BTFO Blog Archives

With the start of BTFO so close, it is now time to introduce you to your small group leaders! Everyone will find out what small group they're in tomorrow morning (it will be on the name card you pick up at Registration), but for now, here are the bios which have been prepared by the many people who will be dedicating their time to making you feel as welcome and orientated as possible over the next few days.

One of the great spaces at YDS is the Yale Divinity Farm. A community garden established in 2009 by students, faculty, and administrators, the Div Farm is a great resource for Divvies. Year-round, people study, contemplate nature, pick herbs, meet friends, and join community events in the beautiful YDS Farm space. They BBQ, sit around the fire pit, play croquet and frisbee, and enjoy the birds and other wildlife. The garden offers a space that allows for us to continue thinking academically about our theology while actively engaging our senses with the extraordinary gift of God’s creation.

Welcome to all incoming students, and greetings from Berkeley Divinity School! BDS is the Anglican community within Yale Divinity School. Originally founded in Middletown, CT, BDS moved to New Haven in the 1920s and officially affiliated with Yale Divinity School in 1971.

Andover Newton Seminary (ANS) is the newest partner to YDS in supporting professional, pastoral formation. Incoming students who are interested in ministry in congregations will all find resources at Andover Newton Seminary at YDS.

We've had the first half of our Registrar's exceptionally helpful glossary—now steel yourself for part two, which explains such handy acronyms as SML, YDSG, and even SFAS!

One of the most potentially daunting things about coming to a new place—in my experience at least—is the fact of needing to learn a new vernacular. There can always be new abbreviations, new idioms, new words even. Well, if this is daunting to you as well, never fear, for our wonderful Registrar has you covered. We introduced you to Lisa and the Registrar's Office earlier in the week. Now it's her turn to introduce you to the wonderful world of YDS terms. Here's the first half—look out for the second half tomorrow!

Hi, everyone, and welcome once again to Yale Divinity School! Lisa and Roslyn in the Registrar’s office look forward to welcoming you in person and to helping you navigate “all the things” that await you here at YDS. Over the Summer we’ve asked you for things like your final undergraduate transcript and your ID photo and reminded you that Yale Health needs things from your medical records. Once you get here for BTFO we’ll be the source of more exciting news: like who your adviser is, how you can get your ID card, and how and when you will register for classes. You may also want to know that Lisa is the person to talk to if you are a U.S. Veteran, or want to change your enrollment status in some way, and Roslyn is the go-to person for an ID card for your spouse or to change information in your student record. As your time at YDS unfolds we are here to help you track your degree progress and make sure you are meeting your requirements (Lisa) or to obtain a transcript of your YDS coursework or get an enrollment verification (Roslyn).

As you may know, this year’s BTFO is a newly-designed orientation experience. What you may not know is that the redesign was inspired by the principles on offer in a book titled Designing Your Life-How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life. Suffice it to say, we think pretty highly of the book, and believe that the principles of “design thinking” will help you in designing a YDS experience (and a life) of joy and meaning.

Among the incredible opportunities that come with being a student at Yale Divinity School, it is sometimes easy to miss some of the possibilities opened up by being part of the wide Yale University family. So, as we get closer and closer to the start of term, we're going to post blogs describing some of the resources it is well worth taking advantage of to make the very most of your time at YDS!