Day 8: Yale Part 2- and NY City!

The a.m. consisted of an information session at the Yale office of Undregraduate admissions. Students showed up in YALE gear, already envisioned themselves on campus. 

A senior student spoke about student life and classes and the director spoke about the admissions process, and expressed how much she enjoys reading the personal statements; being privy to the insight of inspiring youth all over the country. She reiterated that being authentic and really letting the reader get to know you through self reflection , was key for the admissions department to understand the whole student.  

Before we jumped on the bus to NY city, we brunches on crepes for our last hoorah in New Haven. 

Once in NY, we checked into the hotel, changed and headed out for dinner. We ate at Pennsy Hall, connected to Madison Square Garden and overlooking Fashion Avenue.  With curled hair and shiny shoes, the kids were ready for Broadway! The walk up Fashion Avenue to Times Square was full of neon lights and selfies the whole way. The musical chosen for the students was Dear Evan Hansen, and once we sat down and viewed the creative set design, it was clear this was a play for them.  The set had a digital layout with a running twitter page and instant message motif projected around the center of the stage, a twin bed with a laptop on it. The play starts and we begin learning about an anxious, insecure, quirky, sweet, normal teenager, aching for belonging and a way to talk to his longtime crush. The kids were laughing, crying, and sometimes a little uneasy with how real it was. 

Our late night excursion afterwards was shakes, sundaes and cakes at Juniors in Times Square. Flashing lights, the good kind, paved our way back to the hotel. 

Early up to Columbia to meet the Chicanx Caucus first thing!