<p>Overall, do you find that the Yale community is primarily liberal? Are there lots of moderates and/or conservatives on campus? Do the professors exert their views on the students or are they generally unbiased?</p>
<p>I would pose three questions to clarify. One- what is the politics of the administration? then Two-What is the politics of the teaching staff? Then Three- What is the politics of the students?</p>
<p>The administration probably leans liberal in a national politics sense, but is conservative by the standards of elite colleges. President Levin is on good terms with Bush, and the administration has displayed some conservatism particularly in its failure to support unionization at the Yale-New Haven hospital (Levin serves on the hospital's board of directors and hasn't made much effort to curb the hospital's illegal - as ruled by the NLRB - labor practices). As it relates directly to students, however, the administration leans liberal (ie, enforcing rules against anti-gay hate speech, much to the distress of some campus conservatives).</p>
<p>The professors are generally, as at nearly university, liberal, and often extremely liberal, though there are some well known conservative faculty (Donald Kagan, for instance). Most faculty will not try to push their views, but again, as at any university, there are some exceptions, and it isn't uncommon to hear a professor make a snide remark about Bush. My experience (though my politics generally are in line with those of the majority of the faculty) is that Yale professors will, almost without exception (at least none that I know of), treat students fairly regardless of the political beliefs they express in their writing. But don't, for example, expect a biology professor to react kindly to creationist beliefs in student work. Factually incorrect beliefs are not going to be ok.</p>
<p>Students at Yale are generally liberal, as at most elite universities. Probably Yale is among the more liberal schools in the Ivy League (perhaps less so than Brown, but at least as liberal as any of the others). There is an active conservative presence on campus, which appears most strongly in the College Republicans, the conservative parties of the Yale Political Union, and Choose Life at Yale. Generally, however, liberal groups are more active and vocal - the College Dems, for instance, are far more numerous, more active, and more effective than their Republican counterparts. There are of course moderates as well, though, not surprisingly they are less vocal and less well organized than either liberals or conservatives.
Of those Yalies who stated a political preference on Facebook, 45% are liberal, 20% are moderate, 13% are very liberal, 9% are "other", 7% are conservative, 2% are very conservative, 2% are libertarian, and 2% are apathetic. But 55% don't state a preference at all.</p>
<p>All three are liberal, but there are plenty of vocal conservatives on campus, including professors. Faculty at almost every college in the US are liberal. It does not influence teaching in a negative way at Yale.</p>
<p>If you are a conservative that can't deal with liberals in any way, shape, or form, Yale isn't a good place to be. If you're a conservative who likes to debate and can differ with people and still be friends, you'll be fine. People at Yale are very live and let live. If you have the same attitude, you'll be comfortable.</p>
<p>Do you think it at all possible that showing conservative tendencies in an application can be held against an applicant?</p>
<p>bmwdan13, no, I don't think it's possible.</p>
<p>No, as long as it's clear you're not looney. I interviewed a conservative applicant who was so out of touch with reality that it would have been a problem. Yale wants a diverse class and having people of all political persuasions is part of diversity.</p>
<p>I would say socially conservative views on an application may reflect negatively on you to the admissions committee if they are seen as discriminatory (anti-gay, anti-immigrant, etc)</p>
<p>LOL: along with what AdmissionsAddict said: I know someone in my alumni schools committee who interviewed a kid who espoused bluntly racist views. Ehhhh --- that got reported.</p>
<p>I found myself to be primarily "moderate" and my circle of friends were a little more to the right of me although there were several who were to the left of me as well. Yalies are a diverse group and enjoy it -- including having close friends who are politically bent differently than they are.</p>
<p>That's a relief. I'm not a racist or looney, thankfully, but I do work for a Republican state senator and lead a conservative newspaper column. I am glad to hear that this won't make me a target to admissions councils.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Overall, do you find that the Yale community is primarily liberal?
[/QUOTE]
Yes.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Are there lots of moderates and/or conservatives on campus?
[/QUOTE]
No. But the ones that exist are very vocal.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Do the professors exert their views on the students or are they generally unbiased?
[/QUOTE]
They proclaim their views very loudly, but it doesn't seem to influence grading at all.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Do you think it at all possible that showing conservative tendencies in an application can be held against an applicant?
[/QUOTE]
No.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
One- what is the politics of the administration?
[/QUOTE]
Levin's a friend of Bush, but I honestly don't know.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Two-What is the politics of the teaching staff?
[/QUOTE]
Left.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
Three- What is the politics of the students?
[/QUOTE]
Left, but more vocal on social issues than economic ones.</p>