An Unfortunately Sad Yale Story, would love your opinions.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Hi, here’s my very sad story about my journey with Yale, hahaha, and would love to hear what I should do about it.</p>

<p>So, here we go.</p>

<p>When I was a kid, I always harbored dreams of the Ivy League. It was HYP for me, into law and 'the old boys club" and really living out the American Dream. However, as I got older, I realized that with their elite reputation came horror stories about selectivity. Did you really need to be on the road to curing cancer? Save orca whales on a regular basis? Play in Cargenie Hall? I immediately crossed those Ivy dreams off my list, and from middle school to the beginning of my sophmore year in high school, I loved UNC Chapel Hill. It’s a great school, and has a much better acceptance rate!</p>

<p>However, I took AP Euro my soph year, and used the textbook my Donald Kagan. If you haven’t had the pleaure of studying Euro, please do. It was undeniably the coolest class I have ever taken, had the best textbook, and due to my newfound love of Kagan and Euro got a great AP score and an A. Need I mention that Kagan is a professor at Yale?</p>

<p>I loved that book, but never really though Yale could be a realistic college choice. We live 45 minutes from yale, and I’ve seen the caliber of kids that get rejected while applying from elite private schools. I thought I didn’t have a chance. But my encounters with Yale grew more and more numerous: I joined a great dance company 15 minutes from Yale, danced in Harkness auditorium, met some awesome Yale reasearchers…</p>

<p>My junior year marked total conversion when i found out that a. Tony Blair teaches at Yale b. Ned Lamont, the senate hopeful of CT (I worked on his campaign, I love him) also was planning to teach there c. Yale’s acapella group the Alley Cats came to my school for a workshop d. That their housing system was the best, most perfect way to meet kids in the entire world. and e. that they love Environmental science kids, and that’s my favorite subject area!</p>

<p>I visited alot, went to Connecticut Day, and found out I loved the artsy vibe, the precision marching band, the music department, and the campus. Shouldn’t applying EA be my natural decision? It was so obviously my first choice to the point where I was getting obsessive. </p>

<p>I hate to blame anyone but myself on this, but my mom told me that Yale was such a strech and it was a better idea to apply early to Dartmouth (as they have a higher acceptance rate, they’re ivy and they ski alot…that was about it). The mom of a kid that got into yale told me the same thing. My self confidence, now riddled with bullet holes (hahahaah) folded, and I applied to Dartmouth ED. I ended up getting in, woo hoo. Or not.</p>

<p>I tried to be happy about Dartmouth, but I couldn’t. Dmouth has a horrible band, no kagan, not so cool professors. I went to yale about 2 days ago for a 4 day Model Un conference and it just about broke my heart (YES, melodrama is necessary! lol). Dartmouth doesn’t have a competing MUN, and Yale was so fantastic.</p>

<p>I know I want yale more than anything, but I would have been okay if I applied ea and didn’t get in. Atleast, I would have known that I had tried and wasn’t good enough-the fact that I might have been able to, but didn’t apply just about shafts me. I would have gone to Dmouth if I had gotten rejected by Yale, but I haven’t yet! The app deadline has passed, and i’m legally bound by Dmouth unless a better FinAid offer comes by. I was a bit depressed, needless to say.</p>

<p>I consider these my possible solutions: 1. My aunt suggested emailing the Direc of Admissions and see what he suggests. </p>

<li><p>Go to Dmouth one year and transfer. </p></li>
<li><p>Go to Dmouth one year and reapply to Yale as a freshman. I skipped a grade when i was a kid, really, that one year wouldn’t kill me. </p></li>
<li><p>WHatever you guys suggest.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Suggestions? I just poured my poor heart out here, gimme something to work with :] </p>

<p>Thanks guys!</p>

2

<p>To be brief, embrace Dartmouth. Really.</p>

3

<p>Maybe just buyers remorse. Seems to be the "CC" season for it.</p>

4

<p>You are not legally bound to attend Dartmouth, but morally bound. You signed a statement pledging your intent. There are documented cases of students breaking their pledge without suffering any apparent consequences (no, I don't know any personally). However, ADs frown upon allowing in applicants who have broken their promise. And yes, the schools share their ED data with other schools.</p>

