tatler.com Tatler Schools Guide 2020 71NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITIESINVESTIGATIONSPHOTOGRAPH: PAMELA HANSON/ TRUNK ARCHIVEPREVIOUS PAGE: IMAGE OF RAFFERTY LAW & KRISTINE FROSETH TAKEN BY GIAMPAOLO SGURA/CONDÉ NAST ARCHIVE
HAPPY CAMPUS
Stanford University
in CaliforniaSTANFORD
‘Happiness radiates at Stanford,’
says one source. Maybe it’s the
sunshine, the abundance of sport,
the collaboration of intelligent,
liberal and innovative minds, or
the beautiful rural campus a short
trip away from San Francisco.
What to study
Unsurprisingly for a university so
entwined with Silicon Valley, the
Computer Science course is consid-
ered one of the best in the US.
Where to live
Wilbur and Stern are the freshman
dorms over on the West Side,
where everyone makes firm
friendships. From second year, lots
of students choose to live on the
Row on Mayfield Street.
Top tip
The idea of being put into a fresh-
man dorm with a stranger is
daunting. However, Stanford has
an amazing ‘matching algorithm’
for successful roommate pairings.HARVARD
The oldest institute of higher edu-
cation in the US and behemoth of
academia and brilliance, Harvard
also has the benefit of beaches,
skiing and incredible hiking just a
few hours’ drive away.
What to study
Student power rules here, and you
can study anything – gather a few
other interested students, petition
the relevant department and they’ll
create the course for you. You can
also travel anywhere as part
of the International Internship
Programme and take part in an
endless array of extracurriculars.
Where to live
At Harvard, the vast majority of
students stay on campus for
all four years. Weld is recommend-
ed for its central location (it was
JFK’s former dorm too).Top tip
Don’t be afraid to approach the
professors. Yes, they are incredibly
eminent, but it’s worth being brave
and picking their brilliant brains.NYU
For a highly academic college with
a large dose of cool, this metropoli-
tan utopia is the dream destination
for beatnik go-getters.
What to study
The Tisch School of the Arts islegendary and with professors
including Pharrell Williams and
James Franco, it’s hard to match.
Where to live
In the Freshman year, everyone is
in dorms around campus, with
Brittany and Hayden known to
attract the majority of hipsters
from the art school. After sopho-
more year, most students move off
campus and head to the East
Village or Greenwich Village.
Top tip
Study abroad – NYU has a great
programme that enables students
to study in far-flung destinations,
from Buenos Aires to Paris.MCGILL
A diverse international student
body with a city centre location in
picturesque Montreal. There’s thesmall issue of the -15°C degree
winters, but the incredible skiing
and blissful summer temperatures
soon put this into perspective.
What to study
The renowned Schulich School of
Music and the Desautels Faculty
of Management are favourites, but
it’s also brilliant for engineering,
science and liberal arts.
Where to live
Students marvel at the small, safe
and cosy feel. The main campus is
on Sherbrooke Street and across
the street is the premium student
digs, La Citadelle, which is housed
in a converted hotel.
Top tip
McGill offers incredible pastoral
care. There’s a helpful Nightline for
24-hour telephone support, as well
as workshops on managing anxiety
and overcoming procrastination.FOUR OF THE MOSTVe n e r a b l euniversitiesHarvardNYUMcGill10-19-Schools-Guide-Fetaure-AmericanUniversities.indd 71 13/08/2019 08:33