Yale c/o 2019 Applicants (2015-2016) Forum

[salander]

Haha, here's hoping this will prompt YLS to start calls tomorrow

+1

[salander]

Reading this and trying to scrub a horrified look off my face, lol...

From a 2002 New Yorker article about Yale Law professor Stephen Carter:

“You receive your eighty folders,” Carter said, “and you look through them, and you realize that every one of these people would do just fine.” His usual method, he said, is to look for something “different or exceptional or unusual” about each candidate, rather than trying to find reasons to reject them. “But, then, I still worry sometimes,” he said. “If I realize that I’ve given good scores to a bunch of applications in a row, the next one is in big trouble.

"In a perfect world,” he continued, “I would go back and read all the folders again, but who has the time? It’s easy to see why people fall back on grades and L.S.A.T. scores.” One year, as time ran out, Carter still had roughly a dozen folders to go. “I ended up rating those files at random: 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4.”

[GrayGamut]

“I ended up rating those files at random: 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4.”

see: definition of black box

[mdnyc]

“I ended up rating those files at random: 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4.”

see: definition of black box

Man, now I've just gotta hope my app is read only by profs with full stomachs and good days ahead.

[Ensalada]

Reading this and trying to scrub a horrified look off my face, lol...

From a 2002 New Yorker article about Yale Law professor Stephen Carter:

“You receive your eighty folders,” Carter said, “and you look through them, and you realize that every one of these people would do just fine.” His usual method, he said, is to look for something “different or exceptional or unusual” about each candidate, rather than trying to find reasons to reject them. “But, then, I still worry sometimes,” he said. “If I realize that I’ve given good scores to a bunch of applications in a row, the next one is in big trouble.

"In a perfect world,” he continued, “I would go back and read all the folders again, but who has the time? It’s easy to see why people fall back on grades and L.S.A.T. scores.” One year, as time ran out, Carter still had roughly a dozen folders to go. “I ended up rating those files at random: 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4.”

Oddly enough I got a sense of peace from this? At least if I get rejected I can hope/assume that it was due to the totally random act of a professor running behind and assigning a 2 without even reading my application, and not due to a carefully thought out assessment and rejection of my 250.

[brooklynboy]

is right. I'm stunned that he would admit to doing that! I hope he has earned Asha's scorn.

[GrayGamut]

Oddly enough I got a sense of peace from this? At least if I get rejected I can hope/assume that it was due to the totally random act of a professor running behind and assigning a 2 without even reading my application, and not due to a carefully thought out assessment and rejection of my 250.

You make a good point, I'm into this. Plus, frankly, random would probably increase my odds.

[sanibella]

is right. I'm stunned that he would admit to doing that! I hope he has earned Asha's scorn.

Asha wasn't the dean yet. I'm sure she doesn't allow that! She would likely notice that some files that were consistently given 4s by all professors were receiving 2s from this guy, or vice versa.

[nicknar]

Just wrote my third attempt at a 250. Feel like I need to write like ten of these and pick the best one.

Also my UG was not on that list of schools represented. I feel like no one from my UG has gone to any of the schools I'm applying to, ever. So, hurrah!

[GrayGamut]

Also my UG was not on that list of schools represented. I feel like no one from my UG has gone to any of the schools I'm applying to, ever. So, hurrah!

+1

[clurrburr]

Also my UG was not on that list of schools represented.

Mine either! I'm a little surprised. Doubt I'll be the one to change that but yolo

[brooklynboy]

Hey, every year Yale takes people from schools that aren't represented there now--don't let that discourage you!

[nicknar]

Hey, every year Yale takes people from schools that aren't represented there now--don't let that discourage you!

Oh don't worry, Yale's medians are discouraging enough.

[pittsburghpirates]

Salander, you've officially brought me back in. Completing my application and hopefully submitting before the new year!

[KissMyAxe]

Post Deleted

[brooklynboy]

This is clearly baseless speculation and a total waste of time, but why not: any predictions on when the first calls will go out? My guess is sometime this weekend, I'm thinking Sunday the 13th.

[jetsfan1]

is right. I'm stunned that he would admit to doing that! I hope he has earned Asha's scorn.

Asha wasn't the dean yet. I'm sure she doesn't allow that! She would likely notice that some files that were consistently given 4s by all professors were receiving 2s from this guy, or vice versa.

But honestly, this is all pointless worrying.

Um but isn't this TLS' raison d'être?

ETA: But seriously thanks for your input. It makes us feel as if our pointless worrying is slightly less pointless.

[KissMyAxe]

This is clearly baseless speculation and a total waste of time, but why not: any predictions on when the first calls will go out? My guess is sometime this weekend, I'm thinking Sunday the 13th.

