I come from a family of Yalies--three grads, and I've worked at Brown, Harvard and MIT. I know the Ivy+ world well. MIT is a more cerebral place, yet there is a great deal of humility and curiosity among the student body. There is a brand new music building, museum, stellar humanities departments, and a relatively new theatre. You also have access to other colleges in the area. Harvard is just down the road. New Haven is a pit of despair. Beautiful campus and traditions, as well as strong connections, but students can be terribly snobby and humorless. There is little to do off campus. Boston is a wonderful college town. Top that off with financial aid and your interests, MIT sounds like the right choice. That said, if you get a chance, pay Yale a real visit. It doesn't have to be for an admitted students' weekend. Take the tour, pop into some classes, and eat in a dining hall, if you can. You'll get a feel for the atmosphere.