<p>Im have a dilemna. I applied to Yale through the common app, and submitted(payed for as well) the application. As I looked more at Yale I found that it was not particularly strong in Electrical Engineering, and decided not to bother with the supplement, but rather concentrate on my other school applications. Now though I get a letter from Yale asking for my supplement and I wonder if I should make the effort to write the essay. I question if it would even be worth it…would my degree be respected from Yale…would I be happy as an engineering student at Yale… ? I’d like to know if I’d be happy at Yale, as I know so little about the school beyond the media. Lastly, a comparison between Yale and Princeton’s atmposphere would be nice. Im attraced to Yale for its Political nature, but Princeton for its engineering and undergrad concentration.</p>
<p>I don’t know you, so there’s no way to know if you’d be happy at Yale. What are you planning to do with your engineering degree? Grad school? An engineering job? Graduate and get an MBA and go into a tech business? Go to law school? A lot of kids from ivys get engineering degrees as a background for future study. If this is what you want, Yale would be fabulous, as it’s a very broadening experience, and whatever others may say, is VERY undergraduate oriented. If you want to be a practicing engineer right after a BS degree, then there are better schools.<br>
I guess my advice is to do the supplement and use it as a chance to see if you’re a good fit for their program. You can also contact faculty (and students) and talk to them about it after you get in, before you decide. Because it’s a small department, you’ll get TONS of attention. Keep your options open until you investigate further.
The one student I know who is in engineering is planning to go to grad school, and wanted a broader undergrad experience before specializing. Yale grads do very well getting into good graduate programs.</p>
<p>Im attracted to Princeton for its undergrad concentration.</p>
<p>Yale College is only slightly larger than Princeton, and the classes are actually smaller at Yale than at Princeton. Yale most definitely has a close-knit environment for undergraduates, arguably moreso than Princeton.</p>
<p>Engineering is a field where you will get a job and it will pay the same as the other hires, wherever you go to college. If you are going to get employed after college, I wouldn’t worry about that too much. None of the Ivies are particularly strong at engineering, but if you’re not at MIT you’re going to get the same job opportunities as the other northeastern schools, Ivy or not.</p>
<p>LoL, thanks ASAP…who said you dont know me! You’re right in that I dont intend on becoming solely an engineer, but rather I am planning on taking my engineering degree and going into either buisness, law, and/or politics. Its also nice to hear that Yale has a small department. I am in many ways being pushed into the UC system, being a Californian native, and outside of California I have only applied to Princeton and MIT. As to being happy at Yale, I have yet to meet any alumni from the school! To be honest most of what I know about the school is from mass media, and statistics. As of now my ideal Ivy school is Princeton for its engineering dept and Woodrow Wilson school. I would like brief overview of anything particular that stands out at Yale over other schools. My general impression has been a school made up of old-boys clubs, and new-englander types. I know that this is in no way a fair representation of Yale, or any school for that matter. Essentially, Im looking for a reason that makes Yale “not just another world class-commercialized school”. Also one major concern I have is being a minority at the school. I happen to be a first generation Persian, and in what way I may or may not fit in with the school. Thanks</p>
<p>joemama, that would make him a so-called “double-minority” at any top school in America save a few like MIT and Cooper Union (where engineers are not actually minorities).</p>
<p>I took classes there this summer and even though I’m too dumb to be able to get in on the regular term, I still [really] feel an attachment to the college, and I am going to work my ass off as an undergrad to try for graduate school there. </p>
<p>There are a ton of things to do if you look a little, the campus is absolutely beautiful, the people aren’t nearly as stuck-up as I thought they would be, and everybody is SO smart - it is a really really wonderful atmosphere to learn in, and I am sure you would love these aspects. As for engineering school, I do not know a whole lot about the programs themselves, but I have been into the eng. building and it is a very modern building, so they seem to be right on top of technology.</p>
<p>I think you will find that most prospective employers (and even graduate schools) do not care where you got your undergrad degree from - the ‘importance’ of getting a degree from a prominent college is much smaller now than in past years. Still, I cannot think of anybody who would NOT like it there. It is a very engaging (and challenging) atmosphere, and lives up to its reputation</p>
<p>"You’re right in that I dont intend on becoming solely an engineer, but rather I am planning on taking my engineering degree and going into either buisness, law, and/or politics. "</p>
<p>In that case, Yale would be ideal. I can’t tell you too much about Princeton of today (although I was there with my husband when he was there for grad school many years ago) but my D visited both and felt that Yale’s admosphere was much more diverse, less preppy and fratish, and overall a better fit for her than Princeton. She’s also a native Californian and has had no trouble adjusting to the east coast. The other students rooming with her were from North Carolina, Maryland, and Brazil, and another good friend came as a freshman after a year at Berkeley. She has made some wonderful friendships and says the students there are overall amazing. Yale is much more diverse than the California Unis, as they pride themselves in taking kids from around the world. She’s really loved her classes and her professors, some whom she’s been able to get to know fairly well. She feels there is a lot of advice from profs, (College masters and advisors) and that she could do just about anything she might want to do there. Most of the students are involved in school activities and clubs in a big way - the website will give you an idea of the wide range of activities. She was not an extremely social person in high school, but has become one at Yale because there is so much to do!</p>
<p>To Joemama - an engineering degree is an excellent undergrad degree from someone wanting a career relating to the sciences, but at a level removed, such as a lawyer for a software corporation or on the business end. It’s a very wise choice in this climate, imo.</p>
<p>I think that an engineering degree would serve me the best period. A pre-professional track is inflexible compared to an engineering degree. As an added bonus I have the ability to go into an assortment of other fields, niche markets, and have high paying work out the door. Besides that engineering can be some of the most rewarding(yet most unappreciated) work when one sees his products being used to the enjoyment of so many: Ipods, dvd players, computers, contact lenses, streets, hybrid cars, etc… .Most importantly I love technolgy, and have been a silicon valley native from day one. My interests though aren’t just rooted in engineering. I need a place where I an combine both my passions into a single pursuit, and thats been a major driving factor for me to look outside of the state to the ivy league. Im blessed for living in a state that has such vast academic oppurtunities available to the public, but unfortunatly with the exception of Stanford, I wont have access to the facilites I need at massive public universities. Also, oddly some schools put me into a Caucasian grouping and some list me as a minority.</p>
<p>The thing is…why did you apply to Yale in the first place when you clearly didn’t know that much about it? That makes me think you are applying for the wrong reasons (name). On the flip side, you probably won’t care if you don’t get in, which is healthy. In any case, since you already gave them your $75, you might as well complete your app.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help everyone, Ill write up and send the supplement tomorrow (Physics midterm tonight). Seeing as the topic is on community service, Im going to be writing about my activies involving my Persian Heritage. LoL, Im hoping that’s something the adcoms will want to see, and hopfully get my foot in the door. Any further suggestions would be welcome :). Looks like I want to attend Yale afterall…</p>
<p>As for the thought I was applying for the wrong reasons…far from it! I took a lot of time and effort researching schools I would apply to. If I didn’t feel some connection to the school on some level I would have stopped right there. Yale was enigmatic for me though. It ended up being my one leap of faith, just on gut instinct. Afterall money can always be made, but there are somethings that only come once and one must leap at when presented with the chance.</p>