e h t
(UNOFFICIAL)
FRESHMAN GUIDE TO YALE 2016–2017
Vicky Liu, Liu, editor Mimi Pham, editor
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Hey, there, CLASS OF 2020! Welcome to Yale Welcome Yale and to the best four years of your life! We’re We’re the Peer Peer Liaisons (PLs) of the Asian American Cultural Center (AACC), (AACC), and we’re we’re here to answer any questions questions you might have. have. Although we’re afliated with the AACC, AACC, we’re we’re here to help anyone and everyone — feel free to ask whatever you want! want! Composed of seven different centers, including the AACC, AACC, the PL program is designed to help freshmen transition to their rst year at Yale. As upperclassmen, we’re here to guide you through the various facets of Yale — academic, extracurricular, social, and more. We were chosen for our academic record, understanding of the campus, civic engagement, and We relationships with deans and faculty. Our role is to answer questions about nding academic assistance, acclimating to college social life, getting involved at Yale Yale and in the New Haven community,, and anything else you ask! We work closely with your FroCo and college community colleg e dean to connect you with various campus resources. As PLs for the Asian American Cultural Center (AACC) at Yale, Y ale, we can also connect you with the AACC, AACC, cultural groups on campus, and Dean Saveena Dhall, Assistant Dean and Director of the AACC. You can think of us as upperclassmen friends who are seasoned at navigating Yale’s You Yale’s academic, social, and extracurricular circles. As PLs, we are here as mentors and condants who can offer you advice or listen when you need someone to talk to. We We recognize that everyone comes from various backgrounds carrying carr ying different experiences; we too come from a variety of backgrounds, and within our team, we represent a diversity diversity of cultures, majors, and activities. activities. As we we approach the start of the fall term, ter m, remember that your PLs are at your side to help you nd your way through Yale. Yale. Rest assured that you will have ample resources and support suppor t to overcome any challenges you face! We’re so excited We’re excited to be meeting many of you in the fall, but if you have any questions in the meantime, or you just want to reach out to a new upperclassman friend, please feel free to email or Facebook any of us! (We (We love hearing from freshmen!) See you soon, Irene Chung (BR ’17),
[email protected] Edward Dong (JE ’17), edward.dong
[email protected] @yale.edu Jessica Liang (TD ’17),
[email protected] [email protected] u Vicky Liu (PC ’19),
[email protected] Rohan Naik (ES ’18),
[email protected] Claire Ong (SY ’19), clairevictoria.ong
[email protected] @yale.edu
Andi Peng (BK ’18),
[email protected] Mimi Pham (MC ’17),
[email protected] Nitya Rayapati (TC ’19),
[email protected] [email protected] u Shireen Roy (DC ’19),
[email protected] Alice Zhang (CC ’17),
[email protected] [email protected] u Anne Zlatow (SM ’18), anne.zlatow@yale
[email protected] .edu
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Hey, there, CLASS OF 2020! Welcome to Yale Welcome Yale and to the best four years of your life! We’re We’re the Peer Peer Liaisons (PLs) of the Asian American Cultural Center (AACC), (AACC), and we’re we’re here to answer any questions questions you might have. have. Although we’re afliated with the AACC, AACC, we’re we’re here to help anyone and everyone — feel free to ask whatever you want! want! Composed of seven different centers, including the AACC, AACC, the PL program is designed to help freshmen transition to their rst year at Yale. As upperclassmen, we’re here to guide you through the various facets of Yale — academic, extracurricular, social, and more. We were chosen for our academic record, understanding of the campus, civic engagement, and We relationships with deans and faculty. Our role is to answer questions about nding academic assistance, acclimating to college social life, getting involved at Yale Yale and in the New Haven community,, and anything else you ask! We work closely with your FroCo and college community colleg e dean to connect you with various campus resources. As PLs for the Asian American Cultural Center (AACC) at Yale, Y ale, we can also connect you with the AACC, AACC, cultural groups on campus, and Dean Saveena Dhall, Assistant Dean and Director of the AACC. You can think of us as upperclassmen friends who are seasoned at navigating Yale’s You Yale’s academic, social, and extracurricular circles. As PLs, we are here as mentors and condants who can offer you advice or listen when you need someone to talk to. We We recognize that everyone comes from various backgrounds carrying carr ying different experiences; we too come from a variety of backgrounds, and within our team, we represent a diversity diversity of cultures, majors, and activities. activities. As we we approach the start of the fall term, ter m, remember that your PLs are at your side to help you nd your way through Yale. Yale. Rest assured that you will have ample resources and support suppor t to overcome any challenges you face! We’re so excited We’re excited to be meeting many of you in the fall, but if you have any questions in the meantime, or you just want to reach out to a new upperclassman friend, please feel free to email or Facebook any of us! (We (We love hearing from freshmen!) See you soon, Irene Chung (BR ’17),
[email protected] Edward Dong (JE ’17), edward.dong
[email protected] @yale.edu Jessica Liang (TD ’17),
[email protected] [email protected] u Vicky Liu (PC ’19),
[email protected] Rohan Naik (ES ’18),
[email protected] Claire Ong (SY ’19), clairevictoria.ong
[email protected] @yale.edu
Andi Peng (BK ’18),
[email protected] Mimi Pham (MC ’17),
[email protected] Nitya Rayapati (TC ’19),
[email protected] [email protected] u Shireen Roy (DC ’19),
[email protected] Alice Zhang (CC ’17),
[email protected] [email protected] u Anne Zlatow (SM ’18), anne.zlatow@yale
[email protected] .edu
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About this Guide This guide originated in the summer of 2012 as a simple Q&A document typed up on GoogleDocs and reposted on Facebook. Freshmen (and anyone else who was curious) could submit questions anonymously via a Google Form, and the team of AACC PLs (plus several friends they enlisted) enlisted) would write up the answers for everyone to see. What began as a small project soon became a hefty undertaking as dozens of questions started pouring in each week. The Facebook document was updated almost daily and constantly shufed and reshufed around as new categories of questions popped up and previous answers were revised. When the Facebook document grew too long to be easily navigable, a second one was created... only to be lled with just as many questions in half as much time. time. By the end of August, the Q&A submission submission form was ofcially closed and the hundreds of questions collected over the weeks saved saved as a text document and tucked away on the Internet. This year, we’re we’re proud to bring to you the (Unofcial) Freshman Guide to Yale, Yale, 2016–2017! This guide is organized into seven major topic areas: #ACADEMICS, #ACADEMICS, #EXTRACURRICULARS #EXTRACURRICULARS,, #FOOD, #FOOD, #MOVE- IN/MOVE-OUT, IN/MOVE-OUT, #RESIDENTIAL LIFE, #SOCIAL LIFE, and #OTHER. Within each topic area (besides #OTHER), you’ll nd several sub-topics as well. A question index has also been compiled that lists all the questions without the answers, so you can quickly browse through what previous freshmen have asked. If you’re really curious about your future dorm room and want to read as much about it as possible, you can jump straight to that section. Alternatively, Alternatively, if you have a really specic question question about the feasibility of using a Kindle for your DS books, you can look it up in the question index to see if it’ it’ss been asked. (Hint: it has!) Remember that the search function (Ctrl+F on PCs, Command+F on Macs) is your friend! Some disclaimers: Most of the questions on the following pages were questions we originally answered answered in the summer of 2012. Although we’ve done our best to correct all the dates and check the hyperlinks hyperlinks to ensure their accuracy, some errors may still be present. Similarly, Similarly, course titles and numbers may vary slightly from year to year. When in doubt, check Yale’ Yale’ss ofcial publications for the most accurate infor mation.
One last thing: did you read through the document and still have an unanswered question? We’ll We’ll be posting a link on your class Facebook page where you can submit your questions and have them answered. You’ll be hearing from a whole host of PLs, some returning and some new! At the end of the summer, we’ll we’ll compile the questions to make an updated (Unofcial) Freshman Guide to Yale and continue the cycle again! Enjoy!
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Table T able of Contents Contents This list shows the major topic areas into which we’ve divided divided the questions. If you want want to see a complete list of the questions (without the answers), answers), check the Question Index immediately after this section. #ACADEMICS 1. Freshman Programs ....a. Perspectives on Science and Engineering ....b. Directed Studies ....c. Freshman Seminars 2. Majors 3. Schedules 4. Professors 5. Grading 6. Languages 7. Placement 8. Other #EXTRACURRICULARS 1. Club Sports 2. IMs 3. Jobs 4. Research 5. A Cappella 6. Music 7. Other #FOOD 1. Yale Dining 2. Outside Options #MOVE-IN/MOVE-OUT 1. Pre-orientation Programs 2. What to Buy/Bring ....a. Laptops ....b. Other Items 3. Other
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#RESIDENTIAL LIFE 1. Internet 2. Facilities ....a. Dorm Rooms ....b. Other Facilities 3. Dress 4. Roommates and Suitemates 5. Safety 6. Money 7. Other #SOCIAL LIFE 1. Parties 2. Greek Life 3. Personal Relationships 4. LGBTQ 5. Alcohol and Drugs 6. Other #OTHER
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Question Index #ACADEMICS 1. Freshman Programs a. Perspectives on Science and Engineering
Q: I heard about PSE on my tour. Where can I nd more information and apply? b. Directed Studies
Q: What’s Directed Studies like? Q: Is DS three classes over two semesters or six classes over two semesters? If it’s six classes over two semesters, are we with the same group of people in all six classes? Q: Is it possible to do DS and be pre-med, take math or science classes, or take quantitative reasoning classes? Q: If you’re doing DS and pre-med can you take any chemistry class? Q: It sounds like DS plus an intensive introductory language (2 credits) would be utterly insane for a rst semester. Would DS plus a regular introductory course (1.5 credits) also be insane? Q: How does switching sections/professors at the beginning of the semester work in DS? Q: Is it possible to get into DS only in the spring? Q: I’m considering buying all my books (for DS in particular) on a Kindle. Any thoughts? c. Freshman Seminars
Q: When and how do we nd out about Freshman Seminars? Are they worth 1 credit? Q: What are the workloads of Freshman Seminars? Q: Can freshmen take 1 seminar in the fall and 1 in the spring? Q: How do I look at the Freshmen Seminars being offered in the fall, and how do I try to register? 2. Majors Q: How common is it to study engineering while doing pre-med, and what is the engineering workload like? Q: What’s the Cognitive Science major like? Q: What does it mean for a class to be a prerequisite in the major? Q: How do double majors work at Yale? Q: How many people double major? Q: What are some of the hardest/easiest majors at Yale? Q: Is it possible to pursue a rig orous subject with little previous knowledge on the subject, while also giving myself time beforehand to explore other things so that I know I’m choosing the right one for me? Q: What are the differences between the MCDB and MB&B majors, and do we need to decide early which major we would like to take? 3. Schedules Q: How do you manage creating a class schedule, given the overwhelming amount of courses to choose from? Q: When is the latest that you can drop a class and not have it appear on your transcript? Q: Can we only take 4 classes? Or can we take ve a semester?
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Q: You recommend taking 4.5 credits per semester, but how does someone take a half-credit course? Is there a list some where that shows how many credits each course is worth? Q: How do you recommend getting 36 credits by the time we graduate if we take fewer than 5 credits per semester freshman year? Q: Will there be time for us to meet with our advisers on campus in the fall before committing to classes? Q: When is course registration? Q: Could you list all of the requirements for Yale, like what numbers of semesters you must take of what types of classes, etc.? 4. Professors Q: Is there some way to know which professors are better than others? Q: Do you seek out a lot of your professors after class? Q: If we have particular concerns/questions about a course of study, would it be all right to contact a department’s DUS by email over the summer or should we wait until we get to campus? 5. Grading Q: How are classes graded? Are you competing against fellow students or is there a raw score cutoff ? Q: Is it reasonable to expect a 3.6+ GPA at Yale? What is the grading distribution like? Q: What does Cr/D stand for? Q: What are some gut classes/easy As which can be used to balance a hard schedule or used as a 5th class? Q: What are some good Sc guts? 6. Languages Q: What’s considered an intensive language? Q: What if you want to take an entirely new language? Q: Is it possible to take two foreign languages in one semester? If not, can you offer some advice on how to schedule my coursework so that I can learn and keep up with both languages? Q: What’s DILS and how do you apply? Q: How many credits are language courses worth? Q: Is it feasible to study a new language for the rst two years and then study a different language for the last two years? Q: I’d like to ballpark what language level I am at. Is there any way to nd out more about a language course? Q: How are the Mandarin and Japanese language programs at Yale? 7. Placement Q: If you pre-register for a seminar and get it, are you still allowed to drop the class if you nd you don’t like it? (ie. ECON 110) Q: When exactly do you take the placement exams? Q: Where are the placement exams online, when do we take them, and how does that work (results, etc)? Q: If I got a 5 in AP Bio, should I skip the introductory bio classes? Q: If you don’t intend to take a math class rst semester, should you still take the placement test? Q: If I made a 5 on the BC Calculus exam and my major only requires up to Math 115 as a prerequisite, do I still have to take the math placement test if I don’t want to take any math above 115? Q: I have already taken classes corresponding to Math 112, 115, and 120. I would like to take a higher level math class my rst semester at Yale. Do I have to or would it be a good idea to take the math placement exam?
8 Q: If I got a 5 on the BC exam and want to take MATH 116/118, do I have to take the placement exam? Q: Regardless of my AP BC Calculus score, do I have to take a math placement test to place into math classes that will fulll the 2-credit QR distribution requirement? Q: How is the difculty of the math placement test compared to the AP BC Calculus exam? Do you have to complete it all in one sitting? Q: How much are we expected to study/review for placement exams?! Q: Can you explain the advantages and disadvantages of the different chemistry options for freshmen? Q: Which chemistry class would be recommended for pre-meds who do not have an extensive background in Chemistry? Q: My chemistry program was strong but did not follow the AP cur riculum, so I feel like I am well prepared for many concepts in general chemistry, but not very well for others. Would it be better to learn the things I missed over the summer and try to test out of general chemistry, or just retake it? Q: How can we tell which classes are available to freshmen? Can we only take 100- level intro classes? Or can we take seminars and higher (200-, 300-, 400-) level classes if they don’t specify otherwise? Q: Are PHYS 260 and MATH 230 good course choices for the fall ter m of freshman year, or will they be too difcult? Q: How important is multivariable calculus background for MATH 230 as a freshman? Q: Are there any courses that you would recommend not skipping even if you have the AP test credit? Q: How can I nd out which AP scores can be used to advance past prerequisite classes? Q: If we feel that we were placed too high from our language placement test, can we move down? Q: I see on Yale’s AP credit site that no credit is given for a 5 on AP Psych, but the psych department’s site says Psych 110 is “optional” for 5-scorers. What’s the situation here — if we scored a 5, do we have to take 110 or no? Q: If we have the AP credit to do so, is it generally it a good idea to skip out of introductory microeconomics? 8. Other Q: Is most studying done in the room or the librar y? Q: Is it possible to take a gap semester to do independent work during my four years at Yale? Q: Is it possible to be an Econ major that is taking DS while on the pre-med track and still maintain a social/extracurricular life? (AKA balancing intense academic commitments with everything else) Q: Does Yale offer physical education classes? Q: Are there any instructions for lling out the Maths/Physics/Chemistry/Economics survey? I come from a French school and have not taken, per se, any of the courses. Should I detail the French curriculum in the box? Q: Do we have midterms? If our parents come to visit before or after October break will they be getting in the way of studying for midterms/midterms themselves? Q: How strict is the rule about wearing pants in lab? Is it just for safety purposes/should a long skirt also be okay? Q: What is the best way to organize your materials for courses? Q: Do we pre-register for classes? Q: How does getting books and course materials work with shopping period? Is it still possible to buy books the cheap way (i.e. Amazon) and keep up in the course until the books arrive? Q: When should you start studying for the MCAT if you’re pre-med, and when is the optimal time to take the test? And do you have to pay for the applications if you’re on nancial aid? Q: I am a bit concerned that my high school has not prepared me for college-level writing. What are the writing classes like freshman year and do the professors do actual teaching or just expect you to know? Q: What does it mean if a class is typed in red text (as opposed to black) on the Yale OCI? Q: What’s the minimum amount of time we should leave in between classes? Q: How long does it take to walk from Old Campus to the top of Science Hill? Q: For classes that have multiple sections with different professors (like calculus), how easy is it to switch sections to get the professor you want? Q: What does it mean when the OCI lists “Staff ” as the professor of a section?
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Q: How hard is it as a freshman to get into classes, especially popular ones? Are lecture classes often capped? Q: How do you go about pre-registering for things like intro chemistry? Q: Are residential college seminars only offered once? How hard are they to get into? Q: I don’t quite understand acceleration credits. Could you explain what they are? Q: Is it possible/manageable to fulll pre-med requirements while double majoring in something other than biology/ chemistry? Q: Can classes required for a major (including prerequisites) be used to fulll the distributional requirements? Q: Is it possible to change which distributional requirement a course fullls? Q: Will we get a hard copy of the BlueBook and when? Q: Is it a g ood idea to arrive on campus with a narrowed down list of classes we want to shop (like 8 or so), or is it okay to arrive with just a preliminary list of like 20+? Will we have some guidance in class selection before shopping? Q: Is there a difference between ENAS 151 and MATH 120? Q: The blue book says ENAS 194 requires a knowledge of matrix-based operations (no course number). Does this mean I should take a linear course like MATH 222 or 225? Q: I think that I want to major in Economics, but I want to keep my pre-med options open. What science course would be best to take rst semester? Q: If I missed the Biology placement exam, will I have another chance to place out of parts of BIOL 101–104?
#EXTRACURRICULARS 1. Club Sports Q: What’s the difference between intramural sports and club sports? Q: Are most club sports try-out only? What if we want to learn a completely new one? 2. IMs Q: What are IMs like? Q: Do IM sports supply gear like lacrosse sticks and tennis rackets? 3. Jobs Q: What do the levels for jobs means? Q: What is the hiring process like for student jobs on campus? How does one qualify for certain jobs? Q: How can you get a job at the admissions ofce? When do you apply and how difcult is it to actually get the job? Q: So, rumor has it that Yale has an underground particle accelerator. What’s the process like for getting a work-study job there? Q: What does the 50/50 Split on the student employment calendar mean? Q: When do people start looking for jobs for the fall semester (when are the new jobs posted on the site)? 4. Research Q: Is it possible to get a campus job such as a (hard science) research assistant or grader in a science subject in your freshman year? Q: I’m an undeclared major with zero experience in research. Is there hope for research in a lab in my freshman year? 5. A Cappella
10 Q: To join the Whiffenpoofs, do you need to have joined another a cappella group? Q: Can you only audition for a cappella groups your freshman year, or do the g roups take sophomores and juniors as well? 6. Music Q: How difcult is it to get into the Yale Symphony Orchestra? Is it mostly all-state level players, below that, or even higher? Q: Can I audition on more than one instrument for the YSO to increase my chances of getting in? Q: Is there an orchestra for non-music majors and another for music majors, or is there just one (Yale Symphony Orchestra) that includes both groups? Q: Are non-music majors allowed to take private lessons from Yale’s music professors? If so, how? Q: Do the graduate students in the School of Music give lessons only to advanced players, or is it possible to take lessons as a beginner? Q: Is there a music store near campus? Q: Is getting into the Yale Jazz Ensemble difcult? Are there ways of getting involved in jazz other than through that group? 7. Other Q: What is the most effective way to navigate the website that lists all of (vast) Yale’s extracurricular offerings? It’s a bit intimidating. Q: What volunteer opportunities are available on/around campus, and where/how do we nd out about them? Q: How difcult is it to get into an improv group? Q: How difcult is it to ll u p every single summer and every vacation/break during your Yale tenure with some sort of internship, research opportunity, or study abroad? Q: How does one become a Peer Liaison or a Freshman Counselor? How rigorous/competitive is it? Q: What’s MUNTY like? How competitive is it? How much of a time commitment is it?
