It’s too bad that Yale requires the students to get out of their rooms so soon after exams end. Would have been nice to have a few days to get everything sorted.
I helped my son move out. One of his suitemates had already left - probably in a rush to catch a flight. In order to try to avoid a fine, I hauled FIVE bags of trash out of that bedroom down five flights of stars to the RC trash. I’m not saying he was a slob, I’m just saying…
The whole move out/fly home on your own process has been a good one for student and parent alike…Because we were unable to fly back and help him (mostly due to his sport not being done) he had to pack, move out, move into temp housing, get storage space, book last minute flight, compete in championship race, win said championship race, stuff remaining items into left over luggage…oh get one more workout in…must not turn into pile of mush!..and, fingers crossed, he will be home in bed tomorrow where his cat will be happy to perch on his butt while he sleeps.
I’ve learned to be more flexible and “let it go”…he’s learned he can do it, all by himself. 
Yes, junior year is a wrap and we are home. I understand about leaving furniture in the room. Between sophomore and junior year they left their couch in the new room and it was broken when they got back in August. Yale maintenance did come and jerry rig a fix, but it was never the same. Summer students, reunion guests (me this year!!) and others use the rooms over the summer. It is good that most of their furniture is hand me downs, but it is frustrating when something they bought is broken. Part of college life I guess.
Hi. Can anyone shed light on whether the res college commencement ceremonies are inside? Just found out that it’s going to rain and I am traveling tomorrow, trying to figure out what to wear. Thanks.
JE has a tent for its ceremony.
TD also had a tent
I remember seeing a lot of tents last year. Also keep in mind that it is Connecticut after all. Our weather changes a lot. Even if there is supposed to be rain in the forecast, we are several days away and that is likely to change over the weekend. Fingers crossed its in your favor. I would be very hard pressed to believe that its an accurate forecast this far in advance. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
The forecast for Monday has consistently shown rain, but the other days look beautiful. Especially for those of us staying on campus with no air condition.
Im just saying that here things don’t always happen the way they say they will. We were also supposed to have a Noreaster storm all weekend. Mother’s day washed out and in the end we had blue skies, baseball and I got the gardens done on Saturday before the rain came that night. You just never know around here. Stay hopeful.
Don’t plan on getting raingear near campus if it rains. It will sell out. Bring it with you.
Congrats to all the graduates (and parents of graduates – getting that $65k nut off your back must be a relief!). I sincerely hope the grads will pay it forward to the students of the future, whether it is through the Alumni Fund, volunteering for the ASC, or other volunteer services. The Yale community extends well past graduation. I hope your children take full advantage of it.
I second that @BKSquared !! Well said.
I went to the Whim/Whiff concert last night and was blown away. What an amazing group of talent. Granted I was a little bias because I actually knew a few on the stage and felt just a little special to get hugs along with my daughter. It was fun to be there for some of the excitement, photos and see all of the parents that are on campus for the first time ever.
Today, one of my daughter’s closest friends graduates. She definitely seems sad. You would think that after so much hard work that they would be happy to go but she certainly didn’t seem that way. What a blessing to be involved in something so special that they don’t want to leave. It just put into perspective how lucky my daughter is.
Related to that thought, @Memmsmom, if you’ve never read Marina Keegan’s “The Opposite of Loneliness”, written for her Yale commencement five years ago, I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve re-read it at this time every year since then. Be warned, though - it may make you cry: http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2012/05/27/keegan-the-opposite-of-loneliness/
Beautifully written piece by Marina Keegan @DeepBlue86, both as a memoir of the strong sense of community she found at Yale in particular, and also more generally on the bittersweet nature of commencement.
Fun to get to watch online live feeds and recorded graduation events to get idea for next year. I’m specifically watching YDS and glad that they managed to make it work in the rain! Ponchos on the list for next year.
I’m not sure what it did in New Haven but where I am on the other side of CT, it has not rained yet today. Fingers crossed that if there was any water falling it was only tears of pride. <3
Watching Divinity School one at 12:30, there were lots of ponchos, umbrellas up and people wiping down podium and chairs on the platform…didn’t look like downpour but definitely rain. The part where they were downtown may have been ok earlier. The pictures didn’t look too bad.
Commencement weekend report - We had an awesome time and were very busy! All the ceremonies and concerts were meaningful. We loved seeing lots of D’s friends. It was a great celebration! We will miss our trips to CT, except for the drive that Google maps says will be four and a half hours, but often are closer to six.
The weather was beautiful Saturday and Sunday! Monday was very light rain off and on during the morning Commencement - umbrellas up and down. During the ceremony in the residential college the rain was heavier, but we were under a tent and they put some of the sides down so it did not really matter. It was chilly, only in the 50s. We moved her stuff out in the rain with ponchos for everyone.
Staying in the residential college was great. We were in and out of our suite a lot! We enjoyed the furniture left there for next year. We were very careful not to spill or damage anything, but I can see why “stuff” happens to items left there. Our beds were nicely made with three rolled up towels. On the desks were little soaps and cups. I did bring our own washcloths because they were not provided. We had a bathroom in the hall to ourselves so we kept our toiletries in there. Luckily we did not need air condition as the temps were cool.
We found a parking spot at a meter when we arrived Saturday and left it there the whole weekend, running back to plug the meter every two hours during the day on Saturday and Monday - free on Sunday and overnight. That was kind of a hassle but with four of us, we could take turns.
Parents - enjoy your remaining years! They fly by!