<p>If you will be attending Yale in the fall, or if you are considering applying to Yale next year, I would like to propose a list of things that you shouldn’t be too obsessed about:
The possibility of double majoring. You might want to double major; some people do. But you don’t have to double major to prove you are interested in two (or more subjects). You can do one major, and simply take courses in the other major–you can later tell prospective employers you have done this. Even if Yale doesn’t call it a minor, you can essentially do it anyway. You can also create an interdisciplinary major.
Directed Studies. DS is great and a lot of students really enjoy it. But you don’t have to do DS to get the most out of Yale, or to be considered a serious student. Do it only if it really matches your interest, not to show that you’re a super-student.
The “weakness” of STEM majors at Yale. Other colleges may have stronger programs in some STEM fields, but you’re not going to be shut out of the job market if you choose to go to Yale. The same goes for virtually any other potential major. Plus, you may change your major anyway.
Crime in New Haven. Read the zillions of prior threads about it, but the bottom line is that this is not a good reason to avoid Yale.</p>
<p>I have no direct connection with Yale. Just an admirer from afar. I hope someone knowledgeable could beef up point #3 in the original post, if that would be justifiable.</p>
<p>The point there is that people should not obsess with the weakness of STEM majors at Yale because:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>“you’re not going to be shut out of the job market if you choose to go to Yale”, and</p></li>
<li><p>“you may change your major anyway”.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Is there anything to be said about this point that might be more reassuring?</p>
<ol>
<li>“STEM classes are taught just as badly everywhere else.”</li>
</ol>
<p>But actually, with the exception of a couple introductory courses taught by TA’s, I’ve had very good experiences with STEM at Yale. Because most STEM departments are small, there’s a very good student/faculty ratio (like, in my major, the average class size of 5-10). There are still world-renowned professors who teach mostly higher level classes, and because departments are small, professors are very accessible, both for help in classes and for research mentorship. And because Yale is trying to expand STEM, there’s grant money for summer or term-time research for just about everyone who applies and has a mentor.
Plus, if you’re concerned that an undergrad STEM major doesn’t have as many classes as it would at a place like MIT or is not advanced enough, undergrads have complete access to grad departments; beginning sophomore/junior year, lots of people take classes through the grad schools. You’re not going to run out of classes.</p>
Just thought I’d bring this back up, and add that you don’t need to obsess over furnishing or decorating your suite. New Haven is not on the moon; you can get stuff after you arrive.
That’s a good point about changing majors. I don’t know of specific data on this but bet a reasonably high percentage of students end up majoring in something different than they first thought.
That has always struck me as a downside of colleges where students have to apply to a specific major coming out of high school, and where it can be very difficult to change to something like CS later.
No need to stress about whether you are as smart as everyone else. Unless you are seriously self delusional, each incoming student feels the same. Yale rarely makes admittance mistakes as evidenced by its 98-99% gradution rate. You will blossom, grow and thrive at Yale. You may hit bumps, but there are many, many supports so USE THEM if needed. Good luck and welcome!!!