OT- Yale welcomes class of 2009



(New Haven-WTNH, Aug. 26, 2005 Updated 1:40 PM) _ Almost 20,000
students applied but only 1,300 got in. Yale says this year's freshman
class stood out in the most competitive application process in the
school's history. Today those soon-to-be freshmen are moving onto
campus.

* by News Channel 8's Chris Velardi

It's the mad rush to move in. Yale University's class of 2009 is in New
Haven today.

"I still can't believe I'm here, but I'm excited," says Laura Rapin.

For Laura Rapin it was a cross-country journey. She's from Fresno,
California, and she's ready to dive right into college life.

"Meeting my other suitemates and getting to know them, and the
experiences that we'll have and then just being challenged by the
academics," says Rapin.

The first challenge is moving in fitting all that stuff from home,
whatever it is you brought, into your dorm. Luckily, there's plenty of
help, armies of t-shirt wearing assistants-upperclassmen, offering a
hand and some advice.

"It's really kind of scary coming to this place in the first couple
days, you're like, 'oh my gosh, this is so intimidating,' but it's a
lot of fun," says Marisa Reisman.

It's always impressive when you can get into Yale, but Yale says that
this year the Freshman Class was the most competitive ever, and it
includes the High School Heisman Winner, the President of Key Club
International, and an inventor who holds four U.S. patents.

It also includes Reece Flexmer from Raleigh, North Carolina, who says
just writing his application essay was an exercise in stress
management.

"You worry about what preposition you're using and where you're putting
your period and if your punctuation is right," says Flexmer.

Perfect practice for what lies ahead, right? Whatever that is, Reece
says he's ready.

"I'm just gonna try to dip my feet into everything for the first
couple, three semesters or so, and see what grabs my interest and
pursue that," says Flexmer.

But first Reece and Laura, and the rest of the class of 2009 have to
make themselves at home

"Lots of stuff to haul, but you do the best you can. It's part of the
adventure," says Rapin.

Orientation activities continue through the weekend, and into next
week. Classes begin next Wednesday.

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