Yale is an Ivy League research university in New Haven, CT that truly needs no introduction. While it isn’t really known for engineering, they offer several engineering-based majors through their School of Engineering & Applied Science.
Hopeful Yale engineers don’t need to apply directly to the engineering program. Instead, you just need to indicate your academic interests in a non-binding way and write a short essay about what you hope to study (more on that later). However, this means that whether you are hoping to study Computer Science or Comparative Literature, you need to be a Yale-caliber candidate. Yale is very competitive. Last year, their acceptance rate was only 3.8%. It is one of the most selective schools in the country. To get in, you need to be a top candidate, and there are a couple of steps you need to take to do so. Let’s break them down.
Get the Grades
You need to have perfect or near-perfect grades to get into Yale. That shouldn’t be surprising. Really, having a 4.0 unweighted is just the first step. You also need a competitive transcript. This means taking challenging classes. You need to take as many Honors, IB, AP, Accelerated, and/or Dual Enrollment classes as possible while still maintaining an excellent GPA. While competitive Yale candidates take advanced courses in multiple subjects, engineers need to take high-level math and sciences, especially.
Yale has been test-optional for a couple of years. However, they have ended that policy for fall 2025 applicants, meaning you must submit great test scores. Last year, around 86% of applicants submitted scores, and the 50th percentile of scores were 1530 on the SAT or 34 on the ACT. You should aim for better scores (or at the very least, similar ones).
Build a Niche
Yale asks you to list your academic interests and to write a short essay about a related topic:
Tell us about a topic or idea that excites you and is related to one or more academic areas you selected above. Why are you drawn to it? (200 words or fewer)*
It should be clear what you want to study from your application, even before this question. Yale-level applicants will have a history of involvement and exploration of their academic interests outside of class, aka an academic niche. While your academic niche has to be much more well-documented than just essays, if you need help answering this question, we have a whole blog about how to write the Yale supplemental essays here.
Courses and Reading
The first step to building a great niche is learning as much as possible about your area of interest. We highly recommend making a reading list for yourself. There are many amazing books about engineering that will help you build a solid knowledge base. Reading books will make you better at talking and writing about your interests in a compelling way. Once you have made yourself a solid reading list, you can supplement it with podcasts, scientific journals, tech blogs, etc.
Another great resource is online courses. Many universities offer pre-taped (often free) courses through third parties like Coursera. These can be a great way to explore your niche and learn more about engineering. You can also look into summer programs/community colleges, but outside of school, courses should be a part of your history of academic curiosity.
School Extracurriculars
Your resume should include in-school activities. For most students, this means after-school clubs. Popular clubs for hopeful engineers include robotics teams, science Olympiads, mathletes, STEM tutoring clubs, solar car teams, computer science societies, etc., depending on your exact niche. If your school doesn’t offer any STEM-based clubs, talk to the administration about starting one.
Just joining clubs isn’t enough for Yale. You also need to commit time and effort to the clubs that matter to you. Yale is looking for students who take on responsibilities and leadership roles in their clubs. A one-to-two-hour a week commitment as a member isn’t going to be impressive for Yale. You need to do more and push yourself in your clubs, just like you do in your classes.
Out of School Extracurriculars
Summers are important. Having a strategic and well-planned summer with activities that connect to your niche is important for Yale applicants. Trust us, we often work with students starting their freshman year to make sure their summers are working for them. While there are many amazing out-of-school activities (many of which you can also do all year long), your summers should specifically contain a mix of academic summer programs, internships, and research to best support your academic niche. You also want to ensure your summer activities connect to your academic niche. Don’t get us wrong, we love a summer job, but would prefer working at a science camp to working at a coffee shop. Remember, your resume should tell a story.
There are many opportunities out there, but they can be tricky to find. If you need help strategizing your summers, we have you covered! Contact us today!
Build Something Cool
Yale-level engineering applicants already have skills. From soldering to design to computer programming, building out your skill base while in high school will help show Yale that you are serious about your academic interests. You can show off your skills by building something cool. We have worked with students who have built drones, computers, solar power systems, and much more. Push yourself to see what you can create and show off your skills. Even better, choose a project that makes you learn some new things!
Apply Early
Yale doesn’t publish its Restrictive Early Action acceptance rate. However, we highly recommend applying early. For qualified candidates, applying early is your best chance at getting into Yale. Rising seniors, we are especially talking to you: it is time to make a strategic EA/ED plan and start on those applications. Dates come fast, and if you are serious about Yale, you need a solid plan for applications ASAP.
Yale is extremely competitive. If you want to get in, you need to make sure you are a strong candidate and have an amazing application.
From building a resume to writing essays, we can help you with all things college. Ready to take the first step? Reach out today!