<p>Is Yale a place for nerds who were outcasts in their high school? A place where they all get together at Yale, and do nerdy stuff? Based on what I've seen, it looks like it.</p>
<p>Are there any cool people at Yale???</p>
<p>i'm sure there are cool people. x+1 if i get in :P</p>
<p>uhhh...Yale is known as the cool Ivy...
I have absolutely no idea where i heard that though...</p>
<p>I wouldn't call it a Nerd Mecca. There are a LOT of athletes and "jocks" here. I was sort of under the impression everyone would be nerdy and kind of awkward, but I found it to be exactly the opposite. That being said, there are certainly nerds and geeks here.</p>
<p>I'm "just a mom" but I can spot a nerd as well as the next person. I would say yes, there are some nerds, if you mean people who care about their academic lives to the exclusion of almost everything else. However, it looks to me like there are more people who are really, really smart and also like to have fun. I'm talking about the kids who got great grades in high school without trying all that hard, and who also went out with friends, and got involved in something else they really care about: music, athletics, theater, debate, and not just to have an EC, but because they are actually great in some area, took it as far as they could, ended up leading others in that area, and had a great time doing it. </p>
<p>I would say these are almost the anti-nerds: someone who appears to be attractive, charismatic and quick-witted and possessing some talent, and who you might assume couldn't possibly also have graduated at the top of their class. But they did. I'm not saying all Yalies are this way by any means, but I've run across enough of them that I'd say its not an uncommon type.</p>
<p>I think Yale has a lot of people who I'd call "geeks with social skills" and people who blossom in college as opposed to being one of the cool kids in high school. The "geeks with social skills" are people who had a passionate extracurricular interest in high school (other than sex, drugs and/or alcohol) and weren't afraid to be smart, something that can make one uncool in high school. But these people are outgoing and good with people, not solitary, socially awkward types. There are also lots of people who find "their people" once they get to Yale and are therefore become social in ways they were not in high school. There are Beautiful People, jocks, hipsters, and other non-nerdy types, but I knew many people who fit into the "blossomed at college" category.</p>
<p>As for hanging out and doing nerdy stuff, that depends on what you consider nerdy. Check out all the clubs at Yale on the website. If all that falls into the category of nerdy for you, then yes. Contrary to popular image, Yale has a vibrant social/party scene but it isn't one size fits all like at a school where everything revolves around being Greek, for instance.</p>
<p>Yes! Just think about the people who apply to Yale, let alone get in... huge nerds!</p>
<p>I think Yale is not filled with nerds, though I agree that mostly nerds in high school apply to Yale. I'm applying to Yale lol and I guess if I place my self in the social context of my school, you could say I'm a nerd. I care more about my academic achievements/learning than other students, and there are only a few other kids like that. I am however leader of one of the biggest clubs and am involved in several activities in school and have different sets of friends from different groups. However, I am at the top of my class and took the most rigorous course load. So, I do have a life, but am more of a nerd....(though I guess this says I'm probably nerdier than Yalies).</p>
<p>OP, Are you sure you're not mixing up Yale with MIT? :D</p>
<p>Yale is something of a compromise, and what side you see depends on what you're looking for. </p>
<p>The campus scene is really very good, there are lots of on campus parties and events, all the time. Alcohol is everywhere (if that's what you're looking for), but it's not necessary to drink. Yale is also a good place to let your nerd flag fly... if you want to talk about the research paper you're doing, or about the beauty of calculus, or make a pedantic joke, your years at yale are not to be wasted (bc that s**t won't fly in the real world...). </p>
<p>I like to call yale delightfully nerdy, bc that's what it is. But we come in all kinds.</p>
<p>I'd say nerd and cool aren't mutually exclusive. Honestly, if I thought Yale was filled with people without a social life, then I wouldn't apply there. The reason I applied there was that from what I'd seen it was a school full of people who not only got a good education but also had fun.</p>
<p>I guess it also depends on what definition you use as a nerd. There are plenty of people I consider hot geeks- girls that are absolutely gorgeous and personable yet have no problem talking about theoretical physics.</p>
<p>I'm sure Yale has nerds, but they're the good kinds of nerds; the purple ones. Willy Wonka knew what he was doing.</p>
<p>^ Purple nerds go to Williams....</p>
<p>HAHAHAHA so true, Pawn</p>
<p>"Are there any cool people at Yale???" <-- well if i get in.. ;)</p>
<p>"I'd say nerd and cool aren't mutually exclusive"
I have to agree wholeheartedly with this</p>
<p>I had a pretty bad time at BDD. Everyone felt really geeky and not chill at all. I visited ADOCH (Brown) and it was the opposite. Everyone was both smart and fun. </p>
<p>I did absolutely love the residential colleges though. They were amazing. But some of the prefrosh just felt super awkward to be around. They had poor social skills and couldn’t really hold a conversation or only wanted to talk about academics. Three people asked me what my SAT score was (!!!). I’m curious to see what people have to say about this. </p>
<p>@NewYorkerGuy, I guess that’s what makes horse races. DS is at BDD with DW, and the reports coming back are that he is having a great time and is enthused about having committed to Yale.</p>
<p>Curious what order you did the visits? Brown first is my guess.</p>
<p>Well, if Brown is your fit, it’s good that you discovered it.</p>
<p>@IxnayBob Correct. I visited Brown first, which may explain why I liked ADOCH more. I went in the official Amtrak cars reserved for Brown students and met a large group of prefrosh with whom I spent the rest of the day.</p>