<p>1) Would you consider Yale liberal or conservative? I'm not only talking about political views, but also just how people act. Are the students outspoken, or would they turn the other cheek to an injustice? For example, Columbia students are known for their protests; is Yale similar in that regard?</p>
<p>2) Within the residential colleges, are Freshman easily able to get singles? Also, what is life like living in one of the colleges? Are students more likely to organize a drink-a-thon or lock themselves in their rooms? Basically, are people social and laid back or stuck up and self-serving?</p>
<p>I am not a student, but a parent. In my observation:
1. Yale is widely viewed as liberal. From the top down, open-minded tolerance is encouraged. That said, remember that a good proportion of the students are sons and daughters of the capitalistic movers 'n shakers of our corporate and political establishment.
2. Students in general are more like to "organize a drink-a-thon" (beer pong tournament, naked party, midnight drunken run, snowball fight, etc...) than lock themselves in their rooms studying. However, there are plenty of students who choose to study instead of party and if that is important to you, make it clear and you can probably score a single. I wonder though, if that is your preference, whether Yale is a good fit for you. From my observation, Yale is almost maniacally SOCIAL and studious, anti-social students are not the norm. Don't get me wrong. The students study and achieve. But they procrastinate and freak out just like college students everywhere. </p>
<p>I'm also a parent, and to judge by my D and her friends, they are likely to lock themselves in their rooms and study, then have a drink or two and go out to see a play or other event on campus. </p>
<p>As for singles: most freshmen live in suites, and most of those contain both singles and doubles (D lucked out and got an all-singles suite last year). Unless you have a specific medical or other issue, the room assignments are done for you.</p>
<p>Yale is, in general, a liberal place, but there is certainly a conservative presence (the Yale Political Union is a good place to find a variety of viewpoints). There are activists on campus and those who couldn't care less...whatever your leanings, you will find some like-minded people to hang out with. It is not, however, as activist a place as Columbia.</p>
<p>YoMama is right: Yale is a studious AND social place, and most students are very, very happy there.</p>
<p>1) Yale attracts extremely passionate people. Some are passionate for social issues, some for academic or artistic pursuits, some for athletic pursuits. All are striving for excellence -- in whatever form that takes. Some are mutually exclusive, many aren't. You have 5000 EXTREMELY interesting undergraduates around you. Trust me: no one is sitting around their room at 3PM watching Jerry Springer or playing XBox.</p>
<p>2) If Freshmen get singles, it's just luck of the draw depending on which Residential college they get assigned. I had a single in a suite of six Freshman year (Farnam hall on the Old Campus). Our suite had four singles and a large double, living room and our own bathroom. Soph year in JE College, I had a suite that was a triple. Large dbl BR, one Sgl BR, living room and fireplace. I had the lg dbl to myself as my roomie moved in with his girlfriend. Jr. year my buddies and I went back to Old Campus. In a Quintet with 2 dbl BRs and one Sgl with living room (w/fireplace) and own bath, I shared the lg dbl BR. My Sr year, we took the McClellan Octet. Six singles (I had one), one dbl, two floors two living rooms, two baths, sky lights. Simply awesome. Basically, three of my four years I had a single BR in a large suite. Those guys are still some of the best friends I've ever had. Y is definitely very social.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses so far, just got a few follow-up questions (and one answer):</p>
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: no one is sitting around their room at 3PM watching Jerry Springer or playing XBox.
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<p>Is that because the atmosphere is socially inclusive? Or because everyone's studying?</p>
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Those guys are still some of the best friends I've ever had. Y is definitely very social.
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<p>So, suites are not coed?</p>
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What other schools are you considering?
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<p>Right now Columbia's my top choice, and I'm also considering Penn, Chicago, Brown, and Cornell.</p>
<p>Overall, it sounds like there's a good mix of study-time and social-time. Also, singles in a suite sounds pretty sweet (hey, they rhyme). Chicago's got them beat though -- singles with private bathrooms.</p>
<p>No one is sitting around watching Jerry Springer because there are so many things going on all over campus, in addition to that pesky studying that needs to get done. My D says her only complaint about Yale is that there is too much she wants to do and she doesn't have the time to fit it all in.</p>
<p>And no, the suites are not co-ed. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I think Yale is a terrific place for the kid who was super conscientious in high school and maybe less apt to be social because they weren't like the "popular" kids. They arrive at Yale and are heartily welcomed and encouraged to participate in tons of activities. Next thing you know, they start to loosen up and not take themselves so seriously. Yes, they continue to study and write papers when necessary - but they also find time to just be crazy.</p>
<p>You can't define the atmosphere because there's a niche for whatever you want. The campus is decidedly social... you can always find parties on the weekend and free alcohol is always available somewhere (provided that you have a decent social network). At the same time, there are plenty of introverted people that don't go out much and would prefer to stay in their room and study. You don't see those people as often (unless you live with them or they're in your college), as you might expect. There are plenty of people who don't drink and have a perfectly good time on the weekends, and the drug scene is pretty light but if you're looking to smoke some pot on the weekends you shouldn't have to look too far. </p>
<p>The probability of getting a single largely depends on what college you're in. Some colleges, like Morse and Stiles, have a lot of singles. My college (Berkeley) has many fewer singles, and you're not likely to get one as a freshman (<10% chance)</p>
<p>With respect to politics, it is a northeastern, secular university, and consequently does have a liberal slant. With that said, i don't think there's bias against people with conservative political sentiments as long as they're not bigoted. Generally as long as you're educated and not just puppeting conservative rhetoric, i think people would be inclined to respect your opinions.</p>
<p>kwijiborjt makes an excellent point. Your social options are not only extremely diverse, but widely ENJOYED by many slices of the student body. In my circle of friends, a typical weekend could be a keg party, a violin recital, a showing of "Casablanca", a pre-Broadway theatrical production, a singing group jam, a basketball game and maybe a road trip to NY city -- and we did these constantly without regard for what people thought of us. It was culturally one of the richest times of my life.</p>
<p>From what everyone has said, the atmosphere at Yale actually sounds really, really cool. Just one quick follow up about the residential colleges:</p>
<p>Are selections entirely random? Or do you indicate your preference (as to single or double, big or small, et cetera)?</p>
<p>Freshman year is random. I suppose you could put a request on your housing form if you wanted to, but there's no specific area to request a certain kind of room. In some colleges, like mine, freshman year rooms are pretty similar. There's more variety for us when we get to our residential college. </p>
<p>Room placement is whatever your dean decides for your freshman year based on your housing form, but after that you get to choose from an array of suites that are available to your year in your residential college. The process differs in each college, but they usually involve a lottery for the order to pick your room.</p>