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Does anyone else find Yale's application a bit ridiculous? They say the resume is optional, so does that mean they want us to list the activity/job, our position, a description, dates, and hours/week? The instructions don't ask for a description, but how else are they looking at these answers?

Or do they just want a list of activities we were involved with and our titles?

Anyone have recs for organizing the "separate sheets of paper" for Questions for 4-12?

fidesverita wrote:Does anyone else find Yale's application a bit ridiculous?

I don't have answers to any other questions, but it is a genius move on Yale's part. The length deters applicants who are whimsically thinking about Yale, thereby saving Yale the time considering the application and responding to emails about an application from people who do not have very good odds.

And it lets them gather enough info to admit a few below-165 applicants.

Here's to Yale.

fidesverita wrote:Does anyone else find Yale's application a bit ridiculous?

It's Yale. They can have you fill out a 5000 page application and people will still do it.

Besides, it's a good way to learn to take it up the ass before entering law school.

Most of the application should be just copy/pasting from your Resume and then making them into separate word documents. Almost all the stuff they ask for should already appear word-for-word in your Resume, anyway.

The Y250, on the other hand, is a pain in the ass.

GeePee wrote:Most of the application should be just copy/pasting from your Resume and then making them into separate word documents. Almost all the stuff they ask for should already appear word-for-word in your Resume, anyway.

The Y250, on the other hand, is a pain in the ass.

Are you still gonna submit your resume?

tomhobbes wrote:

GeePee wrote:Most of the application should be just copy/pasting from your Resume and then making them into separate word documents. Almost all the stuff they ask for should already appear word-for-word in your Resume, anyway.

The Y250, on the other hand, is a pain in the ass.

Are you still gonna submit your resume?

Yeah, I feel like it'll be a more concise reference than every other separate page, if they want to see all of me at the same time, or at least close (my resume is a little over a page)

Good tip. I'll just copy and paste from my resume into separate pages for their questions. Not really sure what they want anyway. I'll also include a resume (because frankly, it's well organized and looks much better).

fidesverita wrote:Does anyone else find Yale's application a bit ridiculous? They say the resume is optional, so does that mean they want us to list the activity/job, our position, a description, dates, and hours/week? The instructions don't ask for a description, but how else are they looking at these answers?

Or do they just want a list of activities we were involved with and our titles?

Anyone have recs for organizing the "separate sheets of paper" for Questions for 4-12?

yeah who do they think they are? the best law school in the world or something?

Are you guys answering 5a, b, and c each on separate pages, or all together? Both seem to be a reasonable interpretation of the instructions.

Thought I'd jump in and do my bit to help here. I'd asked them the same questions via email and here are their exact responses -

1) Should I attach a separate addendum for each question? Or can just one document cover them all (except for the 250-word essay and Personal Statement)
- Answers to the questions can all be in one attachment.

2) Are there specific instructions for the length of answers to these questions or the formatting of the attachments?
- We have no specific instructions on the length of the answers or the formatting. In general, the documents should be double-spaced where appropriate.

3) Should question 5a also cover work experience? Also does what would be activities covered under 5c and not under 5a? I would assume that extra-curricular activities would cover everything non-academic and non-work related.
- Question 5a asks for activities during college. Question 5b asks for information regarding jobs you had in college and during vacation. Question 5c is for any activities you didn't list in 5a or 5b.

4) For Q6, do you expect an essay on my progress since graduation or just a list of activities I have been involved in? In essence should this be descriptive or more factual? I have been out of school for 4 years in a full time job.
- You can answer Question 6 with just of list of activities. You should probably add a brief description of the various jobs you have had since you left school.

Hope this is helpful to all!

Very helpful. Thanks a lot.

SO helpful. Thanks for posting that.

jcunni5 wrote:

fidesverita wrote:Does anyone else find Yale's application a bit ridiculous? They say the resume is optional, so does that mean they want us to list the activity/job, our position, a description, dates, and hours/week? The instructions don't ask for a description, but how else are they looking at these answers?

Or do they just want a list of activities we were involved with and our titles?