#FOOD 1. Yale Dining Q: How easy is it to adhere to a pretty strict and very healthy nutrition plan? Q: How easy is it to access a kitchen for cooking purposes during freshman year? Q: When do we choose a meal plan? Q: What do you do when you have a class that overlaps almost completely with the time dining halls are open for lunch? Q: What do people generally think of the taste or quality of the water? Do many people have water lter pitchers? Q: If you’re a big water drinker, do you think it would be more cost efcient and convenient to buy a Brita water pitcher or a Brita water bottle? 2. Outside Food Q: Where can you buy bubble tea around Yale? Q: Do local restaurants/shops give discounts to Yale students? Q: What in the world is a Wenzel?
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#MOVE-IN/MOVE-OUT 1. Pre-orientation Programs Q: What are some pros and cons for each of the pre-orientation programs? Q: Is there a place to store our stuff during OIS? Q: Will I feel out of the loop at the beginning of the year if I’m not able to attend a pre-orientation program? Q: If you go on FOOT, where do you shower/use the restroom? Q: Where do you change clothes if you go on FOOT? Q: In a 6-week FOOT program, will we be sleeping in tents or will we use just our sleeping bags? Q: I know there are no showers at Harvest, but are there toilets we can use? Q: Is there a cost for Harvest? Q: Can we get nancial assistance to purchase the required supplies for Harvest/FOOT (provided that we show substantial need)? 2. What to Buy/Bring a. Laptops Q: What kind of laptop is best for Yale life? Q: Is there a large majority of MacBook Pro users that lean towards the 13” or 15” screen? Is a 15” too cumbersome for college life? Q: Yale doesn’t seem to have updated its technology recommendations yet this year. Should I go out and buy a laptop now, or wait for the new version? Q: Is a laptop lock recommended? Q: What is normally done in terms of laptop cases?
b. Other Items Q: Is printing free anywhere on campus? Is it worth it to bring a printer from home? Q: What printer features would you recommend (wireless, laser, color, etc.)? Q: I’ve never experienced snow before! What winter clothes do you recommend that we buy? Q: Is having a bike useful? Q: Does anyone actually buy the “ofcial” linens packs with shower stuff and towels? Q: Do people use the bulk laundry plans? Q: What types of laundry plans does Yale offer? Q: I plan to major in mathematics/a math-related eld. Any sug gestions on what type of laptop or calculator I should bring? Q: What phones/phone services/phone plans are good for college life at Yale? 3. Other Q: Which breaks require students to leave campus? Do most students choose to leave, even when not required? Q: Where do we move our things when the residences close (for international/cross-country students)? Q: Where do international students go when residences close and they can’t go home? Q: How do students usually get from Bradley airport in Hartford to Yale?
12 #RESIDENTIAL LIFE 1. Internet Q: Is there wireless internet in the suites? Q: How fast is internet at Yale? Q: Does Yale block gaming/torrenting connections? 2. Facilities a. Dorm Rooms Q: What is the layout of the room freshmen are housed in? Q: How high is the bed above the ground? Is there space for storage boxes under the beds? Q: What are the mattresses like? Q: Are mattress toppers necessary? Q: Do people actually use the landlines that Yale provides in the dorm? Q: Is there any way we can nd out about the dimensions of our suites or what furnishings are already there? Q: What things do we need to buy for the suite’s common room? Q: I don’t understand what L-Dub is and why it has a bad reputation. Could you explain? Q: So freshmen don’t live in residential college suites — they live in “dorms”? Why don’t freshmen live with upperclassmen and such? Q: Are we allowed to nail shelves to the walls in the dorms? Q: Are there screens on the windows of the dorms on Old Campus? b. Other Facilities Q: Can students stay on campus during the shorter breaks? If so, what facilities remain open? Q: Where can I hand-wash and hang-dry my clothes? What about dry cleaning? Q: Are the small gyms, libraries, and other facilities in the residential colleges open 24/7? Q: What is the nearest weight lifting gym to L-Dub? And how close is Payne Whitney? Q: Is there a rock climbing wall/gym on or near campus? Q: Can non-art majors use the art rooms and supplies (for free or for a low fee)? Q: What specic features of each of the residential colleges are exclusive or open to the rest of the colleges (e.g., parties, events, g yms, libraries, etc.)? Q: For doing laundry on Old Campus: if we’re living in a building without laundry facilities, how do we get access to the laundry rooms in the Bingham/Farnham basements? Q: What are the bathrooms like? Are they cleaned by the custodial staff ? 3. Dress Q: How big are your wardrobes? Q: What kind of clothes do girls (and guys) usually wear? (AKA style advice?) Q: Best place to get a cheap haircut? Q: Are there any good hair salons in New Haven where I can chemically straighten my hair? Q: Do most people carry backpacks around campus, or are bags more popular? 4. Roommates and Suitemates
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Q: Do you change in front of your roomies? Q: Where do you sleep when you’re sexiled? Does it even happen? Q: Is there any way to move out if you have major problems with your roommate? 5. Safety Q: How is safety at Yale and in New Haven? Q: What time does it normally get dark up in New England? Q: Does the nighttime shuttle only operate within the Yale campus? 6. Money Q: How much money did you spend your freshman year on stuff around campus? Q: Do any students open their own bank accounts with local banks in New Haven in order to have more ready access to their money and/or avoid ATM surcharges? If so, how does that process generally work? Q: Does it make sense to enroll in the Yale Payment Plan if you’re paying very little to go to Yale? Do most people use it? Q: According to Yale’s website, we are allowed to use up to $2,500 in outside scholarship money for buying a new laptop. How exactly does this process work? Are we notied of how much our scholarships exceed unmet need/work study/summer contribution? 7. Other Q: What is the policy on overnight guests in the dorms? Q: Are there any mnemonic devices or shortcuts for learning all the building abbreviations (particularly for the 12 residential colleges)? Q: I’m covered by my parents’ healthcare coverage, and I’m considering whether to waive Yale’s coverage or not. Do plenty of students who already have coverage submit a waiver? Q: Can students of one residential college attend the Master’s Tea of another residential college? And how do we get notice that a Master’s Tea is going on / taking place at a specic time and date? Q: How easy is it to switch residential colleges? How many students typically do this, and are there any negative social repercussions for doing so? Q: How often do freshmen meet with their FroCos?
#SOCIAL LIFE 1. Parties Q: What’s the party scene like at Yale? Q: Do people get really dressed up for par ties? Q: When is Freshman Screw? 2. Greek Life Q: What’s Greek life like at Yale? Is it necessary to join a fraternity/sorority to enjoy the party scene? Q: What are the reputations of/stereotypes associated with each of the frats/sororities?
14 3. Personal Relationships Q: Relationships or random hookups? Q: What do people in a relationship do for Freshman Screw? Q: Any advice for extremely long-distance relationships? Q: Generally speaking, do you think you become closer friends with classmates or suitemates? 4. LGBTQ Q: What’s the LGBTQ scene like at Yale? 5. Alcohol and Drugs Q: How much is drinking part of the social scene? Q: How strict are places such as Toad’s and Bar about drinking age? Q: I’ve heard the Ivies can be really intense with study-drugs, and things like cocaine. Is this true? What about things like marijuana? Q: How lenient (or strict) is Yale when it comes to underage drinking? Does campus security actively seek to bust students for drinking? 6. Other Q: Is it true there are almost no fat people at Yale? Q: How does the Harvard rivalry play out? Q: What are some of Yale’s most notable traditions? Q: What sorts of things do Yale students do for fun off campus around New Haven? Q: Do you ever nd it necessary to travel to a big nearby city like Boston or New York once in a while to do something different? Q: Can you tell us more about secret societies? Q: Do most incoming freshman ll out the optional for m to request a peer liaison? What’s the difference between being paired with a PL and not — will you still be able to have access to them/request one once you get on campus? Q: Do most people get fake IDs? Q: Could you explain what Sex Week, naked parties, and Freshman Screw are? Q: Along with Freshman Screw, etc., what other Yale-sanctioned events/celebrations are held annually or biannually? Q: When the annual Harvard-Yale football game is at Har vard, what do Yalies who want to attend do? Q: What are the major social events at Yale and what are they like? Q: Are Yalies promiscuous?
#OTHER Q: I noticed on the SIS that we can choose to opt out of the Student Activities Fee. Are there any repercussions for doing so? Q: What is the easiest way to get from Yale to Cornell (my partner goes to school there)? Q: Why are the tiles in the plaza sur rounding the Beinecke Library whiter in the center than around the edges? Q: Is there a campus-wide used-goods sale before the school year starts? Q: Is it normal to feel overwhelmed/anxious at all the things we have to think about for college?
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#ACADEMICS 1. Freshman Programs a. Perspectives on Science and Engineering
Q: I heard about PSE on my tour. Where can I nd more information and apply?
Unfortunately, PSE is no longer being offered. However, if you are looking for a seminar-style science class, there are often many options offered through the Freshman Seminar program. Last year, science seminars included Topics in Cancer Biology, Immunology and Microbes, Science of Modern Technology, Expanding Ideas of Time & Space, and Science and Politics of Cancer. Some of these seminars will be offered again this year, while others will be r eplaced by new topics. One seminar, Current Topics in Science, is a year-long survey of recent scientic discoveries and offers a similar approach as PSE did. b. Directed Studies
Q: What’s Directed Studies like?
A: Here’s Yale’s ofcial word on Directed Studies: http://directedstudies.yale.edu/ http://yalecollege.yale.edu/content/directed-studies-ds Here’s our two cents: It is what it is: you try to read the entire Western Canon in one year. Obviously, not literally the entire Canon, which has enough material for centuries of study, but the program does a pretty good job of selecting its major works. It’s not for everyone, but if it’s something you want to push yourself through and you put in all you’ve got, you will come out with an idea of how the tradition is formed from the beginning and how it continues to shape today’s thoughts. Past DSers appreciated the strong community and the caliber of the professors. Having said that, most people in DS would have chosen DS-related courses to begin with, so make sure it’s the right choice for you before you begin. Go with your gut instinct. Most people nd out during shopping week whether it’s right or not for them (you’ll have your rst paper during shopping period, if that’s anything of an indicator). Some people that would use those credits to explore academics OUTSIDE of the great books may
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regret “spending” 6 credits on things that don’t help you decide your major. This is really up to every individual. A lot of people have no idea going into DS and welcomed the extra time to gure out what really got their interest within the humanities, reading things they would have liked to eventually read anyway. Others have said that they wish they hadn’t done DS and instead tried other courses to see what they want to major in (outside of the humanities.) **Science majors who are interested in DS: there are those who’ve done it. It’s tough but if there’s a will, there’s a way. Get in touch with those scientically-inclined DSers who’ve sur vived it and loved it and get their take on it. DS is great for requirements — you get pretty much all of your So, Hu, and Wr out of the way, so you don’t have to worry about those. If you end up making the choice that it’s right for you — or like a portion of DSers, you feel like you missed out on a “great books” course through high school and want a foundation for college — you’ll get a LOT out of it. It’s probably the most immersive intellectual experience most students have had yet. If you’re interested in discussing big ideas and tracing it through the entire tradition, you’ll nd 124 other self-selecting students who want to do the same. However, two common concerns with DS that we share are 1) the homogeneity of the authors (mostly male and white, which some exceptions such The Souls of Black People by W.E.B. DuBois, Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt, and “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Wolfe). This might be a result of aws in the concept of the “western canon,” but it results in a very skewed set of perspectives; 2) you get a whole lot of breadth with little depth because of the speed you go through the books. And that’s a given for the program. It’s designed to be a “road map” to gure out what you’re interested in, in order for you to take more time later to delve into specic thinkers you’re passionate about. It’s really useful in that sense. You come out a much faster reader, a better reader, and you have a better idea of the “tradition.” If you choose to commit to it fully, it can be intense, but it will denitely be worth it. P.S. Sections really determine what your experience is like. Find a section professor that you feel comfortable around or a section that you feel “right” with. The section prof trading game at the beginning of the year is really hectic but you can survive it! If you have any problems, talk to Prof. Slanski, the director of DS — she’s extremely friendly and helpful and will help sort anything out. Q: Is DS three classes over two semesters or six classes over two semesters? If it’s six classes over two semesters, are we with the same group of people in all six classes?
A: DS is three classes per semester, for two semesters (your entire freshman year). Yes, you’ll be with the same group of people in lectures — that’s why you’ll become really close with many of your peers in the DS program! There are 90-125 people in the program. You will have lecture with all of those people. Sections are broken up into groups of 10–18 people. Sections are randomly assigned
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so you may have section with the same people both semesters (if you have similar schedules) but you may not. Q: Is it possible to do DS and be pre-med, take math or science classes, or take quantitative reasoning classes?
A: Yes, and it is often necessary in order to fulll all of your distribution requirements for freshman year. By the end of your freshman year, you must take one class in two out of the following three distributional requirement areas: Quantitative Reasoning (Qr), Writing (Wr), and/or Language (L). A full year of DS fullls all of your distributional requirements for Writing (Wr), Social sciences (So), and Humanities (Hu): one semester of DS Lit counts as a Hu or Wr, one semester of DS History & Political Thought counts as a So, and one semester of DS Philosophy counts as a Hu or Wr. So that means with DS you must take either a QR or L course as your fourth course during one of your two semesters freshman year. The only exception is taking DS and organic chemistry. You can take DS and orgo and not take a QR or L credit class freshman year (because of all the work you will have for orgo and DS). Students interested in engineering, applied math, or physics also can do DS. We would not recommend taking both a math and a physics class with DS. But taking DS with a math class or taking DS with a physics class is doable. If you are interested in pursuing a double major in the sciences and in the humanities (ex. political science and chemistry) — that is possible. There are people in the pre-med track who take DS and organic chemistry. If you are considering pursuing a double major in two sciences or science/ econ/math, you should speak with your academic advisor and dean at the beginning of the year to plan out your route. That being said, there are people who did DS who are now math majors, econ majors, physics majors, and even Physics and Philosophy majors (an interdisciplinary major at Yale). Some students choose to take DS with computer science, statistics, or econ. All of these courses count as QR credits, so by taking DS and one of these classes you can fulll your distributional requirements for freshman year. Students who wish to apply for the Global Affairs major and/or the Ethics, Politics, and Economics major often consider taking econ classes (prerequisites for the major) during their freshman and sophomore years. For those students who wish to take an econ class and DS, your fourth class rst semester semester can be intro micro (the rst econ class you can take at Yale). Your fourth class second semester can be intro macro. So pursuing econ with DS is totally feasible.
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Q: If you’re doing DS and pre-med can you take any chemistry class?
A: Yes! Q: It sounds like DS plus an intensive introductory language (2 credits) would be utterly insane for a rst semester. Would DS plus a regular introductory course (1.5 credits) also be insane?
A: To the rst option, yes, denitely. Please don’t do it. To the second, that’s more manageable (and a very popular option), but will still be challenging. In essence, you will have daily readings and language practice (which often entails more reading), and you might nd the workload to be too text-heavy at times. Some DS veterans recommend taking a QR as your other course besides DS; that way you’ll be able to break up the monotony of reading and exercise a different part of your brain. You certainly don’t need to take a language rst semester freshman year if you’re not sure, so don’t feel pressured to. Q: How does switching sections/professors at the beginning of the semester work in DS?
A: At the beginning of every semester during shopping period, you email out to the panlist/post in the Facebook group with the sections you’re placed in and the section/times you want/need (in order for your schedule to work out.) It’s sort of like trading baseball cards, only with professors/ section times. If someone is interested, he or she will email you proposing the swi tch, and once you agree, you will both email the secretary, who will then acknowledge the section switch. This will all be re-explained at the beginning of the semester. It does get a little bit tiring when you end up with what seems like 20 emails/day about section switches and they’re often repeats. Note: in order for this to happen, you NEED to be on the panlist the secretary sets up. Make sure you let her know if you’re not getting emails. If you have any questions, you can talk to Professor Slanski (or whoever is the current director) — she’s super helpful and if you have a genuine scheduling concern, she will help you out. Q: Is it possible to get into DS only in the spring?
A: No, sorry. Besides, spring semester the lecturers often refer to fall semester texts so that students can see connections. Q: I’m considering buying all my books (for DS in particular) on a Kindle. Any thoughts?
A: That’s a bad idea. You’ll want to have physical books to scribble in, mark up, ip through quickly, etc. Plus, you might want to sell your books to incoming freshman when you’re done with DS, which
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isn’t as easily done with a Kindle, to say the least.
c. Seminars
Q: When and how do we nd out about Freshman Seminars? Are they worth 1 credit? A: Freshman Seminars are designed to offer freshmen the opportuni ty to participate in seminars of roughly 15 or 18 students with faculty from various departments. They can be a good way to meet and establish a relationship with a professor early on. Freshman Seminars do not presuppose any sort of experience in the eld, so feel free to sign up for a seminar in a discipline you’ve never explored before!
Unless otherwise specied, Freshman Seminars are worth 1 credit. Note that you are ineligible for any seminars if you participate in Directed Studies or Perspectives on Science and Engineering. The list of Freshman Seminars changes from year to year. You can nd more information here: http://catalog.yale.edu/freshman-handbook/academic-information/special-programs-placementpreregistration/freshman-seminar/. The list of seminars to be offered in 2016–2017 will be uploaded over the summer, around the same time the Blue Book is released. Applications for Freshman Seminars open just before the ter m begins (both fall and spring). Students are chosen on a lottery system. More information will be released closer to the start of the term, as the list of Freshman Seminars is nalized. Q: What are the workloads of Freshman Seminars?
A: In our experience, most seminars (and not just Freshman Seminars) are r un as discussion classes; you’re assigned some reading and expected to talk about it next class. Homework can consist of weekly short reading responses as well as lengthier nal papers and other assi gnments. Freshman Seminars in particular tend to attract an assortment of student types (since there are no prerequisites and many freshmen want to try something new), so discussions can be engaging and unexpected every class, depending on what background knowledge your classmates call upon that day. The atmosphere, like the homework, tends to be pretty laid back. Q: Can freshmen take 1 seminar in the fall and 1 in the spring?
A: Yes, denitely, and it’s done by many, especially with English seminars! Q: How do I look at the Freshmen Seminars being offered in the fall, and how do I try to
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register?
A: The seminars (with links to descriptions) are listed here: http://catalog.yale.edu/freshmanhandbook/academic-information/special-programs-placement-preregistration/freshman-seminar/. Registration occurs at the end of August; you’ll receive an email with a link that allows you to rank Freshman Seminars by preference, and you’ll be entered into a lottery for a spot in the class. You can rank up to ve seminars, but the number of seminars you rank shouldn’t affect whether or not you get in. Be wary, though, of signing up for seminars you’re not that invested in because if you’re given a spot in one but choose to drop the class, it may affect your chances come spring.
2. Majors Q: How common is it to study engineering while doing pre-med, and what is the engineering workload like?
A: Most pre-med engineers study BME, since the course requir ements tend to have more overlap. In any case, it’s denitely not a rare combination, though many engineering majors naturally end up pursuing engineering as a career. A statistic that the BME department often uses is that one-third of graduates go into industry, one-third go to engineering graduate school, and the remaining third go to professional school (including medical and law, two popular options). Keep in mind that it’s possible to be pre-med in any major so long as you t the requirements in; so as long as you budget your time efciently, you should feel free to pursue any major that interests you. The engineering workload is challenging, but that’s pretty much the same for any science major at any university, and medical schools are aware of that. Just do your best in your classes! Q: What’s the Cognitive Science major like?
A: CogSci is generally dened as “the study of the mind,” which sounds incredibly vague but in practice is a lot more focused, since you dene a course plan for yourself that revolves around a central theme. It’s one of the few majors at Yale that have selective admissions (you apply at the end of rst semester sophomore year), but the pool of applicants is somewhat self-selecting, and if you’re able to articulate a central theme pretty well, you shouldn’t have a problem getting in. The central theme can be anything from memory to visual per ception to mind-body duality — really, anything that has to do with the mind. There are those who have studied neuroscience and language, music cognition, autism, and the cognitive science of poker, to name a few. The only restraint is that the theme has to be interdisciplinary; the point of the major is to integrate classes from various departments (e.g., MCDB, Linguistics, Psychology) into a cohesive, multi-perspective study.
