TRUMBULL COLLEGE: October 27, 2025
Happy Halloweek!! Be safe and have fun this week! We’re planning on taking Sahej trick-or-treating on Friday in East Rock, which is always fun.
Last week, with the midterm deadline on Friday, I chatted with many of you throughout the week, and very much appreciated that folks took advantage of my open Zoom hours each day. Remember that I have open Zoom hours every Friday (typically in the morning – this week, from 10:00-11:30am on Halloween morning) in addition to appointments available via Calendly. It was also great seeing many of you at Rumbull in Trumbull on Friday afternoon – huge thanks to TCC for their efforts.
We’re officially in the second half of the term! I’ve been getting questions about registration for next term – the process starts three weeks from today (the week leading up to November Recess). You can find more info here: https://registration.yale.edu/registration/yale-college-registration
Hope you’re all hanging in there – enjoy these sunny crisp days and the foliage! Though the days are getting shorter, they’ll get an hour shorter next week (but we’ll get an extra hour of sleep this weekend) – so get outside when you can!
And a friendly reminder to get your flu shot! We got ours a couple of weeks ago: https://yalehealth.yale.edu/topic/flu-and-covid-vaccine-program-2025-2026
Have a great week!!
Meeting with me
To make an appointment, please use the Calendly scheduling tool, https://calendly.com/dean_c, or reach out to Alice with any scheduling issues. For in-person meetings, please come to the office. We’re right here in Trumbull G104, which you can access across from Entryway A or through Entryway G. Zoom meetings (including open Zoom office hours) will be through my Zoom page: https://yale.zoom.us/my/skchandhoke.
My OPEN ZOOM office hours for each week are listed on the top of my Calendly page. When you click on the Zoom link, you will be placed into a waiting room. I will speak to students (one-on-one) in the order they “arrive.” My upcoming Open Hours are Friday, October 31st (10-11:30am).
Please note that I teach on Wednesday mornings during the fall term.
ACADEMICS
Yale Degree Audit: Yale Degree Audit (YDA) is a tool that tracks your progress toward the bachelor’s degree. You can learn about – and access! – Degree Audit at https://registrar.yale.edu/student-records/degree-audit. Degree Audit displays the Yale College degree requirements that you have already completed and those that are still pending. If you believe that academic information in your degree audit is incorrect, contact our office.
UPCOMING DATES AND DEADLINES (5pm unless noted)
November 6 Last day to withdraw from a course offered in the second half of the fall term without the course appearing on the transcript
November 17 Spring term registration opens for Class of 2026, 8am
November 18 Spring term registration opens for Class of 2027, 8am
November 19 Spring term registration opens for Class of 2028, 8am
November 20 Spring term registration opens for Class of 2029, 8am
November 21 November recess begins after last academic obligation
November 30 Last day to relinquish on-campus housing for the spring term without charge (Undergraduate Regulations)
TUTORING
Advising Resources: http://advising.yalecollege.yale.edu
Academic Strategies Program: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/academic-strategies-program
Sc/QR Tutoring: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/learning/help-with-stem/stem-tutoring
Language Tutoring: https://cls.yale.edu/programs/language-tutoring
Writing Center/Tutors/Partners: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/undergraduates/undergraduate-writing-and-tutoring; https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/undergraduates/writing-center
Trumbull Writing Tutor: Adam Reid Sexton is the Trumbull College Writing Tutor. Adam teaches three courses in the English department (The Craft of Fiction, Reading and Writing the Modern Essay, and Writing About Music) and is a Critic in the graduate School of Art. During summer 2022 he taught Writing About Music for Yale in London. Adam is also a writer; his next book, Difficult Listening, is due to be published soon. To meet with Adam, please reserve a half-hour by logging on to https://www.yalewco.com/index.php, and be sure to email him the document you want help with by 7am on the day of your appointment. Include the instructor’s prompt, your focus for the meeting, and when the paper is due. Adam looks forward to working with you!
