2015-2016 Yale University Application Thread

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How strict is Yale about 2nd bio lab? My second bio course is biochemistry 2 with no lab. So I have 2 bio courses but only 1 lab. Not sure how to answer the required bio course question. I called Yale over a week ago and the guy with all the info was on vacation for a week. Supposedly came back today but has a lot of emails to answer. Meanwhile my secondary has been done for a while but I haven't submitted it because of that question. It specifically says on the application that if they don't agree with the courses you put down as your prerequisites you will be disqualified. What should I do?
 
chemist_acs said:
How strict is Yale about 2nd bio lab? My second bio course is biochemistry 2 with no lab. So I have 2 bio courses but only 1 lab. Not sure how to answer the required bio course question. I called Yale over a week ago and the guy with all the info was on vacation for a week. Supposedly came back today but has a lot of emails to answer. Meanwhile my secondary has been done for a while but I haven't submitted it because of that question. It specifically says on the application that if they don't agree with the courses you put down as your prerequisites you will be disqualified. What should I do?
Click to expand...

As a note, you only have to complete the requirements before you matriculate as a student (in August), so you could take the second biology lab in the Fall or the Spring if you are still in school. One could even take it over the summer before classes start, too. As for the stringency of Yale, I would wait to get the official word on that rather than having us speculate.
 
I called their administration office. My secondary was supposed to be sent out 7/9, but they have had problems with the @live.com domain. Thanks, Bill Gates.
 
They are not strict.
chemist_acs said:
How strict is Yale about 2nd bio lab? My second bio course is biochemistry 2 with no lab. So I have 2 bio courses but only 1 lab. Not sure how to answer the required bio course question. I called Yale over a week ago and the guy with all the info was on vacation for a week. Supposedly came back today but has a lot of emails to answer. Meanwhile my secondary has been done for a while but I haven't submitted it because of that question. It specifically says on the application that if they don't agree with the courses you put down as your prerequisites you will be disqualified. What should I do?
Click to expand...
 
Svenson said:
I called their administration office. My secondary was supposed to be sent out 7/9, but they have had problems with the @live.com domain. Thanks, Bill Gates.
Click to expand...
>2015
>not using gmail
 
NVdisG said:
>2015
>not using gmail
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Gmail has ridiculous "security." I don't use it for this very reason. It's unwise to use it for anything in the professional realm. Yale must've had no other recourse than to make an account to send that IT clarification this morning. Poor thing lol
 
OK, silly question:
Does the Yale secondary NOT require a picture to be uploaded or are you supposed to do that in the document upload tab?

I don't see anything asking for one, and I'm assuming it's not just because they don't want to see MY ugly face 😛
 
MaxPlancker said:
For those accepted in previous years, do you recommend uploading a CV, abstracts, posters, pubs, etc as it suggests on the documents page?
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I went ahead and uploaded a CV since it has some extra stuff. I don't imagine people would really read your pubs or anything but it shouldn't hurt. None of this should really be of large impact. If it's there, someone who cares enough may read it. Or they'll just ignore it
 
MaxPlancker said:
For those accepted in previous years, do you recommend uploading a CV, abstracts, posters, pubs, etc as it suggests on the documents page?
Click to expand...
I didn't have any to upload lol But yeah I would recommend it if you have something of note. If you don't, I wouldn't sweat it either.
 
avgn said:
I went ahead and uploaded a CV since it has some extra stuff. I don't imagine people would really read your pubs or anything but it shouldn't hurt. None of this should really be of large impact. If it's there, someone who cares enough may read it. Or they'll just ignore it
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That avatar. Dratini is so elusive lol Will you evolve to dragonair when you get an II and then dragonite when you're accepted??
 
Willy38 said:
That avatar. Dratini is so elusive lol Will you evolve to dragonair when you get an II and then dragonite when you're accepted??
Click to expand...
Nope, it's evolution at acceptance and matriculation, UNLESS my first II is at one of my 5 top choices. Then I would change to a more flashy Dratini pic 😀
 
mojanglez said:
why at matriculation? II and acceptance is not in your power while matriculating is your choice.
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equivalent to using a stone to evolve as the trainer chooses (although dratini obviously doesn't need a stone)
 
mojanglez said:
why at matriculation? II and acceptance is not in your power while matriculating is your choice.
Click to expand...
It's not about choice, but I just don't feel that there's a big change in status between now and getting an II. I wouldn't consider it any progress if I just get IIs but no acceptances this cycle. Interviews are great but personally I feel no change until I get accepted. Then matriculation or when I make a decision on where to go would be the other status change.
 
