<p>mijehar, I don’t know what gave you that impression! I am absolutely in love with Yale, I’m just trying to be real that there are advantages and disadvantages to everything. </p>
<p>I feel like my posts have been very positive. </p>
<p>With regard to different departments being stronger than others, I think that’s true at any University. Math does seem to suck, that’s the general consensus from my non-math major friends who have taken math classes. But there are math majors here so I guess they find their way. Note that I use the word “seem,” I’ve never taken a math class here, and I kind of hate math in the first place! The English, History, Humanities, Philosophy, Political Science, Chemistry, Biology, Art, Art History, Music, Theater Studies, Environmental Engineering and Biomedical engineering departments all have really high marks from my friends. I myself am a Classics major, and though I love some of the professors in it, right now (meaning this current semester) the offerings are limited–2 professors are on leave and the 3 professors they’ve hired won’t start until this fall. I am excited for that. I am obviously a little more critical of the department in which I’m in since I know its ins and outs. I wouldn’t major in it if I weren’t pleased. </p>
<p>I don’t think I ever said that some of the professors aren’t very good, but maybe I’m wrong. I’ve absolutely fallen butt-crazy in love with some of my professors. They’re all really brilliant. </p>
<p>In fact, the professor-quality here is one of my favorite aspects of Yale so far. Some of them care so much for their students that they take them out to dinner, go out for coffee with them, etc. Some professors are more aloof but you still learn a great deal from them. And some of the professors (gasp!) are kinda hot!</p>
<p>I also love the social scene here. </p>
<p>I am great friends with my roommate and I have a strong bond with a lot of other people. </p>
<p>It’s true–JE does suck. That’s its motto (“JE Sux”). But I mentioned upsides to it–it will be renovated, it’s a rich college, and the freshmen live in Farnam. It also has a good location. There are problems with its current dilapidated state, however. But remember, I’m kind of phrasing this in comparison with other residential colleges like Berkeley, Saybrook, Branford, etc., which really are much much nicer by virtue of being renovated. </p>
<p>Am I supposed to love every residential college? </p>
<p>Yes, I do have a tendency to sensationalize what I’m thinking. </p>
<p>I do think that Harvard, Yale, and Princeton are the same in many ways at the core, but have very different “feels” about them. I for one applied to all 3 and I would have more than happily gone to all three. I really like Harvard, but the party scene [of which I am part] is not that big there. I love Princeton’s campus and academics, too. I think what sets Yale apart is the real sense of community here. </p>
<p>I was talking to a Ph. D student in English who received her BA from Harvard. She absolutely loved Harvard and would not have gone anywhere else, but she likes Yale too for its community and social scene. She doesn’t like New Haven all that much, and that’s fair enough for her. I don’t love New Haven, but living in a semi-urban environment has its perks. I like knowing that where I am is not just defined by my school, but also has qualities of its own–some of the greatest restaurants in CT, for example. </p>
<p>Yale also has some great Extracurricular Activities to speak of. Its a capella groups are amazing, and seductive. There are so many you would think everyone at Yale could sing great. I also love to go see Yale’s improv comedy shows–too funny sometimes. I’ve never been to a theater performance yet, surprisingly, but I’m not much of a theater person anyway so I’m not the best person to ask. Apparently it’s good. </p>
<p>It would be sensationalist of me not to list some problems with Yale–it’s not for everyone. I think that the hardcore mathematician would be better fit for MIT. I think the free-spirit who wants no part in math/science would be better at Brown, if only because the QR and Sci requirements can get in the way. </p>
<p>I’m only giving you my perspective. Everyone is going to have a different one. Most people I know really love Yale. </p>
<p>I missed Yale when I went home for Christmas. I even went back early! Some people who had a harder first semester [don’t take on too many EC’s guys, and making staff reporter for the Yale Daily News is a LOT of work!] were a little more stressed out. </p>
<p>By all means, apply to Yale and if you get in come to Bulldog Days because that’s a good way to meet people. The people, in the end, should be the deciding factor, not whether or not JE sucks. If you feel like you could see yourself here, then by all means come! Don’t come if you feel pressured or if you like another Univ. better, because there will always be that lingering feeling that you should have gone somewhere else.</p>