<p>I'm a high school junior EXTREMELY interested in Yale's Directed Studies program, but I'm worried that it might interfere too much with the rest of my college experience. Is the workload manageable? Does being in Directed Studies mean you have no social life? Can you join extracurriculars, be in Directed Studies, and have time to sleep and eat?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any info you can give me.</p>
<p>I had a close friend the summer before frosh year who did DS.
Didn't see him again.
I'd rather be able to take advantage of all the different types of classes Yale has to offer than let Yale decide my freshman year for me.
I'm only here for so long.</p>
<p>From what I've found out since April (I'm a pre-frosh), most freshmen take an average of nine courses during the year--usually four courses in the fall semester and five courses in the spring semester. Directed Studies alone comprises six of the nine courses available to you, leaving you with only three slots to take other courses that may interest you, like language/history/science/art classes. Past Directed Studies students have told me that there is a *tremendous<a href="their%20emphasis">/i</a> amount of reading to do, and everybody is expected to keep up. As one sophomore wryly told me, "It's not termed 'Directed Suicide' for nothing."</p>
<p>So, even though you may like what Directed Studies offers, I would suggest (based on what current Yalies have told me) that you consider carefully whether you would want to devote all that time to the program. If you find that you still love the idea of such an interdisciplinary approach, then the program should prove to be a great ride for you, regardless of the workload.</p>
<p>Good luck with high school and your upcoming college applications.</p>
<p>I was under the impression that, whether you are taking Directed Studies or another set of Yale courses, your "workload" is about the same in terms of hours/day. From what I've read today about DS though, this is untrue.</p>
<p>I took D.S. I absolutely loved it and I am willing to answer any questions you have. PM me if you wish.</p>
<p>DS sounds really interesting. I like history and especially literature-based approaches to it.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any comments comparing Yale DS to Columbia's core?</p>
<p>What is DS exactly?</p>
<p>It's an intensive interdisciplinary program studying Western Civ for 125 freshmen each year.</p>