<p>Can anyone tell me about that if you went? Was it worthwhile? (I don't mean the Ivy Scholars) The website says that pre-college students can only take 2 courses. Can they take just 1, or is this not a good idea? The website is also focused very heavily on academics alone, so was it fun as well or just another stressful 4 weeks that were way too similar to school?</p>
<p>also, is Ivy Scholars slightly more specific to those who are interested in politics/debating? The classes’ subjects and lecture topics don’t seem particularly broad to me.</p>
<p>bump 10char</p>
<p>seriously guys? no one has gone to yale summer session?! or knows anything about it?
(I hate bringing up a thread like this but I really need some info & advice) :)</p>
<p>My experience at Yale Summer Session last year was absolutely amazing. You are taking real college classes (unlike some other summer programs you may have applied to) with Yale students, and are held to the same expectations that they are. The people are fantastic and friendly, and if you can try and get into both sessions. Session I tends to have a much smaller crowd of high school students (about 15 or 20, and they tend to all be very, very, very intelligent and talented). Session II has a crowd of more than 200 summer session students, and the atmosphere is much different (more party-focused). Personally, I enjoyed the more relaxed atmosphere of Session I, but go for whichever one you choose (if not both). </p>
<p>Dorm life is great, and you live in Saybrook or Branford (two of Yale’s beautiful residential colleges). The counselors and administrators are all very relaxed and there are very few rules (quiet hours, absolutely no alcohol, and you can only smoke in designated areas). You have to be within your college (but not your room–you can watch TV, shoot pool, or get a snack at the small “butteries” run by the students) by 11:00 PM on weekdays and 1:00 AM on weekends. Basically curfew is the only major rule for pre-college students. </p>
<p>The courses I took were Gen. Physics I and II, Data Analysis and Forecasting, and Galaxies and the Universe. All were very interesting, but there are a number of other courses you may choose from, most of them focusing on the liberal arts rather than math or science. </p>
<p>The only downside to Yale was the massive size. I constantly got lost and wandered around New Haven for several hours in my first week, but you learn the city rather fast. You may want a map, though, to help you navigate. New Haven is a great city (read: best and cheapest food in CT), but you have to be careful (it can be a rather scary place sometimes, especially at night. Never go out alone and keep your cell with you.) Also, if you are not from the Northeast, be prepared for any kind of weather. Last summer it rained every day, but that was a fluke. </p>
<p>Enjoy your time there if you wind up going. You can order transcripts later for your colleges, but do not expect to get into Yale. I kept in contact with a large group and nobody I directly knew got in. We all got deferred SCEA then rejected. It is a great program and looks good on an application but I still wound up getting waitlisted at 6 top schools. Going to Harvey Mudd College in So. Cal. if I cannot get off one of the lists. Best of luck!!!</p>