What I Learned Getting Into Yale
I started seriously looking at college applications last summer. A year ago, I never would have guessed I’d end up going to Yale. It wasn’t even on my list. If there’s one thing I learned about the college admissions process, it’s to always keep an open mind.
I began applying to colleges with my heart set on the University of Chicago, but even then I knew better than to limit myself. I chose eight colleges that varied from Carleton College, a small, quirky, intellectually-minded school in a rural Minnesota town to Tulane University, a school known for its wild student body and New Orleans location. The truth is, you don’t know exactly what you’ll want in a college by the spring of your senior year. Does a large, party-oriented school sound like heaven to you now? Perhaps. But by the end of senior year, you might want a smaller, more intimate college setting.
I applied to Yale because my dad thought I should “just to see if I have that opportunity.” I pinched my nose when I submitted my Yale application, nauseated by the Ivy-hype: humdrum, rich, polo-shirt wearing snobs looking for a fancy name to brag about to their friends. This hype, I thought, was not for me. But I applied anyway, and I can’t tell you how happy I am that I did. When I got accepted, I decided to visit Yale. I learned not to judge a school before I saw it for myself. All of my preconceived notions transformed as friendly, smart, and normal Yalies welcomed me onto campus. I realized it could be the perfect place for me. If you can, visit the colleges you apply to!
Diversify your college list. I recommend using The Students’ Guide to Colleges
for some insider information on different colleges’ “personalities.” Flip through this book, jot down a few schools that might interest you and research them more by:
- Using MyUSearch’s College Match
- Looking up basic statistics about the school on College Board
- Browsing the school’s official website
Then shove off everything you think you know about these schools and visit the campus for yourself. Be open-minded and form your own opinion. Only you know what the best fit is for you.
