Help and advice for
incoming freshmen:
freshman.affairs@yale.edu

Yale College
Dean's Office
P.O. Box 208241
New Haven, CT
06520-8241   USA

Important Placement Information

Students come to Yale from different high school backgrounds and with different levels of preparation. Although all students can pursue any subject of study, you will have a more successful and rewarding experience if you begin at the appropriate level. To guide your course selection, descriptions and prerequisites for the most common freshman courses are provided in the Freshman Handbook and the Yale College Programs of Study. Please read this information carefully.

We also ask ALL students to complete the High School Math and Science Survey regardless of what courses they plan to take in freshman year. Some departments use this information, combined with scores from standardized or Yale-administered placement tests, to advise you about which courses to take. This process is an inexact estimate, but for most students their initial placement is accurate. You will have an opportunity to review and discuss your placement with faculty advisers after you arrive on campus.

  

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Below is a summary of placement information for departments that have an explicit course sequence and multiple entry points for freshmen. Information about introductory courses in other departments is provided in the Freshman Handbook and the Yale College Programs of Study.

Biology

The standard introductory biology courses are MCDB 120a and E&EB 122b, which have no prerequisites. Students with a 5 on the AP Biology test may place out of these courses. Several other biology courses are offered for students who do not intend to major in the sciences or apply to medical school. For more information, see the Programs of Study: Biology section.

Chemistry

The department offers six different chemistry courses for freshmen who intend to major in the sciences or apply for medical school. The differences among these courses are explained in the Programs of Study: Chemistry section. All students will be placed into a specific course based upon their high school preparation and standardized test scores, as well as information provided on the High School Math and Science Survey. Students will be notified of their initial placement by email over the summer, and those who plan to take chemistry in freshman year will be asked to preregister for a specific course.

Economics

The department offers four versions of introductory microeconomics and two versions of macroeconomics. The differences among these courses and instructions about pre-registration are explained in the Programs of Study: Economics section and on the Department of Economics Web site. Students with both a 5 on the AP Microeconomics or Macroeconomics test and a 5 on the AP Calculus (BC) test may place out of the introductory micro- and macroeconomics courses.

English

Placement guidelines are based upon SAT and AP test scores and are explained in the Programs of Study: English section. Students are also encouraged to attend the English Department advising session during Freshman Orientation.

Foreign Languages

Placement into upper-level courses is determined either by AP test scores or through a Yale-administered test. See the description under each department in the the Programs of Study section for more information.

Note: students who wish to take courses in Chinese or Japanese must complete an online placement questionnaire and test over the summer.

Mathematics

The department places students based upon an online placement examination and an advising session with faculty during Freshman Orientation. Details are provided in the Programs of Study: Mathematics section and on the Mathematics Department Web site.

Music

The department places students based upon the music theory placement examination offered at the beginning of each academic term. Students who wish take voice or instrument lessons must audition at the beginning of the fall term. More information is provided in the Programs of Study: Music section.

Physics

Placement depends upon previous physics background as well as a student’s mathematics preparation or concurrent enrollment in an appropriate course in mathematics. See the explanation and chart in the Programs of Study: Physics section.

High School Math and Science Survey

Note: Be sure to use your Eli account username and password, not your NetID. If you experience difficulty accessing the survey, try completely closing your browser and starting again, or clearing your browser cache.