Yale 2010 Forum

[Kronk]

In all seriousness, is Yale it for you managamy?

No, it's unlikely that I'll be spending three years in New Haven.

Oh, well, congratulations anyway! You deserve to celebrate your HYS sweep.

Yale is my family's favorite school, so I'm looking forward to telling them the news tonight. It's going to be another great weekend indeed!

In response to the other question, I haven't secured CLS yet, but the odds are that it'll be H or S for me in the fall.

Why Harvard over Yale?

[CardinalRules]

Why Harvard over Yale?

I prefer the big-school environment overall if I'm going to be on the East Coast. Also, Cambridge >> New Haven.

[heyguys]

Why Harvard over Yale?

I prefer the big-school environment overall if I'm going to be on the East Coast. Also, Cambridge >> New Haven.

I think you might end up regretting that--don't underestimate how awesome having no grades is for your QoL. It's something I didn't really get as a 0L, but now that I'm here I realize how invaluable it is.

[CardinalRules]

Why Harvard over Yale?

I prefer the big-school environment overall if I'm going to be on the East Coast. Also, Cambridge >> New Haven.

I think you might end up regretting that--don't underestimate how awesome having no grades is for your QoL. It's something I didn't really get as a 0L, but now that I'm here I realize how invaluable it is.

It's a very good point and the primary reason why I would consider Yale.

[englawyer]

Why Harvard over Yale?

I prefer the big-school environment overall if I'm going to be on the East Coast. Also, Cambridge >> New Haven.

I think you might end up regretting that--don't underestimate how awesome having no grades is for your QoL. It's something I didn't really get as a 0L, but now that I'm here I realize how invaluable it is.

It's a very good point and the primary reason why I would consider Yale.

if you go to Harvard, no one will ever know (legal employers, coworkers, etc) that you got into Yale

[Nom Sawyer]

Why Harvard over Yale?

I prefer the big-school environment overall if I'm going to be on the East Coast. Also, Cambridge >> New Haven.

I think you might end up regretting that--don't underestimate how awesome having no grades is for your QoL. It's something I didn't really get as a 0L, but now that I'm here I realize how invaluable it is.

It's a very good point and the primary reason why I would consider Yale.

I'm afraid if I had no grades I would slack way, way too much... It does sound very nice tho... but knowing myself I think I actually need a little bit of extra motivation to learn anything past the 1st semester.

But yeah, imo the big class at H sounds a lot more fun than Yale's tiny one

[CardinalRules]

I'm afraid if I had no grades I would slack way, way too much... It does sound very nice tho... but knowing myself I think I actually need a little bit of extra motivation to learn anything past the 1st semester.

But yeah, imo the big class at H sounds a lot more fun than Yale's tiny one

Normally, I would be concerned about the possibility of slacking, but I've had minimal trouble with it in my senior year despite hearing from H as early as November. Personal pride, I think, motivated me to perform at my usual level on end-quarter papers.

[Kronk]

I'm afraid if I had no grades I would slack way, way too much... It does sound very nice tho... but knowing myself I think I actually need a little bit of extra motivation to learn anything past the 1st semester.

But yeah, imo the big class at H sounds a lot more fun than Yale's tiny one

Normally, I would be concerned about the possibility of slacking, but I've had minimal trouble with it in my senior year despite hearing from H as early as November. Personal pride, I think, motivated me to perform at my usual level on end-quarter papers.

Although according to you and crackberry, a usual level at Stanford means you rolled out of bed.

Just kidding.

[CardinalRules]

Wait, is Yale truly gradeless? Or just letter-grade-less? I remember something about their having a Low Pass / Pass / Honors system, which is basically the same as the new system at HLS.

[Kronk]

Wait, is Yale truly gradeless? Or just letter-grade-less? I remember something about their having a Low Pass / Pass / Honors system, which is basically the same as the new system at HLS.

Nevermind. I have no idea, I just know that HLS' grading system is considered nominal and YLS' isn't.

[CardinalRules]

I'm afraid if I had no grades I would slack way, way too much... It does sound very nice tho... but knowing myself I think I actually need a little bit of extra motivation to learn anything past the 1st semester.

