Yale University Top Questions

I've never heard a Yale stereotype that made me wince (although I can't say the same for singing group auditions!). Beginning in the early 80s, Yale became a place where LGBT people felt comfortable coming out and pulling together, and that legacy remains a source of pride for all civil rights-minded alumni. But The Gay Thing is just one example of what the Breast and the Bite-est - no, the Brightest and the Shiniest - or whatever it's called - can produce.

Some of them... but there are a lot of people who don't fit the stereotypes. Also, the preppy, old-money thing is not that big. If anything, rich new york hipster types are a much bigger presence.

For the most part, no. There certainly are competitive kids, but public opinion largely discourages this. It's seen as not "cool" to be competitive and obnoxious about one's intelligence level. The prevailing opinion is, "we're all smart, or else we wouldn't be here".

There are some people like that everywhere. We call them "section a**holes". But I'd say at least 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the people here are so grounded that they are amazed they even got in. Yalies come from all over the world and have so many great experiences that sitting down over lunch with any one of them is usually astounding. We love each other and Yale, and like to show it. We are an amazingly friendly bunch of people.

Some stereotypes -- that Yalies are very smart and ambitious -- are very true. However, Yalies are also incredibly down to earth; I have come across very few snobby or pretentious people, and actually have been amazed to find how friendly and fun everyone is.

Not at all. There are generally more people better off financially than those that are not, but there is tremendous diversity here. People come from all over the place, wear all kinds of clothes and are into all kinds of random activities. Very few people are stuck-up or antisocial- people are very smart, but they also love to have fun and party.

yes

In some ways yes; it depends on the person. Not everyone is smart academically, and not everyone is socially inept.

Yes, this is true.

yes.

You definitely get preppy legacy kids, and Yale is the 'gay ivy' considering how accepting the community is, as a whole, to homosexuality. But you also get a lot of indie-hipster kids and brainy kids who never went out in highschool getting totally trashed here on the weekends. Good times.

Though one will find people who fit that model well, the majority of Yalies are interesting, motivated people who come from a variety of backgrounds.

All of them are not accurate. I mean, you get some serious and pretentious people, but you get them everywhere. There is a gay community (more than some colleges), but it's not in-your-face. It's just very accepted. Almost all the people I've met and all the people I hang out with are chill, down to earth, hilarious, quirky and amazing.

Truth: They may very well have been the best in their high school but among others of their own capacity, everyone is equal and happy to help out. They certainly seem normal... that is until they reveal that they discovered a new planet.

we are nerds. but this is a huge party school.

no, they really aren't at; i mean, of course we have our share of purely academic students, but generally people are pretty good at maintaining a balance; furthermore, half the students here are on financial aid, and the ones who aren't don't flaunt it

Yes. We are more down to earth and not obsessed with being number one.

Yes, sort, no, and yes, but in a good way. We are nerds. Almost all of us will admit it. But we function perfectly well socially, and we're generally very happy people. There is some divide between athletes and non-athletes, but it's not destructive and the groups aren't exclusive; You can find whatever social environment you want at Yale. Yale students are not pretentious, at all. I know many students here who try to avoid saying what college they're from rather than flaunting the Ivy League. We are a little obsessed with our work, but again, not in a destructive way. Most students prioritize their academics, but we definitely still know how to have fun. Where else would students pre-game the opening of the newly renovated library?

It's true that we don't leave campus, but we're not just sitting in our rooms doing homework. There's so many amazing things to do that there's never enough time.

yes