I realize this a super neurotic question to be asking but: my Why Yale essay is clocking in at slightly under 400 words. Is this too short and should I be researching it more carefully/have more to say?
 
lizlemon123 said:
I realize this a super neurotic question to be asking but: my Why Yale essay is clocking in at slightly under 400 words. Is this too short and should I be researching it more carefully/have more to say?
Click to expand...

Overall answer is "no" but that just depends on whether you've said all you wanted to say.

It's not "too short" but just make sure you're concise and clear. For me, I always ramble/repeat myself unnecessarily for these apps and go over the word limit the first few drafts. Then I realize I'm rambling/repeating and I can cut so much more. If you can say the same thing in 400 words vs 500 words then go with the 400 words. Quality vs. Quantity.

Mostly though just take a breath 😀 and realize you're probably fine.
 
Just decided to add Yale as another reach school. Hopefully this delay won't be too consequential. Good luck everyone! LizzyM of only 72-73 but hoping that my 15k+ hours of clinical research and 3k+ hours of clinical work will convince them to give me a chance!
 
Submitted and marked complete just now! This was the 3rd secondary I received but ended up being the 3rd to last one to be submitted haha. Strong ties to the school, hoping for some love.
 
@Willy38 @FriendlyFH ...
Would using a challenge essay I wrote for another school be appropriate for the optional "additional information" essay, or is it truly optional/better off leaving it blank?
Thanks!
 
lizlemon123 said:
@Willy38 @FriendlyFH ...
Would using a challenge essay I wrote for another school be appropriate for the optional "additional information" essay, or is it truly optional/better off leaving it blank?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Not sure what the tagged folks' opinions are, but I did so on another secondary because it explains my grade trend. I haven't received an interview from the school yet so I can't say for sure whether or not it's a good move, but I felt like my challenge essay provided a lot of context for my app. If yours also provides context for the adcoms it might be a good idea.
 
Anyone have an idea as to when II's start going out for Yale?
 
lizlemon123 said:
@Willy38 @FriendlyFH ...
Would using a challenge essay I wrote for another school be appropriate for the optional "additional information" essay, or is it truly optional/better off leaving it blank?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
If you think the essay would help paint a more complete picture of you, you might want to consider adding it. However instead of simply copy-paste another generic essay, it would be considerate and thus more effective to begin the essay by briefly explaining why you are adding the essay and why the adcom at Yale should be interested in this story.
 
Every time I get a notification that someone posted on here I get a little butterfly in my stomach like, "Omg II no"

Granted I applied MSTP so I'm guessing my wait is longer than most :/
 
Seuls ceux qui ne disposent pas des résultats passent remarques à ceux qui le fon
 
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FutureBenCarson said:
haha I know right. I got a wave of 4 IIs in a row, and now I'm like super disappointed whenever I open my e-mail and there's nothing there. I have to constantly remind myself that that was a rare occurrence and not typical at all, so I have to bed down for a long season of waiting lol.

#entitledmillenial
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No offense but this does sound a bit humble braggy -- try being MSTP and having to wait forever! There are also plenty of MD applicants on here with no IIs yet. Be happy with your 4 so early! (Don't take this the wrong way, I just think SDN could do with a lot less humble bragging -- it's why so many people get freaked out when they come on here, and we don't want that type of environment!)
 
Just to clarify, @FutureBenCarson is the man. We go way back to May (Ben will get this). Didn't mean what I said against him personally, just was trying to make a point about SDN. Onto a new topic.
 
carpediem22 said:
Just to clarify, @FutureBenCarson is the man. We go way back to May (Ben will get this). Didn't mean what I said against him personally, just was trying to make a point about SDN. Onto a new topic.
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Word-nothing taken to heart. Appreciate the defense tho @Krabbeman lol. Tbh, @carpediem22 has called me out twice for this including this time, and each time I sat back, thought about it, and was like. Yeah. Okay, true lol *modified behavior*

:biglove:u @carpediem22
 
B002 said:
II! Complete 7/30
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First of all, congrats; that's awesome news!
Secondly, what?! Yale lied to me! I called them and they said their process wasn't rolling so as long as I submit the secondary before the deadline, they'll look at all the applications and make decisions (presumably about interviews) after that....So I figured interviews wouldn't be offered for a while.
Better get on that Yale secondary, I guess...
 
Almighty Saguaro said:
First of all, congrats; that's awesome news!
Secondly, what?! Yale lied to me! I called them and they said their process wasn't rolling so as long as I submit the secondary before the deadline, they'll look at all the applications and make decisions (presumably about interviews) after that....So I figured interviews wouldn't be offered for a while.
Better get on that Yale secondary, I guess...
Click to expand...

Acceptances aren't, interviews are.

Currently working on the secondary too. 500 words is both a lot and not enough.
 
heebeejeebies said:
Acceptances aren't, interviews are.

