Inside the Yale Admissions Office

https://open.spotify.com/show/4rZtfCyIZEfAVkg7aHzhzC

• A podcast about the US college application process by Yale
• For the transparency of the process:
  • People share various things because they don’t want to be seen as hiding anything
  • It’s nice to see things clearly (blu3mo)

1,2 §

• There are regional representatives who carefully review the applications

• Then, in a group meeting, they discuss each applicant for about 5-10 minutes

  • The representatives explain the overall structure, connections, and story of the submitted materials

• After that, there is a (anonymous in the case of Yale) vote

• Listening to the discussions, it gives the impression that decisions are often made on a whim… haha (blu3mo)

  • Well, it’s a qualitative evaluation, so it can’t be helped

• Recommendation Letters

• Essay

• Supplemental Materials

• Common misconceptions about studying abroad

Dealing with decisions §

• If you get rejected:
  • It’s important to have the mentality of “It’s their loss for not choosing me”
  • Getting rejected doesn’t mean your high school life was a failure
    • The competition is tough, and College Fit matters too
• If you get accepted:
  • Gratitude is important
  • Getting in shouldn’t be seen as the ultimate goal in life
  • It’s just a milestone
• Waitlist:
  • Instead of having hope for the waitlist, it’s better to forget about it and consider other options
    • If by any chance the waitlist results turn out to be good, you’ll be extremely happy, and if not, the disappointment will be minimal
    • I feel like I already have this mentality (blu3mo)
• In any case:
  • What you do at the college you get into is more important than which college you get into

Choices Game §

• Adding awards in the additional section:
  • It’s not very good, and having too many might be overwhelming
• Recommendation letters from research mentors:
  • This is an exception and it’s good to include them
• Humor:
  • If you tend to say funny things and it comes naturally to you, it’s good to let your voice show
  • Also, if the context is clear (so it doesn’t require excessive explanation)
• When you find a typo, resubmit:
  • It’s not necessary
• Poem:
  • While I want to read reflections, it might just consume the word count unnecessarily
  • If it allows you to express your creativity, then it’s good, but it’s not a good means to stand out
• Braggy:
  • It’s okay, but instead of just saying how amazing you are, make it reflective
  • Humblebragging is not reflection
    • It’s not about avoiding sounding boastful, but rather making it reflective
• Drama:
  • There’s no need to make the story so dramatic that it deviates from the main point
  • Also, an interesting dramatic story may not be ideal for a college essay
    • Reflection is the most important aspect
• Including links:
  • It’s okay to include them, but it doesn’t guarantee that they will be viewed
  • It might become redundant
    • If there’s something important, it’s better to write it in the essay or other parts
  • However, if there are things that can’t be expressed through videos or essays, it’s okay to include links
  • Avoid including links to lists of awards, etc.
  • More is not always better!
• Additional spaces:
  • For example, using them to summarize the changes in location due to frequent relocations or to explain the reasons for not being able to take specific classes is a good use