<p>Writing concentration, yes (and there are many creative writing courses that can be used for this). Screenwriting courses, I'm not quite so sure about, though there is an advanced English seminar called "Writing for Film: Voice and Vision" that seems to be aimed at writing screenplays (there's also a playwriting class if that interests you). You could probably talk your way into the theater studies playwriting classes (preference to majors, but open to all). Finally, there is the screenwriting class in the film studies department (film 350a or b), but enrollment is limited to junior film-studies majors. But yes, there are definitely still courses open to non-film-majors that will target the skills used in screenwriting.</p>
<p>I am undecided on a major, but may pursue Chinese (non-native speaker), Math or both. i'ld love to hear from you or other current Yalies majoring in both, for their opinions of your programs at Yale. And their thots on the other great programs in the U.S. Regardless, Yale is my clear first choice for the class of '11 because of the residential college system. Thanks very much.</p>
<p>New Haven used to be run down, but it is now easily one of the top three or four college towns in the country. Out of HYPSMC, Yale is the only school to be located at the center of a major city. By center, I mean everything is within a few blocks walking distance. Even the City Hall is across from the freshman dorms, and the medical campus is a few blocks away. At Harvard, etc., the medical campuses and city halls, etc., are much farther from campus, not within walking distance, so it's much harder to get involved. Also, Yale is adjacent to all of the city's nightlife, as well as hundreds of incredible restaurants. All of the college students in the area (there are about 50,000 - Southern CT State is the largest university in New Haven, not Yale) go to the area around Yale to party and hang out. At other schools you really have to venture away to get any of that. At the same time, the city is not so big that it sucks everyone off campus and completely kills student life (which is what you have at, say, NYU). Location wise, Yale is really better than and unlike any other school I've seen. </p>
<p>Of course, prices are now going up, with million-dollar loft apartments being built everywhere that make it less affordable, so it won't be as great of a college town as it was a few years ago.</p>
<p>Of course, the real best thing about Yale is the residential college system. Other schools say they have a "college" system or something like it, but none of them have anything even close to the residential system of Yale, in terms of how well the colleges are funded and organized, as well as the fact that they are all within a couple of blocks of each other.</p>
<p>Can anyone tell me about the philosophy department? Is it well liked? Do students think it needs a lot of improvement?</p>
<p>I do have to make a bit of an addendum to what PosterX said. If you go too far away from campus to the Broadway side (ie. start at the back gate of Davenprot and walk away from campus), the area's sort of run down and sketchy. If you go to the other side of campus, however, you run into city hall, lots of banks, an arts district, fun stuff like that. I happen to really like the area around campus, mostly because it's really very diverse and such, but if "million-dollar loft apartments being built everywhere" is what you're looking for, Yale might not be the best place for you (i wouldn't be surprised if that statement applies to New haven as a whole, but I'd be a little more cautious about applying it to the area directly around Yale). </p>
<p>However, I should point out that being immersed in the city means that there are GREAT opportunities for people interested in tutoring, politics (anyone want to run for Ward 1 alderman?), and all sorts of other public-service types of things. Just thought I'd put that out there.</p>
<p>Techy101 - sorry, don't know anything about the philosophy department. I've only taken one philosophy class here, but philosophy... uh... isn't really my thing & I'd be happy to never go back again, but that wasn't a function of the department at all, just my personal preferences. Hope someone can help you out though :-)</p>
<p>I am so excited after reading all of the questions and answers!!! Yale is such an awesome place and it still is my first choice school even though I was rejected. lol...oh well...I live in Bridgeport, CT btw so Yale is only a 15 min drive away. I have a few questions for the Yalies in this thread....</p>
<ol>
<li><p>During your years at Yale, how often do you encounter a transfer student? (I will be attending UCONN in Storrs and then I may try again as a transfer)</p></li>
<li><p>I understand that you guys are not admission people...but I would like to know some of the elements that make an impressive/ideal transfer application. (Many people say only a 4.0 GPA in college will give me a chance...:-/)</p></li>
<li><p>My English teacher went to Yale for undergrad and she said that in order to get a 4.0 in Yale, you will have to trade in your social life and stay in the library...that sux...How true is this?</p></li>
<li><p>I may be free during the summer so I was wondering if Yale offers any affordable (or even FREE!!) programs or courses. The last time I called, they told me a 1 credit course costs 1500 dollars...my lord...</p></li>
