Curiosity at the Ivies

Colleges & Universities Yale University
1

<p>Hello! I’ll try to be succinct so you don’t have to waste all day answering me…</p>

<p>The beginning and the end of my desire to be at a school like Yale is learning. I really dunno why, but there’s nothing that quite enthralls me like discovering. Finding out about new things and the way they work and other parts of the world and strange obscure things I never knew about and all that–I love it. </p>

<p>I’m frankly not all interested in the Ivies because of all the cool advantages professional advantages they’ll offer me. Of course that’s not 100% true, those opportunities are to abundant and awesome to not drool over a bit. But in the end, I think I’m smart enough to make whatever profession I decide happen. I’m interested in places like Yale because I want to be around other people who like to learn; I want to sit up in my dorm room all night talking about the philosophical undertones of the Harry Potter series or the untimely death of Lonesome George or silly stuff like that. </p>

<p>So I guess my question is… Do these types of schools have a lot of people like me in this respect? If not, do such places exist? </p>

<p>Thanks so much for your time!!</p>

2

<p>Last year, my son added this note to his Yale financial aid renewal application: </p>

<p>“I seem to have lucked out with my housing situation. My dorm is on the first floor, right by the stairs. The door is often left open, and many members of the entryway drop in daily. At night, a large group of us gather in our room, where, for hours, we end up debating random topics: universal morality and the nature of infinity to which flavor of “Easy Mac” tastes the best. While sometimes frustrating, the discussions are almost always thought provoking. I’ve never been more thankful to be surrounded by highly intelligent people.” </p>

<p>So, yes such places do exist!</p>

<p>EDIT: For the record: I have another child at a different ivy, and she desperately wishes she had this kind of social atmosphere at her school. What you are seeking occurs at Yale, but unfortunately, it’s not happening at all the ivies.</p>

3

<p>^what ivy might that be?</p>

4

<p>Alphabetically it’s after Dartmouth and before Penn. ;)</p>

5

<p>^^ Yes, that one!</p>

6

<p>What a cool anecdote gibby! Glad I stumbled on this. I’ve talked to quite a few recent alumni now, some of chose between HYP, none regretted a single moment at Yale (except one who wished he became more serious about academics his first two years). Can’t say I’ve heard any other school yet with everyone giving completely energetic and positive reviews about living there for four years.</p>

7

<p>In defense of the students at that school between Dartmouth and before Penn, many of the houses are architecturally such that it really does not lend itself to random entryway mates dropping in. Many of the rooms are unfortunately saddled with doors that slam shut if you don’t prop them open. Space matters a lot, and I’ve had many interesting conversations in the dining halls with friends and classmates. But I agree that the housing setup…esp the tower-entryways…leaves much to be desired…</p>

8

<p>Those kinds of long, wide-ranging conversations are one of my favorite memories from Yale, and that’s still the way things are there are now.</p>

9

<p>HaikuHippo – You sound a lot like my son, who is having and loving the kind of experiences you and Gibby’s son describe. I think he is amongst his people at Yale.</p>

10

<p>My husband had to speak at a college info session at a high school and he asked my son to jot down a few things that he liked about Yale to share. With apologies for the length of this, I’ve posted his response below. I know that he loves it there, but this was heartwarming to read:</p>

<p>The Five Best Things About Yale</p>

<p>The Classes
All schools have classes that are good and classes that are bad. Almost all schools will have some interesting people in the psychology department and have failed to make economics interesting. Most schools have classes that are big and classes that are small. Yale isn’t different here. But that’s fine, because that’s not what make Yale courses so special. What makes classes at Yale so unique is the diversity, quality, and connectivity. Yale doesn’t just offer a lot of courses; it wants to make sure that you find ones that are right for you. It’s why the University has a two week shopping period at the beginning of each semester: so that students can attend a wide variety of classes in any discipline and stay from 5 minutes to two hours. It lets you check out things you never would otherwise, just in case it turns out to be something you love. And a lot of times, people find courses they love through this program that they wouldn’t have if they had to set their schedules over summer and Christmas. They love these courses because the professors care. At every level, from introductory lectures to advanced intensive seminars, they care, and the effort that they put in shows. This effort is reflected in their status: Yale has professors who have won Nobel Prizes, who were generals in the Army, and who have previously led countries, and they bring this leadership and experience to the classroom. Yet, this doesn’t mean that they sit on some lofty podium; some of my greatest learning experiences have been sitting with professors one-on-one in office hours or over coffee at Blue State. The classes at Yale don’t stop when you leave the classroom, and that’s fantastic. </p>

