hey-- this is the first post i’ve ever made on here so please let me know if I’m doing anything wrong.
I just got into Yale early action (yay!) but, since it is EA and not ED I get to do some other apps in case I change my mind. I have already applied to Wesleyan regular, and am planning to apply to Swarthmore, Brown, and maybe Williams.
My problem is that now that I’ve gotten in, all the bad things about Yale are jumping out at me. Apparently its science and math departments leave something to desire, but I don’t know why I’m even worried about that because I’m more of a humanities person and unless my plans drastically change, I won’t be pursuing STEM stuff beyond at most an intermediate level.
What I am most worried about is that I have heard very conflicting accounts on the level of teaching at Yale as opposed to top liberal arts colleges. I have heard that despite what admissions claims a lot of professors really aren’t there to teach and that undergrad classes suffer as a result.
Is this true? How concerned should I be as I work on my other apps?
It depends on what you mean by good teaching. I’ve met many a Yale grad who can’t seem to tell the difference between a conversation and a lecture, or rather, a one-sided conversation. It happens so frequently that I can only ascribe it to the difference in teaching style one becomes used to during one’s formative years. It is my understanding that there are a great many Yale professors who give brilliant lectures and to some undergraduates this may be what passes for great teaching. The better small colleges have their share of lecture classes, too, but, not to the same extent as Yale and Harvard.
I would relax - Yale’s a top-tier research university, but Yale College is at the center, and there are many, many great professors who teach undergraduates. More to the point, as a humanities-focused student, you’ve won the lottery, since Yale is particularly strong there. Check out, for example, the unique, 70-year-old Directed Studies program (http://directedstudies.yale.edu), where ~125 freshmen each year take three interrelated courses (involving lectures and seminars) covering Western civilization, focusing on literature, history and politics and philosophy, and in which the teaching quality is legendary.
Lol dude trust me this is common for high school kids. You wouldn’t believe the amount of times I second guessed myself after getting into Columbia ED last year. It’s sometimes just psychological.
But something does jump out to me. Is the EA thing a major part of why you applied to Yale? Like did you apply to Yale because it was prestigious and you liked the fact you wouldn’t have to commit? Or did you actually fall in love with the school?
Regardless, I would recommend applying to the other schools you are considering though. You are in no rush. But just looking at your other considerations I can’t say any of them top Yale. I’ve heard Swarthmore’s academics are pretty hard. Brown might be another choice, but for what your trying to do as a major I still wouldn’t put Brown over Yale.
The main thing I would say you should definitely do is the days on campus programs the colleges hold for accepted students over a weekend. It lets you get a feel of the campus vibe, the people, and atmosphere.
But I will also tell you this. I have heard pretty great things about Yale. Especially about it inclusive/community type of atmosphere and people who go there. At the end of the day just honestly ask yourself “Will I be happiest walking to this campus everyday out of every other college out there?” And although this question is hard to answer sometimes, just trust yourself enough to make that decision.
It might surprise you to learn – but it is true – that professors can teach badly, and graduate students can teach sections wonderfully. I do not believe teaching at Yale will be any worse than teaching at small liberal arts colleges without graduate students. In both places you will encounter great teaching, and will most likely get your fair share of bad teaching. That’s life.
One of the absolute worst things about Yale was that it was simply impossible for me to take more classes. The choice afforded to Yale undergrads is simply amazing. With shopping period, doubly so since you can hand craft your schedule one by one. Depending on what you choose as a major, half to two-thirds of your classes can be electives–classes you take purely for the interest factor. You hear about a mediocre lecturer? Ignore him/ her. Hear about a great class in a far flung department? Shop it and see if it’s to your liking. Personally I loved my schedule and how Yale’s academic calendar was set. Great start and end dates.
Thank you all! AlphaX, I did apply EA with the awareness that it wasn’t binding, since I do like to have options. But Yale was a pretty strong first choice.
Yale ranks in the top of almost every list you will ever see. I doubt it would be that high if it had bad teaching. I say go and find out. You did a great job in getting in. Take advantage of it.
One of the great things about Yale is shopping period and the evaluations that students have to write about their professors. For most classes, they have to submit the evaluation before grades will post. Between shopping period and the evaluations, my D has been able to craft a great experience. Yale is very dedicated to its undergrads and a lot of focus is placed on them. Remember a lot of learning will occur out of the classroom so look to the residential college system, extra curricular activities, sports and any other kind of “other” that will make YOUR college experience special. But, welcome to the real world - some professors will be better than others. You may catch one while they are in the middle of a crisis at home or one that is ill - everyone has off times. They are indeed people and will mirror the folk that you will meet in the real world. Go on campus, go to a class, talk to students now that you are in (it does really make the conversation different) and then make the choice that is best for you. Yale is not the end all and be all for everyone - and while it was for two generations of my family - you have to make the choice that’s best for you.
As well you should! Unfortunately – unless you applied to a bunch of non-binding state schools in the early round – you probably don’t have many options to choose from. However, come April 1st, you should follow the advice of Yale’s retired Dean of Admissions, now Philosophy professor: https://admissions.yale.edu/after-colleges-accept-you
Do not dare turn down Yale for any of those other schools. Why would you surround yourself with less-talented classmates at those other schools? The only schools you turn down Yale for are Princeton, Harvard or maybe Stanford.
Or any highly regarded college or university if the cost of attendance is considerably less than Yale. One does not need to go to HYPS to get a great education and have wonderful options post-graduation.
^^ @HappyAlumnus: You’re the one who first brought up NOT turning down Yale unless it’s for Harvard, Princeton or maybe Stanford – and I think that’s certainly debatable on this thread. After all, we all know students who turned down HYPS for another college (Duke, Vanderbilt, Cooper Union) which offered a much better financial aid package (need + merit) or because they wanted more individualized instruction (Williams, Smith, Amherst) and those students were very happy at the school they choose – and, more importantly – were challenged with talented classmates on their campuses. So, I would suggest the issue it’s NOT one-size-fits all and that your blanket statement does not apply to every student, or even to the OP as we don’t know their individual circumstances.
@HappyAlumnus , that’s quite snobby. Less talented classmates? Seriously, I don’t think the students at Swat or Wesleyan are any less talented than kids at HYPSM. Some people, yes, even very intelligent and amazing all around superstar kids, simply don’t want to attend Yale, shock horror. The most gifted student I have ever known in my life, by far, chose Brown ED. There are plenty of super talented, intelligent kids that go to state schools too! Hard to believe.
ETA: @snakelet there are many great reasons students choose LACs. You will always be taught by a professor. Professors ar LACs are invested in their students and get to know them personally. You will get to know fellow students much better. There will be many opportunities for undergrad research. The campuses are usually more contained yet still have excellent amenities. You should focus on where you see yourself being happiest.
@Lindagaf, students at Swarthmore and Wesleyan will have lower SAT scores on average than Yale students. There are probably a lot more students at Swarthmore and Wesleyan who were rejected at Yale than vice-versa. So my statement is correct. Horrid to think that perhaps not everyone’s equal, I know!
The average ACT score for all the colleges OP listed hovers around 32 or 33. If you are going to say everyone at Swat, Brown, Wes, and Wiliiams is less talented than everyone at Yale, you need a better argument. I am guessing that there are some untalented students at all of these schools, and some extremely talented stduents at all of these schools. Your statement is correct to you, and proves nothing.
If this is the best argument Yale alumni can come up with, then, the OP might as well apply EDII to Wesleyan right now because, despite their lower SAT scores Wesleyan grads are having a far bigger impact on American popular culture. Maybe it’s something in the Middletown water supply?