Bulldog Days gives students a nice jumpstart on the process of identifying campus groups and activities they’d like to join. My kids (who were already committed by then) went and found it very useful (as well as fun).
I’m feeling happy for all the parents of new Yalies today… I’d like them to know that this thread is written by very nice people who wish them the best, and want to be helpful. (Just like the Yale student body?)
As someone who has used Tweed, White Plains, Hartford, LGA, JFK and have kids who have used EWR, I can’t say the current connection through Philadelphia to Tweed makes a lot of sense. An incoming flight delay will make you miss the connection and the travel time usually exceeds a single flight plus ground connection. Decades ago we had non-stop flights from Chicago to New Haven and those made a lot more sense. Unfortunately the shuttle services to campus have an unreliable schedule. Flights on United with a destination of “ZVE” go to EWR and include an easy Amtrak connection to New Haven. If I were a student today looking for a speedy trip I would fly to Hartford and try to find 1-2 students on arrival going to Yale to share an Uber.
@ItsJustSchool Like someone else said, BDD is extremely well orchestrated and MEANT to try to sway you and your family to fall in love with Yale. That said, don’t think that what they present for those 3 days veers that greatly from the day to day vibe of the students and campus. Although many years ago, when I first visited, it was in Feb of my senior HS year. The overt friendliness and enthusiasm of the average student really stood out – even though I was an unknown, likely to never be seen again, visiting HS student from nowhere. I thought: “What are Kool Aid are they drinking here?” Without prompting, several random freshmen simply engaged me about how wonderful a time they were having, how they remember being in my shoes as a senior and wishing me the best of luck in and hoping that I get in. It made a huge impression as no other school I visited had this quality.
I would second what everyone is saying. Although my own DS seems to be leaning in another direction for his college choice, I just got news of a classmate of his who will be attending Yale (got in yesterday) and she is absolutely the sweetest student, and so smart and really the kind of person who builds a terrific community.
I am so excited! One of my past cheerleaders and the sweetest person was accepted yesterday. Such an amazing showing from our little regional school. My daughter is so excited for her! I still can’t help but feel really sad for all of the rejections. There seem to be so many this year on the CC board. I also find it interesting where kids that were rejected from Yale were accepted to. Especially the ones accepted to other Ivy schools. It really nails home the idea that each school has a type and every person will fit where they were accepted. My heart really breaks for those that felt they were an easy shoe in because this may be the first true reality check they have ever had in their lives. I see a trend in being humble in not only the accepted students but in all of my daughter’s classmates. Perhaps that was their downfall.
@Faulkner1897 thanks for sharing… I happen to know that there are others on this page that will appreciate this particular video as their kid is in it. 
(and its not mine)
@YaleGradandDad I agree depending on where you are flying from. From here the airport claims to have direct flights to NY area, but most are one stop so may as well lay over in Philly. Going to Tweed is nice (again if you catch a good price) since it starts in home town and ends in New Haven where there has almost always been someone around to come get D. She does like Hartford and has a car and for short trips without bad winter weather she can drive and leave car at Harford or get someone to take her and it’s pretty easy and heading away from NYC. She has also done the megabus and Harford airport connector which is cheap, but adds several steps.
Greetings!; We live in Bay Area, CA and our daughter got into Yale 2020. We are planning to attend BBD during 4/25 to 4/27; I am ready to dip into this pool of wisdom of all yale parents. I am thinking of flying to Newark , renting a car to drive to Yale, staying in new haven hotel. Any suggestions / feedback please? Is flying into JFK better option?
Flying to Hartford is easier, if the price isn’t too high. Unfortunately, there are no non stop flights. And, you might just check on those American flights to Tweed/New Haven. They were the same price as Hartford in May.
If you’re going to have a car, you may be able to save $$$ by staying outside New Haven, especially for big weekends like family weekend, the Harvard-Yale game, and commencement. This may be true for Bulldog Days as well; it’s worth checking. If you do stay right in New Haven, the hotels nearest the campus, and that are nice, are the Courtyard by Marriott, the Omni, and the Study. (At least, those are the ones we’ve tried.)
To echo @Hunt, I would avoid the La Quinta (it’s not really IN New Haven, at least not walkable to Yale) and the one time we tried it it was absolutely filthy; The Hampton in Milford is pretty convenient if you have a car (10 miles) and priced quite a lot less than the NH hotels.
Once my daughter graduates, I will reveal our near-campus parking secrets.
@Hunt Where’s the unhelpful button when you need it?
@classicalmama East Rock. One mile or less to Woolsey, for example.
On ordinary trips to Yale, I’ve always been able to find metered parking within a block or so of old campus. During Bulldog days, and other special events, they usually have free parking at the lots up on science hill and provide afree parents shuttle to get you down to the main part of campus.
Park behind E.S.T. Pizza for $10.00 corner of Chapel/Park. They also have pretty darn good food too!
Corner of Elm & Temple (across from the NHPL) there is a lot of that is free after 4:30pm. And I believe on weekends.
Hi: I have a few questions about Bulldog Days. (I haven’t seen an actual schedule which might answer these questions.) Are there things for parents to do all three days? If my husband and I are only able to come for part of the time, is it better to come for the first day or last day? It is hard for us to get away from work and I am trying to see whether we could go up for a day, drop off our daughter and then return home. Thank you in advance.
I would vote for the last day of Bulldog Days if your schedule only allows one day, but if it’s feasible there is plenty for parents to do all three days. At least last year, on the last day there was a parent panel on student life, a session on study abroad, two time slots for classes, and a pizza party.
Yale was my daughter’s first choice all along, so BDD was pre-orientation rather than something to inform her decision. It was still a fun and worthwhile few days.
Last year there was a preliminary schedule out by this time on the admitted students site, but I’m not sure about this year.
The BDD schedule is on the admitted student’s site–or it was when I pulled it up a couple weeks ago.