Eli Whitney Students Program – A Program for Non-Traditional Students

Yale welcomes applications from non-traditional students with exceptional backgrounds and aspirations. Eli Whitney, a distinguished inventor and the son of a New England farmer, came to Yale College in 1789 at the age of twenty-three. In the spirit of perhaps the University’s most distinguished non-traditional undergraduate, Yale University created the Eli Whitney Students Program for people who have had their education interrupted for five or more years.

The EWSP was conceived with the same mission as that for Yale College as a whole: the education of leaders who will make contributions to society and the world. Eli Whitney students have many of the same opportunities as other students in Yale College. They take classes with other undergraduates, and earn either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from Yale. As full participants in Yale College academics, EWSP students may take advantage of the tremendous resources that Yale offers. They are taught by world-renowned faculty; conduct science research; participate in international experiences; and join the hundreds of extracurricular organizations available to undergraduates. They have access to all Yale College programs and facilities except for undergraduate on-campus housing. But unlike other students in Yale College, Whitney students may choose to attend as either full-time or part-time students, giving them great flexibility. Yale also makes available generous financial aid, awarded solely on the basis of demonstrated financial need.

Admission to the EWSP is highly competitive, and there are only 20 to 30 Whitney students among the 5,200 Yale undergraduates. Whitney students come from all walks of life – veterans, entrepreneurs, community or social activists, journalists, and business professionals. While there is no “typical” student in the EWSP, they do share similar qualities: deep intellectual engagement, energy, strong motivation and leadership. Together, and as individuals, Whitney students bring a plethora of life experiences to campus, and add immeasurably to the intellectual discussions inside and outside of the classroom.

Use the links to the right to begin your application to the Eli Whitney Students Program. Or, to read more about the program, click on an item in the list below.

Yale University

Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale is renowned for its centuries-old commitment to the liberal arts and sciences. The University offers nearly 2,000 undergraduate courses each year across more than 70 different majors, from Biomedical Engineering to Film Studies, Political Science to Chemistry, Environmental Studies to East Asian Languages and Literatures. This academic breadth draws many of the world’s brightest and most curious scholars to campus. In all areas of study, Yale maintains a singular dedication to teaching. The student faculty ratio is 6:1 and roughly three-quarters of Yale College courses enroll fewer than twenty students. Yale is home to the second largest university library system in the United States, more than 800 laboratories, and an undergraduate college that is surrounded by 13 graduate and professional schools. Additionally, professors and students engage in scholarship, research, service, and field work all over the world, extending Yale’s reach well beyond the United States. More than $6 million is given out each year to undergraduates taking advantage of international activities.

The Residential College system lies at the heart of Yale College, and ensures that students gain full exposure to the diverse Yale community. Though Eli Whitney students do not live in Residential Colleges with other undergraduates, each is assigned to one of twelve Residential Colleges, giving them access to residential college facilities and resources. Faculty and advisors affiliated with each College offer a ready support system, and each College funds various trips, guest speakers, fellowships, and events. With their resident deans and masters, legendary intramural sports teams, Master’s Teas hosting world leaders, and spirit of allegiance and community, Yale’s residential colleges are an unparalleled undergraduate experience for traditional and non-traditional students alike. These close-knit communities serve as microcosms of Yale providing the intimacy of a small liberal arts college within the context of a global research university.

Admissions

Yale is able to admit only a small number of applicants to the Eli Whitney Students Program each year, and admission is extremely competitive. The application deadline is April 1. Yale receives more than a hundred applications per year. Between four and nine candidates are admitted, reflecting an acceptance rate below 10%. The criteria for admission to the EWSP are the same as those for traditional undergraduate admission: exceptional achievement and promise. The Admissions Committee gives careful individual consideration to each applicant. Academic strength, especially in writing and quantitative reasoning, is an important consideration in evaluating candidates. While some people considering the EWSP may have been out of the classroom for a number of years, we do expect candidates to show very strong recent academic performance in demanding liberal arts and science courses. Most successful applicants have recent GPAs of 3.8 or above. Additionally Yale looks for non-traditional students who have intellectual depth and curiosity, strong motivation, energy, leadership, community involvement and/or professional achievement. The admissions committee takes many factors into consideration, and takes a holistic approach to the admissions process.

To be eligible to apply to the EWSP, candidates must hold a high school or GED diploma and have had their education interrupted for five or more years. Applicants must present, in addition to the application, official records of all secondary school, college, and university study, three letters of recommendation and the application fee. EWSP candidates are strongly encouraged, though not required, to submit either the SAT I or the ACT Plus Writing. Please review Eli Whitney Students Program Application Instructions & Forms for more information on standardized testing.

After a preliminary review of completed applications, the Admissions Office offers interviews to only a small number of Eli Whitney candidates. For admission to the EWSP, an interview is mandatory. While on campus interviews are preferable, candidates who cannot come to New Haven may request a Skype or telephone interview. Interviews generally take place in May.

The deadline for submitting an application for admission to the Eli Whitney Students Program is April 1.

Tuition

Eli Whitney students may choose to attend full or part time, and tuition varies depending on the number of courses for which the student registers. Tuition for the 2011-2012 academic year is $4,500 per course credit.

Yale employees may be entitled to a tuition reduction. Please contact the Office of Human Resources for more information.

Financial Aid

Yale was the first major U.S. university to adopt a policy of need-based financial aid and need-blind admissions. In the forty-plus years since, Yale has sustained and advanced this progressive policy to a degree that even today very few other institutions match.

