<p>It is my understanding that if you really desire to do DS, you will get in or get off the waitlist with extra persistence. For the long literature, you’re expected to read Don Quixote over winter break and some War and Peace over spring break (2 weeks long). I wouldn’t say War and Peace is dense, but I’m a slow reader too. DS is designed in a way that it is not necessary (or even possible) to get all the reading done to do well. My suitemate read 20 pages of War and Peace and did fine second semester in Literature. On the exams, you can pick and choose what questions to answer according to the works you actually know.</p>
<p>Remi, thanks for the encouraging words! </p>
<p>Here’s another question: can the student select the time of the discussion sections for DS or are these assigned?</p>
<p>^^ The sections are assigned automatically. Students can try to swap sections the first week, but must attend the one they get until they can change.</p>
<p>Do the students sign up for the sections initially? How soon do you know about your sections? It seems like a bit of a challenge as you can’t really plan your other course until you know your schedule (ex. foreign languages meet every day etc.)</p>
<p>^^ The sections are assigned without input from the students. I can’t remember exactly when they find out, nor can my son who did Directed Studies. It’s not very long before classes start I think. They can’t try to swap until the first day of class. Yes, it is problematic - it’s good to have several ideas for the other course he wants to take- and shop those the first week. It’s very likely that he will be able to swap a section so that he can fit a course he wants, unless it’s a language course because they meet daily, while most courses meet twice a week plus maybe a section. My son had a problem because he wanted to fit in a particular intensive language course that met in the morning. He couldn’t miss his DS class that met in the morning, but really couldn’t miss the intensive language course. People in general want to swap out of morning DS courses, not into them, so it didn’t work out in time, and he chose a different course. I’m sorry if this was confusing. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions.</p>
<p>Thanks, Yalemom–that’s really helpful info as always. It’s the foreign langs that have me worried as they do only meet in the mornings, and with the daily sessions, it seems likely there may be conflicts, so it’s good advice to be ready and fast on the draw with the swapping if necessary.</p>
<p>It’s a bit late to do anything about it now, but this has been bothering me: what does “by” June 8th (or whatever day it was) mean? I turned my app in at about 2:00 am on the due date. Is that late?</p>
<p>^no. it shouldn’t be a problem. yale is pretty relaxed with things.</p>
<p>phew, thanks. it didn’t even occur to me that it could be a problem until after i had submitted my app. dang procrastination. i’ll have to adjust that if i actually do get into ds.</p>
<p>My future Yalie just found out today his didn’t get into DS. Does anyone know if the wait list is a viable option, or should he not even bother?</p>
<p>I believe that anyone who is persistent can get into DS. That is what my son did, and he thinks it was one of the best things he did at Yale. But take heed, it may not be for everyone.</p>
<p>I hope you’re right, njdad, because my son is on the wait list. Today was a very gloomy day around the manse.</p>
<p>I remember hearing about a boy from our area who didn’t get into DS, but persevered and was ultimately accepted. I don’t know if that meant he wrote a letter or contacted someone or what. What do you mean by being persistent? Do you recommend taking some action besides staying on the waitlist for those who really, really want it? BTW, I concur that it’s not for everyone. It’s a fabulous education, but there’s a real tradeoff because it takes up so many of the freshman year courses.</p>
<p>Anyone who didn’t get accepted who still really wants to take DS simply needs to show up to the first few classes and talk to the head of the program (which I assume is still Jane Levin), express their strong and continuing interest in it, and ask if they can be let in officially. There will be people who decide to drop it in the first couple weeks, so there are always openings, and if you demonstrate that you really want to be taking it, they will let you.</p>
<p>is it a bad sign if I haven’t heard back yet about my DS application?</p>
<p>From what I can gather, all the decisions have been made. I was rejected, and the letter was dated June 19, 2009. Based on when people received acceptances (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, today), it seems that ALL of the letters, rejections and acceptances, have been slowly making their way across the country.</p>
<p>So, the short answer: it’s not a bad sign. It’s a neutral sign.</p>
<p>oh, they send it via snail mail? cause I live on the west coast, that would explain it</p>
<p>thanks!</p>