TRUMBULL COLLEGE: March 24, 2025
I hope you all had a restorative break! Having a two-week Spring Recess is lovely, isn’t it? I hope it was restful for you. It was for me, which is nice. :) As often happens, I didn’t finish most things I wanted to get done. Surprise surprise. I did get some much-needed downtime and spent most of the break celebrating two very important guys in my life – my husband’s birthday was at the beginning of break and Sahej turned six last week! We went to Mystic for a few days in the middle of break. We did the same thing last March and it’s so fun to go to Mystic off-season. Places like Mystic Pizza and the Mystic Drawbridge ice cream shop are super quiet compared to the summer and even though the aquarium was busy on Saturday it wasn’t summer Saturday busy. We spent a lot of time outside and ate a lot of cake and ice cream (and ice cream cake!). Then, Sahej had his 3rd annual birthday party at FunZ Trampoline Park in Hamden this past Saturday!
It’s taking me a little while to get into the swing of things, if that’s any comfort – the gloomy/rainy Monday isn’t helping! I hope you’re all noticing the daffodils and tulips starting to pop up around the courtyard and the return of lots of robins! Have a great week back! Here we go!
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 3/28 (10-11:30am). Please check the little blurb on Calendly for my latest open Zoom hours.
ACADEMICS
Placement exams for Fall 2025 courses: Online Placement Exams for CHNS, FREN, GMAN, HEBR, ITAL, PORT, SPAN, UKRN and MATH close tomorrow, Tuesday, March 25th, 12pm (noon). Results will be posted Friday, March 28th by 5pm, in advance of Preference Selection and Course Registration for Spring 2025.
- Only some students may need to take a placement exam this spring, in time for preference selection and registration in April (e.g. if you have prior knowledge but did not take a placement exam or receive a departmental placement within the past calendar year).
- If you have a documented disability, you may request accommodations for placement testing through the online registration form (at least one week in advance).
Yale Degree Audit: Degree Audit displays the Yale College, major, and Certificate requirements that you have already completed and those that are still pending. Check out the “Look Ahead” feature helpful as you plan future courses or the “What If” to see what would happen if you changed your major, added a Certificate, etc. Access Degree Audit through Yale Hub. If you believe that information in your degree audit is incorrect, contact our office.
Advising Period begins next Monday, March 31st and runs through Friday, April 11th. This two-week period presents a great opportunity to connect with your advisers before Fall 2025 registration opens.
- First-years and Sophomores: connect with your college advisers
- Don’t yet have a major? Begin (or continue) exploring prospective majors. Many departments and programs will offer information sessions
- If you have declared your major, check in with your department about your progress and anything that’s unclear in Degree Audit
- SENIORS: check in with your DUS(es) and Certificate Adviser about completion of your requirements for graduation!
UPCOMING DATES AND DEADLINES (5pm unless noted)
March 25 (Tues) Placement exams for Fall 2025 courses close, 12pm (noon)
March 31 (Mon) Yale College advising period begins
March 31 (Mon) Preference Selection opens for Yale College students, 8am
April 1 (Tues) Applications for fall 2025 Term Abroad or 2025–2026 Year Abroad close, 11:59pm
April 2 (Wed) Preference Selection closes for Yale College students
April 3 (Th) Last day to withdraw from a spring second-half course without the course appearing on the transcript
April 7 (Mon) Deadline for Class of 2025 to confirm degree, diploma name & address
April 15 (Tues) Fall term registration opens for Class of 2026, 8am
April 16 (Wed) Fall term registration opens for Class of 2027, visiting students, and Eli Whitney students (without a class year), 8am
April 17 (Th) Fall term registration opens for Class of 2028, 8am
TUTORING
Advising Resources: http://advising.yalecollege.yale.edu
Sc/QR Tutoring: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/undergraduates/stem-tutoring-programs
Language Tutoring: https://cls.yale.edu/programs/language-tutoring
Yale College Writing Center:
https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/undergraduates/undergraduate-writing-and-tutoring. The Yale College Writing Center offers a variety of resources available to all students looking for support as they complete writing tasks during their time at Yale:
- Adam Reid Sexton is the Trumbull College Writing Tutor. His office is in room Basement 29. 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 share a Google doc of the material 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! - Writing Partners are Yale College or graduate school students selected for both their writing skills and their ability to talk about writing. They have drop-in hours at Poorvu 6 days a week, offer Zoom appointments, and Weekly Partners for more robust writing goals. Whether you join the Writing Partners in person or online, please register for an account at WConline before visiting
- The Writing Advice webpage offers a range of information and resources related to writing in Yale College. It includes sample student essays from a wide range of disciplines, allowing you to read good models as you learn to write in a new field, and also features extensive advice about writing with Turnitin.
