http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/1492141-yale-vs-duke-robertson.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/15897700/#Comment_15897700
These links refer to a decision between Yale and the Duke Robertson scholarship in 2013 by the son of @Kelowna. He chose Duke, but it was a tough decision.
I think it is all about fit, but also the Robertson opportunities became too much to pass up.
The Robertson is an incredible opportunity. Think long and hard before passing it up.
Good luck!
@NCmom14 -Congrats! My son is only a freshman, so I’m not an expert. I will say that while Yale was his clear first choice, Duke was probably number 2 or 3. If he didn’t get into Yale, and ended up at Duke, I imagine he would be very happy. We are basically full-pay at Yale so this scholarship at Duke might have bumped it to the top.
Since you have a decent aid package from Yale, I’d see if he has a strong feeling after Bulldog days.
But to address your first points - it’s true that they are all some type of “superstar” but not necessarily in the same area. My feeling, based on various groups and FB pages, is that Yale has tons going on all the time. There is more to do than anyone has time for. But there also so many groups that there are lots of opportunities for kids to shine and get leadership positions in different areas. I’m sure some groups are competitive and some kids are disappointed. My son, decided to rush acapella groups as soon as he arrived. Without much prior experience, he got picked for a group and is very happy. It’s time consuming, and it means he misses some of the cool speakers, etc. but he also gets to travel internationally at no cost. Also, he got funding from Yale to do summer research with a professor (unrelated to financial aid). Some of his friends did not get the funding, but he had heard that “lots” of kids get it. I have no details on how selective it actually was.
At Duke, it sounds like some of the extras are included in the scholarship where at Yale you have to apply for them. One comment in your post that would lean towards Yale is that he isn’t into frats or sports. Those are both bigger at Duke. But, both are awesome schools, and you are in an enviable, rare position to have a full-ride merit at a top 10 school!
Congratulations @NCmom14 - what a great set of options!
Regarding one of the programs you asked about (Directed Studies), my impression is that pretty much any freshman who wants to do the program can. There is an application process and Yale reserves the right to say no, but from what my daughter has said it seems like there’s a good match between the number of spots and the number of students interested. It’s a great program but takes up a good chunk of the freshman year courses, so not everyone wants to do it.
@tonymom Current procedure at Yale is that each student gets a Yale account linked to their Yale ID card. Each semester, Yale scholarship + outside scholarships (includes everything from National Merit to Pell grants, etc.) + student and/or family payments go in as credits. Tuition, room, meal plan, etc. go out as debits. The card can be used at the Yale book store (B&N), laundry machines and certain other on campus facilities to make payments. When the credits exceed the debits, the students can make an online request through their Yale account to transfer funds from the Yale account to a personal checking account. Once transferred to the personal checking account the money can be used as needed.
@NCMom2014 There are plenty of leadership roles if that is what you want to go for. Yes everyone is special but what my daughter found out is that many of her friends worked so hard in HS to be the top in order to just get into schools like Yale. Most of her friends are now interested in focusing on classes and the few extras they want to explore. They just want to enjoy the experience.
My kid is also a leader by nature and so she has found places where she has that opportunity without interfering with classwork. The musical group opportunities @musicmerit mentioned are a perfect example. One of the things she loves best about Yale is that she doesn’t seem to be constantly competing or trying to one up the next kid. It is not that type of environment. They are all great, they all know that they are there for special reasons beyond grades and scores. For the most part they don’t even know or care to know what those reasons are. Unlike high school where everyone was fighting for placement, scholarship, notoriety and leadership roles- she has not found that to be the case in college.
Keep in mind that its lonely at the top- how much added pressure would there be to remain there with this particular scholarship? Will the opportunities be fought for in addition to this honor. Yale is a very well known school. The name recognition alone will provide options that many other schools simply cannot. And because there are are so many opportunities and only so many students, I suspect they are easier to be accepted to. From internships,research opportunities to travel. If he is has to be that top to be happy then he should take the scholarship but if he wants to pick and choose where to lead and have the chance to explore many options he had never even considered then look deeper into Yale.
As noted before, the decision between Yale and one of the big Duke scholarships has been discussed before, and, in my opinion, the schools are close enough in qualify that a huge financial difference makes Duke very hard to pass up. If the costs after aid aren’t that different though, it’s a lot harder. The Duke scholarships provide some goodies that not all Duke students get–but honestly, essentially all Yale students are able to obtain numerous goodies, such as involvement in activities and leadership that are top-notch, working with famous professors, access to summer jobs and internships, etc. So, I’d say that if the finances don’t push too hard one way or the other, let him visit both schools and go with his gut based on overall fit. I don’t think he’d regret either choice.