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The benet of the major is that you’re able to pick and choose the classes you want to take without having to go through unwanted classes that are requirements of other majors. There’s also a bunch of really interesting seminars (regarding ignorance, morality, babies, etc.) that are pretty much exclusive to those in the major. CogSci majors are also notorious for changing their themes on a whim (most people switch several times before they graduate), and that’s a reection of the great range of classes and seminars that are offered each year. The selection changes annually, and sometimes a seminar that really piques your interest will pop up, so you’ll nd a way to work it into your course p lan. In truth, there’s quite a bit of exibility in the major that allows you to take almost any CogSci-related class you want. You just have to be able to tweak your theme accordingly. You can nd the department’s pretty comprehensive description of the major here: http://www.yale. edu/perception/cogsci/. Sample senior essay topics are listed here: http://www.yale.edu/cogsci/ alumni.htm. Q: What does it mean for a class to be a prerequisite in the major?
A: Completing a prerequisite class is often a requir ement for enrollment in more advanced courses in a major. These prerequisites can sometimes be satised by a score of 5 on an appropriate AP test; the details are listed for each major. In some instances, a prerequisite may not be required for enrollment in any particular class in the major but is necessary to complete before graduation. In most cases, it’s best to nish the prerequisites as early as possible, since that allows for more freedom in exploring electives later on. Q: How do double majors work at Yale?
A: To double major, you must meet or exceed the minimum requirements of two distinct majors, with at most two classes overlapping (the exception being prerequisite classes). This means, for example, that you cannot take several classes cross-listed in two majors and expect to use them for both majors. You must also complete two separate senior requirements, unless a single senior project is of such breadth that it equals the work of two separate projects (this is rare). Combined majors (e.g., Economics and Mathematics) cannot be doubled with one of their constituent majors, nor can majors with a concentration in another major (e.g., Sociology with Psychology). Note that you will only receive one degree upon graduation and that only one major will be displayed on your diploma.
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Q: How many people double major?
A: Usually around 13-15% of undergraduates double major. Q: What are some of the hardest/easiest majors at Yale?
A: The hardest might be Chemical Engineering, because it has am ong the greatest number of requirements for the major and because the requirements include some of the most difcult classes at Yale, many of which are required for the Chemistry major as well. As for easiest, there are always easy classes in almost any department, so any major in which there’s lots of leeway to choose courses, you could “construct” an easy major if you wanted to by taking only easy classes. Q: Is it possible to pursue a rigorous subject with little previous knowledge on the subject, while also giving myself time beforehand to explore other things so that I know I’m choosing the right one for me?
A: That’s going to depend on how little experience you have, how much the major demands of you, and how much you want to explore. If you have a tentative major in mind, it’s wise to take at least one or two relevant courses your freshman year so that you can make sure that the subject interests you and start preparing for advanced courses. For prospective science majors especially, you should plan on taking a couple of science classes early on, since many science majors rely on more or less the same core set of classes and the knowledge builds up. Majors are designed to be appropriate for all students, regardless of previous experience, but you may nd yourself taking more prerequisite courses than your classmates if you’re less prepared. It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is, and if you’re determined to pursue the major, you’ll do just ne. Don’t worry, since freshman year is intended for exploration. There are so many classes and subjects to explore that you couldn’t possibly have taken in high school, so feel free to take a variety of courses if you want. Just be prepared to buckle down sophomore year and beyond once you have a clearer idea of what major you’d like to pursue. Q: What are the differences between the MCDB and MB&B majors, and do we need to decide early which major we would like to take?
A: MCDB is Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. MB&B is Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry. For the most thorough breakdown of the differences, check the departmental descriptions under “Subjects of Instruction” in the Bluebook: http://catalog.yale.edu/ycps/. Briey, the prerequisites for both majors are similar, but the more advanced classes start to diverge (for MCDB, you’ll be taking classes like Genetics and Cell Biol ogy, whereas for MB&B, you’ll be taking
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the two-semester Biochemistry sequence and Biophysics). There is still a fair amount of overlap between the two majors (as an example, several courses are cross-listed), so certainly for freshman year, when you’ll likely be taking courses in biology or chemistry that satisfy the prerequisites for both major, there’s no need to decide at all.
3. Schedules How do you manage creating a class schedule, given the overwhelming amount of courses to choose from?
If you have academic areas that you are interested in studying, it would be a good idea to take a class (a prerequisite or an introductory class) in these areas to be on track but also to help you gure out if the subject is something you want to continue pursuing as a major. That said, freshman year is a time to branch out, be open-minded, and try out new things - you will have credits left over after those introductory and prerequisite classes to take classes in interesting areas you’ve never touched on before. Don’t worry about trying to get ahead; you have plenty of time ahead of you! Most majors only require about a third of the total number of credits you will take at Yale, so you have plenty of space and time freshman year to explore. If you have no idea what you want to study, that’s totally alright! Start looking at classes early and take advantage of shopping period. It might be overwhelming at rst going to a bunch of classes and trying to do the work for all of these classes, but you will be able to narrow them down quickly. If you are taking a class for fun, the atmosphere of the class and the engagement of the professor will be just as important to your enjoyment of the class as the subject material - shopping period then is a good time for you to test out those aspects of classes you might potentially take. Q: When is the latest that you can drop a class and not have it appear on your transcript? A: The last day to withdraw from a class without having it appear on your transcript is during the week of the rst midterms, which is a little less than halfway through the semester. Afterwards, you’re still allowed to drop a class (up until the week of nals), but it will show up on your transcript as “W” (withdrawn).
If you’re worried about not knowing which classes to take, denitely take advantage of Shopping Period during the rst two weeks of class. They’re a good way to get a little taste of what a class will be like without committing yourself to anything; shop as many classes as you want, and at the end of Shopping Period, just sign up for the classes you want to take for the rest of the semester. Q: Can we only take 4 classes? Or can we take ve a semester?
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A: Yes, most people take 4, 4.5, 5, or 5.5 credits a semester. A schedule with as few as 3 or 3.5 credit hours, or as many as 6 or 6.5 credits is acceptable, but requires the approval of your Dean. The intensity of your schedule will depend not only on the number of credits that you take, but also the intensity of the classes. Be aware of some classes appear to be half-credit classes, but are a lot of work (e.g. lab classes — “half the credit, twice the work” is a mantra that you will commonly hear). That said, however, as your Dean, FroCos, and we will tell you, we strongly recommend that you take no more than 4.5 credits both semesters. This is for your own benet — you don’t want to be so bogged down by classes that you neglect your social life or other aspects of Yale as you adjust. There have been freshmen who took 5 credits during the fall semester, and, not having done as well as they had hoped, took 5 credits again during the spring semester to try to make up. Don’t! This is a mistake — it hardly ever works, and most likely, you won’t do any better. It’s better if you take fewer courses in do better in those. Q: You recommend taking 4.5 credits per semester, but how does someone take a half-credit course? Is there a list somewhere that shows how many credits each course is worth?
A: Introductory language courses that meet every day are 1.5 credits, and many labs are 0.5 credits. Be careful though! The mantra about labs is that they’re “half the credit, twice the work.” While this may be an exaggeration, it feels often that labs (though a half credit) have as much work as a full-credit class – not to mention that they take up a large chunk of the afternoon for one day in the week. Lab reports can also take up a signicant amount of time! On the Yale College Program of Studies, if nothing is noted, the class is worth one credit. Variations are noted. Q: How do you recommend getting 36 credits by the time we graduate if we take fewer than 5 credits per semester freshman year?
A: If you take 4.5 credits both semesters (the .5 can come from a lab or a language class that meets daily), you’ll end up with 9 credits total, which is more than you need to advance to sophomore year standing (you only need 8 credits total, so even 4 and 4 credits would be ne). By the time you’re a junior (or even as a sophomore), you’ll have a better grasp of what workload you’re able to handle and can likely take on more classes. Juniors and seniors also take more specialized, higher-level seminars and small lectures, which often meet fewer times a week, so they’re able to take more classes at a time. To clarify, while we recommend limiting yourself to 4.5 credits per semester, in the end, that’s only a recommendation, and if you are especially condent in your skills, 5 (or even 5.5) credits is possible.
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Experience has shown, though, that lots of freshmen bite off more than they can chew, so really evaluate your abilities before committing yourself to more than you can handle. Q: Will there be time for us to meet with our advisers on campus in the fall before committing to classes?
A: Yes; you are in fact required to have the approval of your freshman faculty adviser as well as your FroCo before you can nalize your schedule. If you want to meet with a career/professional school counselor (pre-med, pre-law, graduate school, etc.), you should be aware that sign-up slots for appointments ll up very quickly. Information is available on the website for OCS (Ofce of Career Services). Q: When is course registration?
A: The schedule hasn’t been published yet, but the deadline for submitting schedules occurs about a week and a half after classes start. During that time frame, you’re able to add and drop courses at will until you nalize your decision, at which point you acquire signatures from your faculty adviser, dean, and FroCo and submit your schedule for approval. Q: Could you list all of the requirements for Yale, like what numbers of semesters you must take of what types of classes, etc.?
A: All the distributional requirements (by year) are presented in a nicely for matted chart: http:// yalecollege.yale.edu/academics/academic-requirements/distributional-requirements-chart.
4. Professors Q: Is there some way to know which professors are better than others?
A: All classes that have been taught before have evaluations posted on the Online Course Selection page, so you’ll be able to read through those and nd out what past students have said about the professor and about the class. Yale Blue Book (ybb.yale.edu) and CourseTable (www.coursetable. com) also provide useful visualizations of course ratings. Q: Do you seek out a lot of your professors after class?
A: In large lecture classes, there are usually a handful of students who stay after class to ask questions. The majority of students who seek out their professors do so during their ofce hours.
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Not everyone does, but it’s never a bad idea to try to meet some professors early on. Q: If we have particular concerns/questions about a course of study, would it be all right to contact a department’s DUS by email over the summer or should we wait until we get to campus?
A: Absolutely! That’s the job of the DUS, after all. Most are very happy to answer your questions, although some may be busy/behind on emails, so you may not get an immediate reply. If you don’t hear back within a week, you can always try emailing again.
5. Grading Q: How are classes graded? Are you competing against fellow students or is there a raw score cutoff?
A: It varies from class to class, but you should never think of it as “competing” against your peers. Some classes are graded on a raw score cutoff (e.g., 90% and above is an A), and yes, some classes are curved so that a certain percentage receive A’s, A-’s, etc., but even then, cur ves are usually pretty generous (a lot of them average A-/B+). In any case, most people at Yale are really collaborative and open to working together, so make friends with people in your class, and you’ll all do well! Q: Is it reasonable to expect a 3.6+ GPA at Yale? What is the grading distribution like?
A: Like the answer above states, it varies on a number of factors, including your schedule. You could denitely ll up your schedule with purported easy (“gut”) classes. Some majors are also said to be more difcult than others — particularly engineering classes and the sciences. In the majority of classes, if you diligently do all the work assigned and study well — that is, not try to study only the night before, go to section, etc. — you can do well. There are a myriad of resources out there (peer tutors, science and QR tutors, your TAs, ofce hours, etc.). The upshot is that it isn’t impossible to do well if you put in the time and effort. The people who do the best in terms of grades at Yale are not necessarily the most brilliant and naturally talented people, but simply those who have the most self-control. With regards to the grade distribution, it depends on the class. Some professors state their g rade distributions on their syllabuses; others don’t. Most classes don’t curve downward (deate) grades either.
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Q: What does Cr/D stand for?
A: Credit/D/Fail or, colloquially, Pass/Fail. Any grade of a C or higher appears on your transcript as a Pass. The specications are here: http://yalecollege.yale.edu/content/grades#crdf. Q: What are some gut classes/easy As which can be used to balance a hard schedule or used as a 5th class?
A: It’d be difcult to point them out specically, but some introductory courses are fairly straightforward and are easy to do well in if you put in the work. Another good resource to check is the evaluations on OCI/YBB/CourseTable! They should tell you how challenging the course is. Q: What are some good Sc guts?
A: Some Sc/QR classes are labeled as “intended for non-science major s” since they don’t have prerequisites (http://science.yalecollege.yale.edu/academics/faculty-resources/science-courses without-prerequisite). Those may be more approachable for students without a str ong science/ math background, although (for a variety of other reasons) they may not necessarily be easier. Introductory classes might also be something to look into if you’re looking for a laidback Sc/QR credit.
6. Languages Q: What’s considered an intensive language?
A: An intensive language course ts two semesters’ worth of foreign language study into one semester and is worth two credits. Q: What if you want to take an entirely new language?
A: Do it! Plenty of students choose to take a new language, especially since Yale offers a whole range of languages that probably weren’t offered in your high school. Be aware, though, that introductory language courses at Yale are particularly intense; you will have to put in extra effort, especially since classes meet ve times a week, but you can learn an immense amount in a year. If you’re interested in studying a language that isn’t offered under the normal course offerings, you can also apply to the Directed Independent Language Study program. It won’t give you credit, but it will allow you to study a language under a structured curriculum with a native speaker. There are people who have taken languages as diverse as Cantonese, Taiwanese, Sri Lankan, American Sign
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Language, Navajo, and Swedish. The program offers you quite a bit of exibility to study at a level appropriate to you, and all for free; you likely won’t have such an opportunity later on in your life, so take advantage of it if you can! Q: Is it possible to take two foreign languages in one semester? If not, can you offer some advice on how to schedule my coursework so that I can learn and keep up with both languages?
A: It’s possible but not recommended, especially if you’re just starting out in both languages. Foreign language study at Yale tends to be particularly in tense, and taking two L1–L4 classes will automatically take up 3 of your 4–5.5 credits per semester, leaving you almost no room to fulll your other requirements and take other classes that interest you. If you have a strong command of two foreign languages (L5 level), you could theoretically take classes in both and have 2 to 3 credits left over, but it will be rather difcult and time-consuming. Spreading out foreign language study over your four years at Yale is certainly an option if you want to learn a new language. Lots of students spend the summer abroad studying a language, and oftentimes living in a foreign countr y for a few weeks will help your prociency improve much more than it would if you studied in the US. In terms of maintaining languages you’ve already studied, you can try attending the weekly drop-in tutoring sessions offered for Chinese, French, and Spanish (see here: http://cls.yale.edu/foreignlanguage-tutoring). These are informal, rst-come, rst-serve meetings, so they will not be as consistent or structured as a formal class, but it can help if you just want to practice speaking and listening to the language. Certain student groups also meet somewhat regularly to practice language use, so you can look into whether those options exist as well. And of course, if language is one of your life’s passions, you can consider majoring in Linguistics or one of the foreign language departments, which will allow you to take foreign language classes both to satisfy your interest and to satisfy the requirements of the major, giving you a little more freedom to take more language classes if you desire. Q: What’s DILS and how do you apply?
A: The website for Directed Independent Language Study (DILS) is here: http://cls.yale.edu/dils. Applications are released about halfway through each semester (check the website for exact dates). Briey, DILS allows you to study a language that is not offered through any of Yale’s regular courses for up to three semesters. It is a competitive application process, but you are more likely to be accepted to the program if there is someone else applying to study the same language. If you are
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accepted, the DILS Coordinator will nd a native speaker of the language who lives in the area to serve as your tutor; since it is sometimes difcult to nd speakers of rarer languages, you may be accepted to DILS but not be able to start lessons right away. You will arrange with your DILS tutor to hold lessons regularly, generally twice a week. Textbooks will be furnished by the DILS program, but your tutor may also bring in external materials (newspaper articles, Youtube clips, etc.). Your course of study is determined by your ability level and your interests; you may, for example, focus on learning basic conversational skills if you are a beginner, or you may study technical jargon or idiomatic expressions if you are advanced in the language. At the end of the program, you will be evaluated on your language prociency via a telephone interview and you will be able to receive feedback on your current ability level. Q: How many credits are language courses worth?
A: Lower-level language classes (generally L1–3) are 1.5 credits, as they meet every day Monday through Friday. Higher-level language classes (L4–5) are 1 credit, and meet on regular MWF or TTh schedules. Q: Is it feasible to study a new language for the rst two years and then study a different language for the last two years?
A: So long as you meet Yale’s minimum language requirements, it can be done, although you’ll nd that introductory foreign language classes, with their 1.5 credits, will take up a sizable chunk of your schedule. If you’re seriously interested in language (as a Linguistics major or as a major in one of the languages, for example), you can certainly go for it, but if you only want to dabble a little, it may be wise to consider sticking with one language and leaving yourself more room to explore other classes. Q: I’d like to ballpark what language level I am at. Is there any way to nd out more about a language course?
A: If you scored a 5 on AP French, German, or Spanish, or a 4 or 5 on AP Latin, you’re at L5 level in that language. For every other language, you should just wait to take the placement exam during Orientation; it’s the most effective way to gauge your level, and you’ll need to do it anyway if you’re planning on taking the language. Q: How are the Mandarin and Japanese language programs at Yale?
A: East Asian Languages (including Mandarin and Japanese) are some of Yale’s strongest departments. Mandarin especially tends to be very intense for beginning learners, so don’t expect to take it as an easy class. Yale students also benet from the incr edible Light Fellowship Program
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(http://www.yale.edu/iefp/light/), which covers all expenses for a summer, semester, or year studying in China, Taiwan, Japan, or South Korea studying Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean; it can be competitive to get the fellowship, but the experience of studying abroad is unparalleled.
7. Placement Q: If you pre-register for a seminar and get it, are you still allowed to drop the class if you nd you don’t like it? (ie. ECON 110)
A: Yes, denitely! The people who didn’t get a spot would be more than happy to take yours. However, for certain seminars (ex: freshman seminars), dropping the class after you’re accepted into it will give you reduced priority the next time you apply. Q: When exactly do you take the placement exams?
A: Some placement exams (most foreign languages, chemistry, and music theory) occur during Camp Yale, but certain ones (math, Chinese, and Japanese) should be completed online during the summer. Keep in mind that for several foreign languages, a 5 on the corresponding AP test will exempt you from taking a placement test and you’ll be able to enroll in an L5 class automatically. One note: with the exception of foreign language, the results of placement exams are just recommendations, though highly recommended; you can take a class at a level higher or lower than what’s suggested if you feel that it is a better match for you. If you’re considering taking a class other than what is recommended for you, it’s best to discuss with a faculty member in the department rst. Q: Where are the placement exams online, when do we take them, and how does that work (results, etc)?
A: The timing and method of taking the placement exam varies depending on the subject. You can nd more information online: http://yalecollege.yale.edu/new-students/class-2019/academicinformation/special-programs-placement-and-preregistration. Q: If I got a 5 in AP Bio, should I skip the introductory bio classes?
A: There is a placement test for each module that will deter mine whether you can skip the module. They tend to be pretty challenging, so see how you fare with the material and talk to a professor if you have any more questions about whether you have enough experience with the topics to skip them. Keep in mind that bio modules are only half a semester, so, for example, if you had to take
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BIOL 101 but placed out of BIOL 102, you would have a free half-semester. Read the reviews to get a better sense of students’ opinions, which vary from module to module. Q: If you don’t intend to take a math class rst semester, should you still take the placement test?
A: The placement test is intended to gauge your ability in math and is used as a placement tool for both fall and spring semesters, so you should take it regardless of whether or not you intend to take math rst semester. The math department is rather exible in terms of it placement test, though, so how well you do isn’t a nal answer on what class you’re allowed to take. If you don’t register for a math class at all rst semester, you naturally won’t be taking math rst semester. There are certain math classes outside of the calculus sequence that you can take rst semester without needing a placement test (Fractals, for example). Q: If I made a 5 on the BC Calculus exam and my major only requires up to Math 115 as a prerequisite, do I still have to take the math placement test if I don’t want to take any math above 115?
