<p>To be honest, I think that the video performs quite a few functions, and as far as I can see it’s pretty successful.</p>
<ol>
<li>It shows to everyone generally that Yale is a fun place that doesn’t take itself seriously. </li>
</ol>
<p>1.1 This will either get a good reaction from the applicant (or potential applicant pool at large) which may increase applications, or just more generally create goodwill. </p>
<p>1.2 Even if a potential (or actual) applicant does not like it (which is fair enough, because there ppl who just don’t like musical theatre) - they are likely to STILL apply for Yale anyway. So in this way, the video only does good, rather than creates any negative benefits. </p>
<p>BUT I think that the MOST important aspect of the video, is that particular niche market that Yale is directing. That being the cross-admits. (Applicants who are admitted to Yale as well as a number of other high quality colleges, who are deciding where to matriculate). </p>
<ol>
<li>The video seems to me to be a direct message to those students, differentiating Yale and really, really calling to those students. To CHOOSE Yale, rather than X College. </li>
</ol>
<p>The aims are twofold, and I think that it creates only good for Yale. Plus the beauty of putting it on youtube is that it can be resent, amplifying the effects - I know I’ve sent it as a fb link to many of my friends (most of whom react with: “Now **I **want to go to Yale!”)</p>
<p>Offcourse its an excellent tactic from a marketing perspective, but I DID expect more people to dislike it. Maybe this is the Yale forum so people’s love for Yale makes it a little biased :P</p>
<p>gary: I agree: I would think that this forum carries a pro-Yale bias but as I said, in my other alumni circles, there’s lots of positive feedback – much more than the “that was dumb” kind of feeling.</p>
<p>I think my reaction is similar to what I’ve heard other alums say: Maybe not my cup of tea but it correctly displays the fact that Yalies are creative and talented and will uses those energies to laud Yale. And that we don’t take ourselves too seriously.</p>
<p>I disagree entirely with ^. I am not pro-Yale, I would go there because it is a great university, but at the moment I have no emotion attached to the place (no more than Harvard or Princeton). In fact the video may have lowered my chances of accepting a place at Yale; it confirmed my impression that Yale is a bit too arts orientated for my liking, and my proposed maths/physics degree. However, I think that the video is BRILLIANTLY done, cleverly worded, with fantastic music. I really enjoyed it, not just because I have applied to Yale. In fact, a friend of mine who is not interested in the US at all and who holds no preconceptions enjoyed it hugely as well. I appreciate it mainly for what it is and the creativity and talent it represents.</p>
<p>Idosync: Yale has very strong arts, that’s true. But it melds very well with the sciences. It’s not a zero sum situation at Yale. You can have both. Indeed, many science students turn down more “hard core” science colleges because they like the balance that Yale can give them.</p>
<p>Ahh… ok, thank-you. I am sort of in that boat; I did not apply to MIT or Caltech for exactly that reason. I do want to follow some of the arts and remain well rounded. I think I will just have to see where I am accepted before deciding anything.</p>
<p>i think i actually teared up a bit… GO YALE i have already got my likely to yale, and all this movie does is make want to attend so veryyyyy badly</p>
<p>This video has truly increased my love for Yale by a thousandfold. I love the creative genius behind the lyrics and sound, the fantastic tour and introduction given by the video, and the showing of how diverse Yale truly is. My only qualm with the video was that it didn’t highlight enough on the academic front by my standard, but it’s all good.</p>
<p>^
I respect your optimism, but it might be a better approach to not expect acceptance - after all, with a single digit acceptance rate, who can?</p>
GO YALE!</p>
i have already got my likely to yale, and all this movie does is make want to attend so veryyyyy badly</p>