My daughter’s college counselors have been advising the senior families about making a deposit at the college of choice by May 1. My daughter committed to Yale in December, and no word about a deposit. I looked it up online and it appears that Yale does not require a deposit.
So for planning purposes, when will Yale bill us (we are full pay, but have funds in a 529 that will cover the bill)? Is it one big bill or do they bill throughout the year?
They bill by semester. I believe the fall bill comes in July or August.
@Faulkner1897
My understanding is you can pay all at once, divided into two payments (August 1st and December 1st) or be on a 10 month installment plan. See the link on post the post in response to my question (I believe from musicmerit) it was very helpful.
However, there is a fee for the 10 month installment plan if I am remembering correctly.
ETA: if you have it in a 529 (or otherwise on hand), it’s probably easiest to pay twice annually. What I do is have the 529 send payment to Yale, and then whatever I’m paying from checking is done using Yale’s ePayment system. They monthly let you know if there’s an outstanding balance for the month, and they will ACH out of any accounts you’ve previously set up. It’s so convenient that it’s almost painless 
@NCmom14 You mentioned your son wanting leadership opportunities. I’d say they certainly exist – but if I may, let me inject this. In HS, typical Yalies were among if not the most influential kids in the building. In terms of academic excellence, self motivation and yes, leadership ability. I posit that this combination was and is a natural combination package of what they viewed as a “top student”. Thus, they excelled at them all, even if it wasn’t their innate cup of tea.
Once at Yale or Duke, I suspect your son will achieve leadership if he truly wants it. Once into a school like these, no one needs him to be a leader. He doesn’t have to impress anyone. If he truly wants to influence an organization or pursue a goal, he’ll get tons of opportunities. Or he might be simply content to attend to his classes, explore many things and focus on a few ECs, with or without leadership. FYI
Re: Commencement – The Class Day speaker hasn’t been announced yet, correct? Or did I miss it? Seems strangely late not to have heard anything about this. Not that it really matters, but I am curious.
I was wondering that myself when I saw the following on the Cross Campus part of the YDN today. It looks like this was the announcement day in 1983 so maybe the announcement for this year will be made very soon. I would think they would have mentioned this year’s speaker if they knew who it will be.
“You are now watching the Chairs. The Dean of Student Affairs’ office announced the class of 2017 Class Day chairs yesterday. Larry Milstein ’17, an opinion editor for the News, and Joana Andoh ’17 will select next year’s speaker and serve as masters of ceremonies for Class Day exercises. Past speakers have included former President George H. W. Bush ’68, John Kerry ’66 and Vice President Joe Biden.”
“THIS DAY IN YALE HISTORY 1983 Class Day chairs announce that feminist author Betty Friedan, who wrote “The Feminine Mystique,” will be the Class Day speaker. Friedan was the co-founder and first president of the National Organization for Women”
Ah, maybe you’re right. I see last year they announced it on 4/7, but I think graduation is later this year too.
Hello again Yale parents 
I am joining this thread after almost a year long absence. My daughter has been accepted to the class of 2019 but took a gap year and will now be joining the class of 2020. I have a question above moving in. She wants to do FOOT, and will be arriving on campus August 26. I am planning on meeting her there that day. How long do you think I should stay? Is there anything planned for the parents during freshman orientation days (is there even a freshman orientation?) Is there any kind of convocation? I will be flying across the country to NY , where we have friends I will be staying with. Is it even feasible to drive back and forth to NY every day or should I book a hotel in New Haven ?
Thank you for any insights !
We stayed through Saturday morning-- there is a convocation and it is very nice. We left right after lunch then, as Hurricane Irene was on the way, but even if that had not been the case, that seemed like the right time to leave. There were other events on Friday for parents, so you are definitely welcome then.
I would absolutely book a hotel in New Haven or Milford. I95 is not to be considered lightly!
ETA you might consider metro north to NH and then a cab, if that is convenient to where your friends live in NYC.
Welcome again @Kelowna! You can see I mentioned you in the response to @NCmom14 in post #5160 in reference to deciding between the Duke scholarship and Yale.
In regards to move in, most parents stay for convocation and lunch the next day, and then clear out as the students are very busy with lots of orientation activities over the next few days. Our family chose to go home Friday night and watch the convocation online the next day since we had siblings in tow.
Also, I believe if your D is on FOOT, you can get a key to the room and do some moving in before she gets there.
Here is the schedule for the class of 2019. It should be very similar this year.
http://yalecollege.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/2015%20COD-text-11-PRINT.pdf
I got that link on this page. Apparently the class of 2020 schedule will be available in August.
http://yalecollege.yale.edu/new-students/class-2019/calendar-opening-days-college-class-2019