A: First, check to see if your major requires you to take Math 115 or above or if it only requires you to have the equivalent of a Math 115 background. In the latter case, you may not be required to take a math class at all if BC Calculus credit is accepted (if it’s not explicitly stated, you may want to check with the DUS of your major). If you are required to take at least Math 115, you will still need to take the math placement test, regardless of your BC Calculus score. Q: I have already taken classes corresponding to Math 112, 115, and 120. I would like to take a higher level math class my rst semester at Yale. Do I have to or would it be a good idea to take the math placement exam?
A: You don’t have to take the placement exam if you intend on taking a higher-level math class, but it doesn’t hurt to take the math placement exam! T he test only covers up to Calculus BC material, so it’s not too hard! Q: If I got a 5 on the BC exam and want to take MATH 116/118, do I have to take the placement exam?
A: No. Q: Regardless of my AP BC Calculus score, do I have to take a math placement test to place
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into math classes that will fulll the 2-credit QR distribution requirement?
A: You only need to take the math placement test if you’re interested in enrolling in Math 112, 115, or 120. No other math class (or non-math QR class) will require the placement test, though you may be highly encouraged to have a certain level of math background before you enroll. Q: How is the difculty of the math placement test compared to the AP BC Calculus exam? Do you have to complete it all in one sitting?
A: The difculty is probably comparable to the Calc BC exam but much shorter, so you should be able to complete it in one sitting. But since it’s self-administered, you can always write down the answers on a sheet of paper and come back to the test whenever you have time. Q: How much are we expected to study/review for placement exams?!
A: It might help to refresh yourself on material that you haven’t seen in a while (for example, the math placement exam only goes up to Calculus BC topics (including topics about series not covered in AB), so if you make sure you know AP Calculus BC topics, you should be okay), but the purpose of the placement exams is to test what you already know and have a strong grasp of, so you shouldn’t be doing any sort of intense cramming or preparation. You’ll nd that at Yale, placement is often a matter of self-evaluation (with foreign language as one notable exception), so if you’re adamant about taking a course, you usually won’t have too much trouble getting in, regardless of your performance on the placement exams. Don’t stress too much about it! Q: Can you explain the advantages and disadvantages of the different chemistry options for freshmen?
A: There are a couple advantages of taking Freshman Organic Chemistry. The biggest advantage is that you get to skip General Chemistry, which is a prerequisite for some biology majors and the Chemistry major. That means that you’ll be ahead in the major, which may give you more freedom to choose courses in later years. If you’re premed, however, there’s the disadvantage that you can’t take general chemistry to satisfy your required year of non-organic chemistry if you start off with Freshman Organic Chemistry. Since premed requirements must be taken in college (and can’t be placed out of), that means that you’ll have to nd some other way to satisfy the year of non-organic chemistry requirement through a higher-level chemistry course. Some premed students who take Freshman Organic Chemistry do so by taking Inorganic Chemistry or Biochemistry, or, for Chemistry major premed students, Physical Chemistry.
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Your placement will depend primarily on how you do on the placement test, which is held durin g the Opening Days of Yale. Generally however, those who have received a 5 on the AP Chemistry test and have a reasonably strong chem background are able to place into Freshman Organic Chemistry. The material that you learn in general chemistry is approximately equivalent to the material you learned in AP Chemistry. Many skip general chemistry having taken only AP Chemistry, but did well in Freshman Organic Chemistry and have been continuing to do so in other higher-level Chem classes such as physical chemistry, so they probably didn’t miss out on too much by not taking General Chemistry. Likewise, your experience should be similar should you decide to place out of General Chemistry. For those without a strong AP Chem background but interested in taking chemistry, a year of General Chemistry is a good idea; for pre-meds and bio majors without an AP Chem background, it’s a necessity. Either the 161 or 163 sequence should be ne, although if you’ve had any chemistry background at all, you may nd the 161 sequence to be a little slow. If in doubt, check the syllabi for both and plan on shopping one or two classes of each. 134L and 135L are the accompanying labs for the 161 and 163 sequences. While not obligatory, you should plan on taking them currently with your lecture classes since the overlap between the classes is helpful. Q: Which chemistry class would be recommended for pre-meds who do not have an extensive background in Chemistry?
A: We recommend Chemistry 163 and 167 with their lab counterpar ts. 163/167 is a full year sequence that will give you a background that covers the MCAT general chemistry topics. Be sure to take the placement exam too, because the chemistry department will also place you into an appropriate level based off of its results. Q: My chemistry program was strong but did not follow the AP curriculum, so I feel like I am well prepared for many concepts in general chemistry, but not very well for others. Would it be better to learn the things I missed over the summer and try to test out of general chemistry, or just retake it?
A: You can check the course syllabi of the various chem classes to get a feel for how much you know and how much you don’t. As a rule of thumb, it’s better to underestimate your abilities and take an easier class. Q: How can we tell which classes are available to freshmen? Can we only take 100- level intro classes? Or can we take seminars and higher (200-, 300-, 400-) level classes if they
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don’t specify otherwise?
A: All students – including freshmen – can take any level class as long as the prerequisites (or equivalent coursework) have been satised. The other exception if the class is reserved for Yalies in certain years (such as Junior Seminars). Especially in the humanities, the numbers sometimes don’t mean much in terms of introductory or advanced classes, so a freshman might take 200 or 300 level classes. In the sciences where classes are more sequential however, people generally take 100 level courses before 200 and 300 level courses, which means freshmen generally take 100 level courses. Q: Are PHYS 260 and MATH 230 good course choices for the fall term of freshman year, or will they be too difcult?
A: The courses themselves are great, and the professor s are good as well. They also give you a strong background for higher level math courses. (The advisors at the math placement session can help you too!) Another thing to note is that you can always shop the courses and change later if you nd it too difcult. Q: How important is multivariable calculus background for MATH 230 as a freshman?
A: It’s not needed, as Math 230 also covers topics of Math 120, but it would denitely help. You should shop the two classes, or ask a Math Department advisor. Q: Are there any courses that you would recommend not skipping even if you have the AP test credit?
A: If you’re condent in the material you learned and would not enjoy learning similar (though somewhat different) material again, then skip the introductory class. Otherwise, denitely consider taking the introductory class, as what you learn in college can vary dramatically from what you learned in high school. Q: How can I nd out which AP scores can be used to advance past prerequisite classes?
A: That will depend on the major (since each has different prerequisites), so read the departmental descriptions in the Bluebook. Note that if you’re planning on taking Math 120 (or Math 112 or Math 115), you’ll need to take the placement exam regardless of your AP score. Q: If we feel that we were placed too high from our language placement test, can we move down?
A: You can try talking to a member of the faculty, but generally the foreign language depar tments
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try to stick with the results of the placement exam. Moving down is especially difcult if you’re a heritage speaker of the language (e.g., if your parents speak Spanish or Mandarin at home). In general, though, moving down is easier than moving up, so you can always give it a shot. Q: I see on Yale’s AP credit site that no credit is given for a 5 on AP Psych, but the psych department’s site says Psych 110 is “optional” for 5-scorers. What’s the situation here — if we scored a 5, do we have to take 110 or no?
A: To clarify, the credit site is for Acceleration Credits, which only matter if you’re planning to graduate from Yale a semester or a year early. In no other case are Acceleration Credits used; you can’t get credit for AP scores unless you’re intending on graduating early. PSYC 110 is normally a prerequisite for other courses in the psych department, but if you received a 5 on AP Psych, you can simply jump into the advanced courses without taking PSYC 110. Q: If we have the AP credit to do so, is it generally it a good idea to skip out of introductory microeconomics?
A: Considering that the regular econ major can be completed in 2 years, there’s not that much of a rush to skip the intros. If you’d like to skip some intros, the deciding factors should be the following: 1) What does the rest of your schedule look like? Intermediate micro is infamously the most difcult class in the major. 2) Who is teaching the courses in the fall vs spring? Read the professor reviews in OCI/Bluebook/ CourseTable. 3) Are you considering the econ major, EP&E, or Global Affairs? If not, you’re just punishing yourself with intermediate micro. For some people, there is another deciding factor: 4) Did you get into Econ 110? As a freshman, you have two options for the intro econ sequence: seminar (110 for micro, 111 for macro) or lecture (115 for micro, 116 for macro). You can mix and match according to what you’re looking for. Seminar is taught by a professor to classes of 25–35 students. There is no teaching assistant (TA), and it’s a lot more engaging. Problem sets, exams, and curves are tougher. There’s also more math and theory, so if you want to study econ-math you should take the seminars. Freshmen may enter an online lottery for a seat. Lecture is taught by a professor to classes of 100–200 students. If you are enrolled in lecture, then
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you have mandatory sections led by a TA. It’s less interesting and you denitely get less attention. On the other hand, problem sets, exams and curves are easier.
8. Other Q: Is most studying done in the room or the library?
A: It depends on your personal preference, honestly. Bass Library is a popular place to study, although some people nd it a bit too social since there are people there all the time. Sterling Library has some incredibly large rooms to work in, if that suits your tastes. Additionally, each residential college has its own library, and they’re all different. There are a bunch of other libraries to explore, and you should make the effort to go to all of them, if only to admire the architecture; the Haas Art & Architecture Library is a personal favorite. Many people study in coffee shops, and New Haven has plenty: Blue State, Jojo’s, Starbucks, Booktrader, Willoughby’s, or Koffee (if you are willing to invest time into the walk there). They cover a wide range of “vibes” and levels of crowdedness, but coffee shops are a good place to study if you like having people and activity (and food/coffee) around you. During reading period, coffee shops can get as crowded as libraries. And, of course, if you’re able to be productive in your room and/or are too lazy to walk outside, your suite is always an option. It’s often more fun (and easier) to just work there and interact with your suitemates from time to time. Plus, there’s easy access to food, which is a big part of getting through the night! Q: Is it possible to take a gap semester to do independent work during my four years at Yale?
A: Absolutely! It’s not the most common thing, but many people have taken a semester or two off to do other things. Pretty much everyone who takes time off ends up doing it some time after freshman year and before senior year; it’s important to be at Yale during those rst and last years since you’ll want to meet your classmates as a freshman and you’ll want to spend some time with them as a senior before they graduate. One important thing to keep in mind if you’re considering a gap semester or year is that all of your classmates from freshman year will graduate before you. You’ll still be able to room with them while you’re at Yale and walk on stage with them when they graduate, but you’ll denitely want to make friends with some of the classes below yours, since you’ll be spending some extra time with them.
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If you just want to go abroad for a semester or a year but still want to gradu ate after four years, there are lots of study abroad programs you can do that will give credit. Language study in foreign countries is of course an option, but popular foreign destinations for non-language classes include London and Beijing. The Light Fellowship in particular can be your ticket to a semester or a year of study in East Asia (China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea) that’s completely funded by the program. Q: Is it possible to be an Econ major that is taking DS while on the pre-med track and still maintain a social/extracurricular life? (AKA balancing intense academic commitments with everything else)
A: Given that this is Yale, there have probably been some incredibly bright and motivated people who have done it in the past, but it certainly won’t be easy. The Econ major requires 12 credits; premed requires 15, with little overlap. If you take DS as a freshman, you’ll be tting almost all of these credits into your last three years, in addition to fullling your language requirement. You can try out all three, but we would recommend that you ultimately try to stick to only one or two. Chances are there will be some classes unrelated to pre-med or to your major that you’d love to take but won’t be able to do if your course of study is too restricted. Many freshmen come in with very well-dened academic plans in mind, but many of them end up changing their minds; give yourself a little freedom to explore. Remember also that the college experience is more than just academics alone, and you don’t want academics to overwhelm your life at the cost of your social or extracurricular experience. There are hundreds of interesting people to meet and things to do outside the classroom, and no matter what career path you end up taking, employers and admissions committees are eager to hear about what you’ve learned and accomplished beyond a strictly academic setting. Q: Does Yale offer physical education classes?
A: Not for credit, but for a fee, Payne Whitney Gym offers a lot of physical education classes (from martial arts to ballet to yoga) for those looking to get some exercise or learn with a trained instructor. You can read the course descriptions here: http://sportsandrecreation.yale.edu/ recreation-options/phys-ed. Q: Are there any instructions for lling out the Maths/Physics/Chemistry/Economics survey? I come from a French school and have not taken, per se, any of the courses. Should I detail the French curriculum in the box?
A: Yes, you should denitely detail what information you can in the sur veys — the more information, the better. It might also be helpful to look at the syllabi on this site: http://students.
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yale.edu/oci/ and see what level equivalent material you’re familiar with, and lis t that. For example, if you have a math background covering most of single-variable calculus, that would correspond to a familiarity up to MATH 115 at Yale, which you could write down in the su rvey. Q: Do we have midterms? If our parents come to visit before or after October break will they be getting in the way of studying for midterms/midterms themselves?
A: Yes, and midterms tend to extend for a large portion of the semester. You’ll nd that midterm season starts ~5 weeks into the semester and doesn’t really end until nals. That doesn’t mean you’ll have a midterm every week during that period, but you’ll likely have several, and on weeks when you don’t have a midterm, several of your friends will. It’s hard to say whether or not having your parents visit on a certain weekend will interfere with your studies without knowing your schedule, but you really shouldn’t thinking of them as a “burden,” per se (they may bear gifts of free food!) If you’re looking for a particularly good weekend for parents to visit, try Family Weekend in mid-October. A lot of performing groups hold special concerts during that weekend, and certain of your professors will even invite your parents to attend lecture. Local business establishments also coordinate their sales to coincide with Family Weekend. Q: How strict is the rule about wearing pants in lab? Is it just for safety purposes/should a long skirt also be okay?
A: Rather strictly, for the most part. Many people who were sent down all the way down Science Hill to change — not a pleasant experience. The point of pants is that it minimizes bare skin, so wearing a long skirt should be alright, as long as it covers as much skin as pants do (check with your lab TA to be sure). Remember too that sandals aren’t allowed! (Again, because it exposes more skin and it would be bad if you stepped on glass.) Q: What is the best way to organize your materials for courses?
A: Do whatever you’re accustomed to! One note, though: if you used to have to carry a lot of materials around with you because your high school schedule didn’t allow you time to drop off/ pick up things, you’ll nd that you have much more time to do that now, since your classes won’t be spaced so closely together. That means that you often only need to carry one or two notebooks and folders at a time (and occasionally books/course packets, though rarely textbooks). Even that can be excessive sometimes, since you’ll be doing much (if not all) of your work/note-taking on your laptop. Keeping your laptop organized is probably just as important as organizing your physical materials.
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Q: Do we pre-register for classes?
A: Most classes don’t require preregistration, although a certain few do. English, math, biology modules, and Freshman Seminar classes are the most likely ones you’ll run into that require preregistration (all of it should be online now), but certain classes that are capped (small seminars or labs, for example) may require preregistration, too. More information will be available later in the summer, but you can try checking here: http://yalecollege.yale.edu/preference-selection. Check the Blue Book description for classes you’re interested in to be safe, and if you’re positive you want to take the class, email the professor as soon as possible to reserve your spot. Sometimes, even just stating your interest to a professor can help you get a spot in a seminar. Q: How does getting books and course materials work with shopping period? Is it still possible to buy books the cheap way (i.e. Amazon) and keep up in the course until the books arrive?
A: If you buy from the Yale Bookstore, they’ll allow you to return your books for a full refund (as long as they’re in the same condition) up until the end of shopping period. One way to save money is to buy your books there initially but sell them back once you’ve nalized your schedule and have found somewhere else to get your books. Note also that Amazon is not always the cheapest option; try your luck at the YHHAP Book Exchange (http://yhhap.org/service-projects/bookexchange-2/) and keep a close eye on the “Free and For Sale” and “Textbook Exchange” Facebook pages to see if you can buy used versions of the books you need from other Yalies! Q: When should you start studying for the MCAT if you’re pre-med, and when is the optimal time to take the test? And do you have to pay for the applications if you’re on nancial aid?
A: Most people take the MCAT some time after sophomore year but before senior year. If you take the MCAT after only freshman year, a lot of the material may be unfamiliar to you. You can also, of course, take the MCAT during senior year or beyond (this is an especially feasible option for those who don’t want to enter medical school immediately after college); just keep in mind that you should take the MCAT during the calendar year before you plan to enter medical school. Information about fee assistance is available on the AAMC website here: https://www.aamc.org/ students/applying/fap/. Q: I am a bit concer ned that my high school has not prepared me for college-level writing. What are the writing classes like freshman year and do the professors do actual teaching or just expect you to know?
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A: Writing/literature seminars (ENGL 114 and 115) are designed specically for the purpose of introducing you to college-level writing. Many of them will guide you through the process of researching, drafting, etc. that is expected of you in other college courses. They’re a kind of “Swiss army knife” course in this sense, so we highly recommend that you take one (many sections are offered each semester, each with its own theme). Many professors in other classes (such as history) expect you to just know how to write, mainly because classes are often a mix of under and upperclassmen. That aside, make sure that you fully utilize the writing resources on campus – residential college writing tutors, Yale College Writing Center’s writing partners, etc. – as well, and make sure to edit drafts! Q: What does it mean if a class is typed in red text (as opposed to black) on the Yale OCI?
A: Classes in red are graduate courses (hence they usually have high numbers). Many of these classes are cross-listed as well or have a lower number undergraduate counterpart, so make sure you check! Q: What’s the minimum amount of time we should leave in between classes?
A: There’s no set minimum amount of time, but of course it would be advisable to make sure that you have enough time to get between classes or time to eat lunch. It can take 15 minutes walking to go up (or down) Science Hill, so if you only have a 15 minute interval between a science and nonscience class, you may nd that you need to dash between classes (especially when the professor goes overtime, which happens occasionally). Q: How long does it take to walk from Old Campus to the top of Science Hill?
A: Generally about 10–15 minutes. The number can vary depending on the weather as well. Also note that there are shuttles that can take you up Science Hill if you’re lucky enough to catch one. The unfortunate thing is that they run on what seems to be a random time schedule. They’re usually pretty conveniently timed in the morning, although they get crowded during the peak times before common classes (biology, chemistry, physics). Q: For classes that have multiple sections with different professors (like calculus), how easy is it to switch sections to get the professor you want? A: It can be difcult depending on how popular the professor is, but it really depends on the class. Your best bet is to wait until the end of shopping period to see if anyone moves out of the section, or email the professor. In many classes, the over-subscribed sections will have waitlists. If you want to get on the waitlist for a different section, you usually need to attend at least the rst class of that section, and often need to continue regularly attending that section in addition to your assigned section.
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Q: What does it mean when the OCI lists “Staff ” as the professor of a section?
A: It usually means that various professors teach the same section. Q: How hard is it as a freshman to get into classes, especially popular ones? Are lecture classes often capped?
A: Lecture classes are rarely capped, as opposed to seminars (and some lab classes), so don’t worry! Freshmen generally have the same chance of getting into a capped class, unless the class is one that is required for a major (in which case priority often goes to upperclassmen declared in that major), or unless otherwise stated. Q: How do you go about pre-registering for things like intro chemistry?
A: Preregistration information should be updated pretty regularly here: http://catalog.yale.edu/ freshman-handbook/academic-information/special-programs-placement-preregistration/. Q: Are residential college seminars only offered once? How hard are they to get into?
A: Most are, so if you’re interested in one, don’t hesitate to apply. You’ll often be asked to write a short explanation of why you’re interested in the class and preference may be given to members of the given residential college, but other than that, people are basically randomly selected. Q: I don’t quite understand acceleration credits. Could you explain what they are?
A: Acceleration credits only matter if you plan to graduate from Yale one or two semesters early. As you might imagine, very few people choose to take this option, even if they qualify, since the college experience is much better with four full years than three. Q: Is it possible/manageable to fulll pre-med requirements while double majoring in something other than biology/chemistry?
A: It’s denitely possible to fulll pre-med requirements whi le majoring in something other than biology, and even to double major in biology and something else. Pre-med requirements themselves take up a large chunk of your academic career (even if you’re a bio major), so if you’re planning to major in something else, you’ll likely nd that between pre-med requirements and your major requirements, you’ll only have a couple spots left to take other classes that interest you. It’s a sacrice you’ll have to make, but if you’re committed to both pre-med and another major, it may well be worth it.
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Q: Can classes required for a major (including prerequisites) be used to fulll the distributional requirements?