But yeah, imo the big class at H sounds a lot more fun than Yale's tiny one

Normally, I would be concerned about the possibility of slacking, but I've had minimal trouble with it in my senior year despite hearing from H as early as November. Personal pride, I think, motivated me to perform at my usual level on end-quarter papers.

Although according to you and crackberry, a usual level at Stanford means you rolled out of bed.

Just kidding.

For us, it was like rolling out of bed because we're superhuman geniuses.

To be honest, though, I found Stanford easier than did many of my classmates because my high school had been so demanding and pressure-packed that college seemed like a relief.

What is IIRC from your other post? And there's not much difference between honors / pass / fail vs. honors / pass / low pass / fail, surely, since the low passes are so rare? It's very similar to Stanford's honors / credit / restricted credit too.

[Nom Sawyer]

I'm afraid if I had no grades I would slack way, way too much... It does sound very nice tho... but knowing myself I think I actually need a little bit of extra motivation to learn anything past the 1st semester.

But yeah, imo the big class at H sounds a lot more fun than Yale's tiny one

Normally, I would be concerned about the possibility of slacking, but I've had minimal trouble with it in my senior year despite hearing from H as early as November. Personal pride, I think, motivated me to perform at my usual level on end-quarter papers.

That's the huge, huge difference b/w you and me Managamy... personal pride is squashed by my desire to procrastinate

[Kronk]

I'm afraid if I had no grades I would slack way, way too much... It does sound very nice tho... but knowing myself I think I actually need a little bit of extra motivation to learn anything past the 1st semester.

But yeah, imo the big class at H sounds a lot more fun than Yale's tiny one

Normally, I would be concerned about the possibility of slacking, but I've had minimal trouble with it in my senior year despite hearing from H as early as November. Personal pride, I think, motivated me to perform at my usual level on end-quarter papers.

Although according to you and crackberry, a usual level at Stanford means you rolled out of bed.

Just kidding.

For us, it was like rolling out of bed because we're superhuman geniuses.

To be honest, though, I found Stanford easier than did many of my classmates because my high school had been so demanding and pressure-packed that college seemed like a relief.

What is IIRC from your other post? And there's not much difference between honors / pass / fail vs. honors / pass / low pass / fail, surely, since the low passes are so rare? It's very similar to Stanford's honors / credit / restricted credit too.

If I recall correctly. Harvard does indeed have no grades, but I think they have some caveat that makes it still easy to rank students. Whereas Yale says that no one passes with all honors and most people have a mix of Honors, HPs and LPs. So rarely there is one or two standout students, but generally not. I think Yale's no grading system is supposedly a little more substantial than Stanford and Harvard's, but I don't know much past that.

[natalie123]

I just got a call!!! OMG I am in!!!!

Congrats!!!!! ( I didn't know they worked on Saturdays! )

Oh and if you don't mind my asking, when did you apply/go complete? Thanks!

Complete 11/17. I don't recall when I sent in my app. And thank you! I am still stunned.

[CardinalRules]

BTW, my 250 was not overly original or jaw-dropping, so maybe it's not as crucial as some people think.

(I'm looking at you, GeePee, remembering that you said the same thing about your 250.)

[natalie123]

mine was a personal narrative. had a bit of dialogue, even.

[fidesverita]

Congrats guys! Now that you're in, do you mind sharing what the topic of your 250 was? Just curious

[CardinalRules]

My 250 was about my encounters with Socratic argumentation through a philosophy-classics independent study in which I read Plato's "Dialogues." I discussed the dialogues that I wrote in emulation of the Socratic style on an imaginary question. The two dialogues argued for opposite sides of the issue, leading me to consider any objective question a prism that could be approached from innumerable angles. At the end of the essay, I connected my creative experimentations with my interest in the intellectual argumentation strategies used in law.

If I'm unclear, I can PM the full text, but I didn't want to clog the thread.

[02082010]

My 250 was about my encounters with Socratic argumentation through a philosophy-classics independent study in which I read Plato's "Dialogues." I discussed the dialogues that I wrote in emulation of the Socratic style on an imaginary question. The two dialogues argued for opposite sides of the issue, leading me to consider any objective question a prism that could be approached from innumerable angles. At the end of the essay, I connected my creative experimentations with my interest in the intellectual argumentation strategies used in law.

