<p>Hey! I thought this might be a fun one for the yalies that peruse this board, and it might prove interesting for yale hopefuls too. </p>
<p>I'll go first...
There's one secret to getting along with your suitemates: Always clean up after yourself and never get upset when they don't.</p>
<p>The classes are spectacular....but your college experience shouldn't be made by the classes. You can learn more outside of the classroom, and I don't mean that in the cliched sense that it is usually meant. I mean you can learn more even on legitimate academic topics.</p>
<p>Make every effort to get along with your suitemates...but remember that the person who assigned them doesn't know any of you, so don't be downtrodden if all 5+ of you don't get along perfectly and become best friends. </p>
<p>Same goes for people in your college....because those were assigned randomly!</p>
<p>Some of the best little events (concerts, guest lectures, etc.) fly under the radar. Dig around for new and interesting things to do - get on the e-mail lists for groups that interest you even if you can't commit to being a member, check out what is going on at the graduate schools (especially Law), go to a Master's Tea with someone who doesn't have rockstar status, etc.</p>
<p>You will love some Yalies and be totally amazed at their talents, intelligence, and demeanor...but you will meet others that will make you wish they had graced fair Harvard with their presence. Be thankful for the former and make the best of the latter - the admissions committee isn't perfect (or else I wouldn't be here!).</p>
<p>Acapella and everything around it seems interesting and entertaining at first... but time will teach you to just stay away. I don't even know where this feeling comes from (ok, perhaps suitemates with annoying voices drifting into my room at 3 am), but even though many of the individuals involved are upstanding, I get a very negative vibe from it all.</p>
<p>In high school, the typical overachieving Yalie tryed to take 1000 AP classes and become president of 17 extracurricular groups. Quit this habit the very second you step on campus if not before - you will not have fun, you will not accomplish what you set out to do (remember, everyone here is a superkid of sorts), and you might even lose your good health/soul.</p>
<p>drummerdude_07: Thanks for your post. I think you've given some excellent advice!</p>
<p>^haha yeah i agree; that was beautiful!</p>
<p>drummer dude, could you elaborate a bit on the a capella negative vibe? A capella is actually one of the aspects of college I'm looking forward to the most (provided that I am lucky enough to get into a group), so it's interesting that they're perceived as annoying by some other students on campus... :)</p>
<p>echang: I think what drummer is talking about is that sometimes the singers, who are so in love with their own universe, can get unknowingly obnoxious with those not involved. But the same can be said of any extremely involved group (football team, women's rugby, political party, etc.). It just happens that spontaneous singing is more invasive than guys going off to the weight room. LOL</p>
<p>I can say that because one of my best friends who lived with my family was a Voice Performance major at university and he would be singing ALL the time, not knowing how intrusive it was in the household. LOL</p>
<p>I wouldn't describe the a cappella groups quite as negatively as drummerdude...</p>
<p>My roommate is in one, and what i've gleaned is that they're not for everyone, but the people who are into them are very into them. A cappella groups are a big time commitment and can become a big part of your social life if you choose. You'll spend a couple of nights a week rehearsing and a good part of your vacations touring with them. That kind of a commitment isn't for everyone, but i assume anyone who's in a group really wants to be there. There aren't any surprises bc there's an extensive social component (rush meals and singing desserts) to the rush process in addition to standard auditions.</p>
<p>Since i'm discussing my roommate, i thought i'd share the most important thing i learned from him:</p>
<p>Thin men look better in form fitting clothing. :)</p>