<p>I say give Dartmouth a chance, and if things don't work out, apply for transfer. No, I didn't attend either Dartmouth or Yale, but I know plenty of happy students from both colleges.</p>

<p>And look at the bright side of things--you're going to be attending a great school in the fall. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.</p>

<p>Good luck to you in your college search.</p>

5

<p>Go to Dartmouth and open your eyes. Love the place, love the faculty, love your new and wonderful peers. It is a WONDERFUL college. Make it a magical four years. </p>

<p>Signed,
Mother of a Son who had a major crush on Dartmouth, was waitlisted, actually shed tears.
Went to Duke, never thought about Dartmouth again for one second. Loved Duke from first moment he carried his bags up the stairs to his room, met hundreds of princely people, inspiring teachers, magnificent friends, went abroad twice, mastered a new language, has a drop dead great job in a terrible economy awaiting him, wears short pants 10 months a year.<br>
Honestly...make Dartmouth your Yale. Wake up. We are in a huge recession. Nations' economies are wobbling. Make every semester at Dartmouth count. Enjoy this time in life and move on to the bigger challenges..who do I love most in the world, where do I want to live on Planet Earth, who are my friends in the good times and the bad times, who inspires me, how can I earn a living and stay inspired daily....</p>

6

<p>When my S graduated HS about 6 years ago, this was exactly the scenario for a girl in his class. The HS Guidance pressured her to stick with Dartmouth because for her to back out of the ED would not hurt her but would hurt future Dartmouth applicants from our HS. The girl went to Dartmouth, had a great education, won some nice awards and is living happily ever after.......its what you make of it!!</p>

7

<p>I'm a little unclear about whether a) you applied to Yale and are waiting to find out whether they accept you and offer you aid or b) you didn't apply to Yale this year. ??</p>

8

<p>Fall in love with Dartmouth; enjoy the fresh air, the safe environment;the teachers are wonderful, ski...and get Yale out of your head. You can always go to grad school at Yale (maybe) and you've already experienced Yale-now experience Dartmouth-you are very lucky!</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
2. Go to Dmouth one year and transfer.</p>

<ol>
<li>Go to Dmouth one year and reapply to Yale as a freshman.

[/quote]
</li>
</ol>

<p>For #2, be aware that the transfer rate at Y is about 2% (a total of 20-30 transfers accepted).</p>

<p>For #3, be careful that you still qualify for freshman admissions after attending D for a year: </p>

<p>Who</a> is Eligible to Transfer? | Transfer Students | Office of Undergraduate Admissions</p>

<p>"To be eligible to transfer, students must by June of the current academic year, have a high school diploma or GED, and at least one year and no more than two years of transferable post-secondary-school college credit."</p>

10

<p>At least try Dartmouth, you'll probably love it. And, frankly, Dartmouth is a really really good school with lots of awesome faculty. If not, you can try and transfer. </p>

<p>As for option #3, I don't think that's viable if you spend a year at Dartmouth unless you lie to Yale.</p>

11

<p>Dartmouth has plenty of awesomeness and a capella, and Don Kagan has to be close to 100 years old. You're not going to meet Tony Blair. You can start a Model UN program at Dartmouth. (But who has time for stuff like Model UN in college? Seems ridiculous to me.)</p>

<p>The only intelligent thing to do is to stop snivelling, suck it up, and start loving Dartmouth. You made a gamble and you WON. The Dartmouth ED admit rate was at least twice the Yale EA admit rate, by the way, and the Yale RD admit rate will be a fraction of that. If everyone told you Yale was too big a reach, getting into Dartmouth ED does not prove they were wrong.</p>

<p>If you want to do something really un-intelligent, ask Dartmouth if they will let you out of the ED commitment NOW (not in April). They may very well say yes -- after all, they really don't want you if you're going to be a constant buzzkill over this -- as long as you are not trying to game the system. Then -- assuming you still have a live Yale application out there, and at least some live safety application -- you can go ahead and see whether Yale accepts you with a clear conscience, and 95% likely go to your safety school instead of Dartmouth.</p>

