<p>Thank you. I’m sure you’re right. May I ask what your son is studying? My son applied as an engineering student, but as he told me after the fact, he figured that if he was admitted to engineering he could successfully change to any other major, but if he applied in history or political science he might not be allowed in engineering classes. He is seriously considering Directed Studies at the moment. He has a big appetite.</p>
<p>yalemom15, the New York Airport Service shuttle from LGA to Grand Central is a bus, sometimes a van. We have always found it quick, convenient, and so reasonably priced compared to a taxi. We use it all the time. From Grand Central it also goes to JFK.</p>
<p>babbo – Although your son expressed interest in engineering in his application, all students are admitted to Yale College, with complete freedom to sample any classes they want. My son didn’t choose a major until sophomore year. He came into Yale thinking (although not strongly) he might major in chemistry. He took Freshman Orgo, which he loved, but decided that life in a lab was not for him. He chose an integrated major that wasn’t even on his radar screen when he started college. It’s a tiny major and I don’t want to out him, so I’ll PM you. </p>
<p>Directed Studies is supposed to be a wonderful program. I’m sure parents whose kids have done it will chime in.</p>
<p>I would be interested in parents’ assessment of Directed Studies as well. My son received a letter telling him he had a reserved seat in the program. It’s an advanced course, correct? He is anticipating having to do a lot of catch up in his freshman year (we live in a low-income area with, umm, “challenged” schools) and is thinking this might be a bit much to tackle. Advice?</p>
<p>2011orbust: DS is not an “advanced course” insofar as it does not require preparation beyond that usually provided in high school. It does require a commitment to doing a lot of reading and grades are based primarily on 18 papers (4-6 pages) written over the course of the year. If his writing skills are below-the-median for a Yale admit, DS will give him lots of practice and feedback. No one knows exactly how they identify early DS invitees but you can bet that they would not offer a seat if they did not think your son both interested in the material and capable of completing the course.</p>
<p>babbo: Engineering is probably the most challenging major to mix with DS but I am told it is still possible to graduate in four years with this choice.</p>
<p>Here is a past post with “insider” details about DS: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/9308975-post6.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/9308975-post6.html</a>. The poster, who completed DS last year, is my son. I think he would say the program is well worthwhile, but the quality of the experience varied from average to excellent depending on the professors you were able to register for in each section.</p>
<p>Descartesz: Thanks much! I’ve passed the link to your son’s post on to my kiddo.</p>
<p>just a quick update on the Newark airport option for getting to Yale: If you book you tickets sufficiently in advance, one-way Newark to New Haven is $32. That’s cheaper than the shuttles, possibly even if you add in a cab trip from New Haven’s Union Station to campus. It’s not cheaper than the Metro-North plus public transportation withinn NYC to LGA or JFK, but is more convenient if you have lots of luggage.</p>
<p>babbobubba, Congrats on your son making his decision! Still waiting for D to make hers will probably be at 11:59 on May 1. Although I have told her she makes it today! Now she is considering taking a Gap year, adding to the decision factor! Not an easy one and I understand the “twinge”, I think this is actually her problem, saying no to Harvard. (She also has siblings there which adds to the pressure). I agree with WSJ though, after he starts that twinge will go away!</p>
<p>Has anyone spoken with the Financial Aid Office recently? I ask because I have called twice in the last couple of weeks with simple questions and gotten mixed results. The first time I was connected with a woman whose ‘customer service’ skills were nonexistent and whose answers less than persuasive. I called again and got a man who was somewhat better but not the greatest. Now I have a complicated question about outside merit aid and I want to talk to someone who knows their business. Have any of you talked with someone in the FA office that you would recommend?</p>
<p>Babbo - My experience with the FA office has been wonderful. I do know this is a busy time. The few times I had to call I emailed first so that I was able to explain the situation clearly and succinctly. I would get a return email and if necessary, I would talk to whomever mailed me.</p>
<p>I always started my emails with a statement about my gratitude for the generosity of the college. The one time I had a question about a charge for study abroad I said I was embarrassed to even ask the question because of how much support my D was receiving. </p>
<p>Anyway - good luck. The time will fly by. We are looking to graduation in a couple of weeks and we are all a little sad. It was over so quickly and there will never be anything like this in our children’s lives again.</p>
<p>Yes, I begin with an expression of sincere gratitude too. Maybe I just caught staff members on a bad day, or maybe they were ‘fill ins’ during the busy time.</p>
<p>2011orbust, my son did Directed Studies and absolutely loved it. It is a lot of work but worth every minute of it. He said it really taught him how to think as they were exposed to so many great minds with such different views. He had some great professors for his sections. Some kids kind of skim the readings. He read it all so really got lots out of it. Yale has lots of support in terms of writing tutors, professors who are delighted to have you show up at office hours, etc.</p>
<p>Hi all, My D finally made her decision and choose Yale! An agonizing decision one that we are excited about. Her siblings are a bit miffed as they are at Harvard and wanted her there but they have already reserved floor space for next year’s Harvard/Yale game!</p>
<p>Congratulations to EAO1227 and D on her decision. Of course we think it is the right one, we are Yale parents!</p>
<p>To those whose kids are thinking about Directed Studies, my D just completed DS and she absolutely loved it. It certainly is a lot of work, but it <em>is</em> possible for an ordinary mortal to read so much and turn in so many papers and yet have a very active extra-curricular life in freshman year. The key is for the student to be really interested in the subject matter so that the many hours spent reading and writing will not feel like a chore.</p>
<p>G-d bless anyone who thinks writing 18 papers is not “a chore”! DS is a trial by fire for the highly motivated but truly offers some of the best liberal arts education Y has to offer with lots of close faculty contact with renowned teaching staff.</p>
<p>^ Yes, the close faculty contact cannot be emphasized enough. Many freshmen spend their year in big intro classes with smaller sections taught by TA’s. Taking DS guarantees that your freshman year will be spent mostly learning from some of the best faculty at Yale (teaching DS is also fun for the faculty, so they tend to want to teach DS). My D says that her professors read every paper extremely carefully and gave detailed, meaningful feedback every time, so her writing improved considerably over the course of the year. The faculty are also available to meet in office hours, and are willing to provide guidance with the paper-writing process- something that is really worth taking advantage of. Of course, you also get to meet other students who share the same interests and it helps that they are also going through the ‘pain’ of the workload with you.</p>
<p>How would DS fit in for someone majoring in math/physical sciences or engineering?
Would this be all towards the distribution requirements?</p>
<p>There is also an Engineering seminar program…</p>
<p>Also, any opinions about taking the advanced Calc options? Are the first level calc courses weeder courses? For a student with 2 yrs of cal (AB and BC) and AP Chem, AP Physics etc…our student doesn’t want to adv too fast and jeopardize a solid foundation, yet doesn’t want to repeat the lower level calc…</p>
<p>Beautiful spring day in New Haven. Hope everybody got to enjoy it. I know I did.</p>
<p>It was gorgeous, I hope it continues through the weekend…have to move quite a few boxes out tomorrow.</p>
<p>Yep. Saw a lot of preparation to move. But no actual moving today. Had a nice dinner at Oaxaca. If you ever eat there, the mole rojo is very good and very traditional but the demitasse spoonful I had of the sopapilla cheesecake was inspired.</p>