Information on Yale

Change is in the air at Yale, and not just in the shorter days and cooler nights. As my staff and I gaze out the windows of the admissions office, we see hundreds of workers constructing the spectacular gothic buildings that will become Yale's two new residential colleges next fall. We also have an early view of the Yale Class of 2021, which will be the first to enroll 1,550 students - a 15% increase over previous classes. This is one of many exciting changes that will touch our work this year. We have put together some updates to assist you and your students throughout the upcoming application process. You will also find more information on our website and in our fall counselor newsletter.   

Three Ways to Apply to Yale 

Freshman applicants now have three application platforms to choose from when applying to Yale. Beginning this year, we will accept the Common Application, the new Coalition Application, and the QuestBridge National College Match Application without preference for one over another. Students should submit one - and only one - application per admissions cycle. We encourage students to select the option that's right for them. More information about the Coalition Application and exciting updates to our QuestBridge application process are available below. 

Simplified Process for QuestBridge Finalists

We are happy to announce that students who are named finalists in the upcoming QuestBridge National College Match process may share their QuestBridge Application with Yale and will not need to submit a Common Application or any additional recommendations, essays, or transcripts to complete their applications. QuestBridge Finalists will only need to submit official standardized test results and the required financial aid materials. QuestBridge Finalists may use their QuestBridge Application to apply to Yale through the National College Match, Yale's Single-Choice Early Action program, or the Regular Decision process. Detailed instructions are available on our website. 

The New Coalition Application

After many months of development and much valuable feedback from counselors like you, the Coalition Application went live last month. In addition to more intuitive and mobile-friendly technology, the Coalition Application has two significant differences from the Common Application that will be relevant to your students: 

• A streamlined process for requesting fee waivers that are valid at multiple schools, including Yale. 
• A different Yale-specific essay prompt, detailed below.

Students using the Coalition Application will be prompted to upload a document, image, audio file, or video they have created in the last four years that holds special meaning for them. They will be asked to reflect (in 250 words or fewer) on why they chose to share this piece of work and its relationship to one of two topics: A community to which you belong and the footprint you have left OR A time in the last few years when you felt genuine excitement learning about something.

As you may know, the Coalition provides a private online space called the Locker, where students can collect and organize digital material. College admissions officers will not see what a student stores in the Locker and will not have access to any materials in a Locker other than those a student includes with his/her college application. Prospective students should not invite Yale admissions staff to collaborate on any items uploaded to the Locker, or invite them as a contact via the Coalition platform. Demonstrated interest is not a factor in Yale’s decision-making process.

New Questions on the Common Application

Students applying to Yale using the Common Application will respond to a series of Yale-specific questions, including two short essays. Applicants will choose two of the following topics and respond to each in 200 words or fewer:

• What is a community to which you belong? Reflect on the footprint that you have left.
• Reflect on a time in the last few years when you felt genuine excitement learning about something.
• Write about something that you love to do.

All of the Yale-specific questions in both of these applications are available at admissions.yale.edu/essay-topics. We hope that the updated topics and application options will help to shed new light on applicants’ distinctive strengths and identities. The new questions also echo the vision for Yale College articulated by Dean of Yale College Jonathan Holloway.

Standardized Testing Policies and Timeline

For the second year, Yale will not require SAT Subject Tests. Students who have completed any Subject Tests may share or withhold scores as they like. The SAT or the ACT with Writing is required of all applicants. For students submitting only results from the redesigned SAT (taken in March 2016 or later) the additional essay is required. Students applying for freshman admission this cycle and next may submit either the old or the new SAT; we will not prefer one test over another. Please note Yale's policy that applicants should report all scores received on whichever required test (SAT or ACT) they submit. For our complete testing policies, visit admissions.yale.edu/standardized-testing.

SATs and SAT Subject Tests taken in November may arrive in time for consideration in Yale’s Single Choice Early Action program, but we advise applicants to complete and submit required standardized testing from previous test dates. For Single-Choice Early Action applicants who plan to take November SATs or SAT Subject Tests, admissions officers will begin the evaluation process with the official scores already on file.

New Yale Award for Juniors

Yale's new Center for the Study of Race, Indigeneity, and Transnational Migration (RITM) is sponsoring an award for high school juniors: The Yale Bassett Award for Community Engagement. The award will be given to students who demonstrate a record of creative leadership and public service, academic distinction, interdisciplinary problem solving, and experience addressing societal issues that might include, but need not be limited to, race and racism. To be considered for the Yale Bassett Award, interested high school students in the class of 2018 should submit an application, which will include the name of a teacher, mentor, coach, religious leader, community-based non-profit leader, or community member who will provide a letter of recommendation. The application deadline is February 1, 2017. Faculty affiliated with the RITM center will select and notify winners this spring. The Admissions Office does not administer the award, and applying for the award will not affect a student’s chances of being admitted to Yale.

Multicultural Open House on October 15

The Admissions Office will host Yale's annual Multicultural Open House on Saturday October 15. All prospective students and their families are welcome to join for all or part of the day. The program features a faculty panel, student life forum, performances by student groups, opportunities to visit Yale's four cultural centers, and brunch in the residential college dining halls. Yale's new Center for the Study of Race, Indigeneity, and Transnational Migration will also be featured. Registration is open now. Unfortunately, we cannot provide travel assistance or overnight hosting for participants.  

As always, thank you for the important and valuable work you do as educators, and thank you for continuing to encourage your strongest students from all backgrounds to consider Yale.