A: Unless explicitly stated otherwise, yes. Q: Is it possible to change which distributional requirement a course fullls?
A: Yes, that should be ne. Distributional requirements are just totaled up at the end of the semester/year (for the sake of advancement to sophomore year and the like), so if you use a QR/Sc class as a QR credit initially, you can use it as an Sc class later if you need to. Q: Will we get a hard copy of the BlueBook and when?
A: Beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year, the Yale College Programs of Study (YCPS), known to us all as the Blue Book, will become an exclusively digital resource, without a printed edition. The Yale community has grown more comfortable with and reliant on digital resources, and faculty, students, staff, and advisers recognize that hard copies of the Blue Book are often out of date soon after they are printed. Q: Is it a good idea to arrive on campus with a narrowed down list of classes we want to shop (like 8 or so), or is it okay to arrive with just a preliminary list of like 20+? Will we have some guidance in class selection before shopping?
A: It’s perfectly ne to come to campus with a shopping list of 20+ classes (even upperclassmen do that all the time). You probably won’t have time to shop all of them, but you will get to shop a good dozen if you’re efcient, so that may be a good way to winnow down the list. You’ll also have the opportunity to attend a number of “bluebooking” events hosted by various student groups (including the AACC PLs!), and your FroCo group will denitely have a meeting where you talk about classes you’re thinking about shopping. Your FroCo and other upperclassmen are invaluable sources of advice on classes and shopping period in general. There are plenty of resources the rst couple days that are specically there to help you shop classes. FroCos and faculty advisers (both of whom are required to sign off on your schedule before you submit it) can give you suggestions. Your dean and any of the Peer Liaisons are also a great help. The AACC Peer Liaisons host a Bluebooking party open to all freshmen just before classes start, s o feel free to drop by and ask any questions you have! If you’ve already been assigned an AACC PL, you’ll get an email about it; if not, feel free to contact any of us and we can add you to our list. Q: Is there a difference between ENAS 151 and MATH 120?
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A: ENAS 151 goes into more physics and applications of multivariable calculus. Some of us have heard consistently that ENAS 151 is the better course. Q: The blue book says ENAS 194 requires a knowledge of matrix-based operations (no course number). Does this mean I should take a linear course like MATH 222 or 225?
A: No, we think it means an Algebra II level knowledge of matrices. More likely, they’ll just teach usage of eigenvalues/eigenvectors, which require manipulation of matrices (again, Algebra II level though). Q: I think that I want to major in Economics, but I want to keep my pre-med options open. What science course would be best to take rst semester?
A: You should probably plan on taking some chemistry course and lab freshman year (whichever one you place into). If you really want to, you can try to squeeze in physics or bio as well, but it’s really not necessary and may be a rather heavy workload for rst semester. Q: If I missed the Biology placement exam, will I have another chance to place out of parts of BIOL 101–104?
A: Just email the DUS of MCDB/E&EB/MB&B to see what they suggest, since it may be possible to have the placement exam reopened for you to take.
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#EXTRACURRICULARS 1. Club Sports Q: What’s the difference between intramural sports and club sports?
A: The two main non-varsity athletic organizations are club and IM spor ts. Club sports is the more competitive of the two. In some sports that do not have varsity teams, such as water polo or ultimate Frisbee, this is the highest level of competition at Yale. Commitment varies by sport; most have around 3 practices per week, but some practice once a week and some practice every day. Missing a practice is usually okay, but in some sports there is pressure from teammates to attend. Club teams are coached by varsity athletes, volunteers, or senior members of the team. Club teams travel, scrimmaging against other teams in the area or competing against other college teams to advance to national club championships. In popular sports such as soccer there may be tryouts and different levels even within the club designation, but lesser-known sports welcome new members and beginners. There are some fees involved for equipment and tournament costs. IM sports are organized competitions between teams representing residential colleges. They are less competitive than club sports, and usually there are no practices involved; you just show up for scheduled games. There may not be not as much of a team community experience because attendance can vary drastically from game to game, but there is usually a core group of IM athletes that attend regularly. IMs are a good way to meet upperclassmen and other students in your college you would not have known otherwise. IM sports are considered less intense because the people who show up may not be particularly experienced or skilled in that sport, but the desire to represent your college honorably can inspire considerable competitive spirit. There are no fees, and usually equipment beyond basic athletic clothes will be provided. Some sports have no counterpart at the club or varsity level. There are no tryouts; beginners are always welcome. Q: Are most club sports try-out only? What if we want to learn a completely new one?
A: You can DEFINITELY try sports you’ve never tried before. Some of them are kind of intense and have try-outs for the A team (soccer and frisbee are among those), but you can play no matter what, even if you’ve never played before (you just might not be on the best team). They have more of a team atmosphere than IMs, but they can still be as big of a commitment as you want them to be. Club sports have practices and coaches, the teams hang out more, and they’re independent of the colleges. Some of them travel to other universities to play, so it’s an intercollegiate thing (and not just limited to Yale).
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2. IMs Q: What are IMs like?
A: IMs include a bunch of sports that are played between the different residential colleges. The atmosphere is super informal, though the residential college with the most points at the end of the year wins the Tyng Cup! There are three seasons — fall, winter, and spring with many different sports (fall: soccer, football, cross country, golf, ping pong, tennis, volleyball; winter: basketball, volleyball, squash, bowling, inner tube water polo, swimming, ice hockey; spring: softball, ultimate frisbee, golf, billiards, volleyball, badminton, soccer, dodgeball). They’re super fun because you meet people in all 4 years of your college and they’re really laid-back. There’s no commitment — you come when you can/want to, but you don’t have to at all. They’re usually in the afternoons in the fall/spring (like after classes, but before dinner) and at night in the winter and THEY’RE SO MUCH FUN! Q: Do IM sports supply gear like lacrosse sticks and tennis rackets?
A: They do, but it’s generally better to bring your own if you can, since the equipment isn’t the best quality.
3. Jobs Q: What do the levels for jobs means?
A: Levels just dictate what the hourly wage is (level 1 is 12.00, and it increases .50 per level from there). They don’t really have any indication of required skill sets or anything like that; some level 4 jobs are just clerical jobs that require minimal computer knowledge, for example. You can go straight into a higher-level job without having had a lower-level job. Q: What is the hiring process like for student jobs on campus? How does one qualify for certain jobs?
A: You apply for on-campus jobs on yalestudentjobs.org. Most new postings occur at the beginning of the school year but there are always new jobs available. There are a huge range of jobs, requiring different skills. Some are as simple as sitting at a desk in a library (doing your homework). Others require more skill and are more involved, such as Student Tech. Each position requires a different set of qualications, and some are more competitive than others to get, but in general, everyone who wants a job is able to nd one, it just might require applying to multiple jobs.
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Q: How can you get a job at the admissions ofce? When do you apply and how difcult is it to actually get the job?
A: Working in the Admissions Ofce is a great job, but is a very popular position and so is competitive to get. Undergraduates do not, however, evaluate applications. There are two main jobs for undergraduates in the admissions ofce – Tour Guides and Recruitment Coordinators. The role of a Tour Guide is fairly self-explanatory. You will get an email in February, when new guides are hired, with information on how to apply. There is a separate process to apply to be a Science and Engineering Tour Guide, but freshmen are typically not hired. Recruitment Coordinators run outreach efforts to get more students interested in Yale (e.g. organize programs for Yale students to visit high schools over breaks, do video chats with prospective applicants, run multicultural open-houses, etc) and recruitment efforts targeted at admitted students (e.g. running the admitted students website, planning Bulldog Days, etc). New Recruitment Coordinators are hired every September and you can apply as a freshman. The position will be listed on yalestudentjobs.org. In addition to working as a tour guide or recruitment coordinator, students can apply to work for the Yale Ambassador Program. Applications are sent out via email towards the end of rst semester. This job entails visiting schools in your home state during breaks and speaking to high school students about Yale. Q: So, rumor has it that Yale has an underground particle accelerator. What’s the process like for getting a work-study job there?
A: There used to be a big research accelerator used for Nuclear Physics over in the Wright Nuclear Structure Laboratory, but they closed that down. We do have a 1 MeV Van de Graaff accelerator in the basement of Sloane Physics Laboratory. It isn’t used much for research, though — it was mainly used in lab courses (may still be). If you really have your heart set on playing with it, the person to talk to is Larry Cerrito, who is the engineer in charge of it (but we don’t know anybody who’s ever worked for him). If you’re really into particle physics or accelerators, you probably should talk to some of the people who work with CERN. Not sure if you can make a job out of that, but many students do research at CERN over the summer — it’s a great way to go abroad and get research experience. Q: What does the 50/50 Split on the student employment calendar mean?
A: That just refers to where your money’s coming from; during the school year, 50% comes from the
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Ofce of the Provost and 50% comes from the department that hired you. It really has no impact on your life, so don’t worry about it. Q: When do people start looking for jobs for the fall semester (when are the new jobs posted on the site)?
A: Toward the end of summer and at the beginning of fall semester, a lot of new jobs will be posted. You can subscribe to receive email notications whenever a new job is posted so you don’t miss any that might interest you.
4. Research Q: Is it possible to get a campus job such as a (hard science) research assistant or grader in a science subject in your freshman year?
A: Paid research assistant positions are generally given to those who have prior research experience or who have taken signicant coursework in the subject, so if you have either of those, you have a pretty good shot at getting the job. (Even if you don’t, if you’re able to communicate your interest in the subject effectively, you still stand a chance!) You can also do research without pay — students have taken part in on-campus research as early as rst semester freshman year, based on experience. Grader positions (as well as tutoring positions) tend to be given to those who have taken the class (or a higher-level equivalent) before and exceled at it, so you might have to wait until second semester before applying. Either way, feel free to apply to as many positions as you want! Job openings are posted here: https://www.yalestudentjobs.org/. There’s always a ood of new jobs at the beginning and end of each semester, so check frequently (you can also subscribe to receive email notications whenever a new job is listed). Q: I’m an undeclared major with zero experience in research. Is there hope for research in a lab in my freshman year?
A: If you have the determination and the interest, you shouldn’t have trouble nding research at all. Not only do you have the opportunity to do research with professors who teach in Yale College, but you also can work with professors at the School of Medicine and the School of Forestry and Environmental Science. Think of it this way: if you’re committed to working in a lab and you’re willing to do it for free, you’re providing extra manpower to a professor who doesn’t need to pay you, and there’s certainly a benet to that.
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That being said, don’t commit yourself to a lab too early on. Take some time to ease into your classes and extracurriculars to gure out what your workload is like. Working in a lab is often a large time commitment (typically at least 10 hrs a week), and you don’t want to leave a bad impression by promising to work in a lab and not being able to follow through.
5. A Cappella Q: To join the Whiffenpoofs, do you need to have joined another a cappella group?
A: Not ofcially, but if you look at the past rosters, pretty much every Whiff has been part of an a cappella group. Q: Can you only audition for a cappella groups your freshman year, or do the groups take sophomores and juniors as well?
A: The majority of those who audition for a cappella groups are freshmen, but some sophomores do audition (and are tapped as well). The only exceptions are the Whiffenpoofs and Whim ‘n Rhythm, which only accept rising seniors.
6. Music Q: How difcult is it to get into the Yale Symphony Orchestra? Is it mostly all-state level players, below that, or even higher?
A: We’d say that pretty much all of the musicians would be able to qualify at the state level. Most of them have played in a youth orchestra or have some sort of musical award. We do have transfer students from Julliard and New England Conser vatory, to give you a sense of the more advanced end of the spectrum. There are plenty of other orchestras at Yale that cover a full range of ability levels, so even if you’re not accepted to YSO, you can still join other groups. Q: Can I audition on more than one instrument for the YSO to increase my chances of getting in?
A: You can audition on multiple instruments if you feel truly capable on all of them, but it will not help to have multiple auditions simply for the sake of having multiple auditions. Q: Is there an orchestra for non-music majors and another for music majors, or is there just
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one (Yale Symphony Orchestra) that includes both groups?
A: There are many, many orchestras at Yale (including Yale Symphony Orchestra, Berkeley College Orchestra, Davenport Pops Orchestra, Jonathan Edwards College Philharmonic, and Saybrook College Orchestra), and none of them are restricted to music majors. Even the orchestras associated with residential colleges are not exclusive to students in those residential colleges. There isn’t a music major that’s strictly a music performance major offered to undergraduates at Yale, so you’ll nd that many students in these orchestras major in something besides Music and simply play an instrument or two (frequently at very high levels) as well. Q: Are non-music majors allowed to take private lessons from Yale’s music professors? If so, how?
A: Yes, denitely. In fact, most of the people I know who are taking private lessons are non-music majors. You can read more about auditioning, taking lessons for credit or for a fee, etc. here: http:// music.yale.edu/study/music-lessons/. Be aware, though, that most students study with a graduate student in the School of Music, not with a faculty member. It is possible to study with a faculty member, but auditions are competitive, and an advanced degree of performance ability is necessary. Q: Do the graduate students in the School of Music give lessons only to advanced players, or is it possible to take lessons as a beginner?
A: The graduate students are intended to teach students of all levels (very advanced players usually audition to study with a faculty member instead), so it’s certainly possible to start learning a new instrument as a beginner. Lessons are usually pretty low-key, but if you’re still uncertain about trying out a new instrument, you might even nd a classmate who’s willing to teach you a thing or two! Q: Is there a music store near campus?
A: There are two music stores on Audubon St.: Audubon Strings (a full-ser vice store for string instruments, naturally) and Foundry Music (which is a more general music store carrying sheet music, music stands, metronomes, etc.). You can get reeds and other supplies at Foundry Music, but we don’t think they do instrumental repairs if you need them. Q: Is getting into the Yale Jazz Ensemble difcult? Are there ways of getting involved in jazz other than through that group?
A: I (Hanoi Hantrakul, MC ’15) was the pianist for the Yale Jazz Ensemble for 2011–2012! You have
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to audition to get into the YJE at the start of the school year. They have set music you need to learn that is posted on the Yale Jazz Ensemble website and they will also test some of your ability to play music on the spot. The ability to voice chords given only chord symbols (i.e., no notation) is very important, even more important than your sight reading ability. Ability to improvise well is also a plus. Outside of the YJE, there is also the Yale Undergraduate Jazz Collective, composed of musicians at Yale who play jazz seriously and jam together, and other smaller gr oups of jazz musicians.
7. Other Q: What is the most effective way to navigate the website that lists all of (vast) Yale’s extracurricular offerings? It’s a bit intimidating.
During Camp Yale, there is an extracurricular bazaar where all participating extracurricular groups gather in Payne Whitney Gym’s basketball court to talk to freshmen about their groups. That’s a great way to meet with people from activities you’re interested in doing and sign up for their newsletters or information emails. Q: What volunteer opportunities are available on/around campus, and where/how do we nd out about them?
A: To avoid sounding like we’re favoring some groups by listing them and not others, we’ll go ahead and say that there are way too many volunteer clubs and activities out there for us to list. There are many types of volunteer groups, from those related to teaching/mentoring to those dealing with social justice. Some of them (but denitely not even close to all) are listed here: http://livingnh.yale. edu/volunteer. Many volunteer groups are also afliated with Dwight Hall: http://dwighthall.org/. At the beginning of the school year, many groups will advertise themselves at the extracurricular bazaar and the Dwight Hall bazaar. There, you can personally interact with the people in the club and get a better sense of what the club is all about, so that’s probably the best place to learn about the many volunteer organizations that exist at Yale. Q: How difcult is it to get into an improv group?
A: As you might imagine, plenty of extracurriculars at Yale can be competitive, and improv tends to be one of them. Obviously, being funny is key, but groups like improv are also looking to nd people who they think would get along well with the rest of the group. We don’t know any statistics, but there are denitely people who audition and unfortunately don’t get in. However, there are also people who get in with no prior improv/acting experience. You’ll never know unless you try, try out
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and do your best — you might be surprised! Q: How difcult is it to ll up every single summer and every vacation/break during your Yale tenure with some sort of internship, research opportunity, or study abroad? A: Not too difcult at all. If you’re interested in research, you can almost certainly nd a faculty member on campus who will take you on. Study abroad usually isn’t a competitive thing unless you’re applying to a fellowship (e.g., Richard U. Light), and even then, the programs themselves aren’t too difcult to get into (there are also quite a few to go around). Internships can be a little more difcult and you may have to apply to a few before you nd one, but unless you’re gunning specically for a high-prole gig at Goldman Sachs or the like, you should be able to nd something. The Yale name, after all, does ser ve as a networking tool to get you places. As a side note, you shouldn’t be too concerned about doing an internship/research/study abroad during any break besides summer break. Yes, there are people who do some research over winter break or go on service trips during spring break, but you won’t be at a disadvantage if you don’t do any of those things. Remember to relax once in a while and enjoy your life; college is too short and too sweet to spend all your time working. Q: How does one become a Peer Liaison or a Freshman Counselor? How rigorous/competitive is it?
A: The Peer Liaison position is open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Candidates can apply to be PL in only one center. PLs are chosen for their leadership and involvement on campus, their connections to people and resources, their academic record, and — most importantly — their ability to counsel and support incoming freshmen. Consideration is also given to how an individual candidate can work collaboratively as part of a team and how well the entire team reects the diversity of interests and personalities represented in the Yale freshmen class. The application process consists of a written application followed by an interview. The Freshman Counselor position is only open to rising seniors within their residential college. The qualications and application process are more or less the same as those for PLs. In particular, special consideration is given to how much time a candidate can spend being a reliable physical presence for freshmen, since unlike PLs, FroCos live with the freshmen they counsel. Previous experience as a PL (or another position working extensively with students or a student-resource center) is helpful, though by no means necessary. Roughly 300 students apply for 100 spots. Q: What’s MUNTY like? How competitive is it? How much of a time commitment is it?
A: The team is pretty hard to get into, as they have a try-out process, but being a member of the
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team itself is highly rewarding. The people in MUNTY who can be intimidating at rst sight aren’t all re-churning dragons at the end of the day. In fact, most of them are quite laid back and some of the coolest people we know on campus. It’s a great group of friends once you settle down in the team. As for competitiveness, we’ve won many very competitive conferences in the American college circuit. However, the time commitment is reall y low. They practice for about an hour every week (freshman members in the team usually have a freshman practice which is an additional 30-45 minutes per week). When it comes to conferences, as a team they attended 3 main conferences last year. Conferences usually take up a whole weekend. Preparation for the conference is up to the indi vidual once he or she knows which committee he or she will be in, and the time commitment there could be as high or low as the individual desires.
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#FOOD 1. Yale Dining Q: How easy is it to adhere to a pretty strict and very healthy nutrition plan?
A: Yale Dining does its best to support healthy eating by including a salad bar in every d ining hall and posting basic nutritional information about the dishes on little cards above the food and online (you can check what’s being offered in the dining halls here: http://hospitality.yale.edu/menu-selector). There are also vegetarian, vegan, and halal options available. The dining halls also tr y to stock fresh fruit, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, Lactaid, and gluten-free options. Slifka serves kosher food every day. Yale Dining options are far better than what many colleges across the nation offer, but they’re obviously no three-star restaurant. If you’re a picky eater, you might nd the food to be bland or over-seasoned; food is sometimes drenched in oil, and sometimes it’s too dry to swallow. If you’re able to live off paninis, salad, and yogurt every day, that might be the healthiest (and tastiest) option you can get. There’s also the constant, tempting presence of ice cream and desserts — this is where self-control may need to come into play. The healthiest eating option is of course to cook your own food yourself, but that’s not really possible until junior year at the earliest, when you have the choice to move off campus. In the meantime, you learn to make do with what you have; it’s not amazing, by any means, but it still gives you enough options that you can watch your diet. Q: How easy is it to access a kitchen for cooking purposes during freshman year?
A: Fairly easy. All residential colleges have a communal kitchen open for student use. Usually there is a designated “Kitchen Manager” by the Master’s ofce or a regular Master’s Aide who has the keys and keeps a record of reservations and dates the kitchen is available. All kitchens are well-equipped and in working condition, though some kitchens are better equipped (and cleaner) than others. Q: When do we choose a meal plan?
