Yale College
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
P.O. Box 208234
New Haven, CT
06520-8234   USA

Physical address:
38 Hillhouse Avenue
New Haven, CT
06511

Phone: 203-432-9300
FAX: 203-432-9370
*FAX: 203-777-6120

*for missing application
materials only.

Contact us

Equal Opportunity
Statement

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is April 1.
 
When are students notified of their admissions decision?
Admitted candidates will be notified in mid to late-June. Applicants who are not offered admission will be notified between late-May to late-June.
 
What is the application fee?
$75.

What is the cost of taking classes at Yale College for Eli Whitney students?
Tuition is $4,055 per course credit for the 2009-2010 academic year. Please note that Eli Whitney students may apply for financial aid which is awarded on the basis of financial need.

How do I apply for financial aid?
Please visit the Student Financial Services web site for information regarding financial aid for Eli Whitney students.

The deadline for Eli Whitney applicants to submit financial aid forms is May 1.

Are standardized tests required for admission?
The SAT Reasoning Test (SAT I) (CEEB code #3987) or ACT (Code #0618) is strongly recommended but not required for admission. Yale does not require the SAT II or Achievement Test results. For information about English language proficiency examinations, please see question below regarding international students

What if I can't remember my test scores (SAT, College Board Achievements)?
Standardized test results are often included on your high school transcript. You may also ask the Educational Testing Service or ACT to send the results. For more information regarding SATs, please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/ or call 866-756-7346. If you are calling from outside the United States, call the College Board at 212-713-7789. The ACT web site can be found at http://www.act.org/aap, and you may reach ACT by telephone at 319-337-1000.

Who should I ask to write my recommendations?
It is best if at least two of the three recommendations come from teachers or professors who have recently taught you in academic subjects. They can shed light on your academic performance, intellectual capacity, engagement in the classroom and interactions with other students. If you have not attended school for a number of years, you may ask employers, colleagues, or other individuals who know you well to write your recommendations. You would be well-advised, however, to consider enrolling in some demanding college courses before applying to the Eli Whitney Students Program, both for the sake of establishing competence and ability and in order to obtain a strong academic recommendation.

Is an interview encouraged or required?
An interview is required for admission, and interviews will be offered to only a small number of selected candidates after a preliminary review of their completed applications. Interviews take place at the Yale Admissions Office and usually occur in May.

What if I will not be able to come to the Admissions Office in May for an interview and want to be considered as a Eli Whitney Student candidate?
An on-campus interview is preferred, but if traveling to New Haven is not possible, telephone interviews may be arranged.

Are there any special requirements for international students?
Students at Yale must be able to understand rapid, idiomatic English and to express themselves easily in both spoken and written English.  As part of the assessment of a candidate's competence in English, Yale strongly recommends the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for any applicant whose first language is not English and who has not received at least two years of his or her secondary or university education in an English-medium curriculum.  A minimum score of 600 is required on the paper-based TOEFL, and a minimum score of 100 is required on the Web-based TOEFL.  For information about how to take the TOEFL, visit www.ets.org/toefl.  Be sure to include Yale’s CEEB code (No. 3987) on all test registrations.  You may submit the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test in lieu of the TOEFL.  A minimum score of 7 is required.  For information about how to take the IELTS test, visit www.ielts.org.

International students generally must hold F-1 student status for this program, and must register as full-time students during their entire tenure at Yale. Full-time students must take a minimum of three courses per semester. Individuals with tourist status (B1/B2 or visa waiver status) will not be permitted to enroll either on a part-time or full-time basis. If admitted, all international students must consult with the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), 421 Temple Street, (203) 432-2305, or email oiss@yale.edu. OISS will issue the I-20 form which students will use to apply for an F-1 visa.

  

Common Questions

Related Links

Additional Resources

Are there other non-traditional programs I should consider?
Yes, in fact it is prudent to apply to more than one program.  There are many colleges which have programs designed especially for non-traditional students, and here are a few within a 2-hour drive of New Haven that offer programs similar to Yale’s EWSP:

How many of my college credits will transfer to Yale?
After you have been admitted, the Director of the Eli Whitney Program will inform you as to which previous course credits will transfer to Yale. As many as eighteen course credits earned at another college or university may be transferred toward the requirement for the degree. Credit will be awarded for academic courses that were taken at an accredited post-secondary institution and that were similar in content to Yale College courses. Grades of A or B are expected. No more than one-quarter of courses accepted for transfer toward the requirements for the degree may have grades of C.

How many credits are given for a Yale class?
Most courses in Yale College are term courses that carry one course credit if completed with a passing grade. There are, however, some variations and more details can be found in chapter III of the Yale College Programs of Study. One Yale College credit is generally equal to three or four semester hours at other undergraduate institutions.

Would Yale grant credit for the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)?
No.

Is there a minimum or maximum number of courses an Eli Whitney student must take in a term or year?
Students entering in the fall of 2007 and thereafter may choose to take up to nine course credits each year, and must take at least three course credits each year to remain in good standing. International students who hold F-1 student status for this program must register as full-time students at all times which is the equivalent of at least 3 courses per semester.

Can I obtain a Bachelor’s degree from Yale if I have already graduated from another college?
No. If you already have an undergraduate degree, Yale will not consider admitting a student for a second Bachelor’s degree, even if you wish to pursue a different major.

May I begin the Eli Whitney program starting in the spring semester instead of the fall term?
Yes, but the application deadline remains April 1. If admitted, you may defer enrollment for one semester so that you can start in the spring term.

May I defer admissions?
Yes, admitted students may postpone matriculation for up to one year. After that, permission to enroll in the Program must be obtained from the Director of Eli Whitney Students.

When do classes start?
The Yale College academic calendar can be found here.

If I am admitted, may I take any of the courses listed in the Yale College Programs of Study (YCPS)?
Yes, if you are an Eli Whitney Student you may take any course offered, provided prerequisites are fulfilled and you are otherwise qualified. Some courses are limited in enrollment or require the permission of the instructor, but you will be treated in these cases on an equal basis with other Yale undergraduates.

May Eli Whitney Students take courses at the graduate or professional schools?
No, the Eli Whitney Program is for undergraduate (Yale College) courses only. However, this may include courses listed that are cross-registered in the Yale College Programs of Study (YCPS). If you wish to take graduate courses part-time and in non-degree status, you should inquire through the Division of Special Registration at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, 320 York Street, (203) 432-2771.

Can I take summer courses at Yale?
Yes. However, Eli Whitney Students must make a separate application to the Yale Summer Session. Please visit Summer Session’s web site.

If I am denied admission, may I reapply?
Yes, but you must submit a new application for admission in a subsequent year. A new application fee is also required. Transcripts held on file need not be resubmitted. Applications will not be considered from individuals who have been denied admission to Yale College three times.

What if I attended Yale College but did not graduate and wish to complete my degree?
The normal procedure is to apply through the Yale College Dean's Office for re-admission. However, if you have been out of Yale for over five years and still need eighteen term courses to graduate, you may apply as an Eli Whitney Student. The re-admission route requires that you attend as a full-time student. The Eli Whitney Student route offers the opportunity to take classes on either a part or full-time basis, but on-campus housing is not available. Please note that Eli Whitney students must take a minimum of eighteen term course credits at Yale to qualify for a degree.