What type of students does Yale want?
We look for students who have consistently taken a broad range of challenging courses in high school and have done well. Your high school teachers can provide extremely helpful information in their evaluations.
All of Yale students are extremely passionate about what they want to do and how they want to contribute to society. A person that is able to handle school and partying and a person that doesn't have financial worries. People who enjoy learning for the sake of learning. People with a passion.
Don't worry! The prompts are broad enough for each applicant to find a strong suit. When writing your essays, keep in mind that Yale is going to be looking for applicants who are transparent and aboveboard about the experiences, interests, and activities that are meaningful to them.
Classmates at Yale are independent, driven, friendly, and passionate. They are usually friendly, intelligent, and very motivated.
Yale meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students regardless of citizenship or immigration status. This includes undocumented students living in the US, with or without DACA status. Yale does not expect students to take out loans.
The most popular majors at Yale University include: Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Mathematics and Statistics; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; History; Engineering; Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies; Psychology; and Visual ...
The Most Popular Yale College Majors
Economics (140) Political Science (134) Biology (105) History (103)
If you dream of attending Yale, you will need to achieve great scores on your ACT or SAT, a nearly perfect high school GPA from a curriculum of difficult courses, and participate in the types of extracurricular activities that allow you to demonstrate your interests and leadership potential.
It's not something that comes naturally or easily. It's intimidating.” Though many students participate in Yale's pervasive hookup culture, many Yalies are frustrated by it, students interviewed said, adding that they only settle for it begrudgingly.
The acceptance rate at Yale is 6.1%.
For every 100 applicants, only 6 are admitted. This means the school is extremely selective. Meeting their GPA requirements and SAT/ACT requirements is very important to getting past their first round of filters and proving your academic preparation.
Does Yale interview everybody?
Are interviews required? No. Because of limited interviewing capacity, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions prioritizes interviews for students for whom the Admissions Committee needs more information. Students who do not receive an interview invitation will not be disadvantaged.
Does Yale look at your middle school grades? No! However, they do look at your grades from all four years of high school, junior and senior year being the most important.

- Physics & Geosciences (2)
- Portuguese (2)
- Judaic Studies (3)
- Russian (5)
- Physics & Philosophy (6)
- East Asian Languages and Literatures (7)
- Astronomy (8)
- German Studies (10)
Yale students mention happiness more than their Harvard peers, but they all agree that these Ivy League universities shaped their lives, and gave them the best possible start in their careers – as well as an amazing network of friends and colleagues to take with them into the future.
It's essential to do well if you get one. However, if you don't get an interview, don't worry! It isn't a required part of the application process, and Yale doesn't interview all applicants. Your application won't be at a disadvantage if you don't get an interview.
Yale SAT Scores Requirements
Yale has no official cutoff or minimum SAT score that they require from applicants.
Yale SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)
There's no absolute SAT requirement at Yale, but they really want to see at least a 1470 to have a chance at being considered.
SAT-Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 720-780. SAT-Math: 740-800. ACT Composite: 33-35.
- Economics. 198 Graduates.
- Political Science and Government. 159 Graduates.
- 108 Graduates.
- Cellular Biology. 93 Graduates.
- Liberal Arts and Humanities. 90 Graduates.
- Information Science. 83 Graduates.
- Research and Experimental Psychology. 70 Graduates.
- Mathematics. 62 Graduates.
- Finance/Insurance/Real Estate.
- Academia/Education (including University research positions)
- Technology.
- Consulting.
- Healthcare/Pharmaceutical/Biotech/Global Health.
- Community Organizations Advocacy/Social Services.
- Law/Legal Services.
- Engineering.
Is Yale hard academically?
As an Ivy League institution, Yale is regarded as both academically rigorous and highly competitive, with acceptance rates dropping below 10 percent in recent years. While knowing the basics is a good start, students must learn a lot more about any college on their best-fit list, and Yale University is no exception.
Harvard received 37,305 applications that year and only admitted 5.3% of them. On the other hand, Yale received 30,237 applicants in the same year but only accepted 6.5%. Statistically speaking, you have more chances of getting into a program at Yale than Harvard.
No. All applicants submit the same materials and are evaluated through the same processes regardless of their intended major. Applicants are not admitted to any specific major or undergraduate program. All matriculating students enroll in Yale College with access to the same 80 undergraduate majors.
Yale does not calculate Class rank or standing.
Freshman year you might take one or two AP classes if they're available. Sophomore year you can ramp it up to two or three. Junior year, if you're hoping to attend an Ivy League school, you should consider taking three to five AP classes in core subject areas.
Students at Yale are known to be dedicated to their academic pursuits, but they can also maintain an active social life at Yale wherein they go out with their friends and have fun, and even participate in extracurricular activities created by various student organizations or join the varsity.
For example, at Yale a whopping 96% of students graduated in the top 10% of their high school class. If you have a few B's and are still at the top of your class, you remain in a strong position!
While it is certainly possible to get into Yale with a GPA lower than the average 4.19, that number is an important one for students who want to get into Yale to remember during high school and as they begin to craft their list of schools that they want to apply to for their undergraduate education.
- Physics & Geosciences (2)
- Portuguese (2)
- Judaic Studies (3)
- Russian (5)
- Physics & Philosophy (6)
- East Asian Languages and Literatures (7)
- Astronomy (8)
- German Studies (10)
What career is Yale known for?
Psychology. As mentioned earlier what is Yale known for, is its psychology major. It provides a solid foundation for professions in law, medicine, public health, politics, and business disciplines including marketing, finance, and management.
Unlike first-years who are automatically assigned a room and roommates, upper class students at Yale engage in a Room Draw each spring. Under the guidance of the residential college dean and rooming committee, students participate in room and roommate selection for the following year.
Because it violates our community values and standards, Yale College prohibits all acts of hazing. Hazing is prohibited by state law in Connecticut. Yale policy, as outlined in the Undergraduate Regulations, goes beyond these state laws.
Are interviews required? No. Because of limited interviewing capacity, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions prioritizes interviews for students for whom the Admissions Committee needs more information. Students who do not receive an interview invitation will not be disadvantaged.
You need to be at the top of your class, GPA-wise, to be accepted to Yale. The average GPA of admitted applicants to Yale is 4.12. This means you'll need basically straight A's in order to even be competitive with other applicants. In fact, 94% of admitted students graduated in the top 10% of their class.
You should also have a 4.14 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Yale, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application.
An Ivy League school might accept a student who had all As and one or two Bs in the highest-level classes, but it probably wouldn't accept a student who had flawless grades in all mid- or low-level classes. These schools are looking for students who are up for an intellectual challenge and genuinely enjoy learning.