Anyone have recs for organizing the "separate sheets of paper" for Questions for 4-12?

yeah who do they think they are? the best law school in the world or something?

Yeah, that's unnecessary, jcunni5. Just asking how other's have done the short answers required for the app.

Thanks, that's very helpful!

*blink*

Am I the only one that didn't find it ridiculous?

I'm not trying to flame or anything...

But yeah for all the individual questions I just copy/pasted from my resume. I know this sounds weird but I actually enjoyed writing my 250 word essay...it was kind of like a puzzle. (yeeess I'm lame).

Finally...I also *really* appreciated the questions about 1) taking an LSAT prep class and 2) who helped you on your apps. It just seemed like relevant info that no other schools (that I applied to) asked.

there's just my .02...but hey, what do I know? Maybe I oversimplified things so they'll just throw my app in the trash and be like "this girl can't read english"

You're right duodora, I also really appreciated the extra questions about the lsat.

I guess I find it tough is because I find copying and pasting from my resume rather pointless. They can just take a look at my resume, which is well organized, and I'm not sure if they're asking for a judgment call (like listing my activities from most important to least important, regardless of timeline).

Plus the extra pages make the app look huge, and I hate a big mess.

fidesverita wrote:

jcunni5 wrote:

fidesverita wrote:Does anyone else find Yale's application a bit ridiculous? They say the resume is optional, so does that mean they want us to list the activity/job, our position, a description, dates, and hours/week? The instructions don't ask for a description, but how else are they looking at these answers?

Or do they just want a list of activities we were involved with and our titles?

Anyone have recs for organizing the "separate sheets of paper" for Questions for 4-12?

yeah who do they think they are? the best law school in the world or something?

Yeah, that's unnecessary, jcunni5. Just asking how other's have done the short answers required for the app.

Sorry, I was just kidding dude, i wasn't trying to insult. i haven't ever looked at Yale's app and just found it kinda funny that they would make their app ridiculously hard just cause they are yale

ahhh, the benefits of sucking at the LSAT. no Yale app for me!

How did you all answer the "receive help preparing this application"??

I am unsure if editing service counts as yes. Sounds like they mean something heavier, involving telling you what to say (they give as e.g. admissions consultant, prelaw advisor)

I think an editing service should be listed. I said that I received proofreading help from friends and family.

OldLawyer09 wrote:I think an editing service should be listed. I said that I received proofreading help from friends and family.

So you even mentioned that? If I had thought about it that way, I would have mentioned it. It's just their examples were all pretty heavy-duty, and I didn't know if "preparing application" indicated something high-level, like actually doing it for you, telling you what to say, literally doing the app for you.

thoughts?

I figured that for the school that wants you to disclose speeding tickets, it was better to be safe than sorry. Although I read it as anything that you pay for should be disclosed. Maybe I am just paranoid though.

CordeliusX wrote:

OldLawyer09 wrote:I think an editing service should be listed. I said that I received proofreading help from friends and family.

So you even mentioned that? If I had thought about it that way, I would have mentioned it. It's just their examples were all pretty heavy-duty, and I didn't know if "preparing application" indicated something high-level, like actually doing it for you, telling you what to say, literally doing the app for you.

thoughts?

Yeah I'm going to say my family edited my essay. I have a question: when you guys say you copy-and-pasted sections of your resume, did you literally copy-and-paste, or did you also copy the content but turned the bullet-points into complete sentences?

Yeah an editing service would definitely count. Anyone/thing you can afford to hire or get help from counts as help.

Do they expect us to give a detailed answers about who helped us proofread, though? Like friends/family?


Also, I just want to confirm if 5B means PAID work (it says self-support employment). Most of my work was paid, but a few internships were unpaid (slave labor...).

fidesverita wrote:Yeah an editing service would definitely count. Anyone/thing you can afford to hire or get help from counts as help.

Do they expect us to give a detailed answers about who helped us proofread, though? Like friends/family?


Also, I just want to confirm if 5B means PAID work (it says self-support employment). Most of my work was paid, but a few internships were unpaid (slave labor...).

EDIT: Hmm, guess not. That's interesting.