</ol>
<p>1) there are verrrry few transfer students... there's one in my college, in my year, but aside from him I've only met one other and that was for about 5 minutes when I helped fix her computer at the beginning of the year.</p>
<p>2) don't know, but transfer admissions is very very difficult</p>
<p>3) mmmm, but why would you want a 4.0 at yale? yes, it's nice to have a high GPA, but really, there are SO few people that gat 4.0s here that it really really REALLY doesn't matter if you don't have a perfect GPA. I mean, I used to care about getting an almost perfect GPA (... like, in high school), but at this point I've gotten a few Bs and several A-'s and I'm still doing pretty darn well by myself, even in comparison to a lot of the other over-achievers I've met here (:p no offense meant, peoples). So yeah, you might have to trade in your social life for the library if you want a 4.0, but why be obsessed with a 4.0 in the first place?</p>
<p>4) yes, it's expensive. don't really know what to tell you about that... sorry :-/</p>
<p>Hi, I visited New Haven last summer. I love Yale campus and bldgs and all. But when you walk about 5 min farther away from campus, its kinda tacky. How safe is that side of the town? Thanks much for your help in advance !!!</p>
<p>Thank you very much</p>
<p>Uh? am i missing something :confused: ?</p>
<p>BMW, I live in CT and New Heaven is an old city but Yale's campus is great! Just don't wander off to far to the "hood".</p>
<p>1)are the chances of international students, say australians, being accepted rising?
2)does yale regared sporting EC's as highly as academical EC's?</p>
<p>Question:</p>
<p>1) Do you think not having many AP credits before I graduate will hinder me? My school only offers about 12, but it's only possible to take a max of 7. By the time I graduate, I will have 7 AP classes + 2 AP credits from online courses. A lot of the people on here have like 13 AP credits which is insane...so, would that lower my chances?</p>
<p>2) Should I get involved with a lot of volunteer EC's or just stick with focused EC's in journalism and politics (which are the things that I am most passionate about)? I'm planning to be on a teen panel for the local paper here starting next year, and I am also starting Model UN and Amnesty Int'l at my school next year....would that help? But please note I'm not doing those things JUST for adcom recognition...they are things I truly enjoy. :]</p>
<p>3) Does winning essay contests, etc. help get you in?</p>
<p>4) Does being half Asian and half Hispanic (Dominican Republic) have an advantage?</p>
<p>THANKS SO MUCH GUYS! :)</p>
<p>1) Do you think not having many AP credits before I graduate will hinder me? My school only offers about 12, but it's only possible to take a max of 7. By the time I graduate, I will have 7 AP classes + 2 AP credits from online courses. A lot of the people on here have like 13 AP credits which is insane...so, would that lower my chances?</p>
<p>No; You will be judged according to what you've achieved within your context. Challenge yourself and do well without trying to do everything at the same time. Sure, if you want to shine it looks better that you're taking the initiative to self-study / take online courses for exams.</p>
<p>2) Should I get involved with a lot of volunteer EC's or just stick with focused EC's in journalism and politics (which are the things that I am most passionate about)? I'm planning to be on a teen panel for the local paper here starting next year, and I am also starting Model UN and Amnesty Int'l at my school next year....would that help? But please note I'm not doing those things JUST for adcom recognition...they are things I truly enjoy. :]</p>
<p>The answer you tend to hear from adcoms is that they're looking for strong commitment and success in a few EC's, not an impressive list of "Member of X". If you have a passion for one of these things, you can let it shine through an esssay. MUN is somewhat common (Yale has a great team and good conferences), but Amnestiy International sounds a bit more interesting, so does the journalism deal.</p>
<p>3) Does winning essay contests, etc. help get you in?</p>
<p>Obviously, as long as they're not your grandma's Golden Star Award.</p>
<p>4) Does being half Asian and half Hispanic (Dominican Republic) have an advantage?</p>
<p>I'm not sure if you would be counted as an URM, but my guess is yes. So yes, somewhat.</p>
<p>1)are the chances of international students, say australians, being accepted rising?</p>
<p>Admit rates for international students were just a little above 5% for the calss of 2009. So probably not. If anything, being international is a handicap because of the 10% int student limit implicitly set - while international applications aren't going to stop rising anytime soon.</p>
<p>2)does yale regared sporting EC's as highly as academical EC's?</p>
<p>That's a pretty good question. I've always assumed so I guess, but sporting EC's - beyond showing that you're a healthy person, can't really do much more for your case if you're not a standout in what you do. The equivalent of a prestigious academic EC in a sporting EC would probably be being recruited as an athlete - in which case YEAH, your chances go up.</p>
<p>What is social life @ Yale like?