Academic Strategies Program. Through the Office of Educational Opportunity, the Academic Strategies Program helps students navigate the “hidden curriculum” at Yale, the invisible set of underlying assumptions and expectations about how to do well as a student. They offer support groups, individual mentoring, and workshops; see https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/learning.
How to Read Efficiently and Effectively for Your Social Science Classes. Social science texts can be dense, tricky, and time-consuming. This workshop breaks down how to identify key arguments, sift through details, and come to class ready to contribute—led by students who’ve developed strategies that really work! Monday, October 27, 4-5pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
STEM Navigators: How to Talk to STEM Professors. Nervous about approaching your professors in your STEM classes? Want to know how to make the connections you need and get to know your professor better or learn more about their research? Come to this interactive workshop where you’ll learn to email, talk to, and meet with your STEM professors and other STEM faculty at Yale! Monday, October 27, 4-5pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120A
Study Abroad x STEM Navigators. Are you a STEM major or STEM-focused student who has thought about study abroad? Join us to discuss study abroad opportunities for STEM students and hear from students in your major who have studied abroad! Monday, October 27, 5-6pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 128
How to Read Efficiently and Effectively for Your Literature Classes. Reading literature can feel endless—but it doesn’t have to! Learn how to read closely, manage your time, and generate ideas for papers and discussions. This session is led by ASP Peer Mentors who’ve found ways to read deeply and get it all done. Monday, October 27, 6-7pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
Senior Thesis Power Hours. Writing a Senior Thesis is HARD—but it’s way more fun with snacks, support, and friends who get it! Drop in anytime to this two-hour session, hosted by the Yale College Writing Partners and Academic Strategies Peer Mentors, for (1) facilitated & structured focus time + breaks; (2) delicious snacks + seltzer water; (3) optional 1:1 help from Writing Partners and Academic Strategies Peer Mentors; (4) the camaraderie you need to keep those ideas flowing. Monday, October 27, 7-9pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120A
Better Reading with and without AI. Join us for a workshop at the Poorvu Center to learn how to get the most out of your reading. We will discuss well-researched learning strategies as well as ways to adapt these techniques when working with AI large language models. During the workshop, you will have the chance to try out new techniques directly and to share some of your own. Wednesday, October 29, 4-5pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120B
Imagining Your Summer. Thinking about summer study abroad, fellowship opportunities, or professional internships–but don’t know where to start? Come to this session to hear from students who have done these things & staff whose job it is to help you get these things! You will leave this session with a clearer idea of what is possible, and a solid understanding of what resources could be available to you to make it happen. Now is the perfect time to start planning! Wednesday, October 29, 4-5pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120A
STEM Navigators: How to Join a Lab, Part 1: Find Your Lab. This workshop is part of the 3-session series, Let’s Join a Lab! Are you struggling to write your research proposal? Come to this workshop where we’ll go over the process together - just bring your research interests and your laptops! Wednesday, October 29, 4-5pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120A
DPMP Pumpkin Painting Social. Get into the fall spirit by decorating pumpkins with your creative flair! Whether you prefer spooky designs, artistic masterpieces, or silly faces, join us for an autumn-themed crafting session perfect for the season. Wednesday, October 29, 6-7pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 118A
“I’m In” Hack Your Brain by Understanding the Psychology of Time Management. If you know what to do but still can’t seem to do it, then this workshop is for you! With the Academic Strategies Peer Mentors, you’ll explore the mental habits and cognitive traps that make time management hard—and try out new strategies that can actually work with, and not against, how your brain operates. Wednesday, October 29, 6-7pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
