<p>I understand that the residential colleges are supposed to be "microcosms of the Yale community," but do any of the colleges have specific cultures or personalities?</p>
<p>Some do but they are large enough and the distribution of students random enough where they really are a good mix. Some colleges have reps more than other (e.g athleticism, artsy, preppy etc) but they tend to be crude and general. For example, when I matriculated, Jonathan Edwards was known as a very artsy college. But for some reason, there were quite a bunch of very accomplished athletes in my year. As we progressed through our years, the “feel” of the college seemed to change. We still valued everyone and their tone – but intramural athletic success for our college seemed to change the tenor a bit.</p>
<p>But it’s all a facade. They’re all about the same.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how any stereotype could be long lasting, since the students are random each year. </p>
<p>Rumors abound about how certain masters stacked their classes with one sort or another. For instance Timothy Dwight, in my day, had a long-standing “jock” image. Lots of varsity lvl athletes and extremely competitive at IMs for many years.</p>
<p>Supposedly, my freshman group in artsy JE was supposed to have been slated for TD but got switched. On the surface my group seemed more athletic than our peer freshmen in TD who seemed more artsy. Dunno if it’s urban legend or not… likely just a lot of confirmation bias reasoning! LOL</p>
<p>I think being in JE causes you to become more artsy.</p>
<p>Edited to add: in a good way.</p>
<p>I agree. I loved it there and my appreciation for things outside my blue-collar sensibilities were greatly heightened by my fellow Spiders.</p>
<p>I am very excited. I am JE Class of 82. My daughter just learned 48 minutes ago that she too will be in JE!! I am so happy. On the question about whether individual colleges have a special flavor - it truly changes over the years since the students are assigned randomly each year - except of course for legacies who can request their parent’s college. JE, of course, is the best!!</p>
<p>My son was assigned to Saybrook…I’m so new to this, lol…Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Say whaaaaat?</p>
<p>Lol sorry I don’t know anything about Saybrook.
I’m curious about how often people transfer to different colleges after their freshman year.</p>
<p>@yalie18, my understanding is once you’re assign to a college that’s it!! no changes allowed</p>
<p>It is rare to change, but you can apply to change.</p>
<p>My son will be a JE senior this year and has had a great experience. Master Laurens has been wonderful and he saw All The Way last year through the culture draw.</p>
<p>When he was assigned, I checked out his college on Wikipedia and the Yale site. I wanted to get him the right color tie - which was definitely not on his to-do list, but he admits it has come in handy - good snooping excuse, anyway ;)</p>
<p>Transferring from one college to another happens, but it’s not all that common, and it’s usually because a person has made friends who live in another college. It’s not because another college is “better.”</p>
<p>Yalie18 - it is possible to transfer residential colleges, but it is not often done. That said, I actually changed. I started out in Morse so I lived in Wright Hall which is now call L-Dub freshman year. I lived in Morse sophomore year and it was okay. I lived on Old Campus again junior year because I was a counselor. I transferred to JE the end of junior year so I lived there senior year and consider myself a Spider for life. I changed not because I did not like Morse per se, but because my closest friends were in JE and I wanted to spend my last year living closer to them. I spent most of my time there anyway studying and eating in the dining hall. So, I totally agree with Hunt on his comment above. </p>
<p>haha 3 JE alums here on this thread!</p>
<p>Is it true that Pierson is known as the most social? If it is not, then which residential college do you think is? “Pierson has been traditionally renowned for its thriving social life and once had the reputation of consistently trailing other Yale residential colleges in academic rankings. In fact, Pierson’s rallying cry at one time was, “Tyng, Tang, and GPA,” reflecting Pierson’s reputation for winning Yale intramural sports (Tyng), an annual drinking competition among the residential colleges (Tang), and having the lowest average GPA of all the residential colleges. In 2004, however, Pierson was awarded the Gimble Cup for highest average GPA at Yale. In light of new Connecticut alcohol laws, Dean Amerigo Fabbri has cracked down on events such as Tuesday Night Club (TNC), founded in 1981, restricting the event to Pierson seniors. However, in 2006, Pierson students were able to organize a successful Inferno, the traditional Pierson Halloween party. TNC was traditionally held in the “Lower Courtyard” of Pierson.[7] Lower Courtyard housing is generally occupied by seniors.[6]”</p>
<p>You’ll be entering in the fall of 2014. Your articles are from long ago as far as res colleges go – colleges change as individuals and classes come in. Whatever stereotypes existed, they can change on a dime dependent on entering individuals.</p>
<p>Maybe, but the events tend to stay the same year after year and I know Morse doesn’t have much besides the Prohibition dance. I hope that’s fun. All I know is that it’s a replacement for the banned Casino night.</p>