<p>Hi everyone,
I was just denied a place in the DS Program and as you can imagine I am quite disheartened. I placed my name on the waiting list, but I don't know what else I should do other than get started on the summer reading (though I may not get in after all). I know the program is selective, but could anyone give me specific statistics regarding how many people get in from the wait list, etc. Should I email Mrs. Levin now as well, though the email says "If you remain interested in DS when fall semester begins, please come to the orientation meeting for DS students, and speak to or email the DUS of Directed Studies, Jane Levin.... to confirm your continuing interest." Also, I was afraid that I wouldn't thrive at Yale; is this "rejection" any indication that academically I won't be able to handle Yale? Please understand that I realize that I'm fortunate to have gotten in in the first place, but I really like the idea of DS and don't want to get my hopes up again.
Thank you!</p>
<p>I can’t really give any knowledgeable advice, but this part stood out to me:</p>
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<p>I’m a prefrosh too, but they wouldn’t admit a student who couldn’t handle the workload at Yale. Since you got in, they clearly believe that you can thrive at Yale. Don’t let this get you down. I hope you get a spot eventually, but if not, it’s not the end of the world! Maybe the program just wasn’t for you. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the rest of Yale :)</p>
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<li><p>For all you know, they cut the number of applicants down to the number of places available by lottery. That would be a perfectly rational way to handle DS oversubscription. There’s no reason to think that someone was making a substantive judgment that you can’t thrive at Yale.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t waste any time being upset about not being in DS. I was in DS (many years ago), I loved it, and if somehow I got to be a Yale freshman again I would probably not apply to it. You can do just as well or better picking courses outside of DS than with the program. It’s a nice program, but I don’t think anyone would say that it’s miles better than what everyone else does. I’m not sure what the case is today, but in my day no one in DS could take English 25, and in retrospect I would rather take English 25.</p></li>
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<p>Heya, how did you find out so quickly? Were you contacted via email? Thanks!</p>
<p>A possibly relevant thread;
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-2013/761477-shopping-period-directed-studies.html?highlight=directed+studies[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-2013/761477-shopping-period-directed-studies.html?highlight=directed+studies</a></p>
<p>Standard advice posted here in the past is that if you persist in demonstrating your interest by contacting the program and attending classes the first few weeks, you will get in.</p>
<p>Read nothing at all into the “rejection”. No one knows what the selection criteria are.</p>
<p>^JHS, if you could take your Freshman year over again, what classes would you take (besides English 25). I was just rejected for DS, also, and put my name on the waiting list, but am debating whether or not to really keep trying to get in, do the summer reading, etc. Incidentally, can any Yalies comment on how hard it’d be two take two languages simultaneously? In my case, it would probably be advanced classes for both…</p>
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<p>That’s what all the students currently at Yale have told me. If you really want to do it, there’s really no such thing as ‘rejection’ from DS.</p>
<p>My son was also put on the DS waitlist last summer, but was accepted off the wait list before classes began. What everyone has written here is true, so do complete as much of the reading as you can before the school year kicks off! I would recommend writing both to Professor Levin and whoever wrote to you about your wait list status indicating your continued interest in DS. </p>
<p>You might get in off the wait list over the summer, and if you happen to win any awards or publish something in the next few weeks, be sure to add that to your DS application.</p>
<p>If you are still on the wait list come fall, do go to the opening meeting and attend all the classes, talk to all the professors and show your passion. My son knew several students who came in off the wait list the first couple of weeks of classes, as there are always going to be students who change their minds about DS in order to accommodate other courses in their schedules.</p>
<p>While it’s true that there are courses which comprise the DS curriculum, the experience of being in the DS program is unique and wonderful and is well worth the wait.</p>
<p>Anyone who REALLY wants to take DS takes DS. Yes, there is an application process, but so many people drop during shopping period, and professors are so understanding that if you really want to take DS, you will have the opportunity to. Email the professors explaining your situation, and go to the DS meeting at the beginning of the year. Shop DS with the rest of them and try to keep up with the reading while your still on the waitlist-- I’ve heard it helps a lot when you do get off the list. :)</p>
<p>Yes, you will get in if you really want to. You should not take it as any serious sort of judgment. I didn’t get into PoS, but do very very well in my science classes. (Incidentally, I was pre-admitted to DS, but had no interest. Weird…). Be persistent, and you will get in.</p>
<p>So other people who got rejected and want to be put on the waiting list: did you get any sort of response from Professor Levesque? I emailed him a couple days ago saying that I’d like to be put on the waiting list, as they told us to, but haven’t gotten any response yet…</p>
<p>Jane Levin is the one to email, not Levesque.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone! All of your comments have been really helpful.
@victor: yes, it was via email, but I believe everyone is contacted at different times.
@JHS: thanks for the advice! what’s so great about English 25 and I second hajikami’s question, what other classes do you recommend, esp. if DS doesn’t work out?
@hajikami: I did get a v. short reply last week, saying that my name is on the waiting list and that if I don’t hear anything by the middle of August to email Ms. Levin.</p>
<p>So that goes back to my earlier question… @stringkeymom and @yalemom2: you recommend emailing both Mr. Levesque and Ms. Levin… but since Mr. L mentioned emailing her if I don’t hear anything by mid-August, is it really advisable for me to pester her now?? Did your children email her before August? The fact is I will not win any awards/publish anything, so my qualifications won’t change.
Thank you again everyone!</p>
<p>I would definitely wait until mid-August. My son wasn’t on the waitlist, but I remember stringkeymom’s son contacted Prof. Levin sometime in mid-August and was accepted in late August.</p>
<p>I believe my son wrote twice. He wrote to Professor Levin the first time to confirm that he wished to remain on the wait list and this was in addition to writing Prof. Menocal, then Acting Director. When he won a writing award and scholarship in August, he wrote again and asked to have the information included in his application. He was accepted into the program in August, and was really happy he had done the reading!</p>
<p>So I still haven’t gotten any response from Professor Levesque (the email sent to those rejected from DS told us to email him to get on the waitlist). Bloomsday got a reply of some sort… do you guys think I should send another email? I’m just feeling a bit nervous…</p>
<p>Email Jane Levin to get on the waiting list. If you want to get in, you will eventually. Be persistent. Show up to classes. </p>
<p>But again… why oh why would you <em>ever</em> want to do DS? It’s a lot of sophists with poor critical thinking skills talking at each other rather than with each other. And this is from a classics major.</p>
<p>Congrats! You escaped the horror and misery that is Directed Studies! Thank your lucky stars and get to the work of choosing Yale classes that are actually fun and not entirely full of arrogant nerds…and thinking about all the fun things you’ll be able to do with your Thursday nights now that you don’t have a weekly essay due on Friday morning!</p>
<p>hajikami:
Please do not listen to the criticisms of ds! First of all, it’s true that if someone really wants to do DS, they can do it. Secondly, it really is a great program and well worth hanging out on a wait list and showing up at the beginning of the year. If you are accepted and go to the first meetings and find it’s not for you, that is different, but I reiterate, it is well worth the wait.
Best of luck to you!</p>