A: You can read about the meal plans in detail here: http://hospi tality.yale.edu/undergraduate-meal-plan-options.
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According to the website, “You will be able to Update/Change your Meal Plan Option (in accordance with meal plan regulations) beginning August 20th at 8:00am and will be able to do so on-line one time only through September 14th at 11:59pm.” Note that as a freshmen, you are required to have the Full Meal Plan; your only other option is to “upgrade” to the Anytime Meal Plan. We feel that most freshmen use the Full Meal Plan, which really should be enough to cover your eating needs. Q: What do you do when you have a class that overlaps almost completely with the time dining halls are open for lunch?
A: You can always use your lunch swipe to buy food at Durfee’s (available until 5 pm), at the Kline Biology Tower Café (from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm), or Marigold’s (at the School of Medicine, available until 5pm). You can also use your breakfast swipe at KBT and Marigold’s, and you can use your dinner swipe at Marigold’s (available until 7pm). The Commons at the Schwarzman Center dining hall, which had extended lunch hours, closed after the 2015-16 school year and will reopen in 2020 after renovations; rumor has it that some residential colleges will have longer hours in 2016-17 to make up for our loss of Commons. Q: What do people generally think of the taste or quality of the water? Do many people have water lter pitchers?
A: Water is potable straight from the tap, although many people do choose to purchase water lters. Whether or not it actually tastes better when ltered is probably l argely a placebo effect, but it certainly can’t hurt. Q: If you’re a big water drinker, do you think it would be more cost efcient and convenient to buy a Brita water pitcher or a Brita water bottle?
A: We suggest the water pitcher; water bottles are easier to lose/mispl ace, while water pitchers aren’t, and you can always ll a regular water bottle with ltered water from your water pitcher if you need to carry water around with you. You can also share the cost of a water pitcher with your suitemates.
2. Outside Food Q: Where can you buy bubble tea around Yale?
A: Off the top of our heads: Vivi’s Bubble Tea (just opened this year!), York Street Noodle, Jojo’s, Go Greenly, Flavors, Bangkok Gardens, Basil. All within walking distance! Some of the food carts
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on Science Hill or at the Medical School also have bubble tea. Ask us — we’ll take you there! Q: Do local restaurants/shops give discounts to Yale students?
A: The quick answer is yes! Some shops will give around a 10% discount, but many of the restaurants that give discounts are dine-in type restaurants and not shops where you can grab something quick. A popular example is Bangkok Gardens. Also, events like College Night on Broadway, in which various stores on Broadway hold sales, happen every few months. New Haven also runs a Restaurant Week twice a year, during which roughly 30 participating restaurants offer a prix xe menu for lunch and dinner. It can be a good way to try some of the pricier culinary offerings around campus at a lower cost. Q: What in the world is a Wenzel?
A: A somewhat overpriced buffalo chicken sub with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and mayo offered at Alpha Delta Pizza for $8.46. Customizable, with options including a garlic bread bun and a vegetarian eggplant alternative. Opinions vary, but large swaths of the student population at Yale swear by it for late-night, post-party cravings. Order via crunchbutton.com, and they’ll even deliver it to your door!
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#MOVE-IN/MOVE-OUT 1. Pre-orientation Programs Q: What are some pros and cons for each of the pre-orientation programs?
A: All of the pre-orientation programs will provide you the opportunity to meet other freshmen prior to Camp Yale, and many freshmen nd that the programs offer lots of bonding moments to foster close friendships. It’s difcult to list pros and cons for each of the programs, since that’s largely based on individual preference. You can read more about the individual programs here: http://catalog.yale.edu/ freshman-handbook/getting-started/preorientation-programs/. Some programs will appeal to you and others won’t — if you’re an outdoorsy person, you might particularly enjoy FOOT or Harvest; if you’re scared of dir t, you probably won’t and might prefer CC instead. Most international students do OIS, but some choose to do other pre-orientation programs instead. Whatever you choose, you’re bound to meet other people who are just as excited about Yale as you are, so don’t worry — you’ll have a good time! Q: Is there a place to store our stuff during OIS?
A: You won’t be moving straight into your permanent rooms, so don’t plan on having absolutely everything unpacked when you rst arrive on campus, since you’ll be moving it all after a couple of days. However, there should be counselors on hand to help you transport stuff. If you’re having items shipped to you or if you have parents bringing them, it may be better to wait until August 28, when you’ll have more time to get settled in and when there will be move-in crews for each of the residential colleges assigned to help you carry your stuff. Q: Will I feel out of the loop at the beginning of the year if I’m not able to attend a preorientation program?
A: Not at all. Everyone is eager to make new friends at the beginning of the year, and since even the largest pre-orientation programs represent only a fraction of the student population, everyone will be seeing a lot of new faces. The rst few days of your arrival on campus will be Freshman Orientation, affectionately referred to as Camp Yale. It’s literally the most laid-back time of the year, when everyone is still settling in before academic and extracurricular commitments start up, so you’ll have plenty of time to meet and
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hang out with other freshmen. Anything from moving furniture to grabbing a meal with a FroCo or PL to going to a party with suitemates can be a great way to get to know more people, so take advantage of all those opportunities! Q: If you go on FOOT, where do you shower/use the restroom?
A: It’s the wilderness at its best! (i.e., no showers or restrooms) W hen you need to use the restroom, you’ll have to go behind some bushes. Q: Where do you change clothes if you go on FOOT?
A: Behind a tree/some bushes ... again, it’s meant to be the wilderness! Q: In a 6-week FOOT program, will we be sleeping in tents or will we use just our sleeping bags?
A: I’m assuming you mean the 6-day FOOT program, which should still be sl eeping bag-only. Q: I know there are no showers at Harvest, but are there toilets we can use?
A: Yep! Q: Is there a cost for Harvest?
A: It’s around $400 (plus the supplies you need to buy), but you can request nancial aid (no separate application, just check a box) proportional to your Yale aid package. Q: Can we get nancial assistance to purchase the required supplies for Harvest/FOOT (provided that we show substantial need)?
A: Financial assistance is available for all the pre-orientation programs, so my guess is that required supplies (gear, camping needs, etc.) would be covered. I know that Harvesters can rent a sleeping bag and pad. You should probably contact the program directors (Bella Napier, isabelle.napier@ yale.edu, for Harvest; Cilla Kellert,
[email protected], for FOOT) to clarify.
2. What to Buy/Bring a. Laptops
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Q: What kind of laptop is best for Yale life? A: Pretty much any laptop currently on the market should be ne. Yale has discounted pricing arrangements with some companies, such as Lenovo, and ITS is able to repair laptops from certain brands under warranty (you can read ITS’s basic recommendations here: h ttp://its.yale.edu/ software-technology/buying-guide/buying-laptops-and-desktops/student-recommendations/wherebuy-stude).
Both PCs and Macs are used, although you’ll nd that many students at Yale have Macs. We’re not sure if there’s an actual statistic, but it seems that more than half of the student population has a Mac. Most Mac users have a MacBook Pro, although we’re seeing more MacBook Airs as of late. Q: Is there a large majority of MacBook Pro users that lean towards the 13” or 15” screen? Is a 15” too cumbersome for college life?
A: We see plenty of both, so either should be ne. Obviously, the larger the screen, the bigger and heavier the laptop that you’ll have to transport, but it’s really a matter of personal preference. Q: Yale doesn’t seem to have updated its technology recommendations yet this year. Should I go out and buy a laptop now, or wait for the new version?
A: If you don’t need a laptop until you get to Yale, I would wait as long as possible so that I could get the newest version (or so that the price of the older version goes down)! Q: Is a laptop lock recommended?
A: Yale’s ITS department recommends laptop locks, but in practice, laptop locks are rarely used. You always run a risk, of course, but you might be surprised to see just how many students leave their laptops unwatched in the library or in the suite common room while they go to do something else (although this is not recommended). You can still buy a laptop lock to be extra safe, though. Q: What is normally done in terms of laptop cases?
A: You see a bit of everything on campus; some people use hard-shell cases that clamp dir ectly onto the laptop, others use laptop sleeves, still others use a separate compartment in their backpacks, and then there are those who leave their laptops naked and just chuck them in their bags. Choose whatever oats your boat!
b. Other Items
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Q: Is printing free anywhere on campus? Is it worth it to bring a printer from home?
A: Printing in the computer clusters isn’t free, but it’s pretty cheap ($.10 for one side, $.12 for double-sided, $.20 for color). However, we’d denitely recommend having a printer in your sui te; you’ll need it for last-minute papers and for times when walking all the way to a library just doesn’t seem like a viable option (see the question about snow!). Since you only need one printer per suite, coordinate with your suitemates to split costs! Q: What printer features would you recommend (wireless, laser, color, etc.)?
A: As long as your printer can print, 99% of your printing needs will be covered. It’s an added perk if it’s wireless/laser (easier, faster printing) and you’ll perhaps need color printing once a s emester, but if the price difference is substantial, it’s really not worth it to get those added features. Also keep ink prices in mind. Q: I’ve never experienced snow before! What winter clothes do you recommend that we buy?
A: SNOW — the most loved and dreaded of weather conditions. You’ll denitely need a thick coat and a good pair of snowshoes/boots to walk around in all the slush. Smaller accessories like scarves, hats, and gloves also make a huge difference, especially on cold er, windier days. New Haven is notorious for rapidly changing temperatures. Snowy days are often followed by signicantly warmer days, causing the snow to quickly melt and form deceptively deep puddles at street corners — waterproof boots will be lifesavers on these days. Don’t worry if you’re not sure what to buy or when to buy it! Every fall, the Peer Liaisons host a trip to the mall for anyone who needs clothes for the colder months, so you’re welcome to come with us when we go. (Costume shopping for Halloween is also a popular option!) Q: Is having a bike useful?
A: Most of campus is pretty centralized, so you’ll be just ne without one, but it is pretty common to see people biking around on nice days. The farthest parts that most students visit are Science Hill up north and the medical school down south, but those are still within walking distance (roughly 10 to 15 minutes). There are also several shuttles that run regularly on weekdays, and those are traceable with a somewhat-aky smartphone application. Bikes are effectively rendered useless during the winter because of the snow, but most colleges have places where you can store bikes during the winter. Q: Does anyone actually buy the “ofcial” linens packs with shower stuff and towels?
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A: We know people who have. It’s convenient in that it’s pre-packaged and ready for you to pick up. Honestly, though, you could probably get higher-quality materials at a lower price, so if you have the time and capability to drive off campus, you can pick up some nicer things from elsewhere (IKEA, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Target are all within range, for example). The Yale Bookstore also sells linens, towels, and other shower stuff. Q: Do people use the bulk laundry plans?
A: Yes, but not that many. It’s cheaper to do your laundry yourself (and not all that time-consuming), and if you’re at all particular about how you want your clothes to be washed, it’s safer as well. Q: What types of laundry plans does Yale offer?
A: There are laundry plans at Yale offered through the ASA: http://www.yale.edu/tuba/agencies/ laundry.html. But for the large part, most people do their own laundry. Q: I plan to major in mathematics/a math-related eld. Any suggestions on what type of laptop or calculator I should bring?
A: Any laptop should be ne. For calculators, a graphing calculator would be very helpful (if not absolutely necessary), but what sort of graphing calculator you have shouldn’t matter. This will be useful for some science classes, such as physics, as well. Other science classes, including chemistr y, require scientic calculators. Q: What phones/phone services/phone plans are good for college life at Yale?
A: Smartphones (especially iPhones) are pretty popular, but of course by no means essential. Most carriers are pretty decent. In terms of phone plans, especially if you’re considering a smartphone, data plans are not entirely necessary, since there is Wi-Fi everywhere on campus. Often, the Ofce of International Students and Scholars will recommend incoming freshmen to use the carrier US Mobile (http://www.usmobile.com), which has fully customizable plans.
3. Other Q: Which breaks require students to leave campus? Do most students choose to leave, even when not required?
A: You’re only required to leave for summer and winter break (although many students stick around Yale in off-campus housing during summer break to do research, work, or take classes). We would
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say that most students leave campus during Thanksgiving break and spring break, but there are certainly students who stay, especially if they live farther away. There are often Thanksgiving dinners hosted by residential colleges for students who remain on campus. Many people stay on campus during fall break in October since it’s a fairly short break to travel home, and there are many other breaks in rapid succession in the fall semester. Fall break is also a good time to head down to NYC or other close cities for tourism, shopping, or visiting friends. Q: Where do we move our things when the residences close (for inter national/cross-country students)?
A: You’re allowed to leave everything in your rooms over winter break, so you only need to worry about summer break. Most residential colleges set aside room to store stuff for the summer, but it’s not much (on average, 2 or 3 moving boxes). Some of your classmates will be in New Haven doing research/taking classes over the summer, so you may be able to store stuff with them. Other students live close enough to campus that their parents are able to drive up and haul stuff back to their permanent residences, so you may be able to leave communal use items (e.g., a suite couch or bookshelf) with them. Finally, for a fee, there are off-site storage facilities of YCC’s summer storage program where you can keep your stuff safely locked away for the summer; if you share the space with a few other people, it can be an affordable option. Colleges will share infor mation about offcampus storage facilities as the end of the year nears. Q: Where do inter national students go when residences close and they can’t go home?
A: First, keep in mind that the only times when the residences close are winter br eak and summer break. Many international students do choose to go home during those times (especially during summer break) since they don’t really have any other time throughout the rest of the year. Lots of students (both international and domestic) do internships, research, or study abroad during the summer, so there’s a good chance you’ll be at Yale or abroad (and not at home) anyways. Fellowships are available to fund summer housing, travel, and other costs. If for any reason you can’t go home during the summer, there are plenty of opportunities at Yale that you’ll probably want to take advantage of regardless, and there’s money to support it. Since winter break is shorter, fewer international students go home (though, again, some still do). Some stay in the Omni Hotel (paid for by Yale). Some stay with suitemates or other friends in America; you’re bound to know someone who lives in the New England area and is willing to house you for a couple weeks. Q: How do students usually get from Bradley airport in Hartford to Yale?
A: Connecticut Limo is a popular choice (though not always the most reliable) for Yale students, and they offer discounts for Yale students. Shuttles usually come around once an hour from Bradley Airport to Phelps Gate.
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#RESIDENTIAL LIFE 1. Internet Q: Is there wireless internet in the suites?
A: Yes. We actually don’t know anyone who uses ethernet (or even if the suites are equipped for that). Q: How fast is internet at Yale?
A: Internet at Yale is incredibly fast; you can download les at 1 MB/sec, and you shouldn’t have problems video-chatting or running programs that require consistent high-speed connection. On occasion, your Wi-Fi connection might be a little spotty, but those are rare cases. Q: Does Yale block gaming/torrenting connections?
A: Not unless you exploit the system. Keep in mind that torr enting copyrighted les is illegal, and if you’re caught doing it (generally if you torrent a movie or TV show that’s recently come out), you’ll receive a warning from ITS before they shut your internet down. If you manage to hog up all the bandwidth, ITS may have a problem with that as well. Generally, though, the internet is pretty much left up to you to deter mine what you want to do with it; there aren’t any blocks or lters that we know of.
2. Facilities a. Dorm Rooms Q: What is the layout of the room freshmen are housed in?
A: That is, unfortunately, completely dependent on where the Yale sorting hat magically places you. You may share a small room with a roommate and be forced to bunk beds...or you may have a single completely to yourself. You may have a gargantuan common room with room for multiple couches... etc., etc. Your room may have a replace, in-suite bathroom, elevator access, walk-in closet... or it may have none of those. It’s probably best to wait until you nd out what room you’ve been assigned before trying to gure out more about the room layout. Regardless of what room you’ve been assigned, though, you will have room for a bed, wardrobe, drawers, and desk (all of which are provided by Yale).
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Q: How high is the bed above the ground? Is there space for stora ge boxes under the beds?
A: All of the bed frames are adjustable, meaning you should be able to raise your bed high enough to put storage boxes underneath. You can also purchase bed spacers to raise your bed even higher, if necessary. Q: Can you raise your bed up like it’s a top bunk but then put your desk underneath it?
A: The individual bed frames don’t go high enough for you to t a desk underneath, but sometimes they will let you use the top bunk of a bunk bed and remove the mattress and metal frame from the lower bunk so that you can put a desk underneath. Again, it might be best to wait until you’ve seen your room before you try to gure out all the details of your room arrangement. (We know it’s frustrating, but it’s a lot of mere speculation if you don’t wait!) Q: What are the mattresses like?
A: They’re pretty standard spring mattresses — nothing special. If you like your mattress particularly soft, you might want to consider buying a mattress pad. Also, the mattresses are “extra-long” twinsize mattresses (80” by 36”), so if you’re buying linens, just make sure they can t that size. Q: Are mattress toppers necessary?
A: If you’re used to sleeping on super-comfy beds, then maybe, but most people do just ne without one. Q: Do people actually use the landlines that Yale provides in the dorm?
A: We have never seen anyone use a landline phone. Cell phones are practically essential. Q: Is there any way we can nd out about the dimensions of our suites or what furnishings are already there?
A: Since dorm rooms vary dramatically in size, it’s difcult to make generalizations. The dimensions may be listed in the letter you received about your residential college; if not, you can try contacting one of your FroCos, who will probably have a better idea. There are a couple oor plans oating around this Facebook group (there’s denitely one for the rst four oors of Bingham), so those might help give you a sense of the layout of your building, though not necessarily the size specications of your room. In terms of furnishings, each person in the suite is provided with a bed (with mattress), a desk, a
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chair, and a wardrobe. There are also overhead lights in most rooms (but not all), although most people choose to buy separate lamps. Everything else is up to you to buy, but denitely coordinate with your suitemates so that you’re not buying multiple versions of the same thing. Q: What things do we need to buy for the suite’s common room?
A: You’ll probably want a sofa/futon/large comfy chair, a fridge, and a microwave at the minimum. You can rent fridges from the university (http://www.yale.edu/sfas/agencies/refrigerators.html), either by pre-order before school starts or during move-in, or your suitemates can split the cost of one from a store. Though not absolutely necessary, a suite printer could be very useful, although residential colleges, libraries, and Connecticut Hall on Old Campus are equipped with printers/ scanners, etc. that cost about $.10 per sheet in black and white ($.12 if double-sided, $.20 if color). Many suites also have a coffee table and a couple bookshelves. In terms of other common-use items, you should consider getting a vacuum cleaner, Swiffer, trash can, and ironing board (and iron). Wait to see what lighting is like in your rooms before purchasing lamps for your common room. Q: I don’t understand what L-Dub is and why it has a bad reputation. Could you explain?
A: L-Dub is short for Lanman-Wright, one of the residential buildings on Old Campus. It’s situated in the corner just next to the gate on Elm Street and currently houses freshmen in Pierson and Berkeley (the colleges sometimes change, though). Its “bad reputation” comes primarily from the fact that the suites are among the smallest on Old Campus. If you’re in L-Dub, though, don’t despair: the rooms are all habitable, the utilities work, the location is central, nice courtyard, and it’s denitely a bonding experience for everyone who lives through it. Also, all of L-Dub has been renovated within the past two years, so it’s a lot nicer than upperclassmen may say it is. Q: So freshmen don’t live in residential college suites — they live in “dorms”? W hy don’t freshmen live with upperclassmen and such?
A: To clarify, any time the word “dorm” has been used in this Facebook doc (or really in any other Yale-related context), it’s still referring to the residential buildings on Yale’s campus, not the dull, ugly, fteen-rooms-lining-a-narrow-hallway “typical” college dor m you might be imagining. “Dorm” is just more convenient to type than “residential college suite.” Although you’re assigned a residential college in the summer, all freshmen except those in Silliman and Timothy Dwight live in housing on Old Campus, separate from the residential colleges themselves (which are for upperclassmen). The reason is largely logistical; the residential colleges simply don’t have enough space to house all of the freshmen. Another benet is that living on Old Campus means that you’re surrounded by other people in your class, so you have an easier time meeting people outside of your college. For those in Silliman and TD, the ip side is that living
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in your residential college all four years means that you meet a lot of upperclassmen a lot sooner and feel truly integrated in your residential college from day one. Both Old Campus housing and Silliman/TD housing have their advantages, but pretty much everyone is happy with their living situation in the end. Q: Are we allowed to nail shelves to the walls in the dorms?