Eli Whitney Caffeinated Commons. Wrap up your week with community, conversation, and caffeine! Drop by this relaxed weekly hangout hosted by the Academic Strategies Program’s Eli Whitney peer mentors—sometimes there’s a theme or discussion, sometimes just snacks and good company. Whether you’re here to chat, decompress, connect, or set up your weekend, you’re always welcome. Thursdays, 4pm-6pm, coffee provided. Thursday, October 30, 4-6pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 118B
Fantastic Mentors and Where to Find Them: What Is a Mentor? Who Could Be a Mentor? Mentorship comes in many forms—peers, faculty, grad students, alumni—and all of them can shape your Yale experience. This workshop is a conversation about how to recognize potential mentors, build meaningful connections, and make the most of the support already around you. You’ll leave with ideas, inspiration, and guidance from ASP Peer Mentors who’ve been both mentees and mentors themselves. Thursday, October 30, 4-5pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
Fantastic Mentors and Where to Find Them: Cultivating Faculty Mentors. Looking for someone to guide your academic path? This workshop helps you identify potential mentors, ask for support, and build lasting connections with faculty—led by juniors and seniors who’ve done it and can tell you what actually works. Thursday, October 30, 6-7pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
STEM Navigators: Monthly Study Break- S’mores and Smash Bros. Please take a break from the hustle and bustle of prepping for exams and assignments and join STEM Navigators for our monthly study break! We’ll have s’mores and play Super Smash Bros on the Switch (we’ll have halal and vegan s’mores available)! Sunday, November 2, 2-4pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120A
CAREER STRATEGY
The Office of Career Strategy (OCS) offers career advising, professional school advising, employment and internship opportunities, and career development resources. The office works with students and alumni to clarify career aspirations, identify opportunities, and offer support at every stage of career development. Schedule a weekly OCS newsletter tailored to your interests, check out OCS events, opportunities, resources and services at https://ocs.yale.edu/channels/student, get even more tips and announcements at https://ocs.yale.edu/blog.
Yale College OCS-Fellowships Outreach Coordinators. The OCS-Fellowships Outreach Coordinators are undergraduate students in the residential colleges, trained by the Office of Career Strategy and the Office of Fellowships to introduce their peers to the resources of these offices. Each outreach coordinator serves as the point person for two residential colleges. When classes are in session, the Outreach Coordinators host programs in the colleges, are available for resume reviews, and can answer questions about career and summer funding resources. Each also holds Open Hours once a week in each of their assigned residential colleges, which are posted on the OCS website. Students are invited to visit them during their open hours or contact them directly.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. SMBC is one of the largest banking groups in Japan, offering a diverse range of financial services, which include banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. Built on a foundation that leverages the perspective of more than 400 years of history, our Japanese heritage affirms a sense of honor and commitment that is increasingly rare in the financial world. Our deeply held values of service, respect, and integrity are present in everything we do.
Coffee Chats: Monday, October 27, 2-4pm, Register for Location
Information Session: Monday, October 27, 5-6pm, Register for Location
Applying Innovative Principles to Your Creative Career Workshop. This hands-on workshop will uncover how innovative principles can enhance creative careers, what innovative principles are best-practice, and start exploring how you can apply innovative principles in your own creative careers. This workshop is for creatives who are interested in implementing innovative tools in their creative practice and/or projects. By the end, you’ll understand innovation’s role in creative careers, discover best practices, and explore innovation integration in your work. Monday, October 27, 4-5:30pm, Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking
