Yale University Reviews

The professors are really good....

The professors are really good. I’ve also had some inspirational and other not-so-great TAs [teaching assistants] for my review sections, so it’s up to you to shop for not only classes you like, but also for teachers you like. Every single class and section left me totally inspired—it was the most wonderful feeling ever . . . knowing that you are learning about something you really care about.

As a pre-med student, the science...

As a pre-med student, the science classes I have taken have, for the most part, been strong—well taught and structured—and I have learned an immense amount of material. Unfortunately, the classes are all large, and therefore, they are inevitably more impersonal. You have to make a fairly big effort to get to know the professor—ha, even to get him to know you exist.

New Haven has started to become...

New Haven has started to become more of a college town, so the parts closest to the colleges are really nice. You have to walk for a bit to get into the rougher parts, and no one really goes there because there’s nothing there for us. Overall, it’s fine.

New Haven tends to get a bad rap...

New Haven tends to get a bad rap among high school students considering elite universities, but I think the city has a lot to offer. It has plenty of stores and restaurants to cater to students’ needs. Beyond that, there’s a substantial amount of cultural and other resources in the city for students to take advantage of, if they so choose. Yes, New Haven isn’t as antiseptic and shiny as Princeton, NJ. But, it’s a ‘real’ city with real issues and with real potential for students to get involved in the community in a meaningful way.

It’s fine. New Haven in general...

It’s fine. New Haven in general isn’t the safest city, but campus is a very nice area, and I’ve never had any sort of problem with security. You just can’t go too far away from campus alone at night, which you wouldn’t do anyway in any city. And there are lots of precautions the school takes for security. Don’t worry about it, and certainly don’t base your decision on this.

The library is gorgeous, and the...

The library is gorgeous, and the gym is huge. There are computers everywhere—even outside the dining halls. The facilities are definitely up to par.

There are lots of computer labs...

There are lots of computer labs available, but they do get very crowded around midterm and finals crunch-time. Bring your own, and I totally recommend laptops, if that’s an option. They’re so convenient—you can write your papers anywhere. I don’t really like to write papers in libraries, so I often go to a classroom at night and write there—all the rooms even have Internet access.

On campus, the dining halls are...

On campus, the dining halls are good, especially considering that they cater to 5,000 different tastes. Kids usually like the law school food the best.

The food is pretty good in the...

The food is pretty good in the dining halls, especially with the whole food project and all. I eat at about three different halls, and they’re all good. It definitely beats high school food.

I think I stayed in the worst...

I think I stayed in the worst dorm, and it really wasn’t even that bad.

Off-campus housing is pretty...

Off-campus housing is pretty convenient. There are some houses and apartments that are popular spots. Most people stay on campus, since the housing is generally really nice.

It’s incredibly diverse. Not even...

It’s incredibly diverse. Not even just in ethnicity or race, but in class, religion, nationality, everything. There are people involved in dance, non-profits, literature, music, and politics. It’s really amazing.

The ‘Yale part’ of New Haven is...

The ‘Yale part’ of New Haven is quite radically different from the ‘New Haven part’ of New Haven. Basically, the Yale campus and immediate surroundings are primarily wealthy and primarily white. The rest of New Haven is actually quite poor, and it’s primarily people of color. It’s quite an astonishing separation.

I think Yale is a diverse place,...

I think Yale is a diverse place, but that diversity isn’t always apparent. There’s a noticeable tendency for students to self-segregate a little bit according to racial, ethnic, or religious background. I don’t mean that everyone has friends exactly like themselves—more, that there’s a strong sense of shared cultural identity, fostered by clubs and other programs, that has a visible effect on the friendships that people form when they come here.

I’d say the campus is pretty...

I’d say the campus is pretty diverse, but people stay in factions depending on the activity. In some cases, the cultural groups impede cultural interaction between groups rather than enhance it.

Very diverse. I feel about as...

Very diverse. I feel about as exotic as white bread, and I’m half Polish, half Puerto Rican! But despite the open vibe and the conspicuous diversity, de facto segregation is still inevitable in some regards. There are definitely cliques of Hispanic kids and of black kids, as well as Jewish cliques, and a couple of others. Maybe it’s human nature to hang out with people who have things in common with you, though. I think that Yale is a pretty amazing place to find a good mix of all different types of people with all different types of interests.

Some are really, really close....

Some are really, really close. Off-campus housing pretty much makes up the blocks around the official Yale campus, but most kids do live on campus.

The guys are hot. If anyone says...

The guys are hot. If anyone says they aren’t, they haven’t opened their eyes or don’t go out to the right places or something. Plus, they are smart and usually dress really well. It’s a good deal.

The guys are very nice—chivalrous,...

The guys are very nice—chivalrous, too. People hold the door for each other all the time! And when I started doing that in other places, people sort of stared at me. There are many hot guys, but sometimes I have to make sure they’re straight first. The gay/lesbian/bi/trans scene is out there and open. The girls are also very nice. Are girls hot? I wouldn’t really know; my friends who are lesbians are happy here. I think the people here are the friendliest, most amazingly smart and modest people ever. I think we converted a pre-frosh into coming to Yale with just how great and friendly our people are!

Ha ha! Not only are they hot, they...

Ha ha! Not only are they hot, they are smart! I am partial to the people at Yale because the impression that I got was that they were much more down to earth and relaxed than people I’ve been introduced to before.

It’s very hard to come up with a...

It’s very hard to come up with a ‘typical’ Yale guy or girl, but I suppose that’s part of the fun of being here. We are probably not significantly hotter or less hot than similar schools. A lot of Yale girls are prettier than they think they are, and are fun and interesting to boot. Yale guys are harder to characterize, but I’d say there’s a fair mix of attractive (but sometimes not as smart) jocks, self-conscious and average frat boys, and urbane, sensitive, sophisticated, and often gay other guys. I mean, we’re no Florida State. But, there are some surprisingly beautiful people here.

Sororities are almost nonexistent;...

Sororities are almost nonexistent; you hardly know anyone in one. As for frats, they are bigger if you want them to be. There are maybe four houses that consistently throw parties, but it tends to be the same crowd at these parties. If it’s your thing, it’s really cool; if not, there is plenty more to do around here.

It’s a freaking joke. Next...

It’s a freaking joke. Next question.

The drug scene isn’t huge, but...

The drug scene isn’t huge, but you’ve definitely got your groups of stoners and druggies. I feel like few people do things beyond smoking weed, though. I know some people who do coke occasionally, but that’s all I know.

Some people at Yale use drugs. I’m...

Some people at Yale use drugs. I’m just guessing here, but I think most Yale students either have never used drugs or have used pot socially a few times. There are some more serious drug-users, of course. But even among those, I think you often find very serious students who do great academic work and contribute to the community here. I think the quality of the experience you have here has very little to do with whether or not you choose to use drugs.