A: Unfortunately not. There are many restrictions on what you can do to the walls. For example, be careful about what kind of sticky putty you put on the walls, because some types will cause damage to the walls, and you’ll have to pay for damages! Q: Are there screens on the windows of the dorms on Old Campus?
A: Yes, there should be. They might be removable, if you need to remove them for whatever reason (though you probably shouldn’t).
b. Other Facilities Q: Can students stay on campus during the shorter breaks? If so, what facilities remain open?
A: The only breaks that students cannot stay on campus (unless through a sanctioned pr ogram) are winter break and summer break. The dor ms remain open during all other breaks (fall, Thanksgiving, spring). However, the dining halls are closed during most of the breaks, so you’ll be responsible for your own meals. Your ID cards do not shut off during the smaller breaks, so you’ll still be able to access all the facilities within your residential college. Payne Whitney Gym (which is open to the public) generally remains open throughout break, except for during an actual holiday (e.g., Thanksgiving). Q: Where can I hand-wash and hang-dry my clothes? What about dry cleaning?
A: Hand-washing is a little tricky since the laundry rooms are pretty much intended for washing machines/dryers, but it’s still possible; we think there’s a sink in Farnham (one of the two laundry rooms on Old Campus, where freshmen live), so we assume there’s one in Bingham (the other laundry room on Old Campus). We suppose you can always wash your clothes in the bathroom sink. Hang-drying is also difcult because there isn’t much space to do it. You’ll have to try to make space in your room for drying racks/hangers, etc.
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There’s a dry cleaning place on Broadway that’s close to Old Campus, so you can always get your dry cleaning done there. Personally, we just separate our clothes into whites and non-whites and use the laundry room facilities. For clothes that you’re particularly careful about, you can hang-dry them in your room by draping them over some hangers and hanging them in your wardrobe. Q: Are the small gyms, libraries, and other facilities in the residential colleges open 24/7?
A: Facilities like gyms, libraries, and small music rooms are open 24/7, so indulge in all the latenight workout/study/practice sessions you want. Certain larger spaces like dance studios, recording studios, art studios, pottery studios, kitchens, and galleries may require you to have a reservation before you can use the space. The butteries of residential colleges (places to get burgers, eggs, quesadillas, and other quick xings) are open most weeknights from roughly 11 to 1 (it varies from college to college). Q: What is the nearest weight lifting gym to L-Dub? And how close is Payne Whitney?
A: You should be able to do weight lifting in any of the residential colleges, but you’ll need a friend to swipe you into facilities in a college that’s not your own. If you’re particularly intense about weight lifting, you might want to go ahead and just go to Payne Whitney, since the facilities are more extensive; it’s only a couple blocks away from Old Campus (near Morse and Stiles residential colleges). Q: Is there a rock climbing wall/gym on or near campus?
A: There isn’t one on campus. Rock climbers go to a private gym called City Climb which is about a mile away, to which it is easy to walk or bike. Since it’s private, you have to pay a $45 membership fee per month. There is a nicer, larger gym called Carabiner’s in Fareld, CT, and people from the climbing team occasionally take a train there. Q: Can non-art majors use the art rooms and supplies (for free or for a low fee)?
A: Many (if not all) of the residential colleges have art rooms that are free to use; at most, you just have to sign up for a time slot to use them. Supplies, though, are pretty much up to you. Hull’s Art Supply store is very close to campus, if you’re in need of anything. Q: What specic features of each of the residential colleges are exclusive or open to the rest
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of the colleges (e.g., parties, events, gyms, libraries, etc.)?
A: Most facilities are open to all students, but you won’t have key card access to anything that is not within your residential college. If you’re in Berkeley but want to use the library or gym in Davenport, you’re certainly allowed to do so, but you’ll need someone els e to let you in. Some facilities (kitchens, art studios, recording studios, dance studios, etc.) require a reservation time; in these cases, you will probably have to stop by the Master’s ofce of the respective residential college and make sure the time you would like to reserve is available. Most parties and events sponsored by a college are open to the entire undergraduate community (e.g. Pierson’s Inferno, Branford’s Crushes and Chaperones), although certain ones are limited to students in the residential college and their guests (e.g., any college’s Screw, JE’s Spiderball, Calhoun’s Trolley Night). Study breaks (i.e. evening catered food events) are often residential college-only, although if you’re stealthy and sneak in with a friend, usually no one will notice. Q: For doing laundry on Old Campus: if we’re living in a building without laundry facilities, how do we get access to the laundry rooms in the Bingham/Farnham basements?
A: Everyone has access to the basements of Bingham and Farnam where the laundry machines are located, and your cards should let you in. Q: What are the bathrooms like? Are they cleaned by the custodial staff ?
A: Generally, bathrooms are either shared by one suite, or shared by a oor of an entryway. Bathrooms shared by just one suite generally have one toilet and one shower, while those shared by multiple suites have two showers and two toilets. Out-of-suite bathrooms (bathrooms that open into the entryway) are cleaned by custodial staff. In-suite bathrooms (bathrooms that are accessible only through your suite) are not cleaned by custodial staff, so you’ll have to divide up the work in cl eaning it!
3. Dress Q: How big are your wardrobes?
A: Wardrobes vary from college to college, so it’s difcult to say, but they’re usually enough to t most of your clothes as long as you keep your hefty winter gear packed away and make use of available additional bureaus and possibly invest in bins that you can keep in the space under your
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bed. Some rooms have closets as well, and those vary in size tremendously. Q: What kind of clothes do girls (and guys) usually wear? (AKA style advice?)
A1: There isn’t typically a lot of storage room, so if you live far from campus (AKA cross-country or international), make sure to buy durable clothes that you can LAYER. Cute, solid colored basic cardigans, tees, tights, and skirts can be mixed and matched in different ways for any season. You really only need 1–2 formal outts for the annual freshman dinner and any formal par ties. The streets of New Haven are often cobblestone, so wear heels at your own risk. Most girls wear cute ats during the spring/fall and transition to stylish boots in the winter. If you’re in the science/ premed realm, the walk up Science Hill can be brutal if you don’t wear comfortable shoes. Also, in lab you are required to wear pants and advised to wear clothes that you don’t particularly care about (just in case there’s a chemical spill, etc.). As a freshman, you get a LOT of free t-shirts from random events on campus. Wear your Yale gear with pride! If you’re international and can’t bring too many clothes, make sure you sign up or share a PO mailbox with a suitemate... ordering clothes/ schoolbooks/random supplies online is quick and easy (Amazon.com, Forever21.com, Target.com, are frequently visited sites by most students, etc.) The peer liaisons also sponsor mall trips for your shopping needs, including one in the fall when it starts to get cold and you need to buy warmer clothing. :) - Ysabel, Stiles/Silliman AACC PL 2013-2014 A2: On campus, we have stores like J. Crew, Jack Wills, Gant, Urban Outtters, and American Apparel. There is also a mall that is a 30 minute–1 hour bus ride away. Yalies don’t like to be limited to any one style, so feel free to mix and match! A3: Sweaters! Lots of sweaters. Especially during the fall and the winter. Q: Best place to get a cheap haircut?
A: The names of these establishments are somewhat confusing (three of them are called some variation of “Phil’s Barber Shop”), so it’s easiest to describe them by location. These places generally run $17, plus tip, for a men’s haircut. The one on Wall Street by Blue State Café has a couple of Italian barbers. English is not their greatest strength; be careful in specifying how “short” you want your hair cut. The place has the feel of a traditional barbershop. Reviews on Google and Yelp indicate that the haircuts are mediocre to decent. The one on Broadway above Gourmet Heaven has one middle-aged Taiwanese lady named Julie
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(who I think does the majority of the haircuts) as well as some American staff. Again, English is not a forte (at least for Julie), but the reviews indicate a good to great deal for the price. Color treatments are apparently quite good here. Another place on Orange is owned by the same people who own the Broadway shop mentioned above (incidentally, they’re relatives of Julie), but the quality is supposed to be better. It seems to be less well known to Yale students, probably because it’s farther from the center of campus. We’re under the impression that the clientele is predominantly Taiwanese and Chinese, so Asians might fare particularly well here. Q: Are there any good hair salons in New Haven where I can chemically straighten my hair?
A: Some of the nicer hair salons around Yale are Jo Bruno (on Whitney), Rimage (on Chapel), and Details (also on Chapel). Q: Do most people carry backpacks around campus, or are bags more popular?
A1: From personal experience, I’d say backpacks are the most common type of luggage that people carry around, although bags aren’t uncommon either. A2: Large totes are also not uncommon, especially for girls.
4. Roommates and Suitemates Q: Do you change in front of your roomies?
A: Everyone has a different comfort level, so make sure to talk these habits through with your suitemates! If you do happen to have a roommate and are uncomfortable changing around them, bathroom stalls are private spaces you can use! Q: Where do you sleep when you’re sexiled? Does it even happen?
A1: This will depend on a number of things. First, it will depend on whether you’re in a double or not. If you’re in a single, you should have no problem. If you’re in a double, chances are, you’ll get sexiled depending on how sexually active your roommate is. If you’re ever sexiled, most people sleep on a futon in the common roo m, or go to someone else’s
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suite for the night. More important is how you communicate this with your roommate. Make sure you have a system of letting each other know when you need to use the bedroom (walking in on your roommate while he or she is busy is not a good idea), whether it’s by text or some “code” — something hun g on the door, for example. Make sure you’re open about this. Also, if your roommate is constantly sexiling you, make sure to speak up, even if you may be a bit embarrassed about bringing up these topics. It’s your bedroom, too. Above all, the important thing is this — be open about these things with your roommate to facilitate understanding from the beginning. A2: Being sexiled is one of the many experiences you might encounter while living with a roommate; it doesn’t happen to everyone, but it happens to enough people that you shouldn’t feel your situation is unique or out of the ordinary, should it happen to you. Communication is key, and you may not want to wait until your rst night sleeping on the couch before bringing the issue up with your roommate. Talk to your roommate as soon as you feel comfortable bringing it up, and don’t worry — lots of people feel a little awkward talking about sexiling, but it’s a completely understandable concern, so your roommate should be ne with it. On the ip side, if you’re the one sexiling your roommate, please be mindful of his or her situation. Often, it’s easier for you to broach the topic in the r st place, so take the initiative; you’ll make everyone feel more comfortable with the situation. And, of course, if you know that you’ll be bringing someone home for the night, try to let your roommate know as early as possible. You’ll have several resources (PLs, FroCos, etc.) to talk to about more private concerns like this, so if you’ve tried to work things out with your roommate but can’t, we’re always here to help you sort things out! Q: Is there any way to move out if you have major problems with your roommate?
A: The residential college system strongly, strongly discourages people from switching roommates. Part of the premise of randomly assigning you to a college with suitemates from all over the world is to encourage diversity, and you’re bound to (and indeed expected to) meet and live with people who come from very different backgrounds and lifestyles. Sometimes, that trickles down to differences in the somewhat more mundane aspects of living habits (preferred bedtimes, levels of cleanliness, noise levels, etc.). For the most part, you’re expected to work through those problems yourselves, though your FroCos, PLs, and academic deans are certainly there to help make the process easier.
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If it really is impossible to work through those problems (again, we’re talking about major problems only), you can talk to your dean, who might be able to work out an alternative living arrangement.
5. Safety Q: How is safety at Yale and in New Haven?
A: There’s a door-to-door shuttle that operates at night; you just call it up and it will come pick you up and drop you off wherever you are. Honestly, though, we’ve never felt unsafe while at Yale. If you walk with a friend and use common sense, you’ll almost denitely be ne. Q: What time does it normally get dark up in New England?
A: That varies widely, depending on the time of year. Today, the sun set at 8:10 pm; in January, it will set at around 4:45 pm. In any case, if you’re concerned about walking outside when it’s dark, you can always walk with a friend or call the nighttime door-to-door shuttle service, which operates from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. every day. Q: Does the nighttime shuttle only operate within the Yale campus?
A: The door-to-door nighttime shuttle operates within campus boundar ies. Separate nighttime shuttles that operate on designated routes go slightly beyond campus boundaries, including to Union Station, New Haven’s train station. If you need to, you can request an off-route pick-up/drop-off, or you can call for a walking escort (both of these, of course, are limited to a reasonable distance).
6. Money Q: How much money did you spend your freshman year on stuff around campus?
A: Textbooks alone can cost you a good few hundred bucks (they’re roughly $100 each, but not every class requires textbooks). If you don’t want to pay sticker price at the bookstore, you can usually nd better deals on the “Textbook Exchange” or “Free and For Sale” Facebook pages, or through Amazon. If your suite decides to pitch in and split the costs for furniture (sofa, coffee table, bookshelf, etc.) and other items (fridge, microwave, printer, etc.), you’ll be spending a couple hundred bucks there. If you choose to eat out from time to time or to order pizza/Wenzels/Ivy Noodle/etc., expect to spend another couple hundred bucks; how much exactly of course depends on your eating habits.
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Most events on campus that charge admissions fees (dances, YSO concerts, Toad’s, etc.) are $5 or less. $1000 should be more than enough to cover everything I mentioned above (you’ll likely spend $200–$400 less). If you choose to go on a major shopping spree in New York, of course, that will be a different story. Q: Do any students open their own bank accounts with local banks in New Haven in order to have more ready access to their money and/or avoid ATM surcharges? If so, how does that process generally work?
A: There are a couple major banks with ATMs on or near campus (Chase, Bank of America, TD), so it may not be necessary to open a new account. If you aren’t currently with one of those banks and would like to avoid ATM surcharges and facilitate other banking trans actions, you may consider starting an account with one of them. Bank of America, in particular, has ATMs in convenient locations around campus, including Bass Library and Durfee’s. For international students, your OIS counselors will help you set up a bank account. But even if you don’t do OIS, there will denitely be down time during Camp Yale for you to set things up. Q: Does it make sense to enroll in the Yale Payment Plan if you’re paying very little to go to Yale? Do most people use it?
A: Frankly, you know your nancial situation best, so you’ll have to decide for yourself whether or not it’s necessary. YPP is intended to help out families that may not be able to pay each semester’s worth of expected family contribution at one time (think of down payments on a car, or mortgage on a house, for example). If it would help your family out a lot, go for it; on the other hand, if your nancial aid package has been very generous and your family is condent in being able to pay the term bills in full, don’t sign up for YPP and save yourself the $100 enrollment fee. Q: According to Yale’s website, we are allowed to use up to $2,500 in outside scholarship money for buying a new laptop. How exactly does this process work? Are we notied of how much our scholarships exceed unmet need/work study/summer contribution?
A: Outside merit scholarships normally are used to cover the self-help (i.e., term-time job) and student income contribution (i.e., summer savings) portions of your nancial aid package. My understanding is that if the outside scholarship specically allows you to use part of the money to buy a new laptop, you can choose that option and then use any remaining money to cover self-help and SIC. To be sure, you should verify both with the outside scholarship and with Yale’s Financial Services ofce. This coming year, the self-help component for freshmen is $2,850 and the SIC is $1,625, so if you know the total amount of your outside scholarship, you should be able to calculate the difference.
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7. Other Q: What is the policy on overnight guests in the dorms?
A: This is taken from the housing section of the Undergraduate Regulations (http://yalecollege.yale. edu/campus-life/undergraduate-regulations): “Students living in the dormitories may have guests for brief visits, but not for more than a few days. Roommates who feel inconvenienced by the presence of others’ guests should discuss the matter with their master or dean. No guest may be in residence during vacation periods or at any other time if a host is not present. Students are responsible for the behavior of their guests at all times; guests may not use common areas of a college unless their hosts are present.” “Brief visits” is somewhat vaguely dened, but as a ballpark gure, about a week should be ne as long as your guest isn’t inconveniencing your suitemates. As a courtesy, be sure to let your suitemates know as soon as possible. Also keep in mind that your guest will have trouble getting around campus without an ID card, so you’ll need to accompany him or her most of the time. Q: Are there any mnemonic devices or shortcuts for learning all the building abbreviations (particularly for the 12 residential colleges)?
A: Not that we know of, but you’d be surprised how quickly you pick them up. The residential college abbreviations are: BK (Berkeley); BR (Branford); CC (Calhoun); DC (Davenport); ES (Ezra Stiles); JE (Jonathan Edwards); MC (Morse); PC (Pierson); SM (Silliman); SY (Saybrook); TC (Trumbull); TD (Timothy Dwight) Some buildings that are almost exclusively referred to by their abbreviations include LC (Linsly-Chittenden Hall), WLH (William L. Harkness Hall), SSS (Shefeld Sterling Strathcona), KBT (Kline Biology Tower), HGS (Hall of Graduate Studies) You will inevitably run into more building abbreviations during your time at Yale, but you can always check the full list (http://www.yale.edu/sis/building.codes.html) if you’re ever unsure. Q: I’m covered by my parents’ healthcare coverage, and I’m considering whether to waive Yale’s coverage or not. Do plenty of students who already have coverage submit a waiver?
A: As a Yale student, you are automatically enrolled in the basic healthcare plan, which provides
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services like acute care, mental health counseling, laboratory services (testing), and physical exams at no cost. If your parents’ healthcare plan covers hospitalization and specialty care, you can certainly waive Yale’s Hospitalization/Specialty Care plan (I imagine that most eligible students d o, as I see no reason not to). If your family does not have an external healthcare plan, however, you are required by the University to obtain hospitalization/specialty care coverage, generally through Yale’s plan. Note that if you do not waive hospitalization/specialty care coverage by the appropriate deadline (September 15 for fall/full year), you will automatically be enrolled. Q: Can students of one residential college attend the College Tea of another residential college? And how do we get notice that a College Tea is going on / taking place at a specic time and date?
A: Yes, generally, College Teas (formerly Master’s Teas) are open to all Yale students, although space is sometimes limited, so make sure you RSVP if requested! Preference may be given to certain groups, however, especially for events such as post-Tea dinners with the speaker. Generally, most people nd out about Teas by word of mouth, Facebook, through the numerous yers on campus, and through Yale College Council (YCC) newsletters, which list all College Teas. Usually Teas are well-advertised, so make sure to check on the boards on campus (there are a couple on Old Campus, for example) for the latest news! Q: How easy is it to switch residential colleges? How many students typically do this, and are there any negative social repercussions for doing so?
A: The process to switch residential colleges isn’t too difcult, but you have to rst nd a group of people in the desired college who agree to be your suitemates. This is by contract; you can’t change your suitemates later on. You’ll have to meet a couple times with the dean (and head of college, I believe) of the college you’re switching into and the college you were originally assigned to, and there’s some paperwork to ll out, but that’s about it. If there are enough spots open in the residential college (by students moving off campus or switching into other residential colleges), you should be able to switch. Note also that switching residential colleges only happens between academic years, though starting the process of meeting with deans and doing the paperwork happens some time during spring semester. There aren’t many people who choose to switch residential colleges, since the system works out really well and most students nd other people in their college who they’d be happy to live with; per college, maybe ve people will transfer in or out. Presumably you’re switching colleges because you connect a lot better with several people in a different college, so you won’t really face any social repercussions; the people you’re moving in with will be glad to have you, and your classmates from your original college will understand.
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Q: How often do freshmen meet with their FroCos?
Besides the mandatory FroCo meetings, the amount of time you want to spend with your FroCo really depends on you - some freshmen befriend their FroCo and hang out with them on a regular basis, some prefer to keep their FroCo only as a source for advice, and some rarely talk to their FroCos outside of the mandatory meetings.
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#SOCIAL LIFE 1. Parties Q: What’s the party scene like at Yale?
