<p>I had fun reading that old thread again. We went through the same thing when D got in last spring. DH got the “The Yale Yale?” I usually prep with a slow, well … actually … she got into Yale. Just a pause with a few words before the Yale. Don’t know if it helps or not. I have used in CT for a neighbor who was so overwhelmed with her own life I knew it would suffice. I often get, “I never knew anyone who went to Yale.” A year later, when sharing the news I follow up with, “It has been a great match for her.” Then tell them about her ECs. That fills the awkward silence. Then I ask about them or their kid and move the conversation on to other topics.</p>
<p>Agree with the later posters on the thread T2 posted. Growing up in Massachusetts, I always hated it when people who went to Harvard would say “in Boston” or “in Cambridge.” Since the only people who ever say that are people who go to Harvard, it comes off to me as far worse than just saying Harvard–the implication to me was always “well I know you won’t be able to handle the news that I am so much more elite than you, so I’ll make it easier for you.” Now that I’m in the Midwest, I share the news that my kid is going to Yale exactly the way my friends share the news of their kids’ college acceptances. As I see it, those who get into such amazing institutions should suck it up and deal with the weird reactions that might come their way–a small price to pay for the tremendous privilege. And frankly, I have no illusions about why my kid got into Yale–great student and SATs blah, blah, blah, but if he hadn’t been born with the steely will and body type needed to be a good rower, he’d be headed elsewhere this fall. (As an aside, the other reaction that you get from people who hear that your child got into Yale is that their academic stats are probably lower than everyone else’s at that school–and that often comes from other admits. Again, though, small price to pay)</p>
<p>If they comment on the cost, I also let them know that it is costing us the same as it would cost to send him to the U. I look at that as a PSA–it’s shocking how many people who qualify for need-based aid don’t realize that private schools can often be as or more affordable than public. </p>
<p>I am (relatively) new to the college selection process. I attended college 35 years ago. I have to say that the organization, the staff, the process at Yale is amazing. The day my son was admitted was one of the most emotional days of my life. The day we opened the financial aid letter, I felt a great weight lift.<br>
To use a line from a Harry Chapin song. “I felt like I was starring in a Hollywood movie, or living in a good man’s dream.”</p>
<p>I am (relatively) new to the college selection process. I attended college 35 years ago. I have to say that the organization, the staff, the process at Yale is amazing. The day my son was admitted was one of the most emotional days of my life. The day we opened the financial aid letter, I felt a great weight lift.<br>
To use a line from a Harry Chapin song. “I felt like I was starring in a Hollywood movie, or living in a good man’s dream.”</p>
<p>When people ask where my kids go to school, I pause and say “They won the college lottery.” That gives them a moment before I hit with them with the news.</p>
<p>Gibby, I’m going to borrow that line. It works for audiences that know nothing about the process all the way to people for whom the process is an obsession. </p>
<p>Thank you guys for a good laugh:) @oldladyandmom and @T26E4:))<br>
I’ve been lucky to have received great reactions from our friends. I’m a swim/waterpolo mom and for the last 6 months everyone is asking where he’s going. He’s well known all around about his academics, it’s not a secret. But never in a million years did I ever think my son was going to be accepted to so many amazing schools, never.<br>
He’s right now in NY visiting Columbia, but his heart is at Yale and once he comes back from Bulldog days I’ll let him make the choice. In the meantime, if anybody asks I will answer with the pride of 2 immigrant parents with no college education that my son goes to Yale!!! </p>
<p>On another note. My son is flying for Bulldog Days to LaGuardia and I already arranged a shuttle service to take him to New Haven. However, my problem is on his way back. Thursday the 24th he has a flight at 6:30 am out of Westchester because he needs to be here before noon to load the bus heading for HS waterpolo state championship. When I look for transportation it costs like $150!!! and that’s only about an hour ride. Can anybody recommend taxi service or anybody that can pick up my son from Yale at about 4 am and bring him to airport??? Please parents I need help on this…</p>
<p>^^ I would call Admissions and ask for a recommendation. Taxi services are going to charge about the same, as not many students will be traveling to the same airport at that hour. </p>
<p>Welcome to the Yale Parent club. 
We’re from a small town in the Midwest, where almost everyone college-bound goes to one of the state schools, and after having two sons go through Yale we’re almost used to the big pause and facial expressions we encounter when we say…Yale. For awhile there would be an awkward silence that we would try to fill in some way, feeling almost guilty for no explainable reason. We would also get, now where exactly is Yale again? Later on we began saying, he goes to Yale University in Connecticut, and then people would say, oh, okay! It would take them awhile to process that we meant…Yale, yes, the Yale. Our son is graduating in May, and we’re getting those reactions from people all over again when they ask where he is graduating from. But, yes, we can add now something about the great experiences he has had or how much he has loved it. :)</p>
<p>@Clarimom I would love to hear his experience</p>
<p>@saona63 This time of year the risk is minimal, but for future reference, Westchester airport can be iffy-- it tends to close down if it smells like snow, or rain, or fog. So just have in the back of your mind that things may go south for his trip back and try not to get too freaked out about it. Life goes on. Good luck!</p>
<p>Hello! My first post to the Yale Parents Thread! We are buying tickets for BDD’s today! Son is still trying to choose between top two choices but he has never been to Yale (didn’t really think he would get in) and we want him to experience Yale before he decides.</p>
<p>Welcome, MWstringmom!</p>
<p>Welcome new Yale parents!
@Saona63 – not sure if it’s an option for your son, but Bradley International Airport in Hartford is also about an hour ride from campus. There is a shuttle service (Connecticut Limo) that charges $42 one way for Yale students. </p>
<p>I am a new soon-to-be-Yale parent, keep my fingers crossed. My son is currently considering Yale and another Ivy. Every day I wish he would tell me that he has made the decision to attend Yale, but I am biting my tongue to not influence him one way or another. Yale clearly offers a better option for what he is interested in. Our problem is that when we visited 2 years ago, we somehow ended up at a place that didn’t look that great. H and I went to college in Illinois and had been to East St. Louis a couple of times. I seriously had a similar feeling that day and was hoping the traffic lights keep green so we didn’t have to stop. Our next stop was the other Ivy he is now considering and had a completely different experience. I think this is the only thing holding up his decision. Unfortunately he can’t go to the BDD but we will revisit both schools next week when he is on spring break.</p>
<p>@Riverview, you will find places like that almost everywhere. He just need to know his surroundings and I’m sure Yale has excellent security. My son is also considering 2 and right now is in NY visiting Columbia and he’ll visit BDD. Hopefully he’ll have a good experience. Good luck to your son, I’m sure whatever decision he makes will be the right one:)</p>
<p>They’ll all likely have a great experience at Bulldog Days. I remember when my son came back from it (six years ago) and was telling us all the great stuff that happened there. “How was the weather?” I asked. “Oh, yeah, it rained the whole time.” It didn’t matter.</p>
<p>@saona63,
For future reference, it seems to be easiest to fly in or out of JFK or LaGuardia because there are shuttle companies (Go Shuttle, CT Limo, and many others) that do the route from Yale to JFK or LGA. Price is around $54 - $68 one way for shuttle.</p>
<p>^Thank you. I realize that now:) But guess what parents, my son came back last night from visiting Columbia and he “came back in love with the school” he says is perfect and he is not very expressive and not much impresses him. For him to say that takes a lot. I know Columbia had a packed weekend for them and obviously worked. Let’s see what BDD bring. Racing to the end line</p>