 'tombs...no one knows much about them...forget I said anything...
Although Yale is thought of as a 'residential college', with 88% of undergraduates living on campus, there are other options anyone thinking outside the dorm box. Our apartment guide can help you get started scoping out what's available in the New Haven area. Apartment rentals in the city range from large condos to smaller apartments in houses, or more modest complexes. Many of them are located in downtown New Haven, so you will most likely have easy access to campus, as Yale is centrally located. Find out more about day-to-day college experience with our blog.
Waking and biking are both great, simple ways to get basically anywhere you need to be within the campus and nearby downtown New Haven area. There is also the Yale Shuttle to take you from building to building; take a look at their schedule and routes here. The Shuttle will drop you off right at the train station, connecting you to all the nearby major cities. But really, the Yale campus is a biker's paradise. The campus itself is like something straight out of Harry Potter, with castle-like architecture, and the surrounding downtown is filled with cultural attractions and nightlife. The Yale Art Gallery is a must. For nightlife, look no further than the bars and hang outs of Chapel and Church streets, within walking distance.