Yale Academic Strategies Program/Office of Educational Opportunity:
https://yaleconnect.yale.edu/PoorvuAcademicStrategies/club_signup
https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/academic-strategies-program
Our mission is to help all Yale undergraduates be active, empowered learners at Yale. Through peer academic mentoring, interactive workshops, and connections to resources, we hope to provide you with the tools that can propel you towards your goals.
STEM Navigators. Want to learn the best practices for succeeding in introductory STEM Courses? Join STEM Navigators, a mentoring network that provides you with information, events, and support to guide you through these crucial first courses.
Disability Peer Mentorship Program. DPMP pairs students with peers of similar backgrounds to create networks of support for people with disabilities at Yale. The diverse experiences of disability in our community include physical & mobility disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental illnesses & psychiatric disabilities, neurodiversity & learning disabilities (including ADHD, dyslexia, autism), sensory disabilities & processing disorders (including vision impairments, blindness, and d/Deafness), and other conditions. You do not need to have a formal diagnosis to participate. Disability Peer Mentors help individual students develop critical self-advocacy skills, connect them to institutional resources, and find community around disability identity. Request a DPMP Mentor. First-year students can also request mentorship and guidance about Student Accessibility Resources through the SAS Peer Liaison Program.
Meet with our Learning Specialist. Have a learning difference or other condition that affects how you accomplish your academic work? We can talk with you about new approaches for meeting Yale’s academic challenges. Contact Geoffrey Canales (geoffrey.canales@yale.edu) for an appointment.
Individual Mentoring. Get organized for the semester by meeting with an Academic Strategies Mentor. Mentors will help you develop a weekly study routine, offer strategies for approaching complicated readings and p-sets, and help you develop a plan for prepping for those first exams. Our online mentoring schedule is live. If you’d like to schedule a meeting before then, please email us at academicstrategies@yale.edu.
Workshops. Our famous workshop sessions are available in person and online! Register via the YaleConnect links below. FYI: Poorvu CTL M104A is upstairs from the York Street Entrance to Sterling Memorial Library. Poorvu CTL 120 A, B, C, and 121 are the classrooms on the first floor. Questions? Contact us at academicstrategies@yale.edu.
Cultivating Faculty Mentors/Recommendations. Initiate conversations, ask for assistance, request recommendations, and build mentoring relationships with Yale faculty, teaching fellows and staff. Monday, March 24, 7-8pm, Poorvu CTL Room M104A
Senior Thesis Power Hours. Time for seniors to set goals and work together on their theses! Monday, March 24, 7-9pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A
Eli Whitney ASP Study Group. Come connect and study with the Eli Whitney community! Wednesday, March 26, 1-3pm, Poorvu CTL Room 121 and Saturday, March 29 3-4:30pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A
Autism Discussion Group. Join our autism discussion group, a supportive space where you can share your experiences, challenges, and triumphs with fellow students who understand. connect, learn from one another, and build a community that celebrates neurodiversity. Wednesday, March 26, 5-6pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120C
Social Science Majors, the World is Yours: from Big Questions to Bigger Futures. What percentage of Puerto Rican students self-identify as loving alcapurrias? Why do so many Latinés love using WhatsApp? How does Bad Bunny’s new album speak to the ongoing realities of gentrification, colonial displacement and late stage capitalism? Come to this workshop to eat cookies, drink coffee, and learn how you can use the questions that make you tick to guide your undergraduate degree and beyond! Friday, March 28, 2-3pm, Poorvu CTL Room M104A
FGLI Friday @ La Casa. Take a break, unwind, and recharge at FGLI Fridays! Hosted by FGLI Thrive, this weekly hangout rotates between different campus partner locations. Stop by for a chill afternoon of board games, crafts, snacks, and great company with fellow FGLI students. Whether you’re here to relax, get creative, or connect with FGLI Ambassadors, this space is all about you—building community and taking the break you deserve. See you there! Friday, March 28, 4-6pm, La Casa, Mecha de Yale Room
STEM Navigators Sunday Study Hall. Snacks? While studying and meeting peers? Come complete your p-sets, study, and meet your peers in your STEM courses. Snacks and peer mentors are here to help you with any questions about majors, summer opportunities, or classes to take in the future! NOTE: Tutoring NOT provided by mentors. Sunday, March 30, 2-3pm, Poorvu 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. Check out OCS events, opportunities, and services at https://ocs.yale.edu/channels/student. There are still several Career Fairs coming up this Spring!