“Need-based financial aid” means that Yale College admits students on the basis of academic and personal promise, without regard to their ability to pay. There are no athletic scholarships or merit-based awards. This policy helps to ensure that Yale will always be accessible to talented students from the widest possible range of backgrounds.

“Need-blind admissions” means that no applicant to the Eli Whitney Students Program will be denied admission because of his or her financial situation. If you are thinking about applying to the Eli Whitney Students Program, do not let the state of your finances discourage you. Financial aid is available to applicants from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds.

Unlike tuition costs for all other undergraduates, tuition charges for Eli Whitney students vary depending on the number of credits taken in any given semester. The maximum amount of Yale scholarship per semester for Eli Whitney students is capped at the cost of tuition. Any unmet financial need can be covered by loans, term-time work, federal grants, and outside scholarships. Yale is also part of the Yellow Ribbon program for veterans. The Office of Student Financial and Administrative Services (SFAS) determines all financial aid packages for Eli Whitney students.

The average scholarship for an Eli Whitney student was $25,873 during the 2009-2010 academic year. You will learn about your individual financial aid package when you gain admission to the program. Please visit the Eli Whitney Students section of the SFAS website for additional details.

Transfer of Credit

You may be eligible to transfer some or all of your prior college credits, up to a maximum of eighteen course credits. Please note that most courses in Yale College are term courses that carry one course credit. If the college courses you successfully completed at your prior institution are similar to those available to Yale undergraduates, those course credits will likely be transferable. You must have taken the coursework at a fully accredited post-secondary institution, such as a public or private college/university that grants bachelor’s degrees or a community college that grants associate’s degrees. Credit is not granted for online courses; Advanced Placement (AP) results; International Baccalaureate (IB) results; College Level Placement Exams (CLEP); or college credits earned while you were in high school.

Academic Requirements

The Eli Whitney Students Program presents the non-traditional student with a flexible path to fulfill the standard requirements of a Yale undergraduate degree.

To earn a bachelor's degree from Yale College, all students must successfully complete a total of thirty-six course credits. If you are an Eli Whitney student, you may work toward this requirement by attending Yale either full or part time. You may take up to nine course credits each year, and as long as you take at least three course credits each year, you will remain in good standing. The Yale College Programs of Study contains a detailed description of the courses offered in Yale College as well as the Academic Regulations of Yale College. The YCPS also contains a chapter on the Eli Whitney program that all interested candidates should read.

If you are accepted into the Eli Whitney program, you do not need to earn all thirty-six credits at Yale. You may transfer as many as eighteen course credits earned at another college or university. At least eighteen of your credits must come from Yale courses.

For a non-Yale course to count toward your graduation requirements, it must meet certain standards. You must have taken the course at an accredited post-secondary institution. The course must be similar to Yale College courses in content. You must achieve a grade of A or B in at least three-quarters of your non-Yale courses, and no lower than a C grade in the remainder.

Eli Whitney candidates may choose to pursue a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Students typically select one of the two degree options after taking at least two courses in each of the four Distributional Groups and after consultation with the Director of the Eli Whitney Students Program. Eli Whitney students are not eligible to participate in programs offering simultaneous awards of the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

All majors are open to Eli Whitney students. Like all Yale undergraduates, Eli Whitney students normally take between eleven and fourteen courses in their major and must meet Yale’s Distributional Requirements. The Academic Regulations of Yale College and the rules explained in the Undergraduate Regulations publication govern all students, including those in the Eli Whitney Students Program.

Students must fulfill disciplinary area requirements by taking no fewer than two course credits in the humanities and arts, two in the sciences, and two in the social sciences. Students must also fulfill skills requirements by taking at least two course credits in quantitative reasoning, two course credits in writing, and courses to further their foreign language proficiency. Depending on their level of accomplishment in foreign languages at matriculation, students may fulfill this last requirement with one, two, or three courses or by certain combinations of course work and approved study abroad.

Advising

As with all Yale undergraduates, an Eli Whitney student’s primary academic advisor is the Dean of his or her Residential College (see below). We understand that the non-traditional students in the Eli Whitney Students Program often face issues very different from those faced by more traditional undergraduates. Yale is sensitive to this reality, and the Director of the program – a member of the Yale College Dean’s office – provides special academic counseling and course selection advising to Eli Whitney students.

Housing and Residential College Affiliation

Although Eli Whitney students are not eligible to live in a Residential College or in University housing, they are each affiliated with one of the Residential Colleges, are advised by their Residential College Dean, and may participate in the many activities that take place in the colleges.

Facilities and Services

As an Eli Whitney student, you can use Yale’s library system, all laboratories and other spaces required for course work, and the Undergraduate Career Services center. You are also entitled to purchase a gymnasium membership and medical coverage with the Yale Health Plan. Even though you are not eligible for student housing, you can still dine with the other students by buying into the university dining plan.

Please review our website for more information on the The Campus, including facilies and resources.

Program Brochure

View the Eli Whitney Students Program Brochure

If you would like Yale to mail this brochure to you, please put yourself on the Mailing List for the Eli Whitney Students Program.

Contact Information

Please send inquiries regarding the Eli Whitney Students Program to:

eliwhitney.students@yale.edu

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Eli Whitney Students Program
P. O. Box 208234
New Haven, CT 06520-8234

Telephone: 203.432.9301
Fax: 203.777.6123

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