I was just accepted to Yale early action as an Econ major. I’m honored, but I’m also in total disbelief. I wasn’t going to apply to ANY schools on the east coast, let alone Ivy Leagues, because I didn’t think I would get in and because I have seasonal affective disorder (so those east coast winters would affect my mood greatly.)
My top school has always been USC. I live in California and I adore it. I never wanted to leave California for college, but my college counselor convinced me to apply to Yale, and voila. If USC had an early action/decision program, I would have applied for that. When I went to visit USC last year, I had my doubts about the school, but ended up falling in love with it. I still need to tour Yale, so obviously the exact same thing could happen, but I don’t know why I’m not completely thrilled about getting in, and I feel guilty that I’m not happier about it. I feel right now that everyone is putting pressure on me to go to Yale despite me not knowing much about it, and I know that everyone means well – I just feel uncomfortable with all this attention and people assuming I’m going to automatically choose Yale. Now here are my reasons for choosing USC over Yale:
The program. I want to major in GeoDesign, and USC is the only school that has this program. For Yale, I was accepted as an econ major with a focus in Urban Studies, which is comparable, but not the same thing.
The location. Being close to my family in Berkeley is important to me. Additionally, because of my seasonal affective disorder (it’s legit, I promise – Google it), I’m quite worried about how I would do on the east coast in the middle of winter. Add being at an Ivy League university and the pressure that comes along with that, and I could very well be in big trouble. At USC, I wouldn’t have to worry about that.
The students. For starters, I’m half-black and LGTBQ+ and I know that Yale is an incredibly progressive place (probably more than USC, to be honest), so I’m not worried about that. However, I am worried about students being cutthroat. I go to a huge high school, but I’ve been able to mostly avoid competition. I don’t want to be in a place where there are people looking for me to fail. Please tell me that Yale is not as cutthroat as people may say it is.
The connections. Of course, going to any Ivy League university gives you great connections, so this is not a huge worry of mine. USC is probably the best school on the West Coast for having a network out of college. The alumni and “Trojan Family” play a huge role in the school’s culture. Can anyone give me information about what Yale is like in terms of this? I don’t want to be a tiny fish in a big pond…
The lifestyle. USC has a “work hard, play hard” vibe about it, which is a PERFECT fit for me. I didn’t get into Yale by spending my nights studying. In fact, I don’t know how I got in at all! I’m pretty sure it’s my extracurricular profile that played a role in my getting in (and, yes, to some extent, my race.) I have a 3.89 GPA unweighted, 6 on my IB tests, 680/720 SAT subject tests, 33 ACT, IB diploma candidate. I’m good, but I’m not great. I’m a hard worker, but I also like to go out and have fun, and I don’t know what the party scene at Yale is like, or if everyone really does work 24/7!
The sports. USC has a huge sports culture, which I really like, and which reminds me of my high school. At Yale, the guy who interviewed me (a recent alum) literally told me nobody cares about sports there, which is kind of a disappointment. Coming from Berkeley, I have adored going to Cal football/basketball games, and I can’t imagine being at a school where people might not care as much about that kind of stuff.
Am I crazy? Obviously I still have to see if I even get in to USC, but I am not too worried. I am so grateful to have been accepted to Yale, but I don’t know much about it or what “east coast life” is like. Any insight would be so greatly appreciated.
Go to Bulldog Days Monday, April 25th to Wednesday, April 27th. There, you’ll see Yale on full display. Some thoughts on some of your points:
competitive pressure – not really. Only what you put on yourself. People around you are doing amazing things – but not in a pushy way but in an inspirational way.
not cutthroat. see #2. Who told you otherwise? Their info is bogus – note that.
tiny fish in big pond – this won’t be at USC? You’ll definitely be shocked at how the avg person around you is simply amazing – and consistently so. Don’t know much about USC but the level of intellectualism and dynamism – of the typical person in your suite, hallway, entryway — will be quite high, in a very cool and outstanding kind of way.