A1: There’s a lot available, depending on what you’re into. On weekends, frats and sororities hold parties pretty regularly, as do party suites like God Quad in Branford and 12-Pack in Saybrook. Many of the residential colleges hold large, campus-wide dance par ties every year (Pierson’s Inferno, Branford’s Crushes and Chaperones) that regularly attract hundreds of people. Lots of undergraduate organizations host their own parties, and students often hold birthday parties or pregames in their own suites. Many people drink, but not everyone does, so don’t feel pressured to if you’re not comfortable. Parties can range from low-key gatherings to hardcore ragers, so stick with friends throughout the night and know your limits. A2: Don’t forget about Toad’s —Yale’s notorious neighboring dance club! It’s a little grimy, but sometimes it’s the only place to go for loud dance music to end your night; they say that “all roads lead to Toad’s.” It’s open on Wednesdays exclusively to Yale students and on Saturdays for Yalies as well as students from Quinnipiac, whom you’ll learn to love to hate. Toad’s also throws special parties (foam party, highlighter party) throughout the year, sometimes in conjunction with undergraduate groups as a fundraiser. Q: Do people get really dressed up for parties?
A: A couple major events throughout the year (Freshman Screw, for example) are semi-formal, so most people wear suits (or at least dress shirts/slacks) and dresses. Frat and sorority events may also require you to dress up nicely. Most other parties are pretty casual, so you can wear whatever you want, but a lot of people still make an effort to look nice and so will wear a nice shirt or dress. Costume parties (especially around Halloween) are also a big thing, but most people improvise with things they already own or go costume-hunting at local thrift shops (you’ll be impressed with how creative some people can get). If you’re interested in highlighter or foam parties, keep a couple white undershirts handy! Q: When is Freshman Screw?
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A: Typically sometime in late January or early February. You’ll denitely hear more about it as the date approaches!
2. Greek Life Q: What’s Greek life like at Yale? Is it necessary to join a fraternity/sorority to enjoy the party scene?
A1: The Greek scene at Yale is, for the most part, smaller and tamer than what one would nd at most large state schools. However, it still plays a signicant role in the campus community and the lives of the many people who actively participate in Greek life. There are (sorry if I forget any) 7 frats and 4 sororities. Some of the frats tend to attract the same kind of people (for example, lacrosse bros at ADPhi and Jewish students at AEPi), but all of them welcome anyone who wants to rush. The frats and sororities also differ to some degree regarding the level of commitment/ participation expected. If you are interested in joining a Greek organization, I recommend talking to people in each frat/sorority and attending rush events to get a feel for each organization before deciding which one ts well with you and what kind of experience you want. A2: I’m not part of Greek life at Yale, and to me, it doesn’t make much of a difference. Greek life is still a visible presence on campus, and I go to their events from time to time, but I’ve never felt compelled to join in order to have a good time at parties. There are certainly stereotypes associated with the different frats/sororities, but I do think there’s a good amount of diversity, so take the time to feel them out if you’re interested. Q: What are the reputations of/stereotypes associated with each of the frats/sororities?
A: As the above answer alludes to, some frats/sororities tend to attract specic types of students, and the reputations/stereotypes develop from there. It’s probably best for you to wait and see for yourself what they’re like to form your own opinions; remember, of course, that Greek life at Yale is open to diversity, so rushing is open to all.
3. Personal Relationships Q: Relationships or random hookups?
A: There’s denitely both. Some people think that Yale’s culture of always being active and never wanting to be tied down is more conducive to one-night stands than to committed relationships, but we know quite a few couples who have stayed together for a while.
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Long-distance relationships in particular are often prone to fall apart quickly, and that’s largely because people grow and mature in unexpected ways when they’re separated for a while. But we all have at least one friend who’s stayed with their partner from home for a long period of time, so if you’re determined to do it, it’s denitely possible (and kudos to you!). Ultimately, just be aware that people are looking for different things in terms of their romantic lives and that people are liable to change their attitudes toward relationships and hookups over time. Some people start off excited about the prospect of going home with someone new every weekend and eventually lose interest or settle down; others coming out of a long-term relationship may be reluctant at rst but gradually become more open to the i dea of meeting other people. You may stumble a few times (or a lot) before you nd out what feels right to you, but you’ll get there in the end. Q: What do people in a relationship do for Freshman Screw?
A: Some people are fortunate enough to have their signicant other attend Yale or live close enough nearby to drop in for Freshman Screw; in those cases, they often go together. If you’re in a longdistance relationship but would still like to go to the dance, you can ask your suitemates to set you up with a friend. You can also just go stag and hang out with friends who are going with friends as well. Remember that communication is really helpful, so whether or not you plan to attend Screw, let your suitemates know ahead of time so there are no surprises and they can look for a date if you need one. Q: Any advice for extremely long-distance relationships?
A: Skype when you can, and Skype often, but never so much that it interferes with your life at Yale. Some time after you’ve settled in, take a moment to count the number of hours per week you’ve spent talking with your signicant other instead of doing something else at Yale. If you’ve forgone too many opportunities because you’re constantly video-chatting (or, conversely, if you never feel satised with the amount of time you spend together), x it. If you can’t Skype, make a phone call. If you can’t make a phone call, send emails or texts or oldfashioned letters. If you can’t do any of that, your relationship may be short-lived. Communication is key. Understand that everyone is different when it comes to relationships, and that there will be just as many people who think your relationship will end before the month’s over as there will be people who swear it will last throughout college and beyond. Stick to your guts, but keep in mind what your
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closest friends say; sometimes they see things that you don’t. Finally, realize that people (including yourself) can and will change. You can’t always cling to things of the past, but you can adjust accordingly to the present. If your relationship takes unexpected turns, persevere but be prepared to let go. Life consists of more than one path. Q: Generally speaking, do you think you become closer friends with classmates or suitemates?
A: A lot of it depends on luck — sometimes you’ll be incredibly fortunate and be ass igned to suitemates you get along really well with, and sometimes you won’t — but since you’ll likely see your suitemates a lot more often than you see your classmates, a lot of social interaction happens within the suite. Even if you aren’t particularly close to your suitemates, you’re sure to make friends within your residential college. Living, eating, and working in the same place together fosters a lot of friendships, some with people you wouldn’t necessarily be friends with o therwise. Unlike in high school, it may be difcult to get to know people in large lecture classes simply because the class size is so big; you certainly won’t know the names of everyone in your class, for example. However, sections and seminars, which are generally much smaller, can be a good way to meet people who likely share your interests. If you work in study groups, you’re also bound to meet some people who will later become good friends.
4. LGBTQ Q: What’s the LGBTQ scene like at Yale?
A1: Hi! I’m Winnie, a Yale graduate from 2014 in Pierson College and was an AACC Peer Liaison for the 2013–2014 school year! The LGBTQ scene at Yale is freaking awesome. I’ll try my best to be somewhat comprehensive but for more detailed information shoot any of the current PLs a message or email and they can hook you up with one of the LGBTQ Peer Liaisons. There’s a reason why sayings like “one in four maybe more” exist at our school. (In fact most of Yale women, including myself, have resigned themselves to the fact that at some poi nt during your four years you’ll be crushing on a gay guy and you’ll be sad.) The LGBTQ community is extremely warm and welcoming and most of the student body is very open minded and accepting so you don’t have to worry about being discriminated against or treated unfairly. There is an LGBTQ center which is very active all year round and during times of school wide formals (“Screws”) they do a lot to help set blind dates for those who identify as LGBTQ. Lots of mixers, lots of club activities. This may sound like I’m stereotyping but in general, the gay men are more visible and active on campus whereas the gay women are more underground and harder to spot. Like I said, I may be stereotyping but I’ve
78 found this to be tr ue in most cities, even in Beijing. Additionally, the LGBTQ center has their own PLs, who provide guidance regarding these issues. A2: If you have more specic questions about the LGBTQ scene, feel free to message any of the PLs! Not only can we connect you to helpful resources like the LGBTQ center, but some of us (not just the ones afliated with the LGBTQ center) are queer as well, and we’d be happy to talk to you. Everything is kept condential, so feel comfortable asking whatever you want!
5. Alcohol and Drugs Q: How much is drinking part of the social scene?
A: Many people do drink, but it’s not universal, and we do have friends who don’t drink but still have an incredible time at parties (and not just the tamer ones, either). Do what makes you feel comfortable and never feel pressured to do something you’re not at all willing to do. Most Yalies are really respectful of your personal choices. Whether or not you choose to drink, you should still be prepared to run into some people who are pretty drunk; it is college, after all. Q: How strict are places such as Toad’s and Bar about drinking age?
A: Toad’s and Bar will both card you. If you’re under 21, you won’t be allowed to drink and will have to pay $5 cover at Toad’s; you won’t be allowed to enter Bar at all. Parties at other venues (Elevate, Thali Too, etc.) will allow you to enter if you’re over 18 but won’t allow you to access their bars. Q: I’ve heard the Ivies can be really intense with study-drugs, and things like cocaine. Is this true? What about things like marijuana?
A: There are students who use marijuana and a signicantly smaller population that uses studydrugs (we’re assuming you mean something like Adderall) and harder drugs like cocaine, but “intense” drug use certainly is not a dening characteristic of Yale. Most drug use that does happen is infrequent and recreational, and many students have never used any drugs at all. As you can probably imagine, drug use is largely dependent on the people you associate with, so you have control over whether or not it affects your life. Q: How lenient (or strict) is Yale when it comes to underage drinking? Does campus security actively seek to bust students for drinking?
A: Campus security (afliated with Yale) is pretty lenient, whereas the police (afliated with New Haven) are not so much. It’s an important distinction.
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If campus security sees you walking outside with a red Solo cup, you’ll be asked to pour the contents of your cup out and may also be escorted home. You will not, however, automatically be arrested or anything like that; Yale Security doesn’t have the authority to do that. Campus security also normally won’t break up a party (especially on campus) unless it’s exceptionally loud or there’s a complaint. The objective of campus security is to ensure student safety, not to scope out instances of underage drinking. When New Haven Police gets involved (in instances such as breaking up a ght or breaking up a party when the neighbors have called), legal action will be taken, and arrests can be (and have been) issued. The police, operating on behalf of the law, are much less forgiving to Yale students. Run-ins with campus security may get you a talk with your residential college dean (especially if they’re frequent), and run-ins with New Haven Police certainly will. You may be issued a warning or be asked to attend some counseling sessions, but in severe cases, you may face the Executive Committee and be up for suspension or expulsion. Every ofcial that is associated with Yale (security, police, deans, masters, etc.) is wholly cognizant of the fact that underage drinking does and will occur on campus, and for the most part, stuff that happens rather discreetly is tolerated. However, if you give reason for external involvement to be necessary, it will happen, and you should be prepared for the consequences. As a rule of thumb, however, the university treats health issues as a consequence of alcohol as a medical issue rather than a disciplinary one. That means that if you or your friends ever need immediate medical attention, do not hesitate to tell a FroCo or someone else who can help you get the help you need. There will be no punitive consequences to your reporting such an incident, because the university cares for your health more so than getting you “busted.”
6. Other Q: Is it true there are almost no fat people at Yale?
A: Of course not! We are a campus that embraces all body types, just as we embrace a full spectrum of races, religions, and sexual orientations. Diversity is something that Yale really strives to bring to its community, and that translates into physical appearances as well. Q: How does the Harvard rivalry play out?
A: The rivalry is denitely most prominent during the annual Yale-Harvard football game, known more commonly as The Game; the day before and the day of, students are overowing with school spirit. If you haven’t seen the classic Yale-Harvard prank (http://www.harvardsucks.org), you should
80 denitely check it out — just one more reason to be proud of our school! In practice, the Yale-Harvard rivalry doesn’t play out much from day to day day.. Unless you’re involved in athletics or other organizations that regularly compete within the Ivy League, there really isn’t much contact with Harvard, so it’ it’ss not at the forefront of anyone’ anyone’ss mind. People may make passing comments about something being “typically Harvard” or the like, but again, they’re pretty rare. It’s more of tradition than anything else that we maintain a “rivalry” with Harvard, and for the most part, we get along just ne. Q: What are some of Yale’s most notable traditions?
A: Naked runs through Bass Cafe, The Game, a cappella tap night, Mor y’ y’s, s, Spring Fling, Woad’ Woad’ss (Wednesdsay (W ednesdsay night Toad’s)... Toad’s)... it’s probably best for you to experience them yourself ! A lot of residential colleges have their own traditions, too — those are for you to discover dis cover as well! Q: What sorts of things do Yale Yale students do for fun off campus around New Haven? Haven?
A: There are quite a few restaurants at various price points just off campus, as well as a movie theater. Toad’ Toad’ss is a notoriously famous Saturday night destination, although that’s practically a part of campus. Older students sometimes go to bars in the city. In truth, Yale students tend to stay around campus since there’s there’s always something going on, although there are all sorts of quirky places to go around New Haven. Q: Do you ever nd it necessary to travel to a big nearby city like Boston or New York once in a while to do something different?
A: New York York is a popular destination for a weekend, especially for people who’ve never been. We We don’t usually hear of people going on trips to Boston unless unl ess they happen to live there. In spite of everything Yale Yale has to offer, it can be nice to get away once in a while. Some people take weekend trips to the coast or to go skiing, etc. Depending on how adventurous you are, you’ll nd a good balance between having fun on campus and occasionally breaking outside the New Haven bubble. Q: Can you tell us more about secret societies?
A: The “Big Three” secret societies (Skull and Bones, Scroll and Key, Key, and Wolf Wolf ’s Head) are still around, but plenty of other secret societies have sprouted within the last few decades. Most societies have between 12 to 15 seniors, and they meet on Thursday and Sunday nights. Generally, Generally, societies just offer an opportunity to meet a small group of other seniors; it’s it’s another facet of social life at Yale. Y ale.
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The societies themselves have become somewhat less “secretive”; “secretive”; in recent years, the Rumpus, a Yale Y ale student-run tabloid, has published p ublished lists of the new taps for the Big Three. There are a number of op-ed pieces available online (on the Yale Yale Daily News and the Yale Herald, for example) if you’re curious. Q: Do most incoming freshman ll out the optional form to request a peer liaison? What’s the difference between being paired with a PL and not — will you still be able to have access to them/request one once you get on campus?
A: Some cultural centers (like the AACC) will automatically assign PLs to anyone who has marked afliation with them on their admissions applications forms. Besides that, while many incoming freshmen ll out the optional form to request a peer liaison, some don’t (or simply forget!) as well. In fact, some freshmen who have never formally requested a peer liaison come to us for support, and we’re always always more than happy to help everyone, regardless of whether they’ve signed up or not. Filling out the form just allows us to get in touch early with you in case you have any questions over the summer, and allows us to keep in touch with you throughout the school year as well. It also automatically puts you on our email list, which we use to send out emails about upcoming events and opportunities at Yale. Yale. It’ It’ss never too late to sign up for a PL, and many even do so once the school year starts. We hold many events and activities over the school year, but they’re never exclusive — again, even someone who hasn’t signed up for a PL is welcome to j oin these events! Q: Do most people get fake IDs?
A: We We can’t say say whether it’s it’s most people, but yes, some people have them. Yale Yale has recently been more outspoken in its intolerance for fake fake IDs (possession and use of one will result in a hearing with the Executive Committee, Committee, with the possible consequence of suspension or expulsion), so please do keep that in mind. Q: Could you explain what Sex Week, naked parties, and Freshman Screw are?
A: Sex Week Week used to occur bi-annually (there hasn’t been one for a few years) and entails a week’s week’s worth of events (guest speakers, speakers, discussions, performances, etc.). The nature of these events varies widely,, from educational (e.g. a discussion on body image or sexuality) to creative (e.g. widely (e.g. a workshop on erotic poetry) to performance perfor mance (e.g. (e.g. a stand-up comic’s routine). Attendance at these events events is, of course, completely optional, so while some events have substantial mass appeal, others cater to a more specic niche. Naked parties are usually hosted by the Pundits (who also organize the naked runs in Bass Library during Reading Week). Many are invite-only, invite-only, with roughly rou ghly 50 people in attendance. As the name implies, attendees are expected to be naked, though in many other aspects, naked parties are much
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the same as more typical parties in terms of socializing and drinking. Freshman Screw is the annual freshman dance. It’s semi-formal and held in Commons. Freshmen set their suitemates up with dates for the night; sometimes the suitemate will have specic people in mind, and other times, he or she will be paired with someone random, potentially “screwing” him or her over (hence the name). The dance is attended by the majority of the freshman class, and most people go with dates, but you of course can choose to go stag, with friends, or not at all. There’s generally quite a bit of excitement leading up to the dance (especially with the frenzy of nding lastminute dates), but the event itself tends to be a pretty casual affair for most people. Q: Along with Freshman Screw, etc., what other Yale-sanctioned Yale-sanctioned events/celebrations are held annually or biannually?
A: Some major ones include Har vard-Y vard-Yale ale football game, Spring Fling, Inferno (Halloween dance), Crushes & Chaperones (90’s-themed dance), Trolley Trolley Night (wear red if you’re taken, taken, green if you’re available and ready to mingle, and yellow if you’re somewhere in between). Individual colleges also host their own screws, which also involve blind dates and are open to people outside the college. Most of these are sponsored by Yale College Council or a residential college. Q: When the annual Har vard-Y vard-Yale ale football game is at Har vard, what do Yalies Yalies who want to attend do?
A: We We invade Cambridge, of course! We go to Cambridge by bus (transportation is organized) the day before the game and teach Harvardians how to have a good time. Each colleges at Yale has a sister house at Harvard, Har vard, so each of the houses at Harvard offers a place to stay for students in each of the colleges. Other Yalies Yalies crash at dorms of their own Harvard friends. Q: What are ar e the major social events at Yale Yale and what are they like?
A: There are many different social events at Yale, Yale, so it’s it’s hard to generalize. Some of the social events at Yale include dances (Freshman Screw, etc.), but there are others, su ch as the Har vard-Y vard-Yale ale football game, so there’s something for everyone. Yalies Yalies typically don’t rely on large, organized organi zed social events to have fun, though. Many people choose to go to smaller parties in friends’ suites or hosted by student organizations on the weekends. Q: Are Yalies promiscuous?
A: Again, like many questions, it really depends on the person. It’s easy to think that all Yalies Yalies are heavy partiers or that they’re all promiscuous, since these are the types of people are the most social and visible on campus. But remember that there are people of every type on campus!
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#OTHER Q: I noticed on the SIS that we can choose to opt out of the Student Activities Fee. Fee. Are there any repercussions for doing so?
A: Nope, but that money does go to funding activities. Keep in mind, this year will actually be the rst year that the Student Activities Fee is covered covered by nancial aid! Q: What is the easiest way to get from Yale to Cornell (my par tner goes to school there)?
A: The easiest way would be to go from New Haven (Union Station) to New York York City (Penn Station) by train. From there, you can take another train such as Amtrak from Penn Station to Syracuse. Note that it’s it’s a trip that will take the whole day — if you leave in the morning, you’ll get there around the evening! Q: Why are the tiles in the plaza surrounding the Beinecke Library Librar y whiter in the center than around the edges?
I’ve heard that it’s because the tiles are heated to maintain a certain temperature, and the difference in temperature uctuations (in conjunction with the different evaporation evaporation rates of rain and snow on the tiles) causes discoloration over time. Q: Is there a campus-wide used-goods sale before the school year starts?
A: Not really — as would be expected, they happen towards the end of the school year. The people who are willing to sell goods are usually those who stayed in New New Haven over over the summer and need to get rid of furniture and stuff. Even so, I don’t don’t think there’s there’s anything organized. If you’re looking to buy used furniture or textbooks at the beginning of the year, check out the “Free “Free and For Sale” and “Textbook Exchange” Exchange” Facebook groups — they’ll be ooded with people looking to sell their things. Q: Is it normal nor mal to feel overwhelmed/anxious at all the things we have to think about for college?
A: Of course! The rst year of college is completely new to everyone, and I’d be skeptical if you weren’tt at least a little overwhelmed/anxious. That’s weren’ That’s also why there are so many great resources available to freshmen: FroCos, PLs, deans, faculty advisers, etc. Take Take advantage of them and ask for help whenever you need it!
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