<p>I'm going to be in the class of 2012 and while some other boards seem to have lots of posts from current students, the Yale board is mostly how-do-I-get-in threads...which of course are very useful but not to those who've already been through the process. I was just wondering if any current or former Yale students have any advice to share - experiences, classes or activities not to be missed, interesting minutiae, or just things they love about Yale to look forward to.
Thanks!</p>
<p>Some parents of current students make posts here so should be able to help you with some of the logistics of moving to campus (where to buy what and where). Something not to be taken lightly is to fully utilize "shopping period". While you probably have a good idea of what you want your first semester's classes to be, consider leaving a slot or two open to take the "not to be missed" classes. Upperclassmen will help you with this -- lots of info is shared at the lunch tables the first few weeks. (I recall my Sr year when there was a "politics of Canada" course offered -- I checked it out and almost the entire Hockey team was there! It was just a HS civics course for them! LOL)</p>
<p>when do most parents leave after move-in weekend? friday? saturday?</p>
<p>my parents have to leave on friday and i don't want to be the only one parentless :(</p>
<p>Different parents leave at different times and many people don't have parents there at all. Don't sweat this.</p>
<p>I'm saying good-bye to my son here at the airport.</p>
<p>I'm staying through Sunday afternoon, but I suspect I may be hanging out with some other parents by then, rather than my D, who will probably dismiss me once I've run all possible errands with/for her.</p>
<p>Unless we have errands to run on Saturday, we plan on saying good-bye to our daughter early Friday evening, and leaving New Haven on Saturday.</p>
<p>Make sure you take advantage of freshman year as much as you can... once it's gone you'll want it back. </p>
<p>Spend the first week/few weeks introducing yourself to lots of people and having conversations with them. There's a window of opportunity where it's ok to go up to a random freshman in your classes or college and strike up a conversation. If you put yourself out there you're likely to make lots of friends early on. </p>
<p>Take fun random classes. Yale has a lot of gems hidden in departments you never thought you'd be interested in. Read the blue book thoroughly, check a lot of course reviews on Yale</a> Online Course Information | Search Courses, and do lots of shopping. </p>
<p>BUDGET YOUR TIME. finals is hell/unmanageable if you haven't stayed on top of your work all semester. Always go to class. Do the reading BEFORE a lecture, especially in science/math classes and seminars in general. Work in the library... working in your suite is rarely successful. </p>
<p>Be involved with your residential college (IMs, college councils, various committees, being a masters aide or STEP coordinator, etc.). it makes the experience even better. </p>
<p>Yale has lots of money for lots of things. Find something to do over the summer and get yal</p>
<p>Is there any way for prospective students look at the course reviews on the Yale Online Course Information website or do you have to already be accepted into Yale?</p>
<p>yeah, i think if you want to look at the evaluations, you have to have a netID...</p>
<p>Actually, I don't think the course evals are up for anyone - at least, i don't see them either. The way to fix that though is to change the semester you are searching under to fall of last year (or the year before), and you should be able to see course evals for last year's offering of the same class, or failing that, classes by the professors who are teaching the class you are looking at. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>only current students can see the evaluations, but anyone can see the course offerings in a department and read their descriptions on yale.edu/oci.</p>