Yale’s residential college system is one of its most distinctive features, but it’s also one of the most confusing. Allow me to address some of the most common misconceptions.
To start, residential colleges at Yale are micro-communities where students reside and have access to different spaces. They are not glorified dorms. Unlike traditional college dorms where students live with their peers and have a shared kitchen or lounge space, residential colleges at Yale are essentially mini colleges. Each residential college has a dining hall, common room, library, gym, student kitchen, laundry room, and courtyard.
The purpose of a residential college is also very different from a dorm. While dorms act as places for student residence, residential colleges are intended to create a social community. Residential colleges provide the of intimacy of a small school with the diversity of a larger university. This community, while artificially created, is one of the best things about residential college life at Yale.
Another common misconception about residential colleges is that only students reside in the residential colleges. The colleges are also home to several faculty members and their families, including the head of college and the dean. Having both these VIPs close by means they can provide 24/7 support. Furthermore, most residential colleges also have college pets, courtesy of the residential fellows, head of college, or dean. Ultimately, everyone who lives in the residential college contributes to their homey and welcoming atmosphere.
Lastly, a popular misconception among both undergraduates and prospective students alike, is that there exists a superior residential college. While many students apply to Yale with a residential college in mind, the ranking of the residential colleges is almost always biased. To current students, their residential college is, in their opinion, the best residential college. However, to others, a bad meal or awkward social interaction will forever tarnish the rating of that residential college.
Ultimately, residential college experience is what students make of it. While they provide students a guaranteed family and advisors who care about them, students can still choose to explore beyond the horizons of their residential college as they join countless student groups. The main takeaways are that residential colleges are not like traditional college dorms, provide students a community for social and intellectual connection, and are the backbone of many students’ college experiences.
The TD crest, seashell edition (there is no such thing as having too much residential college spirit :D)
