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There’s no doubt that Yale is one of the most selective and best resourced universities in the country. But how does Yale stand out among its peers? For one thing, Yale has the look and feel of a liberal arts college pumped up to a university level. Yale has a student-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, lower than most small liberal arts colleges. Only nine percent of all undergraduate classes taught at Yale have more than 50 students.
Yale’s undergraduate academics and campus life are focused on distribution requirements and a 14-college residential system. The university’s distribution requirements are quite similar to many selective liberal arts schools. Students take two courses in each academic area: Humanities & Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Language, Quantitative Reasoning and Writing. Students can double dip distribution requirements to start a second major or work towards certificates. However, it’s not possible to complete formal minors.
When an exceptionally selective school like Yale has requirements like these, it is reasonable to expect incoming freshmen to have attained success in every academic subject they’ve pursued in high school. Yale can accommodate students who do not “love” a particular subject, but the university will not consider students who have weaknesses in those subjects. In addition, students do not apply to a specific academic program. The institution is a “single doorway,” where one can explore subjects before deciding on a major.
Yale students are randomly assigned to residential colleges; only four of 14 house first-year students. Like students elsewhere, Yale undergrads do move off campus but maintain affiliations with the residential college for dining and recreation. However, partly because of the residential college system, three-quarters of Yale undergrads choose to live on campus.
Yale has more of a sports history than some might believe. Across all NCAA D-1 athletic programs Yale ranks fifth in terms of national championships behind only Stanford, UCLA, the University of Southern California and Penn State. The most famous Yale athlete might be George H.W. Bush, 41st US President, who helped the baseball Bulldogs advance to the 1947 and 1948 College World Series. The Bulldogs compete in 35 sports. Since the Ivy League was formally founded in 1955, Yale has won the conference championship in football 19 times, and recently won their first-ever Football Championship Series playoff game. Yale also has the oldest intercollegiate men’s hockey and squash programs in the nation.
New Haven, home to Yale since its founding in 1701, has its charms. The East Rock and College Street sections of town as well as Wooster Square are interesting for students and parents to visit. New Haven is also about 90 minutes from New York City by train. New Haven has also been cited as a desirable place for start-up businesses because of Yale’s presence in the city.
The odds of gaining admission to Yale are hardly in anyone’s favor. Exceptional students who show aptitude and rigor in each academic area, can demonstrate the highest level of test scores, and demonstrate leadership, commitment and community service at unique levels of achievement might consider Yale.
Private: 6,814 undergraduate, 8,750 graduate students
4% acceptance rate;
mid-SAT: RW 730-780, M 740-790; mid-ACT: 33-35;
93% Out of State, 55% Diversity, 11% International
Student-Faculty: 5 to 1
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Elizabeth LaScala PhD guides college, transfer and graduate school applicants through the complex world of admissions. She helps students choose majors and programs of interest, develops best match college lists, offers personalized essay coaching, and tools and strategies to help students tackle each step of the admissions process with confidence and success. Elizabeth helps students from all backgrounds to maximize scholarship opportunities and financial aid awards. Call (925) 330-8801 or visit Elizabeth at her website to learn more.