Yale School of Medicine Virtual Summer Program Showcase 2026. Administrators from the following programs will be present: Yale BioMed Amgen Scholars Program, Yale Child Development Study Center Undergraduate Developmental Science Summer Internship, Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience (YSERE), Yale Summer Enrichment Medical Academy (YSEMA), Yale School of Medicine Summer Research Program (SRP). Monday, October 27, 6-7pm, Online Event (register for link)
This is Public Health Virtual Graduate School Fair. Join us and connect with public health institutions from across the nation, all from the comfort of your own space. This is the perfect opportunity for anyone aspiring to make a difference in the vital field of public health. Participants do not need to attend the full eight hour block. Please check the schedule to see when schools and programs that you’re interested in will have their room(s) available. Tuesday, October 28, 9am - 5pm, Online Event (register for link)
Yale Personalized Medicine & Applied Engineering Info Session. The Yale School of Engineering and the Yale School of Medicine are hosting fall information sessions for their innovative one-year joint master’s degree in Personalized Medicine & Applied Engineering. This interdisciplinary program equips students with cutting edge skills at the intersection of medicine, engineering, and computer science. Participants gain hands-on experience designing 3D solutions for personalized healthcare using technologies such as 3D imaging and printing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, robotics and computer-assisted navigation, and augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR). Pre-med and medical students, biomedical/mechanical/electrical engineering and computer science majors passionate about healthcare innovation should apply by the December 15th deadline. Tuesday, October 28, 5-7pm, Online Event (click for link)
Jefferies LLC Information Session. Please join us for our 2027 IB Information Session. Tuesday, October 28, 5:30-6:30pm, The Blake Hotel, 9 High Street
AAMC Virtual Medical School Fair 2025. Leverage this unique opportunity to chat directly with medical schools, accelerated 3-year programs, postbaccalaureate and special master’s degree programs across the U.S. Ask your questions about financial aid, the MCAT® exam, the AMCAS® application, the SHPEP program, and more. Experts from AAMC will also be available to answer any additional questions about the application process. Wednesday, October 29-Thursday, October 30, 11am-6pm, Online event (register for link)
Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Fireside Chat Please join us for a Fireside with Matt McClure, Global Co-Head of Investment Banking, moderated by Christina Minnis, Global Head of Credit & Asset Finance and Head of Global Acquisition Finance. This informative fireside chat will provide an overview of Goldman Sachs, our culture, and the Investment Banking business. We welcome all students to attend. Thursday, October 30, 5-6pm, Register for location
A Day in the Life of a Physician-Scientist. What does it really mean to be a physician-scientist? Wondering what the path looks like—and how you might become one too? The event will feature a student panel of MD/PhD trainees followed by a Fireside Chat with Ginny Bumgardner, MD, PhD, a surgeon-scientist who integrates clinical care and discovery. Join us to explore the career path, hear personal insights, and learn what it takes to bridge science and medicine. Thursday, October 30, 7-9pm
Lessons in Service: Insights into Career Management During Times of Change. The Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs will host a timely career conversation with a distinguished panel of alumni from the Yale College Class of 1963, followed by a lunch and policy discussion. The featured panelists have had notable careers in the private sector and in service with the U.S. government, where they have witnessed and navigated significant political and policy shifts that have shaped the course of world history. Friday, October 31, 11am-12:30, Horchow Hall, 55 Hillhouse Avenue, GM Room
FELLOWSHIPS AND FUNDING
Yale and outside funding options can help support research, study abroad, public service, unpaid internships, and self-designed projects, in New Haven and around the globe. Postgraduate fellowships support independent projects, graduate study, and much more. The Office of Fellowships and Funding helps students identify funding opportunities and navigate the application process. Visit https://funding.yale.edu to learn more.