Currently working on the secondary too. 500 words is both a lot and not enough.
Click to expand...
How exactly does that work out? Unless they interview every qualified applicant (based on the info on their primary) then wait to make acceptances after all qualified applicant have been interviewed, it still seems like when you submit your secondary does affect your chances, no?

If interviews are rolling, then I'm guessing that as the cycle progress, it becomes harder and harder to secure an interview, meaning that submitting your secondary earlier gives you a better chance.
 
Almighty Saguaro said:
How exactly does that work out? Unless they interview every qualified applicant (based on the info on their primary) then wait to make acceptances after all qualified applicant have been interviewed, it still seems like when you submit your secondary does affect your chances, no?

If interviews are rolling, then I'm guessing that as the cycle progress, it becomes harder and harder to secure an interview, meaning that submitting your secondary earlier gives you a better chance.
Click to expand...

I think that's the premise, whereas other schools will interview and accept simultaneously, Yale waits till they've interviewed their # before making offers.
 
@Almighty Saguaro
I understand your frustration about this. I believe a few studies have shown that the earlier you apply in the med school admissions process, then the better your chances are overall at gaining admission. To me this doesn't just mean that your AMCAS should be submitted as early as possible, but also your secondaries, letters, transcripts, MCAT scores, etc for precisely the reason you said - securing an interview early in the admissions cycle. It is a little misleading I agree, since many schools don't have secondary deadlines until November, or even as late as January. Unfortunately it is unrealistic for schools to hold off on reviewing applications until every applicant has submitted all materials, as that would mean they could not review applications/begin offering interviews until at least November (or later, depending on the school's secondary deadline). The way the application process is now: AMCAS opens in May, AMCAS submission in June, Secondaries sent out July-Septemberish, Interview Invites go out August-Novemberish, and Interviews September-February, Admissions Decisions sometime in March, and applicants committing to a school by May 1st already takes a full year... so lengthening that process even more would not be well-received. Alternatively, schools could change their secondary deadlines to be earlier, such as September 1st or October 1st, which would alleviate some of this perhaps.

And as @heebeejeebies said, many schools don't make any admissions decisions until they have completed interviewing all candidates

Take home message: get your secondaries done as early as possible to put yourself in the best position possible to receive those interviews, and ultimately, acceptances.
Bonus: The good news is, it's only August. It's still very early in the admissions process - I don't think you're at much of a disadvantage at this point (you may have missed out on the first "wave" of interviews at a few schools, but there will be quite a few more to come)

Hang in there, and good luck. 🙂
 
heebeejeebies said:
I think that's the premise, whereas other schools will interview and accept simultaneously, Yale waits till they've interviewed their # before making offers.
Click to expand...
Neuro_Guy said:
@Almighty Saguaro
I understand your frustration about this. I believe a few studies have shown that the earlier you apply in the med school admissions process, then the better your chances are overall at gaining admission. To me this doesn't just mean that your AMCAS should be submitted as early as possible, but also your secondaries, letters, transcripts, MCAT scores, etc for precisely the reason you said - securing an interview early in the admissions cycle. It is a little misleading I agree, since many schools don't have secondary deadlines until November, or even as late as January. Unfortunately it is unrealistic for schools to hold off on reviewing applications until every applicant has submitted all materials, as that would mean they could not review applications/begin offering interviews until at least November (or later, depending on the school's secondary deadline). The way the application process is now: AMCAS opens in May, AMCAS submission in June, Secondaries sent out July-Septemberish, Interview Invites go out August-Novemberish, and Interviews September-February, Admissions Decisions sometime in March, and applicants committing to a school by May 1st already takes a full year... so lengthening that process even more would not be well-received. Alternatively, schools could change their secondary deadlines to be earlier, such as September 1st or October 1st, which would alleviate some of this perhaps.

And as @heebeejeebies said, many schools don't make any admissions decisions until they have completed interviewing all candidates

Take home message: get your secondaries done as early as possible to put yourself in the best position possible to receive those interviews, and ultimately, acceptances.
Bonus: The good news is, it's only August. It's still very early in the admissions process - I don't think you're at much of a disadvantage at this point (you may have missed out on the first "wave" of interviews at a few schools, but there will be quite a few more to come)

Hang in there, and good luck. 🙂
Click to expand...

I see...
The person I spoke with on the phone literally told me that as long as I submit my secondary some time before November (October?) 15, I'm good, so I got the impressioin that for Yale, unlike most other schools, timing of secondary submission isn't that important...Hooray for miscommunication!
Anyway enough crying over spilled milk... Thanks for clarifying things for me and providing reassurance!
All the best to those who are still completing secondaries or waiting for IIs, and congrats to those who are one step closer to admission!
 
I wonder if they sent out a whole heap of IIs or just a few.
 
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