New Haven is a lively and diverse city, with one of the world’s leading universities at its heart.

A walk of a few blocks from SOM's campus will uncover many of the city's treasures: the Yale Art Gallery (housing masterpieces by Van Gogh, Rubens, Picasso, etc.), shopping at the boutiques along Chapel Street, and a new movie house – to name a few.

Conversations about the dining in New Haven often begin with the debate over which pizza joint makes the best pie (a very serious issue here), but the discussion can move on to dozens of fine restaurants, serving cuisines from every region of the world.

Other entertainments include nightclubs, top-rate regional theater, and the International Festival of Arts and Ideas.

Parks within the city limits range from the family-friendly beaches of Lighthouse Point to East Rock Park’s miles of wooded trails, 400-foot cliff faces, and stunning views of New Haven's coastline.

Yale University has been engaged in strengthening New Haven's downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. (Read more at the Office of New Haven and State Affairs.) In addition, Yale SOM students get involved in the community through a variety of student clubs and individual initiatives.