12

<p>Go to Dartmouth for a year, apply for transfer to Yale. If you're rejected, just stay at Dartmouth. You will probably find that you really like Dartmouth before you even apply for transfer.</p>

13

<p>I feel compelled to add: Your thinking on this is so screwed up, it severely reduces any estimate I might have of your chances of being accepted by Yale. If I were a Yale admissions officer and I knew that you had backed out of Dartmouth ED because of your unrequited crush on Yale, you had better walk on water and be able to multiply loaves, because otherwise there's no way you would be getting into my university.</p>

14

<p>I wish I could get into Dartmouth :(</p>

15

<p>I pretty much agree with everyone else... </p>

<p>Give Dartmouth a chance.</p>

<p>I just hoped you learned a really important life lesson: do what YOU want to do, and don't let others change your mind or opinions, or make you think you're not good enough to accomplish your goals. If you would have known that all along, you would have applied to Yale ED because you wanted to, instead of applying to Dartmouth because everyone else told you to.</p>

<p>That said, this is a really great way to make a mistake. I mean, you could have really missed out, but instead, you get to go to an AMAZING university, one of the very best. Dartmouth's campus is GORGEOUS and their undergraduate focus is wonderful, and I'm sure that after you spend a year there you'll never want to leave.</p>

<p>Good luck and have a great time at Dartmouth :)</p>

16

<p>What</a> about Early Decision or Early Action? - Ask The Dean</p>

<p>So apparently ED agreements CAN be broken.</p>

<p>I would recommend #1, and explain your situation. Admissions people are humans too.</p>

17

<p>honestly, your attributing the decision to not do EA to Yale to other adults (Mom, advisors, the actual stats of admission EA scaring you off vs ED at another top college being more likely)...is unattractive to say the least...and will not win you sympathy of any kind...let the obsession with Yale as Nirvanna Go.<br>
The Big Green has its wonders and history and you can be part of its future, too. Your getting into Dartmouth at all is a complete lucky break since thousands of people applying look just like you...on paper.<br>
Get some perspective. You have graduate school to do this all over again...but only if you shine at Dartmouth. The Dartmouth students we met were mighty attractive, energetic, varied, unique and enthusiastic individuals...and they will not want to hear about how you wish you were at Yale. No one wants to hear that at any college anywhere...even though obviously it was not the first choice of every student...my son is always meeting people who wanted to be at Duke, and he didn't even feel warmly towards Duke till he attended his SECOND accepted students day...April of his senior year...attachment takes time. Even parents have to attach to their babies and that also takes a little time.<br>
You can attach to Dartmouth which is a unique place with its own special history and its own place near the forefront of our country's colleges...staying in limbo is OK for a while but now is the time to enter Dartmouth and start facing down your next set of challenges..making friends, making your identity and finding your path there.</p>

18

<p>there's a club at Dartmouth called the "Dartmouth Yale Enthusiasts" - made up of yale rejects who haven't given up...they will welcome you with open arms and help fill out your transfer app</p>

<p>(this is a joke, but I'm not the one who made it up - go on youtube and search "DYE prank")</p>

19

<p>If there is anyway that you can get out of going to Dartmouth ED, and apply to Yale RD I would definitely take it. It's clear that your really passionate about Yale, and even if you go to Dartmouth you'll absolutely hate it as you'll always be wondering 'What if?' I think the fact that you've skipped a grade and met some of the professors shows a good demonstrated interest for the school. I would definitely advise you to follow your heart and not necessarily what other people tell you. At the end of the day its your life, don't let 'an unfortunately sad yale story' become reality. </p>

<p>All the best</p>

20

<p>Poor thing, getting into a top school and unhappy because there's something better out there. =/</p>

<p>In all seriousness, yes, that is a pretty crappy situation. It's one of the worst that a student can be in, but put it into perspective: you're still going to a great school with a wonderful atmosphere, beautiful campus, and intelligent students. You'll make friends. You'll probably have the time of your life. Concentrate on making the best out of your situation and try again for grad school.</p>