LOTS to do on campus. Huge parties to intimate gatherings. Plus huge concentration of colleges within a few hrs away. NYC is easy access too. Culturally, it’ll be the 4 most significant years of your life. It was for me. The music, art, dance, performance, theater – was overwhelming superior. Couldn’t get enuff of it.
it may not be rah-rah like a USC or Notre Dame or UMich – but there’re so MANY varsity athletes – you’ll know tons among your friends’ circle. Athletes aren’t in their own bubble. They’ll be in your suite, your study groups, everywhere. And many sports are extremely competitive. 33 NCAA sports teams. Lots to see. I came from a very sporty background and loved seeing sports I had no previous connection to – regattas, fencing matches, women’s hoops, VBall, lax, field hockey. Plus intramurals are a blood sport. About 1/2 the students do it.
Yale will never go to the Rose Bowl or any BCS game. USC has in the past (duh) and might again. You need to visit, but do not think you need to choose Yale just because everyone else thinks you should. You set forth a number of very good reasons for wanting to go to USC. If you get in there as well, you will be blessed with a win-win choice. D chose Dartmouth over Harvard, which was not what many others thought was best. Worked out fine for her. I bet you’ll be fine wherever you go. Best, ATS
Kind of feeling the same away but with Princeton, and for a lot of the same reasons, especially #5 and #6. It just feels so dumb to turn down such a good school, but maybe it’s worth it for a better experience. Best of luck.
You’re not crazy—you have a lot of good, well thought-out reasons for your ambivalence. Keep an open mind, go to Bulldog Days (and USC’s equivalent), and see how you feel then. A lot of things can change in four months. And even if they don’t, remember that you’re the one who will be spending four years there, so choose the school that feels “right” for you. You wouldn’t be the first person to turn down Yale (or one of its peers) for a “lesser” school—plenty of people have, and I’m guessing that very few of them have regretted doing so.
Re the location and SAD, you can perhaps determine how well you can manage with light and other therapies. Being near family can be important, more for some families than others. Tbh, we were happy that DS didn’t go cross country to a school; the logistics of breaks are just simpler when it’s a car or train ride away, but that said, I wouldn’t feel good if it had been more than something to consider.
I don’t know USC or its sports culture, but I imagine that you will be more integrated with athletes at Yale than USC, as T26E4 says. Yale is a place where a starting basketball player can take a year off to sing acapella, and will do so with the coach’s (bemused) blessing http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/05/yale-basketball-player-quits-team-to-join-prestigious-a-cappella-group. To me, that’s putting balance into college athletics and ECs. You might feel differently.
Re Social scene: DS partied more in freshman year than now, but I think that’s probably normal maturation. There is no party deficiency at Yale :).
The prevailing culture at Yale is to not wear your accomplishments on your sleeve. There are some obnoxious exceptions, but most kids there surprise you on the upside after you’ve known them a while.
Getting in to Yale and going are two different things, of course. It sounds like the idea of actually going is making you anxious for a number of reasons.
I think the most compelling reason you listed it a desire to stay close to family, so think about whether this is a legitimate desire or if you are simply afraid of the unfamiliar.
The SAD can be dealt with with a light machine, or even small dose of meds. Many on the East Coast understand this issue.
Yale football has passionate followers, don’t know about the rest. Try walking in Harvard Square for the Yale-Harvard game!
Students at Yale are diverse in every way. There are students who are competitive and intent on Wall Street or med school, there are artists and musicians, techies, future social workers, you name it. You find you people and your niche. Ivy students do tend to “work hard and play hard.”
You are not accepted for any particular major: that is chosen at the end of sophomore year.
USC is a great school. Give it time, maybe visit Yale, and do what will make you happy. Just make sure you challenge the desire to stay where things are familiar- that can be really truly important for some so don’t take on changes that are too hard- the transition to college is hard enough- but at the same time don’t make a choice based on temporary fears that might go away after a few weeks on the East Coast either.
