How to get into Yale University - the third oldest university in the USA
Yale University, a private Ivy League research university, was established in 1701 and is one of the so-called Big Three US universities, along with Harvard and Princeton. Yale University campus has been called the most beautiful in America, with its mixture of neo-Gothic and modern architecture, and successful applicants will live in one of the 14 residential colleges, which are community hubs within the greater Yale environment. Yale University is one of the richest universities in the USA and provides outstanding resources, brilliant faculty, and exceptional teaching. Its 80 departments and over 2000 courses offer a staggeringly broad curriculum which the average student would need two centuries to complete. Yale University is highly selective and only 6 percent of applicants receive the offer of a place, although it has been calculated that 75 percent of applicants would be qualified if admission was solely dependent on academic results. It is therefore clear that Yale University is looking for more than great exam scores and high grades at school in its applicants.
Yale University’s most popular courses 2023
- political science
- economics
- molecular, cellular and developmental biology
- psychology
- history
- engineering
- mathematics
- statistics
- performing arts
How to get into Yale University - What is Yale University looking for in the admission process?
Yale University has set out a number of guidelines on the type of student who will blossom and contribute to the university. A close reading of the statements issued by the university, and feedback from its alumni, highlights important personality traits which the admissions board is looking for in applicants. Since Yale University’s stated mission is to make the world a better place and educate a generation of leaders and innovators, the university expects its candidates to demonstrate that they have the drive, energy, and enthusiasm to pursue their interests, to excel at whatever they do, to work hard to meet their goals and to test and push themselves. In academic terms, the admissions board wants to see that students have consistently challenged themselves, taken demanding courses, and been fired by intellectual curiosity and a desire to know, to discover. Performance in school is, therefore, more important than stark test scores, and this is why the teachers’ recommendations are key to success since they will demonstrate how your performance reflects your attitude and mindset. You need to show that you will:
- stretch your limits
- engage with the community and the world
- demonstrate that you have your own voice and viewpoint, personal passions and interests
In short, the admissions office wants to know if you have taken advantage of everything your school years offered, have taken demanding courses and been outstanding, and will continue to do so at Yale. Choices and performance matter and school is the litmus test of your engagement and effort. Your lived experiences and perspectives should echo through your application, and particularly in the essays.
How to get into Yale University - show your passion as well as your academic abilities
Universities in the USA do not focus on specialisms in the same way as their counterparts in the UK, where students have discarded the majority of the subjects they study by the time it comes to choosing their A Levels at the age of 16. Yale University, like every university in the USA, does not expect you to decide on a major until the end of the second year and favours a broad educational foundation. Undergraduates will take 4-5 subjects every term and Yale University provides them with what is known as “the shopping period”, a fortnight at the beginning of each term when its students can try out various fields and courses. The Freshman seminars program also gives some idea of the huge variety of topics on offer: for example 1000 Years of Love Songs, Cosmology and Literature and the Science and Politics of Cancer.
How to get into Yale University - Why extracurricular activities will help you
Universities in the USA pay attention to what you can offer and Yale University has 100 athletics teams to fill, 50 performance groups who are looking for new members, and over 60 cultural associations. If you are devoted to dance or culinary experimentation, have spent years volunteering and providing outreach within your own community, have tried your hand at starting up a business, or taking advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities, you will find your niche and place at Yale. You may think that your weekly stand-up comedy routines at a local club are irrelevant, but Yale University has long been renowned for its performance arts, and this may well strike a chord with your interviewer. A love of a capella, the Theatre of the Absurd, or single-handed yachting feats will all be nurtured at Yale University, and your extracurricular activities will tell the admissions board more about you and how you will add to the talent already treading the boards, winning sports matches or appearing in front of audiences on campus. Yale University is well-known for its Music, Art, and Drama courses and its liberal arts programs, and if this is your passion, then you should express it
How to get into Yale University - Getting into Yale University: a breakdown of successful applicants
How to get into Yale University - Are Ivy League universities expensive?
- Ivy League Universities are expensive – but they also offer generous financial aid which can cover all your financial needs
Applicants to Yale University in the 2024 intake have to cover a number of costs:
How to get into Yale University - Financial aid
How to get into Yale University - The application process
How to get into Yale University - What is the Yale University Supplement ?
How to get into Yale University - How Elab can help