Maybe this is their way of weeding people out? Part of the application process you never knew about…..:)

I went to Yale’s multicultural open house too! It was quite nice. Here were my impressions (part 1: http://www.samjackson.org/college/2006/10/08/yale-multicultural-open-house-rundown-part-1/ and part 2: http://www.samjackson.org/college/2006/10/10/yale-multiculturual-open-house-rundown-part-2/)

What I find most fascinating, however, is your feelings about New Haven v. Cambridge nightlife. I’ve been in Cambridge at night at various times of the year, so I have some idea of what it is like–and Boston generally, at night, since I’ve been out sorta late–limited by how late I could catch a train back home, at least until very recently when friends of mine have started getting driver’s licenses. (I should go take the test some time, since I have my permit… though I haven’t driven in ages.) I suppose just from College Confidential, that TREASURE TROVE of accurate opinions and facts, many people seem to feel New Haven has a better nightlife.

As for getting your blog indexed, well: It takes two things–1. time, which you have no control over, and 2., links, which you do. To a point. If you go around the internet commenting (like this!) you will get people who read the comments and go visit; you can also induce site-owners into then posting something about you (I’ll give you some link-love sometime soon, don’t worry). I don’t know exactly what niche your site might fit in, but I’m sure there is one out there that suits it. ‘Know your audience’ as I keep telling the higher education marketers who make up the bulk of this site’s visitors–so simple that I even I forget it all the time. So: Participate in the conversation that is the blogosphere. It’s like influence-trading in Washington! Except with search engines instead of pork. Link others, maybe they link you back. I mean, your site is more of a diary, so I don’t know what exactly you might do. Those are the “big tips” I guess. #1 Has started kicking in for me for this site, thankfully. I was so annoyed that google took so long to revalue my new domain–when I moved my blog over to samjackson.org (which had been sitting unused) from jabberwocke.com. It still has 10x more indexed at the old site, blah! But even after 4 months it’s way, way up. So patience, persistence, and conversation.

As far as Yale or Harvard I don’t know what the difference is anymore. You’d do fine at either one, from what I can see. (Although I think Harvard undergrad is easier by reputation. And Cambridge/Boston has a better city/night life.) But I seriously doubt you’ll have any problems. Unless you choke at interviews, or you have two toes or are otherwise unapproachable (all things your blog seems to disprove), I will be very, very surprised if come May you don’t get in somewhere good. Just be down to earth and intelligent.

I’m sure you’ve done a lot of research on the programs etc. If you haven’t gotten a chance to see the schools, definitely GO; it helps. I went to Yale’s Multicultural Openhouse (after some convincing) and knew it was where I wanted to be.

What I say is primarily opinion and from my personal experience. But most of the people I knew who went to those other schools you mentioned were bright people who, to be blunt, didn’t get it together in time to get admitted to more competitive schools. I’ve met people who turned down offers from Yale to study at other schools, but not many. The programs look really attractive in the brochures, but ultimately they’re only as good as the professors you learn from and the students you study with. Just a thought.

Thanks too for the encouraging words… but take heed, should your predictions fail to come true, I’ll just feel all the worse and will blame you! Just kidding, just kidding. You offer a money-back guarantee, right? Scattergrams don’t always inspire confidence, though admittedly they don’t tell the whole story.
Everywhere on my list is on my list for good reason–more even than just ‘balance’ (as far as selectivity is concerned). Though, I will say, your words about the students does strike fear into my heart… because I never got a chance to overnight anywhere (yet) I don’t know what the students or student life is really like and have had to operate on skimpy impressions. O.o The only time student life has come into play as a consideration has been fears of too much pre-professionalism at a few unnamed schools still on the list.

I probably didn’t write this anywhere, but for BU I’m applying to the University Professors program, which is neatly interdisciplinary. For NYU, can you guess? Gallatin, where the school of Individualized Study / University Without Walls would excellently serve my educational goals. Hey, I’m writing in essay-speak… what has become of me? This is almost as bad as when my blog prose style bleeds into English papers.

Thanks again for stopping by and joining the conversation–or starting one, even. College students and recent college grads are usually too busy or having too much fun to comment on the blog, it’s always nice when they do. The last memorable exchange were some current Yalies and Harvard kids fighting over whose school I should attend more. Ahh, the beauty of the internet.

I am going to slink back to my desktop and the essays I have been vainly trying to complete all weekend long.

So fifteen colleges… wow. I applied to six and couldn’t take it. Of course, I waited until the night before the deadline. Hated the common app. I don’t think I used it, and from what I remember I was able to recycle the same two essays for most of them. Got in everywhere but Brown (wait-listed). Wasn’t that upset.

My friend and I (we’re ex-Yalies) noticed you’re a little stressed. We’ll do our best to help you out. You have a 2350 and you are ethnically diverse. Unless you do no extracurriculars and/or your GPA is low, you are definitely getting into someone’s Ivy League school. Probably more than one. You’re DEFINITELY getting into Tufts. Ditch GWU, Brandeis, BU, Wesleyan and possibly NYU too. I know people who went there and they’re students of an entirely different caliber. My sister wasn’t able to take full advantage of her Exeter experience and STILL got into Duke. Don’t stress. Just do your work and you should be fine. Any other questions feel free to ask.