<p>Get out? No deposit? I just assumed they would require one…are they confident? Wow, must be nice to be Yale! DD is still undecided so she will be going very close to that 5/1 date. B-) </p>
<p>FWIW: Yale is not alone in not requiring a deposit. Neither Harvard or Princeton require one as well – it’s just the way things are done at some schools. </p>
<p>Good evening!</p>
<p>I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to be visiting Yale for the forthcoming admit weekend. It was such an emotional and exhilarating day (well…middle of the night!) for us to receive this amazing news. We are new to the US system having spent much of our lives in London before moving to Dubai. My daughter has been schooled in the UK system and the application process has been an adventure to say the least. And we’re delighted with the result 
Anyway… I jumped at the invite from my daughter to accompany her since we are flying from Dubai. </p>
<p>Are there many parents coming or do most Admits travel alone? We didn’t get a chance to visit before application so we are planning to make the most of the days.</p>
<p>Parents of past admits: what are the talks I should definitely not miss out on? Do you have any advice or tips on getting the best out of the parents programme? What were your highlights? </p>
<p>I had a quick look through the programme and a priority on my list so far is the campus tour and tour of New Haven.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>@DXBMUM, my very unscientific poll at an admitted students event had 9 out of 10 parents intending to attend BDD. The fact that it’s a roughly two hour drive from this area is undoubtedly a factor. Congratulations btw!</p>
<p>We did not attend BDD (but that is mainly because we had already visited and done a tour). I think it is completely at your discretion. My husband and I are both attending our son’s two admitted students’ days this time around, but he is our last :)</p>
<p>Hi we will can’t make BBDs (son has to row, this is the big time for that) but the whole family is going this summer first to New York for a holiday then to New Haven for a few days to shop for him if he needs anything and drop him off for August 22 when we will hug and generally embarass him. There are so many things that I want to see there so we’ve booked a hotel for all of us, his sib included, for a few days. They sent a brochure to him yesterday about Sciences and Engineering that totally confirmed he is making the absolutely right choice.</p>
<p>thanks Ixnaybob - it really is an amazing feeling…will be so different than UK (well maybe the weather is better!) and the Middle East.</p>
<p>Well I plan to be on campus when the birds tweet and just soak it all up. I will definitely be back in August to settle her in…then for a week after that you’ll find me walking the streets with calcified tear streams on my cheeks. Am so happy for her - its what we bring up our kids for isn’t it really? </p>
<p>She is our first… then i turn back and have to go through the whole process again for my son. </p>
<p>A question for existing Yale parents and for those who have accepted: how did you or child know it was absolutely the right choice? Its quite scary! Was it straightforward Oldladyandmom?</p>
<p>She has other US and UK choices too…</p>
<p>@DXBMUM we didn’t necessarily “know” Yale was right for our daughter; she had several great choices, and made this choice herself. Coincidentally, we were just visiting an admitted students’ event yesterday for our youngest, and the advice given was once you’ve narrowed it down to the ones that are the top options “let your child make the final decision based on his or her feelings” given that they are choosing between great options. I think that’s right. </p>
<p>sorry i didn’t literally mean that you (as in you as a parent) chose where your child should go. </p>
<p>@donnaleighg - The advice you give is spot on and that’s what we/she’ll try to do after the visits.</p>
<p>Anyway…i am really looking forward to the Admit Days. 1000+ parents! is it quite a sociable few days? </p>
<p>
DS was asked as he contemplated additional applications during RD round (having been accepted SCEA to Yale): “if you could trade your Yale acceptance for acceptance to any other school, which one would you select?” He thought for a bit and came back with: “no other school is a better fit than Yale.” So, we suggested that he enjoy his senior spring and be supportive to his classmates who were having a stressful time. </p>
<p>He probably would have preferred Boston to New Haven (who knows though), I’m sure that California weather is hard to beat, his girlfriend will be at UPenn, his best friend will be at Dartmouth, etc., but the fit was Yale. </p>
<p>DXBMUM, Both of our kids called home sometime during the few months to tell us about some amazing thing that had just happened to them, which was one of those magical “Yale experience” type things–something they probably would not have experienced anywhere else. Hearing the awe and excitement in their voices said “right choice” to us. Another moment for you will be when you visit after they have been there for awhile and they show you around with total familiarity and ease. It will feel like the perfect fit.</p>
<p>@DXBMUM He was a rowing recruit and went to official visits at 4 other schools as well as Yale and he told us hands down it was the experience at Yale from everyone being friendly to him, wanting to know about him, the team the coaches, that he loved - he applied SCEA and no where else he just loved it and knew </p>
<p>My son is arriving tomorrow for BDD. LaGuardia to Yale is using CT Limo shuttle service and already arranged and paid with a confirmation email. Coming back he needs a 4 am pick up to go to Westchester airport and I called 3 different taxi service. A-Limo company $195 including tip, Metro Taxi $135 no tip included and NH taxi $130 also no tip included. A-Limo I can pay over the phone with cc, the other 2 It’ll be cash. Has anyone here used them? He’s coming back really early on Thursday to load the bus back home to go HS State Championship Water Polo games.</p>
<p>We have used Metro Taxi and have found them to be reliable. Note that most of the taxi companies in the area will take payment with credit or debit cards in the cab if your son will be carrying one with him.</p>
<p>^thank you</p>
<p>Just arrived in New Haven for Bulldog Days (starts tomorrow) and a friend asked my daughter to meet at 10pm for an event in one of the residential colleges. We are staying at the Omni and I do not feel comfortable having her walk there and back alone. Am I being a crazy, overprotective parent? I think I’ll walk her to Branford and ask the boy to walk her back to the hotel afterwards. I want her to have fun since she has not yet committed to Yale but not totally comfortable with neighborhood. </p>
<p>GeorgeBailey, I would walk with her to Phelps Gate by Old Campus. That way she can walk through Old Campus safely over to Branford. I would have him walk her back to hotel afterwards, or have her call you from Phelps Gate and you can meet her. I don’t think you’re being overprotective at all.</p>
<p>@GeorgeBailey I’m sure the security for the next 3 days has been revamped for the amount of people they are expecting. However, is not a bad idea if more than 1 friend come to the hotel to get her and walk her over to whatever RC they are going, with the idea they will walk her back. Omni is within the perimeters of Yale so I don’t see a problem. Again I haven’t being there but that was the hotel I was going to stay if I had gone. Have fun and I’m so jealous, I should’ve gone:(</p>
<p>Thanks Clairmom and Saoana63! Helpful suggestions and I appreciate the responses!</p>