Yale, along with many Ivy League universities, are the pick of the bunch when it comes to universities students dream of attending. It is a private, Ivy League research university as well as the third oldest higher education facility In the United States and one of the most prestigious schools in the world. In this blog, we will go over how to get into Yale and if it is worth it to apply.
What is Yale University?
Yale University, founded in 1701 in New Haven, Connecticut by Congressionalist clergy of the Connecticut colony. The curriculum started with theology and sacred languages before introducing humanities and sciences at the time of the American revolution. The college awarded the first Ph.D. in 1881 and is still one of the most prestigious universities. It remains at the New Haven campus.
Testing Scores for Admission
According to the college, the average SAT score ranges from 1480 to 1560, while the average ACT score is between 33 and 35. The average weighted GPA of acceptance is around 4.14 which means students must be in the top 5% in their graduating class. As such, GPA is just as important as the main two standardized tests.
Acceptance & Graduation Rate
To get into Yale, a student’s standardized test scores and high school GPA have to be exceptional. This is reflected in the acceptance rate as it is 6.1%. However, this school has enrolled some of the brightest students as the graduation rate is 97%.
How Are Applicants Rated?
Yale ranks the following categories as being “very important” to the admissions process: application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, standardized test scores, and character/personal qualities. Interviews, first-generation status, legacy status, geographic residence, state residency, racial/ethnic status, volunteer work, and paid work experience are all “considered.”
Tips to Get Into Yale
- All Ivy Leagues, including Yale, accept the Common App. Students should use that to their advantage by filling out the activities section.
- The Yale acceptance rate jumps to 11% when students apply early action. Students should plan on applying by November 1st of their senior year.
- Similar to Princeton and Harvard, Yale University is looking for the next generation of luminaries in a variety of areas. Being spread thin across ten activities, even if they are all impressive, simply isn’t going to blow away the Yale admissions committee. Students should look to shine in one area rather than being “well-rounded”.
- In terms of extracurricular activities it is vitally important to have some type of “hook” when applying to Yale. For example, there are 34 Division I sports teams at the university and 800+ varsity athletes. If you are a star player being heavily recruited by a coach at Yale, your chances of admission rise exponentially.
How Does Yale Compare to Other Top Universities?
Yale’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted—was 83% for the Class of 2025. This yield rate is still one the very highest in the country. For comparison, elite schools such as Emory, Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, and Georgetown all have yield rates around (or under) 50%.
Are you or will you be attending Yale University?
Stock up on gear to show your pride for the Bulldogs. Grab this sweatshirt, decals for your laptop, or this Yale University pennant.
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