OCS Resource Spotlight: CareerShift. You may be familiar with OCS’s vast database of jobs and internships, Yale Career Link. But did you know you also have access to CareerShift, a job aggregator licensed by OCS? CareerShift is a powerful tool for searching internship and full-time positions posted across thousands of employer websites and other public sites. It also allows the job seeker to find millions of contacts for networking (including Yale alumni) and find recruiters for various companies or by industry.
Meet with an Outreach Coordinator! Interested in learning more about fellowships and career resources, but unsure where to start? Meet with one of our Outreach Coordinators! OCs are Yale students with first-hand experience and knowledge of fellowships and career opportunities available at Yale. OCs hold office hours in all residential colleges on biweekly basis. Check out the Office of Fellowships Instagram for locations!
OCS Upcoming Events
Technical Resume Workshop. Join OCS Quick Question Advisor, Zhongju Wang for a workshop geared towards Technical Resumes. Wednesday, March 26, 12-1pm, Online Event (register for link)
Penguin Random House Coffee Chats. Join us for an informal coffee chat with a recruiter to explore careers in the book publishing industry! Whether you’re curious about job opportunities, internships, or how to break into the field, this is a great chance to ask questions and share your interests in this field. Wednesday, March 26, 2-4pm, Online Event (register for link)
Writing the Personal Statement for Medical School. Join MD/PhD Quick Question Advisor Jay Gandhi and OCS Health Professions staff members for a discussion on writing personal statements for MD and MD/PhD applications. Wednesday, March 26, 5-6pm, Online Event (register for link)
STEMConnect Pop Up Advising. Join the Office of Career Strategy STEM Connect Team for pop up advising throughout the spring 2025 semester. Meet with an advisor and talk about career topics like the job & internship search, summer experiences, and networking. While you’re there, it’s a great time to get your resume/cover letter reviewed too! Thursday, March 27, 12-2pm, CEID, 15 Prospect St, Room M-108
Interested in learning about leading a startup? Y Combinator runs an accelerator program in San Francisco that has backed some of the fastest growing companies around the world — including Stripe, AirBnb, and Doordash. Join two Y Combinator group partners, both Yale CS ’24 grads, for an off-the-record conversation about entrepreneurship and startups. This is a talk for people who are interested in starting a startup and want to hear the real story of what it is like to be a founder and what they should do to prepare for it. Thursday, March 27, 6-7pm, location shared after RSVP confirmed (registration required)
Sage Corps Information Session. Sage Corps is an international internship program that sends students to intern abroad with startup companies. Join us to learn how you can intern abroad this summer with a startup company for 2025.We will talk about what to expect on the program, what cities are available this year, what’s included in the program and have time to answer your questions. This position may qualify for eligible students who choose to use their Summer Experience Award (SEA). Thursday, March 27, 6-7pm, Online Event (register for link)
ArtistYear Virtual Information Session. We at ArtistYear are thrilled to share more on teaching artistry and what a year of service looks like with us. Our time together will include a panel with our CEO Betsaleel (Bets) Charmelus, Alumni of ArtistYear, hosted by Maureen O’Hara, our Recruitment and Alumni Engagement Manger. You can submit questions in advance. Friday, March 28, 1-2pm, Online Event (register for link)
Looking for something else? You can tailor a weekly OCS newsletter to match your specific interests.
