<p>Just out of curiosity, what are you all writing about for your "Why Yale" essays?</p>
<p>Quick tip: be honest and cut out all the BS immediately. Obviously the RC system and the prestige, the professors and the architecture played a role in your applying, but its not unique and will sound like everyone else’s. Find a unique reason for why you want to go to Yale (as long as it’s true) or make your "clich</p>
<p>I mentioned all the obvious things (residential college system, unbeatable academics, etc.), but I guess the unique thing for me was that I mentioned David Shifrin, professor of clarinet at Yale School of Music (and one of the most famous clarinet performers in the world) and how cool it would be to perhaps take lessons from him or at least meet him in person.</p>
<p>Yale takes it for granted that you like the residential college system, the fantastic faculty, the prestige and the Master’s Teas. Don’t waste words on them.</p>
<p>My advice would be to write about why you want to go to Yale as it relates to your academic interests and activities that would complement them. Yale wants to see your intellectual curiosity and real-world impact.</p>
<p>Where is the supplement “why yale?” essay prompt?</p>
<p>For my Why Yale essay I focused on athletics. Im a recruit, so this wont apply to many people, but I wrote about how proud I would be to call myself a Bulldog and compete. Also mentioned the obvious stuff, and an anecdote about how the coach there is amazing, and how I really felt “connected” to her ideals on coaching, etc…</p>
<p>More or less, like most people would say, it needs to be personal. All about you. This may be your only shot to write full essays all about yourself, take advantage :P</p>
<p>Does Yale have a separate “Why Yale” essay? I thought it was just a few lines on the supplement…one of the short answers.</p>
<p>^ I think it’s “What has influenced your decision to apply?” Maybe it’s a different essay for freshmen applicants?</p>
<p>From the 09/10 Y fr applicant supplement:</p>
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<p>5 lines are provided for the response. It’s not a Short Take, which only provide 2 lines for each response.</p>
<p>It’s short (~250 words) which is why you have to be brief and to the point. Don’t waste time on things Yale already knows you like. Get personal quickly. If anything, saying “Besides the obvious…” as an intro will let them know that RCs, DS, or w/e did influence your decision.</p>
<p>^ wait is this released yet?
How do you know it won’t change for '15 applicants?</p>
<p>There’s a good chance it won’t since it’s not dated and they don’t change all that much year to year. It’s possible Yale might decide to be a little wild this year, but chances are it will be the same.</p>
<p>Every college asks you why you want to go to their school in some capacity. This is Yale’s way of asking.</p>
<p>So would talking about the fact that I can learn knowledge anywhere, but at Yale I’d be able to truly apply my knowledge to solve problems. I feel like Yale is really a place where people are taught HOW to think (not that I can’t think for myself, but you know what I mean), not what to think, and that’s why I want to go to Yale above all. Good reason?</p>
<p>^Seems a little general and cliche to me…you can really put this answer for any place you apply to.</p>
<p>I guess that’s why I asked. I mean, that’s really why, but I know it’s very cliche</p>
<p>Try finding Yale-specific evidence for that reason.</p>
<p>I wrote about how I liked that the comp lab was called the Zoo because computer science is wild :P</p>
<p>Just think of what makes Yale different from the other top schools, and write about it. If you c/p your paragraph into another application and feel that it still fits, then your answer isn’t about something unique to Yale.</p>
<p>Is it okay to get really specific? i.e. wanting to work with a specific professor at Yale?</p>
<p>Better than “for the great professors,” which is true of any top school.</p>