<p>I'm a 2014 applicant right now, and I'm rather antsy about this college stuff, as would be expected from any Yale applicant. However - I've not visited Yale. If I get accepted, I'm going up on a spring break visit (the week immediately after decisions come out - and I'll visit Harvard and Princeton, should those colleges choose to grant me acceptances). </p>
<p>So my question is this: Assuming that I get accepted to all three (HYP), which I know is not going to happen, how useful would a normal college visit be in deciding between the three? How useful would the Bulldog days be? If I had a normal college visit and got an impression of the culture, would I get a different impression of Yale from the Bulldog Days? Additionally, if I decided during the visit that I was definitely going to Yale, what would be the benefit of the BDs, besides missing class and meeting new students?</p>
<p>I apologize if any of the above is unclear.</p>
<p>advantages of BDD: you get to meet other prospies (which IMO is a big advantage); you stay with a student (assuming you’re not doing that on a spring break trip), so you get a better picture of the social scene which you can’t get with your parents around; clubs are advertising so you get a better idea of what yale offers.</p>
<p>personally, the fact that so many of my prospective future classmates will be there is appealing to me. and that i’d be staying in the dorms. i’ve read that some people disliked BDD though and felt it didn’t represent campus well, so…</p>
<p>I feel like you would get a better feel for all of what yale has to offer if you go to BDD. if you did a normal (overnight) visit at yale you would see what normal day to day life is like but you would be limited by your host and the people he or she knows. BDD is just a better experience. i’ve hosted many many prefrosh for regular and BDD visits and the people who came for regular visits liked it and had a good time but those who came for BBD had a much better time.</p>
<p>Yeah, what the people above said. BDD is kind of “Yale on steroids” but I’m so glad I went to BDD as opposed to a regular visit. You don’t have to stay with your host; usually large groups of prefrosh will go exploring together (especially at night). Plus, it’s just fun - overwhelming, definitely, but there are a lot of special activities you wouldn’t be able to experience on just a normal visit. And you get to meet a lot of potential classmates, which is cool in itself. Even though it wasn’t necessarily a representation of a “typical” day at Yale, my impression of the campus vibe is still pretty similar after nearly 6 months as a student here.
So yeah, go to Bulldog Days.</p>
<p>the final “event” at BDD last year involved turning in your room key… AND they had pizza from over 20 places available for free… great way to try all the different 'zzas… big hit with us… not something that has been done at any other “event” to my knowledge!! </p>
<p>Definitely fun to spend BDD with so many other wonderful peers… whether you accept Yale or not, if you have the opp to do BDD, then you should.</p>
<p>Although an admitted student event is fun, with plenty of bells and whistles – the college is trying to court you, after all – I think you get a better feel for a college by doing an overnight during an ordinary time rather than during an official event. The only drawback is that you miss the opportunity to meet some of the students who will be your peers.</p>
<p>If you do get admitted to more than one school, you’d probably find it to your advantage to go to several, and develop a systematic approach for making your decision. The schools are better set up for addressing questions during the admitted students or Bulldog days, although of course you could get answers other times. But let’s assume you are doing other interesting things in your senior year of high school. Putting aside specific time to visit the schools in question and having a deadline will let you get on with the other stuff. Good luck!</p>
<p>In response to tuangpi’s question, here are the dates for Bulldog Days and the equivalent at some of the other Ivies:</p>
<p>Dartmouth: April 22-24.
Harvard: April 24-26
Princeton: April 15-17, April 22-24
University of Pennsylvania: April 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 19 (one day program)
Yale : April 19-21</p>
<p>Last year I went to a few admitted students weekends with my son (not at Yale) and I was glad I went (and I think he was glad I was there even when he was staying in dorms) because it gave him a little reprieve from being “on” all the time.</p>
<p>I would say the best option, if it is at all available to you, is to visit a friend on a normal day. If they actually know you rather than being a randomly assigned host they will probably be more open to showing you real insight into the school. I also think it would be more genuine than something that’s set up as a recruiting drive. I visited a friend at Yale recently and it was a great experience that really gave me a true sense of what the school was about.</p>
<p>IT WAS SUCH AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE even though it was pouring. I loved Yale so much that I decided to skip Princeton Preview and then when I went to Harvard, I was freaking disappointed.</p>
<p>My son (now deliriously happy at Yale) was one of those who had a disappointing BDD experience last year. It was pouring rain, cold and dark, and he had been so euphoric after Princeton Preview days, that it he felt let down by the Yale experience. However, I would still encourage anyone to participate in BDD. As other posters have indicated, the entire campus, faculty, students, organizations, administration, are all focused on being completely accessible to students (and parents) during that time and it is the most efficient way to connect with your future fellow Elis and the school as a whole. My son did make other non-BDD visits to Yale (and other campuses) and these were also valuable (especially as showing that it does not always rain in New Haven) but BDD definitely brought him into contact with many faculty and students who have since become valued friends.</p>
<p>Do most students attend all 3 days or only a day or two? In other words, if you only stay for days 1 and 2, would you miss out on some grand finale event on day#3? Do they provide accommodation in the dorms for 1, 2 or 3 nights? stringkeymom, my D will also be attending Princeton preview days, if you (or anyone else here) could answer the above questions for Princeton’s events too, that would be much appreciated. Thanks. I am trying to figure out the most suitable travel itinerary for my D to fly to the East coast.</p>
<p>vp: Congratulations on your D’s acceptance!! And Princeton, too. That’s such great news. </p>
<p>My son did attended only about half of BDD – had a conflict for part of it. There are kids coming in and out – visiting other schools and/or attending non-college-related events. I think they’re very flexible on accommodations. Just contact Admissions.</p>