Yale University Top Questions

Perhaps the most stunning realization I made during my first semester at Yale was that there are so many factors that go into a college, it is impossible for there to be only one "right" school for each person. My advice to those looking for a college would be to rank these factors which mean the most and then make sure to visit the schools that are under consideration in order to determine which one is not only the best on paper, but feels right. With respect to making the most of a college experience, it is important to figure out early on how to balance academics, social life, and extra-curriculars. The way to do this is to take reasonable classes during the first semester in order to see what the new academic expectations are, in this completely new environment. Then, join limited extra-curriculars that are really important and engaging, and expand if time and energy/passion allow. Make sure to make the most of classmates -- I have learned so much from mine inside and outside of classtime. Spend time at meals and outside of the classroom and learn from others in non-academic ways.

What I found most helpful and satisfying in the college search process was visiting each potential school. I have the advantage of being from the east coast, near dozens of great schools, but I think it?s definitely worth it to take a week of travel via plane, train, or cross-country automobile trip to get the chance to experience the college campuses in person. No college brochure, course listing booklet, or virtual online tour can fully translate how a campus will feel to you, and how you?ll feel on a campus. Remember, you aren?t applying to a school but to a home and a future for the next four years and beyond. I took three tours of Yale before entering freshman year. Today, I sometimes listen to the tour groups below my window, and it hits me how amazing that time is for pre-frosh. They have four amazing years ahead of them. To make the most of college, first pick the right place for you, and just do what feels right. You aren?t completely reinventing yourself, but you will be changed forever. Learning and growth happen in some unexpected situations, so keep your mind open.

When your son or daughter is applying to schools, I guarantee that the process of learning about each school, applying to them, and then finally choosing to attend one will be one of the most exhausting and nerve-wracking you and your child will ever experience. I can also guarantee that it's entirely worth it. Regardless of where your child finally attends college, the feelings and experiences of being in a new place with new people, wrapped up into an academic environment, allow for personal growth completely different from development in high school. The best advice one can take before starting the university journey, is that some times will be tough and others will be easy, but the overall experience will be memorable and life-changing in a way that cannot be expressed in 200 words or less.

College is about finding the right fit. Look for the right size, the right people, and right ambiance. Think of what you want to do in the future. Pick the school that has the best resources to take you there. But remember, you have to be comfortable where you are.

The key to the college admissions process is to think about it as finding the best match between student and school. When one applies to a school, they proffer, "I believe I belong at your school, do you agree?" To which the school either agrees or diagrees by accepting or rejecting the student. The entire process is matchmatking; about finding a school that truly is a match for you. When you apply to a reach school and aren't accepted, perhaps the reason is that you really wouldn't belong and that, despite your desires, it's better that you not attend. Sometimes, students apply to a school because, "OMG, Harvard is totally amazing," but that doesn't mean Harvard is the best school for most students. Many would find themselves overworked and absolutely unhappy at Harvard. For me, college was the first time in my life I was truly around people like myself, and this can be the case for you too, if you look for a match, rather than simply the "best" school. Find the school you belong at, and the school will be happy to take you in, and you will have a wonderful college experience.

Study a lot and have fun.

To parents, it's not your decision. Speak openly with your kids about your financial situation because in this world we live in, education costs money. Tell them what you can reasonably contribute towards their education each year (keeping in mind younger siblings that may also start college soon). Remind your children that student loans stay with them even if they declare backruptcy. But let them weigh the choices by themselves. To students, there is not just one "right fit." There are many places where you will not only be successful but happy as well. So after you have chosen, do not look back unless you are trying to transfer to a better school. Ask for help when you need it. Take as few classes as you can, but study hard and ace every one (very few people in your future will care about your course load or number of majors/minors, but they will almost certainly glance at your GPA). The rest of your time, spend with friends. College only happens once.

The specific school you end up choosing is not as important as what you make of the experience, so it's less important to focus on getting into certain schools and more important to focus on getting a good fit.

The least stressful way to do it seems to me to start by eliminating schools without worrying too much about them. Make a list of what you want/don't want and look for a bunch of schools that match. For example, I knew I wanted to go to schooll relatively close to home, so that eliminated a lot of options. After that, I visited about 10 schools, and narrowed down where I appliedd to 5. I revisited my top two that I got into, spent a day or two at each, talked to a lot of people, thought about what I wanted to do there, and chose the larger, more lively school, with more resources, even though I thought the academic environment at the other might have been slightly better. Once there, I wish I had taken more variety in my freshman courses. It's important to remember that even if it's possible to change majors and focus through the second year, it's harder than if you know what you want in your first. Talk to everyone, and don't be afraid to try a new nickname. Try new clubs as well, I even sword-fight now!

Few leave college unhappy, but everyone leaves college changed. Picking the right school is not about shopping for the institution that most resembles you as you are; it's about finding the place full of the people that most closely resembles who you want to be. First impressions can be as important as careful research in the search -- if you don't connect with the feel and mood of a campus, it's unlikely you'll feel comfortable. Once you find that place that connects with you present and future, keep in mind that college admissions is not about scoring you along one dimension. Different colleges are right for different people, and if you don't get it it's not because you're not good enough -- it's probably because you'll fit in even better someone else. The worst mistake you can make is to not make enough mistakes. Take risks and live fully. You cannot learn how much studying is enough without taking your first exam, and you cannot learn how late you can stay up until you sleep through an alarm. College is as much about learning your subjects as it is yourself.