<p>When you would recommend is the best time to visit Yale? Traveling up to New Haven would be more convenient on holidays ( Spring Break,Thanksgiving, Summer etc) but I feel that it might not be the best time to go since most students will be gone.</p>
<p>What's the best time in your opinion to go? I'm looking for a time when most of the students and staff will be there, the campus is lively, and just an overall time of year where I can see Yale for what it really is and just a normal day there. </p>
<p>Do you have a "winter break"? Sometime in late Jan or Feb? That's when I went to see all my East Coast schools. Classes were in full swing and I got lots of interaction w/students. You're correct in your thinking. Student interaction is much more valuable than just the Yale tour guide's time with you. Contact the admissions office and they can arrange an overnight stay in a Freshman's suite for you.</p>
<p>I visited on my spring break-which didn't coincide with Yale's spring break-or any of the other east coast schools i visited so it worked out nicely. Spring break is great because the weather is so much better than in January. Check out their academic calender. But I agree, having students therer makes all the difference in a college visit. Make sure you rub the foot when you visit!</p>
<p>It also depends where you're from. If you're from somewhere that does not experience New England scale winters than you should definitely visit in the winter to see if that's okay with you. If you're totally cool with the extreme of weather here (I say here because I'm from New England) then definitely try to visit in the spring because that's when I went and it was SO beautiful—all the flowers were just blooming and everyone was really happy because they could finally come out of their dorms and sprawl out across the freshman quad (it was really nice to see that Yale students, just like any other students, do things just to relax and be kind of goofy...I mean there was an impromptu BBQ going on in the Quad when I got there...you never know).
And despite the rumors about people peeing on the "the toe" you should touch it anyways, it's good luck!</p>
<p>When is your spring break? Yale's spring break is really early (march 7-22). a lot of spring breaks are the next week so that would be a good time to come. I visited for the first time over the summer, and i liked it, but yeah, you really don't get as much of a sense of the school. </p>
<p>The only thing i would try to avoid if i were you is coming during reading period/finals week. So don't come at the end of december or end of april/beggining of may. any other time should be fine.</p>
<p>Oh good call, that was the other thing I was going to say (knew I was forgetting something!)</p>
<p>Going the 3rd week of April (when my spring break was) was a GREAT time to go also because it was like the calm before the storm. Everyone was acting SUPER chill because they knew reading week/finals were around the corner.</p>
<p>If you want to see whether a school is right for you, the "best" time to visit any campus is when students feel the worst; thus, go around mid Feb, when the sun has not shown up in a while. If the students there are still happy and glad to be there when they have tons of assignments, and you feel that you like this environment, then it is right for you. </p>
<p>I am surprised to see a lot of hs kids visiting during the summer or when Yalies are not in session. What does this truly do? See a few buildings and hear a guide talk?</p>
<p>Likewise, if you visit there after finals and everybody is happy, that does not tell you alot.</p>
<p>That's a good point, but on the other it's also good to see a college at its best because if its best doesn't even cut it for you then it sure as hell won't cut it at its worst!</p>
<p>My spring break is March 9-15. So pretty much in between. I'm fine just going up for a weekend though so the whole spring break ordeal doesn't really bother me. Maybe I could try the weekend before, or after... Thanks for all the advice though. It's pretty helpful.</p>
<p>I also traveled during Spring Break, which did not coincide with Yale's. I did the east coast tour from Philly to Boston, and it was very hectic - basically we'd start at one college for the 11:00 AM tour, then drive up immediately to the next for the 3:00 PM session. We also found ourselves seeing the same visitors at several colleges (they apparently had the same idea!) </p>
<p>The day we visited Yale was a rainy one, and I got a horrible impression of the place. But in retrospect, that was foolish.</p>