- Today, we're going to talk about
how to get into Yale University.
If you're a high school student
with dreams of attending an Ivy League school,
you're probably considering adding Yale to your list.
One of the most renowned Ivy League schools,
Yale boasts a long list of alumni
that have achieved at the highest levels in politics,
biotech, journalism, and more.
With tens of thousands vying for a seat
in the freshman class, you might be wondering,
"How can I maximize my chances of getting into Yale?
How do I stand out
when there are so many other qualified applicants?"
If this sounds like you, don't worry.
We're here to help.
(lines squeaking) (keyboard clicking)
I'm Michael Najem, Yale graduate, and admissions expert
from Shemmassian Academic Consulting.
In this video, we'll go over the Yale acceptance rate,
admissions requirements, and strategies to maximize
your odds of getting into one of America's
most prestigious universities.
Let's get started.
Yale University is a private research university
located in New Haven, Connecticut
with an undergraduate population of over 6,000 students.
Founded in 1701, it's one of the oldest universities
in the United States.
Ivy League schools are notoriously selective,
but Yale is in the top tier of selectivity
with an overall aCceptance rate of 6.5%
Moreover, 95% report being in the top 10% of their class.
Yale admissions officers place high value
on applicants' grades and test scores.
This is corroborated by the following message
on the admissions website:
Yale is above all an academic institution.
This means academic strength is our first consideration
in evaluating any candidate.
The single most important document in your application
is your high school transcript, which tells us a great deal
about your academic drive and performance over time.
You should take rigorous courses and achieve great grades
in those course to become a competitive applicant.
While the GPA data is not available
for Yale's most recent incoming class,
we can get a sense of matriculants' academic prowess
by looking at the ACT and SAT ranges.
The range for SAT-Evidence Based Reading
and Writing was 720 to 770.
The range for SAT-Math was 740 to 790.
And the range for the ACT Composite Score was 33 to 35.
All of the scores that fall within these ranges
are 90th percentile or above.
Now, having high stats is important,
but not sufficient on its own to get admitted.
To stand out from the competition,
you should also pursue interesting activities
in a focused way to demonstrate positive qualities,
including leadership and impact.
This is because Yale aims to admit students
who will go on to accomplish great things
in their chosen fields.
So for example, if you're interested in film,
you could join your high school's online newspaper
and produce their video news segments.
But don't stop there.
You could also teach underprivileged children
in the community how to create their own short films
and put on a fundraising event
to raise money for new equipment.
There are unlimited possibilities.
In the end, your goal should be
to develop your own specialty.
You'll want to be known as that film nerd
who taught kids in the community
how to produce short films
or the accomplished psychology researcher
who published a paper on self-concept of teens with ADHD.
By becoming a specialist, you'll increase your chances
of being memorable to admissions officers.
Achieving high stats
and developing a unique extracurricular profile
is only half the battle to get into Yale.
Next, you'll need to craft compelling application materials
that give the admissions officers insight
into who you are as a person.
In your Common App essay, or personal statement,
you'll have the opportunity to tell a story.
It could be about your upbringing,
a life-changing experience you had,
an unconventional hobby that you enjoy,
or a weekly ritual that you couldn't live without.
Remember, there's no such thing as good or bad essay topics.
What matters most is your delivery.
In other words, how you execute the topic.
In addition to this essay,
Yale also has several supplemental essay prompts
that you'll be required to complete.
Let's take a look at one of them.
Students at Yale have plenty of time
to explore their academic interests
before committing to one ore major fields of study.
Many students either modify
their original academic direction
or change their minds entirely.
As of this moment, what academic areas
seem to fit your interests or goals most comfortably?
Please indicate up to three from the list provided.
Why do these areas appeal to you?
In 100 words or fewer.
So while prompts change from year to year,
one thing remains constant.
The Yale admissions committee wants to understand
where you're headed and what you've done
up until this point to get you there.
At the time of this recording,
there are 80 majors offered at Yale.
If you already know which majors
you're interested in pursuing, great.
Go ahead and select those.
If not, that's okay.