In-Person Interview Training Series: Preparing for Finalist Interviews. This information session will provide detailed advice and practical tips to help students pursuing fellowships prepare for in-person finalist interviews. Tuesday, October 28, 1-2pm, 55 Whitney Avenue, 3rd Floor, Room 369
In-Person Interview Training Series: Preparing for In-Person Interviews Workshop. Interactive workshops that focus on body language and etiquette to help you feel comfortable in various interview settings and formats. Wednesday, October 29, 1-2pm, 55 Whitney Avenue, 3rd Floor, Room 369
Truman Group Advising Workshop #4: Peer Editing. Join Yale’s Truman Scholarship advisor, Jill Carrera, for a peer editing workshop. Bring your Truman drafts and share them with your peers to see if what you are trying to convey is coming across! Jill will provide an outline for peer review and divide the group into pairs. Wednesday, October 29, 3-4pm, 55 Whitney Avenue, 3rd Floor, Room 305
Light Fellowship Information Session #4. The Richard U. Light Fellowship Program fully funds Yale undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students pursuing intensive language study in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean for terms ranging from a single summer to a combined summer plus academic year. Attending a Light Fellowship Information Session is a requirement to be eligible for the Fellowship. Wednesday, October 29, 3:30-4:30pm, 55 Whitney Avenue, 3rd Floor, Room 369
Imagining Your Summer. Thinking about summer study abroad, fellowship opportunities, or professional internships–but don’t know where to start? Come to this session to hear from students who have done these things & staff whose job it is to help you get these things! You will leave this session with a clearer idea of what is possible, and a solid understanding of what resources could be available to you to make it happen. Now is the perfect time to start planning! Wednesday, October 29, 4-5pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120A
In-Person Interview Training Series: Alumni Panel on In-Person Interviews. In this panel discussion, recent UK fellowship winners will share insights about their in-person interview experiences. Thursday, October 30, 3-4pm, Online Event (click for Zoom link)
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS): Drop-in hours. CLS provides immersive summer programs for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to learn languages of strategic importance to the United States’ national security and economic prosperity. Through intensive language instruction and structured cultural activities, participants receive the equivalent of one year of language study in just eight weeks. Drop by for answers on questions about the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program! Note: these office hours are hosted by CLS, not Yale-specific]. Friday, October 31, 3:30-4:30pm, Online Event (click for Zoom link)
STUDY ABROAD
Thinking about studying abroad? Head to the “Get Started” tab to search programs that fit your personal and academic interests, check application deadlines, review costs and funding options, get advice on your plans, and more. Learn about fulfilling distributional and major requirements with study abroad coursework.
Study Abroad x STEM Navigators. Are you a STEM major or STEM-focused student who has thought about study abroad? Join us to discuss study abroad opportunities for STEM students and hear from students in your major who have studied abroad! Monday, October 27, 5-6pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 128
Study Abroad x NACC Community Connections. Curious about studying abroad as a Native/Indigenous Student? Come hear from Indigenous students who have studied abroad at Yale! Yale Study Abroad Student Outreach coordinators will be there to answer questions, and snacks will be provided! Tuesday, October 28, 6-7pm, Native American Cultural Center, 26 High St
Risotto Cooking Class hosted by Study Abroad Outreach Coordinators. Discover the flavors of Study Abroad! Join us for a hands-on cooking class led by a Yale student who will share dishes connected to their time overseas. While we cook together, you’ll hear stories from their experiences and learn more about opportunities to study abroad yourself. Saturday, November 1, 3-5pm, Davenport Kitchen (subject to change), 248 York St
Need to Get or Renew Your Passport? Even if you are not yet sure that you will study abroad, you should have a valid passport at least three months in advance, if possible. All passports should be valid at least 6 months beyond the end date of your anticipated study abroad program.
- Yale students, staff & faculty can get passport photos from the Yale ID Center, 55 Lock Street, by appointment
- U.S. citizens should visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for information about applying for or renewing a passport. You can apply at the Yale Station post office in New Haven or the New Haven Free Public Library. While most passports are still renewed via mail, qualified U.S. citizens and nationals may be able to renew U.S. passports online. The current estimated wait time for U.S. passport processing is 4-6 weeks.
- International students should research passport renewal procedures for their country of citizenship and be aware of how the renewal process may impact their U.S. student visa
Learn more at https://studyabroad.yale.edu/resources/travel-planning-logistics.
OTHER
Relaxed Study Time at 35 Broadway Courtyard Side. Stop in and grab a free coffee or tea and find a corner of our large office suite in which to tackle those P-sets and projects. Need a break? Games and puzzles await you in the lounge. Occasional snacks may be there, too. Open Monday-Thursday from 6:30-10 PM. Where’s 35 Broadway? Take the footpath between Toad’s and Mory’s. The building on the left with a blue awning is ours. Your ID will get you in the building and in the suite which is on the second floor. (It’s the only suite there—you can’t miss it.)
