<p>I'm a freshman starting Yale just a few weeks and I'm getting worried about what to expect. I feel like I'll be struggling to keep my grades and self esteem up in the crowds of intimidating, overwhelmingly smart people. Can any current Yalies offer some advice or insight?</p>
<p>Relax, if Yale admissions officers accepted you then you should be fine. They have a lot of experience and know the type of people who will do well in their school. It may be difficult so you will need to step up your game but the amount of friendly teachers and study groups at Yale is huge.</p>
<p>I haven’t even applied to Yale yet but from my searching on multiple forums it seems that the above statement is true.</p>
<p>The “crowds of overwhelmingly smart people” are not intimidating. You know everyone there is bright, intelligent and very capable. But the good thing about knowing that is that you must be also. Your dean will (or should) tell you this when you get there, but NEVER, NEVER, NEVER let yourself actually question whether you deserve to be at Yale or not. It will screw you up and it’s an unnecessary concern. You have to truly know and believe that you deserve to be there and are capable of being there. That’s half the battle.</p>
<p>Always stay focused. Know where you want to get to in the future and start thinking about what you need to get there. This doesn’t mean to be become obsessive or anything like that. Just know that if you want to go to grad school, for example, you need to start laying the foundation quickly. Try to do your best in classes, and don’t think that one slip up won’t hurt. It will hurt so try and stay on top of things.</p>
<p>But, when you do slip up, and trust me you will, don’t be too tough on yourself. Everyone will slip up and freshman year comes with so many battles that you’ll be facing for the first time, you’re bound to screw up somehow. But you’re not alone. Many others are slipping up with you, many more have done so before, and many will in the future. It’s not about your slip ups, but what you learn from them and how you bounce back. I messed up A LOT freshman year, and am only now realizing the consequences of all my slacking. Now, for me, it’s about how I learn from those and keep moving forward. I’m only a failure if I continue to make the same mistakes and pitfalls. It’s all about growing.</p>
<p>Know that there are bunch of resources available to you if you need them. Tutors for academics are amazing. They help out a lot, and going to one does not mean you’re dumb. It means you’re wise for realizing you need help and going to go seek it. TAs and professors can also be very good resources, but only if you go seek them out, which I advise you do. Most professors at Yale are very nice people and insanely helpful. They just can’t get that across in a lecture hall. So, DO go to office hours. (Also, you’ll need recommendations from them in the future so start building relationships with them.) If you’re concerned with academics in any ways, GO SEE your faculty adviser or dean. That’s what they’re there for. They’ll help you out in any way they can. College is about being independent and learning to do things on your own, but if you need someone to stay on top of you, find that person. Your dean/adviser will help to that end.</p>
<p>For self-esteem or personal issues, that’s what your FroCo is there for. Most of the time they’re just in their room doing nothing. They want you to go talk to them; that’s why they’re there. Don’t hesitate to go to them if you really need any help. If you don’t want to talk to someone face-to-face, we have Walden Peer counselors (I forget the official title). There are also services at DUH which you can use. Of course, the best people for this however will be the many friends you’ll make. Be sure to make really good friends and if you have any issues with anything, TALK TO THEM!</p>
<p>The bad news is that for the first time in your life you will NOT be one of the two smartest people in the room in every single class you go to. </p>
<p>The good news is that there is something you do better than mostly anyone else your age or you would not have been accepted to Yale! </p>
<p>You will be fine. You will be especially fine as long as you are you. There is a reason they want you there and I’m sure you know EXACTLY what that reason is. Do that! ;)</p>
<p>thank you all so much! i’m extremely excited to be starting college. i’ll just have to get used to working harder than ever before to stay up to par! i know that it’ll be hard -really hard- to adjust to not getting perfect grades…but i guess that’s just part of the deal of going to Yale!</p>
<p>and a big thanks for that long message about all the help available at Yale. it feels really good to know that there’s some sort of safety net there - especially for freshmen trying to adjust to college.</p>
<p>looking forward to the challenges ahead! i’ll do my best!</p>