<p>The Opportunities
It really is incredible when I sit back and consider the amount of unique opportunities afforded to me as a result of my Yale education. I’ve had dinner with Senators. I’ve talked with national journalists, Congressmen, and world-renowned philosophers. I’ve had my residential college pay for trips to New York to see shows at the Met and on Broadway. Yale has not only provided me with the ability to see, hear from, and speak with some of the most interesting and influential people in the world, but on several occasions it has also paid for me to do so. There’s something to that, and it’s not just that they couldn’t think of any other way to blow their endowment. It’s that Yale recognizes that education doesn’t stop in the classroom; it comes in every aspect of life. As a result, members of the Yale community have been provided with opportunities, with jobs, with experiences, all of which were made possible through the efforts of others at Yale. </p>

<p>The Extracurriculars
The most difficult thing you will do at Yale won’t be your coursework (unless you take intensive chemistry. Then it’ll probably be your coursework). It won’t be tests or quizzes or lab reports. It will be figuring out what small number of the seemingly infinite number of extracurriculars you want to participate in. From the moment you walk on campus, you are surrounded by people who not only love the groups that they’re in, but want to share them with new people. Opportunities abound for individuals of almost any persuasion: like singing? Rush acapella. Like politics? check out one of the seven parties in the Yale Political Union. Like acting? Audition for a dramat show. Like Greek Life? Rush a fraternity or sorority. Best of all, like more than one? Do that. I’ve got friends who do Opera Theater and Kappa Kappa Gamma, who speak at the Yale Political Union then run off to go head the Yale chapter of the ACLU, and who sing with a Jewish acapella group then head over to juggling club practice. There’s virtually no end to the combinations, and you wouldn’t want there to be. Many of my closest friends have come from various extracurriculars I’ve been involved in, people whose community I value deeply and whose friendship I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t been involved. And the best part is, they weren’t all extracurriculars I joined freshman year. I’ve gotten involved in brand new extracurriculars both my sophomore and junior year, and fit in as easily as if I had always been involved. Not only is there a lot to do, but a lot of new things to do every year, and being able to choose the extracurriculars that I have has been a tremendously rewarding experience. </p>

<p>The Environment
The second that you walk on Yale’s campus, you can tell that you’re someplace special. From the residential colleges that are basically castles to the libraries that range from a cathedral to an underground expanse to a floating marble prism, buildings at Yale just look like, well, buildings at Yale. Everything feels important, yet somehow not intimidating. While at Yale, I’ve had access to some of the most incredible facilities in the country, from concert halls that once hosted wartime broadcasts during World War II to the largest gymnasium in the Western Hemisphere. But outside of the buildings, there is space to just do things. People set up frisbee games, protest rallys, and movie screenings on Cross Campus. People organize showcases and cultural events in WLH. Commons welcomes thousands of Yalies daily to its massive wood-paneled halls for lunch, and the Whale hosts the Ice Hockey teams in the winter. Don’t know what some of those terms are? Don’t worry, you find out within hours of being here. The people at Yale love Yale, and we love sharing it with other people. Yale’s not just a great school, it’s a great school to be at, and I think the combination of both those things is both rare and special, and it’s something that you’ll find from the moment you first walk through Phelps Gate. </p>

<p>The People
Ask one hundred on a college campus right now why they chose to go to that college, and you’ll get 100 different answers that range from the classes to the location to the cost. Some people go to continue on a family legacy, others go to be the first in their family to do so. I chose Yale not because it was the best school (but it is) nor because of its classes (but they’re great) nor because of its location (but…actually, no one chooses Yale because of its location). I chose Yale for the same reason I chose the high school that I did: because the first time that I walked on campus, there was this indescribable sense of place. I’ve been to a bunch of different universities, a bunch of different campuses in different cities and states, and I’ve never felt the feeling that I experienced my first time on Yale’s campus, and every time I’ve come back since. It’s a feeling of connection, of unity, of belonging, and I credit that first and foremost to the people here. By people, I mean professors and mentors, advisors and Masters and Deans, but I primarily mean students. I don’t think it’s a lofty oversell to say that students here care about each other, because they do. You meet people who you’re comfortable sharing your life and your life story with, who are just as willing to support you at political events as you are to support them on the soccer field, who drag you to classes during shopping period because “no, seriously, this is actually the best class ever.” And even if they were wrong about that Ethics class, you’re still grateful, because they cared enough to get you in the room. My friends at Yale have shared in my victories and my defeats, and I’ve shared in theirs. We’ve done so, as groups of peers, classmates, and friends have done so across Yale’s campus, because that’s what Yale is: a shared experience, made better by the people you have the opportunity to share it with. I can’t count the number of times I’ve told friends back home about something I’ve done, or something I’ve seen, or someone I’ve met, and had them be impressed by the fact I had that chance. Yale’s great for that. But it’s better for letting me go to those things with other Yalies. There is a bond, a community, a feeling here that I honestly don’t think exists anywhere else. Thousands of kids go to hundreds of colleges every year, and most of them wind up at the right place for them. For me, that was Yale, and I knew that from the first time I set foot on campus. Part of it was the opportunities, part of it was the extracurriculars, part of it was my admittedly bourgeoise love for wood paneled halls and gothic architecture with heavy metal gates. But really, I knew it because of the people, because of the Yalies, that I got to meet inside those gates. And that is what makes Yale truly special.</p>

