<p>I'm a British student and I was offered a place in the Yale Class of 2017 after I applied Early Action. I eventually chose to accept my place at Oxford University instead. I was under a lot of pressure from my school to choose Oxford, and also I had an ill relative for whom I wanted to remain in the UK. I recently realised, however, what a huge mistake I made and have emailed Yale asking if it is too late to reverse my decision. I wouldn't be able to go this Fall because of having to get a visa etc. but I want to know if they'll let me take up my place in the Class of 2018. Do you think they might allow me to reverse my decision even though it's so late? I wrote an email explaining the situation with my relative and the pressure from my school, and why I love Yale so much. Chances of them saying yes?</p>
<p>It’s possible. But you’ll only get guesses here. Good luck. Keep us informed.</p>
<p><em>UPDATE</em> They’ve given me a place in the Class of 2018! So happy!</p>
<p>I am really glad for you. Before I read the final note, I was going to give you some hope. Our daughter’s friend was accepted to MIT early action, but decided to go to Dartmouth instead. She spent a trimester at Dartmouth but was unhappy there, and she successfully started as a freshman at MIT the following year.</p>
<p>Wow, incredible! That’s really exciting, and I can’t wait to welcome you onto campus next fall!</p>
<p>Does this change your plans for this next year at Oxford?</p>
<p>Congrats! That’s awesome! So are you gonna just take a gap year now?</p>
<p>Yeah, I can’t enroll in any other degree program so I’ve turned down Oxford and I’m going to live in Berlin for a year, hopefully perfecting my German. I’m so happy! Thank you everyone!</p>
<p>Congratulations that this all worked out and so quickly. I am just curious why you thought Yale was a better option for you and that committing to Oxford was a “big mistake”? Can you share your thinking?</p>
<p>Hi anthropax. Nice to see you got accepted. Pity you couldnt join our class this year. I look forward to seeing you next year, Boola boola!!!</p>
<p>I go to a British all-girl boarding school where going to Oxford/Cambridge is like the religion… The faculty weren’t wild about me turning down a place there and I felt under loads of pressure. I prefer Yale to Oxford for several reasons - the broader undergraduate curriculum, the emphasis on extracurriculars but most of all because Oxford has an atmosphere of cynicism whereas Yalies are really enthusiastic and proud of their school and everything they do. It’s for the same reason that I turned down Harvard; at Yale everyone seemed very supportive of one another, and that’s something that I didn’t feel elsewhere. :)</p>
<p>If you need that type of supportive environment, you sure must go to Yale. However, you are very mistaken about Harvard: we are not cynical–we just know what we want and how to get it. It sure may make most of us cutthroat competitive, but not cynical. No, not cynical at all.</p>
<p>"If you need that type of supportive environment, you sure must go to Yale. "</p>
<p>udd: that was uncalled for. antropax clearly said she preferred what she viewed as a non-cynical campus. You, instead say she “needs” a supportive environment, implying some weakness.</p>
<p>OK, you view H as non-cynical. Your denigration of her choice/differing opinion/perception is boorish.</p>
<p>Wow! That’s great news. Congratulations! You must be over the moon.</p>
<p>Interesting :)…Congrats…you surely seem like an outstanding applicant.</p>
<p>@anthropax I know what you mean. As a Brit (living in America), it had definitely crossed my mind applying to some schools in the UK. But I want to be a doctor, and British schools are so focused and I’d really like to explore other things in college. I might try a study abroad program instead (hopefully at Yale!).</p>
<p>anthropax – I think your reasoning is quite valid and an excellent basis for making this rather difficult decision. A lot of kids focus on stuff that is really not all that important on an undergraduate level when making such decisions (minor differences in individual department rankings, etc.); you are wisely relying on your personal perception of the underlying cultures of these places.</p>
<p>Relative to many of its peers, Yale is indeed blessed by a culture that incorporates exuberance and enthusiasm. Yalies are indeed a demonstrative and energetic lot. What is ironic, though, is that despite all this activity, Yale remains noticeably less competitive, and perhaps a little less stressed than its cousin institutions.</p>
<p>Congratulations again, have a great year in Berlin, and look forward to the extraordinary experience that awaits you in a year’s time!</p>
<p>Thank you again everyone, I’m so happy and excited. I didn’t mean to denigrate Harvard in any way - it’s a great school but I just feel like it’s not the right environment for me. I get very neurotic in a very pressured environment (I mean, I don’t think Yale will exactly be the most laid back place in the world, but still) and especially with moving to a new country I think a really supportive atmosphere will be best for me. Re cynicism, I just feel that at Yale more than any other school I visited, the students are really enthusiastic about their school and everything they do. No one seemed to be there for the name alone, which was what I saw at Harvard.</p>
<p>Congratulations! Wish you the best at Yale!</p>