Yale is an environment for brilliant minds. You can expect to find plenty of competition in an environment like this, but you will also be surprised by the amount of peer support that you will find here.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Yale really does look at more than just academics. They are really interested in students' extracurricular activities. They make it incredibly easy for students to start their own clubs. I really believe that I was admitted because of my dedication to high school extracurriculars.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Every university should have a suite configuration and a residential college system. This is one of the reasons why I chose Yale. First, the suites allow you to become closer to more than just one or two roommates. In addition, the residential college system makes it feel like you are part of a smaller college. Each college has a master and a dean, and they really do know you by name, and you will see them almost every day at the dining halls or giving out candy in the college library during finals week.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Food on campus is not bad, but the availability of late-night food is less than satisfactory. Dining halls close at 7:30, and this tends to be a problem for students who are up late. The only other options around campus (Gourmet Heaven and Durfee's) are ridiculously expensive. However, Downtown New Haven has some great restaurants. If money is not a factor, these are definitely great options.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
No matter what, there is always something for everyone. Yale is known for its acapella, improv, and comedy groups. If you're not the type to join these, you can always attend their concerts. Most are free, if not under $5. There are also on-campus parties pretty much every weekend.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Yale may be expensive, but their financial aid department is amazing--as are the departments of all the Ivy Leagues. Luckily, I pay not tuition thanks to the generous financial aid and a few outside scholarships that pay for work study and summer contributions.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Don't be surprised if you attend a party and everyone ends up naked. Yale loves naked parties. And naked runs at the start of finals week.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
The great thing about Yale is that you don't have to join a frat or a sorority in order to have a good time. I've seen other schools that require the students to join a frat in order to go into frat parties. This is hardly ever the case at Yale. Greek life isn't too big, and the administration is constantly trying to restrict Greek influence on campus.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
New Haven may not be the safest city in the country, but the campus is not dangerous at all. The Yale Police Department and Yale Security are both constantly visible around campus. Students can even call security to be escorted from door to door. That being said, one has to be street smart while around New Haven--don't go out along past the boundaries of campus at one in the morning. Students do occasionally get held up, but that happens mostly to the graduate students who live off campus.
Yale is an environment for brilliant minds. You can expect to find plenty of competition in an environment like this, but you will also be surprised by the amount of peer support that you will find here.
Yale really does look at more than just academics. They are really interested in students' extracurricular activities. They make it incredibly easy for students to start their own clubs. I really believe that I was admitted because of my dedication to high school extracurriculars.
Every university should have a suite configuration and a residential college system. This is one of the reasons why I chose Yale. First, the suites allow you to become closer to more than just one or two roommates. In addition, the residential college system makes it feel like you are part of a smaller college. Each college has a master and a dean, and they really do know you by name, and you will see them almost every day at the dining halls or giving out candy in the college library during finals week.
Food on campus is not bad, but the availability of late-night food is less than satisfactory. Dining halls close at 7:30, and this tends to be a problem for students who are up late. The only other options around campus (Gourmet Heaven and Durfee's) are ridiculously expensive. However, Downtown New Haven has some great restaurants. If money is not a factor, these are definitely great options.
No matter what, there is always something for everyone. Yale is known for its acapella, improv, and comedy groups. If you're not the type to join these, you can always attend their concerts. Most are free, if not under $5. There are also on-campus parties pretty much every weekend.
Yale may be expensive, but their financial aid department is amazing--as are the departments of all the Ivy Leagues. Luckily, I pay not tuition thanks to the generous financial aid and a few outside scholarships that pay for work study and summer contributions.
Don't be surprised if you attend a party and everyone ends up naked. Yale loves naked parties. And naked runs at the start of finals week.
The great thing about Yale is that you don't have to join a frat or a sorority in order to have a good time. I've seen other schools that require the students to join a frat in order to go into frat parties. This is hardly ever the case at Yale. Greek life isn't too big, and the administration is constantly trying to restrict Greek influence on campus.
New Haven may not be the safest city in the country, but the campus is not dangerous at all. The Yale Police Department and Yale Security are both constantly visible around campus. Students can even call security to be escorted from door to door. That being said, one has to be street smart while around New Haven--don't go out along past the boundaries of campus at one in the morning. Students do occasionally get held up, but that happens mostly to the graduate students who live off campus.