<p>Is it worth even going to the information sessions. If so, what are the benefits. Did anyone go ... is there any one-on-one benefit?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>For info yes. For one-on-one benefit, nil. Presenters speak to 1000s of kids and parents. Yale doesn’t take names or register attendees. Info offerings only. No “demonstrated interest” points whatsoever.</p>
<p>D is a Yale sophomore. She had already visited many campuses, including Yale’s and read all that one could reasonably expect someone to read about the colleges she was considering. The Yale info session she attended made it very clear to her, and everyone else in the family, that she and Yale were as close to a perfect match as she was likely to find. An info session for another very fine college made it equally clear that it might well be a mistake. She loves Yale.</p>
<p>watchthis: I’m glad you posted that reply. Looking back at my terse first response, I neglected my own experience at my first Yale info session. Like your daughter, I was also completely captivated by the info session. I knew very little of the college and had already been admitted (rolling) into a fantastic school when I attended one by sheer chance. I was chauffering a friend who wanted to see info about Yale. My local alum club hosted four current undergrads home for Thanksgiving. Despite the acceptance in my back pocket, I was planning on applying to another Ivy and Yale just wasn’t on my radar screen.</p>
<p>What I saw literally altered the course of my life. These undergrads were the most energetic and excited advocates I’d ever encountered. By the end of the session, I left saying to myself “I’ve GOT to apply to Yale!” (Yes, it was NOVEMBER of my senior year)</p>
<p>Look what that driving favor did for me…</p>
<p>So whoaness: I amend my original advice to you. If you’re sitting on the fence wondering if you should apply because you aren’t totally in love with the concept of going to Yale, go and be prepared to be wowed. If you’re already a rabid Yale fan and are wondering if attending confers any advantage, then don’t go for that lone purpose. You’ll enjoy the session most likely.</p>
<p>Question: Do they typically give out viewbooks and other things like that at the information sessions?</p>
<p>Is there an opportunity to talk with your admissions officer if you don’t live in a very populated area?</p>
<p>Rock: No viewbooks handed out. You can sign up for one at the Yale website.<br>
Smile: emails would be best to the admissions office. Or maybe even here on CC. What do you need to know/need help with?</p>
<p>It is surprising how strong an impression you can get from these info sessions–especially if students speak there. Yale and Brown gave very good (but quite different) impressions; Harvard’s was not as good. I think it’s worth going.</p>
<p>Yale info sessions must be very different depending on where you live: We’re in a small western city (not coastal.) Three years ago about 10 juniors and their parents went to the info session. There was unlimited time for discussion between the representative and each students. Two students in that room were admitted the following year. I would guess the smaller the community the better the odds, and Yale and other schools have certainly demonstrated an interest in recuiting students from broad geographic and socio-economic backgrounds. What do you have to lose?</p>
<p>Having been at an information session just yesterday, I would STRONGLY encourage you to go. I’ve come to fall in love with Yale, for a variety of reasons, but I still had some doubts about the school. The information session eliminated all of these doubts, and made me realize, with complete certainty, that Yale is my top choice. Meeting your admissions officer, regardless of whether or not you get to speak with him/her, is an interesting experience (I mean, you get to actually hear from the person who will ultimately judge your application). </p>
<p>In terms of how much speaking to the admissions officer will actually benefit your application, I’d say there won’t be much of an effect. S/he will meet hundreds of high school students each admissions cycle, and probably won’t remember 90% of them. If you do end up going and would like to speak with your admissions officer, my advice to you is NOT to run up to him/her as soon as the presentation ends, because you will be surrounded by a bunch of people who are waiting to ask their own questions, and there will probably be ~5 people’s mothers staring you down. So, wait around until the very end, once the crowd has thinned, to ask your questions.</p>
<p>One last thing: they DO take down the names of all students who attend. That said, I doubt it means very much, and I’m fairly certain that the names are used for statistical purposes (ex. How many students who attend info sessions actually apply?).</p>
<p>But the presentation was truly great, and it gave me the drive I needed to continue to work on my applications. Highly recommend you go :)</p>