Calling all Yale SOM 2009 Applicants!

Matriculating @ Yale SOM - Class of 2011
Fantastic (9)

graffiti
nink
ruthlessgravity
happybunny
formerlehmanite
smokedpotatoes2
mike22 - Silver Scholar
jsam
freshlook

Class of 2011, Legend in the Making......

R1:

Stats:
GC Applied: 18
Interview Offered: 11
Accepted: 5
Admit Percentage: 31.25%

nink – Accepted with scholarship (1/5)
blake5790 – Accepted (12/19)
mindruna – Accepted (12/19)
graffiti – Accepted (12/19)
happybunny - Accepted
dharmabum - dinged
Leverandon - dinged
mickster402 - dinged
nTang - dinged
Pathfinder77 - dinged
sterny - Interview Invite (12/2) - withdrew
wooster123 - Interview Invite (11/24) - withdrew
cez - WL
IHatetheGMAT - WL withdrew
Irishspring - waiting
marinaGMAT – waiting
ndiaconu - waiting
PhoenixBanker - Interview Invite (11/3)

R2:

Stats:
GC Applied: 21
Interview Offered: 15
Accepted: 10
Admit Percentage: 47.6%

rca215 – admitted 2/27/09 (w scholarship)
lasttotheparty - admitted 2/27/09
ruthlessgravity - admitted (w scholarship)
smokedpotatoes – admitted (w scholarship)
formerlehmanite1 - admitted
BearStearner - admitted
thedudeabides - admitted
MbaHopeful2009 - admitted
mike22 - admitted
jsam- admitted
lsuguy7 - ding
hardaway7 - ding
raabend - ding
jmerry- WL
yellowjacket - Interview Invite - withdrew
pguard - Interview Invite - withdrew
Zoemoe - Interview Invite
F13 - Interview Invite (2/28/09)
levfin2003
matty0212 - withdrawn
wonderhaven

I just keep getting more unhappy with the essays that have come out so far! Granted these essays are not to bad and they are certainly easier than the M7 schools (especially Chicago, not looking forward to those essays) but I was counting on this app being really easy like it was the last few years. For comparison here was last years:

Why an MBA? (Required)
Please describe your short and long term goals and how your previous experience and an MBA will help you to achieve these goals. (500 words maximum.)

Leadership Example (Required)
Describe a situation in which your leadership and/or teamwork had a significant impact. (500 words maximum.)

Personal Statement (Required)
Please develop a question/topic of your choice and answer it in essay form. Please state the question/topic at the beginning of your essay. (500 words maximum.)


The thing that bothers me the most is that the leadership example now specifically asks for professional ONLY whereas in the past you could use an EC. I had planned to use an EC example as I have a significant leadership experience there. I was going to use it for Yale and Tuck that way I only had to write about it once. Now, Yale won't let me use that leadership example.... I need to change my screename to IHateAdmissionsEssays

EDIT: Oh and I love how they added a little twist to the goals essay this year. Impact the world?? These schools are making it really tough for me to just reuse my goals essay accross schools like applicants have done for years. Now both Chicago and Yale have unique twists on that question.

Can you please start the Yale post in http://www.gmatclub.com/forum/103-t66319?

Sam took care of it

I'm trying to get to the application, but it wont let me. I registered last year but never applied, and now everytime I try to login it says "the 2008 cycle has ended" or something to that affect. Any suggestions?

I may be in for Round 2, still trying to decide...

I really like the direction I feel Yale is going, as well as the social consciousness aspect of their program. Best of luck to all applying!

~Sam

P.S. Thanks for letting me change the topic title IHateTheGMAT.

I'm planning to apply for round 2. I really like the MBA/MEM dual degree option, or at the very least the option to take classes in the School of Forestry/Environment. My final decision will depend on what I see during my on-campus visit, which should hopefully happen in late October after R1 applications are in!

The app is not up yet. Just the questions

I am here for questions as well...i added the questions to the ambassador forum.

A few observations about the questions:

1. The questions went from 3 to 4. I am not sure why this happened. Maybe they only want applicants who are serious about attending Yale and adding a question will lead to this.

2. Question three was open-ended last year with the applicant writing the question versus having choices. I think this can work for you in that you have a focused list to pick from versus just picking something at random. This will allow you to answer a question you know the adcom wants you to answer.

lanter1,

I've seen you discuss the class size issue and a new building. When is the new building going to be complete? How big will the class size be at that point? What affect do you think this will have on admission criteria? What affect do you think this will have on the overall ranking?

If you apply to be in the class of 2011, you will experience the new building in the second year. Also, if you are applying this fall, the new class size may be 20 more people from what I have heard.

Please let me know if you will be visiting new haven. I can't wait to meet some fellow GMATclubbers.

Hey Lanter,

I'm glad they're considering increasing the class of 2011 to 200 students and that we would have access to the new building during our second year.

Couple questions on the essay questions. What do you think of the changes to essay 1 and 2 from last year? On essay 2 they narrowed the scope from last year and seem to only be interested in leaderhip experience at work, as opposed to an extracurricular organization. Do you read it the same way? Also, what do you think of this "What is the impact that you wish to have on the world" component to the goals essay?

Maybe I just don't remember correctly, but these essay questions seem quite a bit more specific and thought intensive than they were last year. The essays last year were essentially why an MBA and why Yale or something along those lines weren't they?

I think to understand the "impact that you wish to have on the world" you first have to realize what SOM is about. The school is about business and society. They want you to be able to make business decisions that not only help the "bottom line" but that are also good for society as a whole (maybe we could have avoided the mortgage crisis if this is how everyone thought).

As far as question two, I am not sure. Maybe too many apps last year focused on outside of work for the majority of leadership experience and they are narrowing the focus. Or they may have two many people applying that are only leaders outside of work and they want leaders within a working environment. Personally, I feel it is much more impressive to be a leader at work than in volunteering (although volunteering is very important) setting. Most volunteers I know from business and/or professional settings are leaders anyway and that is why they take the time to help others.

Overall, i like these questions better because they are very specific and have narrowed the scope. You can get a real sense of the type of candidate a school wants by the wording of the questions. Use this to your advantage.

Yes, they are much more specific than last year.

Check out the second post, I posted last years essays and made some comments on how they're different. I also made some comments on the post right above yours. You're right, they are definitely more specific and tougher than last year.

[/quote]Check out the second post, I posted last years essays and made some comments on how they're different. I also made some comments on the post right above yours. You're right, they are definitely more specific and tougher than last year.[/quote]

I don't think they are tougher as far as the questions themselves. i guess it's personal preference but I think having a question guide you is much easier than being given a blank canvas. Granted, there is one extra question. Also, i do see where you are coming from.

Let me know how i can help you guys/glas answer these questions.

Yeah, I think for me the main thing that makes it tougher is the way they changed the leadership question. Outside of work, I led a 15 person team that put on this big event for over 200 people. I planned to use it for all my leadership essays. If the question was the same as last year I'd be able to use this experience for Yale and Tuck. Now, Yale has made the question about work only and blown this option out of the water. Essay 1 is also tougher because last year it was just short-term, long-term, why Yale, which I have clear answers for. Now they have added in a unique element about the impact I want to have on the world which is not something I've put any thought into.

When does Yale start scheduling on campus visits? I'll be visiting this fall!

RF