No idea. I think I posted this before, but it could really be any day now. Last year it was the 6th. The year before it was the 17th. a couple years before that it was after Christmas. It could even wait until January. If I were to make a complete guess, I'd guess either Monday(the 14th) or next Friday (the 18th). Don't worry about it, you're getting in, everyone here is getting in. I feel it in my bones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygQtml-Xsog

Also, don't forget, a lot of people were accepted via email last cycle, so it might not necessarily be calls.

[sanibella]

is right. I'm stunned that he would admit to doing that! I hope he has earned Asha's scorn.

Asha wasn't the dean yet. I'm sure she doesn't allow that! She would likely notice that some files that were consistently given 4s by all professors were receiving 2s from this guy, or vice versa.

LOL. Asha is Dean of Admissions. But honestly, I doubt even Robert Post could change how professors choose to grade applications. Law schools are basically run the same way as law firms. The tenured faculty are your "partners," who have to vote on every major decision. And of course they want to grade applications how they want to grade them. And she won't override any professor's decision as she's said before. If an applicant has a 4-4-2, they're probably not going to get in. Heck, there are professors out there who scrutinize LSAT essays because they feel the others are doctored so much they're no longer representative of the student's writing. Making three different professors individually agree on what makes a good candidate is what makes YLS have the best admissions out there, even if there is a definite element of luck to it. There's a famous legend (that I'm sure isn't true) that there was a professor who would throw all of his applications down the stairs and only give those who reach the bottom a 4.

But honestly, this is all pointless worrying. It's not worth getting so hung up on what does require some luck. And look on the bright side, if Yale were not holistic and just went after numbers like HLS, with their 80% retention rate, they would easily have medians of 3.97+, 175+.

Listen, I am happy living in my world of optimism and I shall stay here.

[brooklynboy]

No idea. I think I posted this before, but it could really be any day now. Last year it was the 6th. The year before it was the 17th. a couple years before that it was after Christmas. It could even wait until January. If I were to make a complete guess, I'd guess either Monday(the 14th) or next Friday (the 18th). Don't worry about it, you're getting in, everyone here is getting in. I feel it in my bones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygQtml-Xsog

Also, don't forget, a lot of people were accepted via email last cycle, so it might not necessarily be calls.

You are good at putting our minds at ease a bit, I appreciate it!

[chayatshuva]

This might be literally THE dumbest question of all time. But I feel very compelled to ask it and because I just want to know ahead of time if I did something stupid or if it's okay and I shouldn't panic.

So for my Yale 250, I submitted part of a paper I had written. It is pretty scientific and dry.. not something I composed for Yale specifically. Is that okay? Or have I already totally ruined my chances at admissions?

[lemonparty]

hey all, I'm a long time lurker but I figured I would finally register now that the cycle is in full-swing. this might seem like a silly question, but for the 250 does that mean EXACTLY 250 words? I submitted in November, so I don't know why I'm bothering to torture myself at this point, but I suddenly realized mine was 247 and got paranoid...

[sanibella]

hey all, I'm a long time lurker but I figured I would finally register now that the cycle is in full-swing. this might seem like a silly question, but for the 250 does that mean EXACTLY 250 words? I submitted in November, so I don't know why I'm bothering to torture myself at this point, but I suddenly realized mine was 247 and got paranoid...

No, that's the limit.

[KissMyAxe]

No problem Brooklyn. I remember how stressful it was so I feel for you guys.

This might be literally THE dumbest question of all time. But I feel very compelled to ask it and because I just want to know ahead of time if I did something stupid or if it's okay and I shouldn't panic.

So for my Yale 250, I submitted part of a paper I had written. It is pretty scientific and dry.. not something I composed for Yale specifically. Is that okay? Or have I already totally ruined my chances at admissions?

Nah, I think it's a fine question. The 250 is probably the most black-box thing out there so it makes sense to worry about it the most (or procrastinate on it as many do). Obviously, I'm not an expert on all this since I'm not an adcomm nor a faculty member, but I have read many 250s and I think that sounds fine. A lot of people go the dry, scientific route, others write about some huge life-changing event that's not quite grand enough for a personal statement, still others write about a hobby. They all say it can be about anything, it's just to give your application some depth and show the faculty more about who you are as a person. If you're still worried, feel free to PM me and I'd be happy to look over it and share my own if you'd like.

And to the other person, yeah, 250 is just the maximum length. I usually wouldn't go below like 150 or something, but I expect very few people use exactly 250 words (mine was like 239).

[lemonparty]

And to the other person, yeah, 250 is just the maximum length. I usually wouldn't go below like 150 or something, but I expect very few people use exactly 250 words (mine was like 239).

No, that's the limit.

Thank you both!! definitely helped put my mind at ease. I think I'm just starting to freak out more about every little thing the further into the cycle we get