FELLOWSHIPS AND FUNDING
The Office of Fellowships and Funding helps students identify funding opportunities to support activities such as research, study abroad, low-paid/unpaid internships, independent projects - and navigate the application process. Visit https://funding.yale.edu to learn more.
- Applying to more than one fellowship? Watch the Applying to Multiple Fellowships webinar for helpful strategies and information.
- Need help writing? Pair with a Poorvu Writing Partner for feedback and help in drafting your fellowship application.
- Applying for national fellowships? Watch this recorded workshop for information on how to present your case and stand out.
- Planning to request the International Study Award (ISA)? Subscribe to the ISA newsletter for important ISA information.
Fellowships & Funding Upcoming Events & Deadlines
[Deadline] Yale-China Fellowship. Two-year fellowship in China. Support for professional and language skills, and cultural exchange. Application Final Deadline = today Monday, March 24, 11pm (Eastern)
Schwarzman Scholars Global Leadership Program in China: Information Session. Schwarzman Scholars is a fully-funded, one-year master’s degree and leadership program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Attend this information session to learn more about the Schwarzman Scholars Program and the application process. After the presentation, stop by the Bass Library cafe space (basement level) for additional drop-in hours. Tuesday, March 25, 1-2pm, Humanities Quadrangle, 320 York St, Room L02
[Early Deadline] International Study Award (ISA) Early Action Deadline. Students may submit an ISA application for early action — earlier processing and award disbursement. The ISA provides a stipend for one credit-bearing summer experience abroad for eligible undergraduate students receiving Yale financial aid. Early Action Deadline = Tuesday, April 1, 11:59pm (Eastern)
[Deadline] MacMillan Center Academic Year Fellowships for Language Study. This fellowship supports a year of language study for areas not covered by Light and FLAS fellowships, of languages or proficiency levels not currently offered at Yale.. Application Deadline = Thursday, May, 1pm (Eastern)
STUDY ABROAD
Applications are still open for Fall 2025 and Academic Year 2025-2026 Study Abroad! Apply by Tuesday, April 1st (11:59pm Eastern). Visit the Study Abroad website for more details and list of designated programs.
Fall 2025 Abroad
Credit for Fall Term Abroad: April 1
Petition for Fall Programs not on Yale’s Designated List: April 1
Full Year 2025-2026 Abroad
Balliol College, Oxford University: Junior Year Abroad Program for Yale English Majors: April 1
Credit for Full Year Abroad: April 1
Petition for Full Year Programs not on Yale’s Designated List: April 1
Don’t wait to ensure you have the necessary travel documents! 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. As a point of reference, the current estimated processing time for a U.S. passport is 6-8 weeks. International students should research passport renewal for their country of citizenship and be aware of how renewal may impact their U.S. student visa. Visit the Study Abroad Office Travel Planning & Logistics for additional information.
Study Abroad Upcoming Events
Syracuse University Florence Program Information Session. Interested in studying abroad in Italy? Join us for an information session on the Syracuse University Florence Program to learn about academics, cultural immersion, and student life in one of the oldest Florence study abroad programs in the U.S. Discover how you can spend a semester in the heart of the Renaissance, take engaging courses, explore Italy’s rich history, and immerse yourself in local culture. Whether you’re curious about academics, housing, or the application process, this session is your chance to get all the details. Tuesday, March 25, 4-5pm, 55 Whitney Ave, 3rd Floor, Room 305
OTHER
Register NOW for Yale Language Tasting! Come one, come all, to an event not to be missed – Yale’s Language Tasting, on Friday April 4th, 3-6pm. A collaboration between the Academic Strategies Program and the Center for Language Study, the Language Tasting offers undergraduate students a variety of languages to “sample” alongside friends, food, and festivities. This is a chance to meet wonderful instructors and try out classes you have always been curious about. It’s also a chance to learn more about the many things you can do at Yale with your language studies! A splendid time is guaranteed for all. Registration deadline = Friday, March 28th. Space is limited and it is *very* likely that spots will be filled before the deadline, so if you are considering registering, do it sooner rather than later.
