Yale is, first and foremost, a beautiful place, inside and out. The University invests a great deal of money to keep the campus in top condition. This is even more impressive since many of the buildings date back to the 18th century!
The Yale Library System is literally one of the best in world. With approximately 13 million volumes, the system consists of 22 buildings and is especially known for the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library and the Sterling Memorial Library (which is built in the style of a cathedral). The classroom buildings are often as picturesque as cathedrals, affording students the opportunity to learn amidst stained glass and gothic stonework. The University also has an extensive network of general and specialty computer labs.
The residential colleges are architectural wonders, and nearly all of them are newly renovated (the last will be done in 2011). Each residential college boasts a common room, a library (or two, in the case of Davenport), dining hall, TV room, computer lab, workout room, buttery, and laundry room. In addition, each college contains its own special facilities, such as movie theaters, caberets, music practice rooms, bookbinding studios, pottery and art studios, dance rooms, dark rooms, kitchens, and woodshops.
Some students (espeically athletes) will brag about Payne Whitney Gym, which is incredible inside and out. It is the second largest gymnasium in the world, and it's fully equipped for nearly any athletic event. In addition, the gym offers dozens of classes every semester including yoga, dance, kickboxing, fencing, and martial arts.
There is no student center at Yale, but students agree that the lack of such a place is rarely, if ever, missed since the residential college system makes a student center unnecessary.