It’s that time of the year when Juniors across campus start receiving mysterious envelopes at their doorsteps inviting them to interview with Senior Societies. But what are these groups we hear about throughout our Yale careers? You might wonder what being in a society means. What exactly do they do? And how do you get into one?
Societies are basically a group of around 16 people selected, or tapped, by the graduating seniors in that group. Every society is usually meant to represent a diverse array of interests and backgrounds. They can be co-ed (50/50 gender ratio) or single-gender (all-female and all-male). A society, in essence, is a place to meet new friends and branch out your senior year. You’ll meet every Thursday and Sunday, to hang out and to learn more about each other through Bios (where you tell everyone about your life). Every group is different—some societies party all the time together, while others use their meetings as a way to chill and relax.
Before proceeding, I must warn that the tap process is stressful, because the process is opaque, there’s no set schedule for the interviews, and every society is different in how it makes decisions. You inevitably feel judged, and may question your self-worth, yet you may find yourself unable to confide in your friends because, well, they’re probably going through the same thing. Also, the process is completely different for some societies, like Skull and Bones (who do not conduct interviews).
The tap process usually starts with a first-round interview. Every member selects a number of candidates, and the interview invitations are sent. After the first-round, the society filters the number of candidates and conducts second-rounds, which will be in a more intimate context so that everyone can get to know each other better. Then, the societies deliberate and on pre-tap (on or around April 4) notify the juniors they want in the society. You may be tapped for several societies, so on this night many juniors will be running around a different pre-tap. Some juniors may not receive pre-tap. Then those juniors have one week to think about which society they want to be in. But no decisions are final until Tap Day (on April 11)—people drop out, and some may suddenly get tapped day-of. You spend a night of fun with the society you will be in senior year, and from that night on, you’re in that society.
Here are some do’s and don’ts:
Do…
…evaluate whether you have time or really want to be in a society: unlike junior societies, senior society meetings are a huge time commitment. It’s almost mandatory that you hang out with the same group of people on Thursday and Sundays. You have less time to spend with the friends you already have and less time to study, and time management will be crucial.
…be yourself during interviews! Ultimately, the seniors in that society are trying to find people who will most enjoy the experience, so if you’re not yourself you’re doing the society, your future society comrades, and yourself a disfavor.
…try to understand the nature of the specific society you’re interviewing with. Don’t ask too many questions, but stay interested. You could ask why the members chose their societies, or what they enjoy about being in society. Through the answers, you’ll have a better sense of what kind of experience you could enjoy next year if you were to join that society.
…be pleasant and punctual. It’s just as stressful and tiring for the interviewers as it is for you, and leaving a bad impression through being mean and late is the last thing you’d want to do.
Don’t…
…suck up to seniors hoping that they’ll tap you. It’s fake, and a friendship can’t form overnight.
…be late…or too early. Be on time. Make sure to follow directions! Most societies have specific guidelines for a reason, and really need things to go a certain way to run the process smoothly.
…try too hard. We’ll see right through it, and that’s no good.