Reduced Distraction Study Hours at Watson Center. If your idea of a perfect study space is a small room of your own with no visual distractions, this is the place for you. It’s a great place to focus in on that paper or prepare for an exam. The rooms are first-come, first-served, and it is limited to students registered with the SAS office. Check in with the study-hour host outside room A62 to be assigned a room and let in (the rooms are locked.) Open Monday-Thursday from 5-10 PM.
East Asia Sophomore Information Session. Interested in becoming an East Asian Languages & Literatures or East Asian Studies major? Join us in Rosenkranz Hall, Room 301 on Thursday, November 6, 2-3 pm (RSVP) to learn more about both programs.
10th Annual Career Networking Mixer where alumni meet current students and help explore career strategies. Register by November 12th. Alumni will share their “real world” experiences in life skills and careers, including the arts, business, communications, consulting, education, entertainment, finance, health care, government, law & social justice, non-profits, public service, real estate, STEM, and more! Students will come with questions about the current job world and strategies about how to develop a career, several careers, and graduate school opportunities. Alumni really want to meet and help you Navigate your career explorations; know what skills are critical now; take advantage of all of Yale’s resources. Note: you do not need to be first-gen or from a low-income background to attend. We all celebrate being members of the Yale family. Recent grads are welcome. Dinner and dessert included. Wednesday, November 19, 6-8:30pm, Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park Street
YC3
Take it Easy Tuesday: Pumpkin Decorating. Take it Easy Tuesday (TIET) is a YC3 program where we encourage students to participate in rest through creative outlets. For the month of October we’ll be decorating pumpkins in celebration of a new season and the middle of the semester. Registration is strongly encouraged. Tuesday, October 28, 2-4pm, GLC Lounge at Schwarzman
Wellness Wheel and Wellness Signs Workshop. Interested in learning more about astrology and how it can build connections? This workshop helps students understand the importance of wellness in their life, by using a fun concept to introduce the wellness wheel; a tool that will help you not only organize your life but prioritize areas of wellness by your astrology sign. Friday, October 31, 2-2:45pm, GLC Lounge at Schwarzman
Yale Library
How to Find Scholarly Articles. Are you ready to find articles thoroughly and efficiently, while also avoiding paywalls ($$)? Learn strategies to find the best possible scholarly articles from Yale Library. Tuesday, October 28, 7-7:30pm, Online Event (register for link)
Reading Strategies for Writing Papers. Learn strategies - that you can begin during the research process - to efficiently read and analyze scholarly articles in preparation for a research paper, including lateral reading, selective reading, and active reading. Monday, October 27, 4-5pm, Online Event (register for link)
First Steps with Zotero. Learn how to manage your research, take notes, and create a bibliography with Zotero. Yale users can create a free account with unlimited storage! Monday, October 27, 7-7:30pm, Online Event (register for link)
Critical Image Analysis. Learn strategies to critically examine images online and locate high-quality images for your research. This session is great for anyone looking for high-resolution, color-accurate images online for research papers or presentations. Wednesday, October 29, 3-3:30pm, Online Event (register for link)
Picture This: Foundational Data Visualization Principles. Are you interested in creating visualizations for your research but are unsure where to start? Join our hour-long workshop on data visualization and gain the essential skills to bring your data to life! Thursday, October 30, 3-4pm, Bass Library, L06-A & L06-B (registration required)
Library Workshop Incentive Program
Attend 3 or more library workshops in one semester to receive a free tote bag or water bottle.
Individualized Library Help and Research Support
Students may request a Personal Librarian, request a Research Consultation for a particular topic, or reach out to a Subject Specialist Librarian for individual support.