Remember, they're not asking you to make a firm commitment.
Pick the three majors that align best
with your experiences and current interests.
Here's a sample response to this prompt
from a student we'll call Olivia.
Olivia chooses the following three majors:
Latin American Studies; Ethics, Politics, and Economics;
and Ethnicity, Race, and Migration.
When I went to Spain as a junior,
I was afraid to wrap my tongue
around many Spanish words.
I couldn't roll my Rs or lisp Valencia
without sounding goofy.
But my third month living with a host family in Zaragoza,
something had changed.
Language grew loose, and with it, new ideas flowed.
In college and in life, I want to keep using Spanish,
and keep exploring the new self I discovered
when I first learned to think and dream in another language.
By studying Latin America through historical, political,
economic, and literary lenses, I'll keep on discovering.
What's great about Olivia's answer?
Two things.
First, a personal connection.
Olivia understands that Yale isn't just asking her
to state her interests.
The university wants to understand how she
and her personal experiences connect to those
possible courses of study.
By organically mentioning her own background
as a source of this passion,
she makes a convincing case for herself
as a great future Yalie.
Second, a throughline across her interests.
Inherent in this Yale supplemental essay prompt
is an understanding that, in a liberal arts environment,
people's interests change.
But Olivia assures Yale
that, though her disciplinary interests are varied,
she still has a fundamental sense of mission
and a major driving passion that will guide her
through whatever major she chooses.
That assures the admissions committee
that her growth will have a combination
of expiration and direction.
Let's take a look at the next Yale
supplemental essay prompt.
What is it about Yale that has led you to apply?
In 125 words or fewer.
This is the classic why us prompt
that you're sure to come across
more than once as you apply to colleges.
While many students are tempted to regurgitate highlights
from the school's website, remember that Yale already knows
what they have to offer students.
Instead, dive deeper and talk about something you noticed
when you went on a campus tour.
If you weren't able to visit,
did you get in touch with an alum?
Did you watch a lecture
from a popular Yale course online?
This is your chance to demonstrate
how serious you are about attending Yale.
Here's a sample response from a student we'll call Priya.
Walking along the streets of New Haven, I double took.
Was that Meryl Streep?
Jodie Foster?
Lupita Nyong'o?
No, that was my imagination.
But I felt the presence of so many artists
and theater geeks before me.
As I dipped into an a cappella show
in Battel Chapel, talked to my tour guide
about her Ballet Folklorico rehearsals,
and sat in on David Kastan's lecture
on Shakespeare with a high school friend,
I felt all of Yale was a stage.
I don't just love the lights and applause.
I love the history of theater.
I want to read great plays,
take the Physics of Dance for my science credit,
and wake up every day on a campus where the arts thrive.
What's memorable about Priya's answer?
First, her creativity.
Priya manages a wonderful hook that places her in a scene,
reminding the admissions office that she visited Yale,
but without saying, quote,
"I attended a Yale admissions tour
and was very impressed."
By throwing out a mini fictional situation,
Priya draws the reader in.
Second, continuity.
Priya's passion for the theater and humanities
bleed through every corner of this essay,
from her academic plans to her extracurricular dreams.
Without making herself one-dimensional,
she nonetheless explains that there's a very particular
aspect to Yale that's drawn her in.
And lastly, specificity without seeming random.
In speaking of particularity,
one of the worst ways for you to answer the why us question
that so many universities ask is to list off classes
and professors in a rote fashion,
indicating that you have Googled,
but not really connected with the spirit of the university.
Priya's chosen specific details,
from a lecture she attended and loved
to a particular show she caught.
Getting into Yale is no easy task,
even for the most talented students.
But by earning high stats,
developing a memorable extracurricular profile,
and communicating fit through well-crafted
application materials, you can boost your odds
of receiving an acceptance.
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And if you'd like to learn more
about how to get into top schools like Yale,
click the link in the description to get our free guide,
"How to Get Into America's Elite Colleges."
The guide contains the exact same strategies we use
to help students get into
some of the most competitive schools in the country,
like Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.
Alright,
thanks for watching!
See you next time.