"You are welcome here, and you are going to be fine": The Wit and Wisdom of your Soon-To-Be-Peers

Back in April, Sandra and I asked current YDS students to fill out a brief survey to give us some feedback on past years' BTFO's. Below is a small sampling from one of those questions (with some corrected spelling and grammar). We asked people "What is the most important thing to convey to new students during BTFO?"

They said ....

... The value of Chapel. The value of Annand Program. (Ed note: more coming on the Annand Program, but you can get started here.) Where the candy bowl is...

Yale Div school is an awesome, diverse (in age, gender, race, and spirituality) and supportive community. [I]t's hard work, but worth it.

Even if you don't thin[k] the stress will apply to you, it will. When it does, GET HELP, not drunk. Or something like that... (Ed. note: we'll have some panels and info sessions on "self-care", but it's never too soon to starting thinking about what you'll do when the stress hits. What makes you happy? Relaxed?)

This is all weird, new, and overwhelming... but that's okay. And it's perfectly normal to feel out of sorts.

The year ahead will be challenging, but you will be going through the process will others who will share similar experiences.

[T]hat people have to return their mugs to Holy Grounds (Ed. note: Holy Grounds is the Div School's student-run coffee kiosk. We'll be serving iced tea here, we hope.)


[T]hat YDS is not just a pastoral preparation program, but an academic program--community is not just about being into [J]esus, but can also be academic.

The variety of resources for support that YDS offers during your time here. (Just show them a big picture of Dale that says "friend" on it!)

You are very welcome here...and get off the hill once in a while!!!

The YDS community is glad you are here, we know this a an overwhelming time, we want to help you get started well

You don't have to make h's to be valuable to society (Ed. note: I didn't find this out 'til I got here, but YDS does not use an A,B,C grading system we have H's ("Honors"), HP's ("High Pass"), and P's ("Pass), which are roughly equivalent. No D grade exists - anything lower than a P is a No Credit.)

...not every MDiv is on the ordination track and not every MAR is on the PhD track :) "Tracking" language does not belong at YDS. I can think of other important things, but this is the first thing that comes to mind. Vocational aspirations among students vary widely. (Ed note: !!!!)


Not to read everything.


And finally ...

You are welcome here, and you are going to be fine.

So true.

-Kate