<p>Just interested in them, so I figured I'd make a forum for any and all discussion regarding secret societies at Yale. </p>
<p>If you have anything to say, I'm interested in reading. :)</p>
<p>Good question; I've been wondering about this as well. Any answers?</p>
<p>They are so fascinating and mysterious. :)</p>
<p>Here's one take: Light</a> & Truth -- Tombs and Taps</p>
<p>There have been several threads on secret societies over the past few years. A search of the Yale forum should turn them up--try searching "skull and bones".</p>
<p>oooh, Skull and Bones</p>
<p>Skull</a> and Bones - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
<p>As an undergraduate and afterwards (and not a member), they played no role whatsoever in visible campus life. </p>
<p>I guess all their work with the Tripartite commission is well hidden! LOL</p>
<p>are science majors really "second-class"citizens socially at Yale, like the article says? Or is that thing just out of date</p>
<p>well, unless you're a wealthy white male (and well-connected), I don't think you need to worry about secret societies: it just won't happen.</p>
<p>foldedpaper is wrong. most of my friends whom i knew were in societies didn't fit this description. there are many societies, most of which are coed and very diverse groups.</p>
<p>The last secret society went coed in 1992. The wealthy white male image reflects the public imagination (thanks to Hollywood--Good Shepherd, the Skulls, etc.) not the reality on campus. Of my friends who were tapped, there wasn't a wealthy white male among them, but lesbians, kids from rural areas, and people of color were well-represented.</p>
<p>Societies have a minute impact on campus life in any event.</p>
<p>yeah foldedpaper is wrong...people here on campus actually joke that if you're a wealthy white male you have NO chance of getting into a society! These days the societies reflect the college...the people in them are a diverse mix in terms of race, religion, socioeconomic status and gender. So while obviously some people in societies are these stereotypical wealthy white men, most are not! And connections in terms of family aren't necessary either...some organizations have essentially automatic "taps" into top societies, and people obtain these top positions in the YDN, Dramat, Whiffenpoofs, etc. based on merit!</p>
<p>Oh, wow :D! First off, I just read my post and I realized it could be taken to be quite offensive--it's not meant to be, I'm sorry. Also, that's what I've heard about these types of societies from students who've recently graduated from the places (one of them from Yale undergrad in 03 regarding the Scroll and Keys, two from Harvard in 06 and 00ish about the finals (which, from the looks of that recent craigslist ad is pretty disgusting (although that ad could have been a really stupid joke/satire))). Sorry if I came across as ignorant. This is (good) news to me.</p>
<p>I don't think anyone was offended foldedpaper, we just wanted to clear up misconceptions. Finals clubs are definitely different than secret societies, so don't think what's true of one is true of the other.</p>
<p>Haha no foldedpaper it's not offensive...but the whole "rich white men" thing isn't really true, at least at Yale...the first person I met who was in Keys was neither white nor male nor rich hahaha :-) Same goes for other societies too!</p>
<p>I think Harvard's a different situation...I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Porcellian's still all-male, while the last Yale society opened up to women like 15 years ago!</p>
<p>Science majors aren't second class yalies... the archetypical awkward science nerd, maybe, but even those people find each other and enjoy each other's company. That article's probably poking fun at the preponderance of awkward, super nerdy science majors, but that's true of any college, not just yale. A science major with good social skills will see no difference... it's not as if people would avoid me bc i'm a biology major....</p>
<p>In terms of comparing the effect of "clubs" or any other groups on undergraduate social life, my advice would be to visit each school extensively and not take anyone on this forum's word for what they are like. </p>
<p>That said, the Princeton eating clubs affect all four years of undergraduate social life, unlike any of the institutions at Harvard or Yale. Eating clubs at Princeton affect everyone; if you don't get in, you might not have a place to go that Thursday, Friday or Saturday evening. Of course there are other options, but the bottom line is that Princeton's clubs have no counterparts at Harvard or Yale.</p>
<p>The secret societies at Yale are only places for early-evening dinner parties on Thursday and/or Sunday evenings for about 15 seniors. Unlike Princeton's eating clubs, they are no longer "elitist" in the sense that they only take people from particular groups. They're now very diverse. Because they only impact a tiny handful of seniors, and mostly only for dinners on one or two nights per week (and never on Friday or Saturday night), Secret Societies at Yale do not register at all on the scale of undergraduate social life. Harvard's finals clubs are much more exclusive (since they often turn away freshman males at the door, and have a much larger impact on all 4 years of undergrad life than the societies at Yale), but again, they aren't nearly as extensive as the Princeton eating clubs either. I have nothing for or against H, Y, or P here, I'm just being honest based on my extensive experience at these (and other) schools.</p>
<p>Regarding diversity overall, my advice is the same as it is for eating clubs/social life. Visit each school extensively, staying over during the week and also a weekend evening. You'll see huge differences. Diversity "on paper" means nothing, especially given that all the top 5 colleges have a diverse entering class, statistically speaking. Diversity in the sense that people from many different groups are actually constantly interacting with each other in an intellectual, egalitarian setting means a LOT more. You can only determine the extent of that by visiting, talking with a few dozen students, hanging out in a few classes and in the dining halls, and seeing what the residential systems are like (as well as the social life, of course). Otherwise, you are honestly not making an informed decision at all, and you may regret that down the road because, to be honest, many of the top colleges out there are really not that diverse when it comes down to the day to day student life and quality of interaction.</p>
<p>From what I've heard, most secret societies are unofficially associated with other EC groups that they generally tap from. Certain varsity sports, frats and sororities, and the YDN tend to put you in the running, though it's true that they are very diverse.</p>
<p>"preponderance of awkward, super nerdy science majors,"</p>
<p>There are plenty of awkward, super nerdy non-science majors as well.</p>
<p>I believe its mostly the family legacy to whatever society to which that person belong either richer or poorer or the ethicity</p>