Is your Senior Thesis related to food and agriculture? The 12th annual Yale Sustainable Food Program Melon Forum ins Wednesday, April 9th at 6pm. Students will present senior thesis research related to food and agriculture (and we’ll have delicious snacks). If you completed a thesis related to food and agriculture, there’s still time to join us! Tell us about it at https://bit.ly/ysfpmelon12.
Volunteer Opportunity: Walden Peer Counselors. Walden Peer Counseling is Yale’s only peer counseling service. In operation for over 50 years, Walden is dedicated to providing a low-stakes environment for Yale undergraduates to talk about anything that’s on their mind. Apply for next year at https://bit.ly/Walden2025. The deadline is Friday, March 28th.
The Richard Maxwell Prize for Translation and Translation Studies. A $500 prize, open to any undergraduate student in Yale College, shall be awarded annually to the best Literary Translation or to the best essay in Translation Studies. “Literary Translation” encompasses all genres, so long as the chosen work is substantial, while “Translation Studies” is understood to include theoretical and historical questions involving language, culture, and medium. Submissions that combine actual translation and reflections on issues raised or exemplified by the process are welcome. Submissions must include: (1) a cover letter with basic information about the student’s studies/major and about the context in which the essay/translation was written; (2) a translator’s introduction describing the intellectual and historical context of the translated text, along with some consideration of its technical features; (3) a copy of the translated text(s) in the original language, as an appendix to your translation; (4) annotation, as deemed relevant, for literary translations. All submissions for consideration should be sent to sabrina.whiteman@yale.edu by Thursday, May 1st at 12pm (noon). The Richard Maxwell prize for Translation and Translation Studies commemorates the scholarly and pedagogical legacy of Richard Maxwell (1948-2010), an exceptionally wide-ranging undergraduate teacher, scholar and critic.
From YC3
Take it Easy Tuesday: March Collaboration (part 2) with Calmware. Take it Easy Tuesday (TIET) is a YC3 program, where we encourage students to participate in rest through creative outlets. This month we’re partnering with Calmware, a company started by Sam Sweig, a 2nd year MBA student in School of Management at Yale. Students will get the chance to mold clay into worry stones and personalize them with textures and imprints and infuse them with good intentions. They will also get the chance to paint stones that have already been formed by other community members. Tuesday, March 25, 2-4pm, Good Life Center Lounge in Schwarzman
From the Yale Library
How to Find Scholarly Articles. Are you ready to find articles thoroughly and efficiently – without relying on Google Scholar, while also avoiding paywalls ($$)? Learn strategies to find the best possible scholarly articles from Yale Library.
Monday,March 24, 7-7:30pm, Online Event (register for link)
Thursday, March 27, 7-7:30pm, 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, March 24, 8-8:30pm, Online Event (register for link)
Advanced Search Techniques. In 30 minutes, learn skills to research like a librarian, including how to use advanced search techniques to find books and articles in Quicksearch. Tuesday, March 25, 7-7:30pm, Online Event (register for link)
Next Steps with Zotero. Learn how to get the most out of Zotero’s advanced research management features for your unique needs, including how to read and annotate PDFs, remove duplicate citations, filter with tags, and how to integrate Zotero with Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Wednesday, March 26, 8-8:30pm, Online Event (register for link)
Hidden Treasures in Sterling Library. Join a fellow Yale student to learn tips & tricks and find hidden ‘gems’ inside the 16-story Sterling Library stack tower! Registration & Yale ID Card required. Friday, March 28, 4-4:45pm, Sterling Memorial Library Nave
Browse all upcoming Library Workshops. Attend at least 3 in one semester to be eligible for a Yale Library tote bag or water bottle.