A few more things: Even though a light machine may help with SAD symptoms, as a long-time California resident (but not a SAD sufferer) who’s also spent quite a few years on the East Coast, I think there’s a lot to be said for waking up to sunny skies and warm weather most days. It just makes you glad to be alive, much like the coming of spring does back East. We’re spoiled out here, but maybe that makes up for things like earthquakes and horrendous traffic!
Also, California, and the L.A. area in particular, is incredibly diverse. It’s just something that’s a given here, not a factor that has to be “created” by an admissions committee.
And, though being closer to home wasn’t initially a factor in my son’s decision to attend Stanford over Yale and a couple of other places on the East Coast, now that he’s actually in college, he’s really glad home is just a short flight (or longish drive) away (as are we). The proximity, plus his familiarity with the area, has made that part of the transition to college much easier for him.
Finally, if you plan to stay in (or return to) California after college for work, don’t underestimate the power of the USC connection. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve come across who’ve raved about this, and it’s particularly strong in Southern California.
eastbaygirl, USC is a great school so if you get in there also you can’t go wrong either way. Here are just a couple of points to consider in the mix.
In scale USC is much bigger than Yale, over 40,000 students (undergrad + grad), and to me it has more the feel of a state university even though it’s private. This can be a plus or a minus depending on the student.
The financial resources at USC are much less than at Yale, e.g. if you look at endowment per student, it’s around $1.7 million at Yale and less than $100,000 at USC. You can see the effects of this in things like housing - 4 year residential college system at Yale with the vast majority staying on campus in the same place for all 4 years, vs. at USC the central campus residences are mostly reserved for freshmen - availability of overseas study programs, availability of your chosen major (at Yale you can major in whatever you want, at USC you have to be admitted specifically to the popular majors), etc.
One thing USC does that Yale doesn’t is offer merit based scholarships - a number of full tuition and half tuition scholarships based on merit not financial need.
Fortunately you have until May 1 to figure it out, and either is a great choice. If you’re able to visit Yale I think that would really help you figure out the right choice for you. They are just different kinds of places.
Fit, fit, fit. Any school you attend should be the fit for you and not what others expect of you. Since you do not have to decide until May 1, you have plenty of opportunity to decide based on factual and real information. You should definitely visit any school that remains a high contender.
I hate to say but I am so sad for those students that really, really wanted Yale and either got deferred or rejected. Though they will be fine in the end, reading your post must really hurt. But in the end, not every applicant that gets in SCEA attends. Many decide on other schools and are quite happy. Good luck in your decision.
Thanks everyone. Yeah @Tperry1982 I feel guilty because there are a lot of people I know who wanted to go but on the other hand I can’t beat myself up for being apprehensive. Ahh. I just need to get to know the school more.
Dumb question. But how do you know that you have SAD if you live in California? If you suffer from it while you are living in the sun just because the days get shorter, than maybe you really should take that into serious consideration before moving to a location with far fewer sunny days.
“Just make sure you challenge the desire to stay where things are familiar…” This is such sound advice.
Remember to let your decisions derive from your strengths and hopes, and not your fears.
A life-long Californian will find the east coast a remarkably different atmosphere, from the people to the climate. The adjustment can be work, but if you are in an environment where you are thriving, you will adjust.
If you are accepted to USC you will need to do some more footwork, and visit Yale and its environs to at least take the edge off of “different”.
As everyone has said, you must choose for you and not be swayed by others. You are the one person who will always have your best interest at their first priority.
Good luck to you, and come back in time and let us know.
Trust your gut. Visit, check it out, give it a shot. But there’s no rule that says you HAVE to go to a place just because it’s generally perceived as desirable. Do what’s right for YOU.
Don’t choose Yale just because it’s the ‘better’ school. Rankings etc. really don’t mean much. You’ll do much better at a college where you fit really well, really want to be there, really want to learn, are taking full advantage of all its resources etc. USC may just be better for you. Not saying don’t go to Yale - if you visit and you love it and think it’s good for you then by all means it’s a great school - but remember rankings should not be the deciding factor.