If I'm unclear, I can PM the full text, but I didn't want to clog the thread.

PM me. Seems a lot for 250.

[CardinalRules]

My 250 was about my encounters with Socratic argumentation through a philosophy-classics independent study in which I read Plato's "Dialogues." I discussed the dialogues that I wrote in emulation of the Socratic style on an imaginary question. The two dialogues argued for opposite sides of the issue, leading me to consider any objective question a prism that could be approached from innumerable angles. At the end of the essay, I connected my creative experimentations with my interest in the intellectual argumentation strategies used in law.

If I'm unclear, I can PM the full text, but I didn't want to clog the thread.

PM me. Seems a lot for 250.

Consider yourself PM'ed. It overlapped with my PS a bit, which I once thought was a gaffe.

I also sent the essay to all other schools that allowed submission of an additional essay. In fact, it began its life as the answer to the Penn art-literature essay question.

[rabbit9198]

Hi Rabbit9198--thanks so much for your insights! Out of curiosity, is it annoying having the exams after the break? I feel that you are going to want to study during the break for the exams, and then there goes all of your vacation....what are your thoughts on this?

Also in most classes are you allowed to opt out of in class exams to take them at home? Or what is the percentage approximately?

For someone who really hates exams...this all sounds amazing!

Sorry I'm a few days late in responding - just got back to school from a more tropical climate.

I actually really love our calendar as-is. I guess if you were strictly graded as at other law schools, you might be stressed/want to study over the holidays, but professors and other students urge 1Ls not to study (it's not worth it when all your exams are "pass/pass"), and most 2Ls and 3Ls do take advantage of the break and actually get away from their studies until they come back in the first week of January. That said, people do still get stressed during finals period...I just think we're MUCH less stressed than we would be anywhere else.

One thing to note: rumor has it that we're slowly moving to a finals-before-Christmas academic calendar. This coming year's calendar was released recently, and while exams aren't in December, some other changes (loss of a week-long fall break, etc.) indicate that the administration may be moving in that direction.

Most classes *do* let you take the exams at home/wherever in the world (with internet access) you want. [Most professors also let you take the exam whenever you want during the two-week exam period - so you have a lot of control over when & how you take your exams, which lets people prioritize as they see fit.] There are a few rare exceptions - especially 1L fall - where professors want you to be in New Haven and to take the exam in the Law School - I'd say it's 5-10% of classes, tops.

[PDaddy]

I'm afraid if I had no grades I would slack way, way too much... It does sound very nice tho... but knowing myself I think I actually need a little bit of extra motivation to learn anything past the 1st semester.

But yeah, imo the big class at H sounds a lot more fun than Yale's tiny one

I actually think having no grades would make me work harder. Just knowing what an elite group I am part of, and how fortunate I am not to have grades, would make me work day and night to prove myself worthy.

[CardinalRules]

I guess if you were strictly graded as at other law schools, you might be stressed/want to study over the holidays, but professors and other students urge 1Ls not to study (it's not worth it when all your exams are "pass/pass"), and most 2Ls and 3Ls do take advantage of the break and actually get away from their studies until they come back in the first week of January.

You'd want to pass with honors, though, wouldn't you? Isn't that a reason to study?

[Laina]

I guess if you were strictly graded as at other law schools, you might be stressed/want to study over the holidays, but professors and other students urge 1Ls not to study (it's not worth it when all your exams are "pass/pass"), and most 2Ls and 3Ls do take advantage of the break and actually get away from their studies until they come back in the first week of January.

You'd want to pass with honors, though, wouldn't you? Isn't that a reason to study?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but first semester 1L at Yale is just a pass/pass (no honors) grading system. There are no hierarchies (low-pass/pass/honors) whatsoever, everyone is graded on a pass/fail basis. It isn't until second semester 1L that the actually grading system begins.

[Veritas2010]

Question

Does anyone know how to send an addendum to Yale? I tried to find guidelines on their webpage but I didn't see anything. Is an emailed attachment ok? Or do they need a hardcopy mailed to their office?

Thanks guys!