11

<p>Dartmouth student here, just finished my first term! From what I’ve been able to understand as well as from my experiences on-campus, that type of atmosphere does ‘exist’, however it’s a little difficult to come by. This may sound shocking, but honestly, most of us engage in relatively few intellectually engaging conversation with our peers on a daily basis. It’s a problem that student organizations are tackling (how to create thought-provoking dialogue), but it’s weird to think that with such a academically gifted student body (and gifted my peers are, oh my gosh you wouldn’t believe), this dialogue isn’t naturally produced. Like I said, it does occur infrequently, and I am providing merely one point of view, but it’s something to consider nonetheless.</p>

<p>But I would never discourage you from coming here, because it is a phenomenal place full of talented and motivated students, profuse in resources that are always at your disposal, and rich with professors who are passionate about their respective fields. Please apply!</p>

12

<p>Another first year Dartmouth student here, and I’ve actually had quite a different experience than tylrrvera (hey fellow '16 :D). I’ve found that if you want to have an intellectual conversation, it is extremely, extremely easy to do so. Every single night you receive multiple emails inviting you to random talks about religion, atheism, philosophy, random general topics to explore. And to participate, you need only show up and make new friends talking about interesting topics. Or feel free to go to your friend’s room and just start an intellectual conversation (or do so with multiple friends in one room). You’d be surprised how willing others are to engage in such discussions. And during the day, you receive many emails inviting you to meetings similar to the ones described earlier, except many are led by professors (I’ve been to a few, and the combination of delicious free food and awesome thought-provoking discussion is great!)</p>

<p>Of course, it is just as easy to purposely avoid intellectual discussion. Admittedly, sometimes I prefer to do this, as well. After a long week of tests sometimes I just want to sit around and talk about stupid things with my friends.</p>

<p>And sometimes, of course, you’ll find a combination of both. There have been times that I’ve been in frat basements partying fairly hard, only to sit down and talk politics, current events, and philosophy with a fellow student right there in the basement.</p>

<p>I’m sure you’ll find similar opportunities and situations at the other Ivies and many other top schools (even some that people here on CC wouldn’t consider to be “top”)</p>

13

<p>gibby, just out of curiosity, what college is your other child attending? Feel free to say you’re not comfortable responding.</p>

14

<p>^ Read posts #3-5, it’s a puzzle ;).</p>

15

<p>Not if you know your alphabet. :o</p>

16

<p>And the schools in the athletic conference :rolleyes:</p>

17

<p>You never know. Now that I think about it, I don’t think even my parents can correctly name all the schools in that athletic conference. They would probably think MIT is part of it and get all confused.</p>

<p>And wow, gibby, I had the exactly same experience as your son, which makes me so thankful today for my college choice and for all the wonderful people who came into my life to make those late night conversations about random old books or the nature of infinity possible, but it seems that I’m at the college beginning with the wrong letter of the alphabet! </p>

<p>In school we tend to spend too much time with the people we know best instead of venturing out to talk to that someone different, and in life we form opinions about things without taking into account the petty scope of our own limited world views, don’t you think so?</p>

18

<p>^^ I agree; we all form opinions based upon a limited view. A student, for example, has a limited view of their own school. A parent, on the other hand, who has a child in two different schools, is in a unique position to compare and contrast schools. Their view of the landscpe is a bit more expansive, but it is still limited. Glad to hear you had the same experiences as my son at my daughter’s school! As WindCloudUltra noted in post #7, given the architecture of the dorms, it’s more of a challenge for that to happen.</p>

19

<p>It is great to hear how wonderful Yale is in terms of spontaneous and frequent intellectual discussions. Since it is so hard to get a coveted spot there, can you readers suggest other schools where you think this happens? Where else can a student find this kind of environment as described in Gibby’s son’s note? I know there are many schools where it occurs in varying degrees … I would like to hear where it is in the fabric of the culture.</p>

20

<p>I think the fabric of any school begins at an administrative level and trickles down to the student body. For example, at Yale, during freshman move-in day, our car was literally swarmed by 30 upperclass students who unpacked our son’s belongings and carried them up to his room. Then, in the afternoon, there was a student-parent reception at the master’s house, followed by a dinner for freshman with upperclass students in their colleges. It was all capped off in the evening with a huge party for the entire campus. For my son, that kind of welcome set the “tone” of the school from the very first day – and all of it was a well orchestrated plan by the administration to create a “big-sib, little-sib” feel to the place. IMHO, it all starts with the administration, so when looking to find other schools that have a similar fabric, I would start your search there.</p>