What do you guys do on weekends?
What are the parties like? Are frosh dorms dry?
Is the alcohol policy more strict or more we-want-to-help-you?
Do you know what Yale does with merit aid? (Do they take financial need-based aid away from you?</p>
<p>What is social life @ Yale like? What do you guys do on weekends?
It is very varied. There are about 15 fraternity houses and they all host parties regularly - The Baker's Dozen, an a capella all-male group, also has their own house and they hosted a large party yesterday. Every residential college has its own party suite - and those are expected to host parties as well. There are also other spaces for cultural groups to organize their own parties (e.g. dinining halls). Latin American, Asian, International Student groups all host amazing parties. </p>
<p>There's a few theaters with full schedule of Yale and outside performances. We have truly top grade drama and music grad schools - and they like to show their talent. There's a couple of movie theaters and there's bowling alleys/malls/arcades and laser tag/ paintball a driving distance away. Colleges and others will often sponsor trips to these places. A few colleges also do a subsidised ski trip every year.</p>
<p>Weekends - on top of that, Saturdays are good for Toad's the local night club at the heart of the university. It's open most days, and kids from all over the area flock to it. You can also of course go to NYC, it's a little more than an hour if you take the regional train.</p>
<p>There's also bigger events organized every now and then... this year we've had Fall Show (comedy show) with Ed Helms and Horatio Sanz, A concert with Gunther and the Sunshine Girls (great fun), The Halloween show from the Yale Symphony Orchestra (wow), and this Tuesday is Spring Fling, with Ludacris and Ben Folds performing.</p>
<p>The senior class is going down to Myrtle Beach over exam weeks (most profs will give an early exam for seniors to be able to go on these trips).</p>
<p>What are the parties like? Are frosh dorms dry?
Dorms are not dry. Many suites show off their collection of alcohol (wine, liquor, beer.. whatever). This doesn't mean that everyone drinks, but it's not something that's frowned upon by your fellow students.</p>
<p>Is the alcohol policy more strict or more we-want-to-help-you?
Quoting someone else, Yale's alcohol policy is "enlightened" and very reasonable. There are no penalties just for drinking alcohol, but you are encouraged to take your friends to university health services if things get bad. Only if you do stuff that you shouldn't do even when you're sober will you get into real trouble.</p>
<p>Do you know what Yale does with merit aid? (Do they take financial need-based aid away from you?</p>
<p>I'm not 100% sure, but I think that to a large degree any merit aid can be used to reduce your contribution.</p>
<p>Thanks for the answers :), but one more, based on what you said - how many people @ yale have cars? It is expensive/convenient/necessary?</p>
<p>Not that many, but you'll probably know someone who does. It's mostly people from CT, MA, and NY who bring cars because it's convenient. You can get a parking lot deal - not sure how much that costs.</p>
<p>In any case, almost every bus route around New Haven stops at the New Haven Green (literally, the center of New Haven - right across the street from Old Campus). For college-sponsored events, you get college-sponsored transportation.</p>
<p>Gotta go, but will answer any other question gladly.</p>
<p>thanks. This might seem like a stupid question, but how "good" i guess do you have to be to be recruited as an athlete? like A level club? or is it more like the best in your state?</p>