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 for entrance in the fall (Yale does not offer spring term entrance). The Admissions Office receives approximately a hundred Eli Whitney 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.

Those considering applying to Yale but who cannot present recent academic credentials are encouraged to take classes elsewhere before submitting an application to the Eli Whitney Students Program. Prospective applicants should take courses that are similar to classes offered at Yale, such as courses in the humanities, social sciences and natural or physical sciences. We especially encourage candidates to take courses in writing, math and foreign languages as these will prepare students for the rigor of Yale’s curriculum. Candidates should take higher-level courses when possible. On-line classes are not advised as they are not transferable to Yale. Courses can be taken at fully accredited institutions, either four-year or two-year, public or private. A number of Whitney students previously attended community colleges.

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 at some point during their educational career. There are no typical paths for Whitney students, but many take a break in their education immediately after high school or in the middle of their college career, and then return to college on a part- or full-time basis before transferring to the EWSP.

After a preliminary review of completed applications, the Admissions Office offers interviews to only a small number of 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.

Application Instructions and Forms

The deadline to submit all Eli Whitney application materials (except the Financial Aid application) is April 1.

Candidates must submit Eli Whitney application materials in hard copy, either by mail or by overnight delivery. Candidates cannot apply online.

To apply for admission to Yale as an Eli Whitney student, you must complete and submit all of the following materials. Forms 1, 2, and 3 are in writeable .pdf formats. Please download the forms, type in the information and then print the completed forms before mailing them to Yale. Alternatively, you can download and print out the forms then complete them by hand.

• Eli Whitney Students Program Application - Form 1

• $75 application fee. The $75 application fee is nonrefundable and must accompany your application. Please send a check or money order payable to Yale University and drawn on a U.S. Bank. You may request an application fee waiver by providing a combined household annual income in U.S. dollars, the number of dependents listed for tax purposes, and a brief statement of additional circumstances that should be considered in a review of your waiver request.

• Eli Whitney Students Program Personal Statement - Form 2

• Eli Whitney Students Program Recommendation Forms - Form 3 (Print three copies.) Your application must include three recommendations. At least two of the three recommendations should come from teachers or professors who have recently taught you in academic subjects and who 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. Prospective applicants should consider enrolling in some demanding college courses before applying to the Eli Whitney Students Program. This can help demonstrate high academic ability and facilitate obtain the strong academic recommendations that Yale prefers.

• Official secondary school transcript or GED certificate. You should ask your high school to send us an official final transcript or ask a GED administrator to send us a copy of your GED certificate.

• Official college transcript. Please submit transcripts from every college at which you have taken classes. Official transcripts should be sent directly from the college(s) to the Yale Admissions Office.

• Standardized test scores. Though not absolutely required for admission to the Eli Whitney Students Program, we strongly recommend that you take the SAT Reasoning Test (SAT I) or the ACT Plus Writing. Please use the Yale CEEB code (3987) or ACT code (0618) when submitting official scores directly from the SAT or ACT. For more information about the SAT Reasoning Test, please visit the College Board website or call 866.756.7346. If you are calling from outside the United States, call the College Board at 212.713.7789. For more information about the ACT test, visit the ACT website or call ACT, Inc. at 319.337.1000. Neither the SAT Subject Tests (SAT II) nor the Achievement Test is required for admission to the Eli Whitney Students Program. For information about English language proficiency examinations, please see the section on International Students.

• Interviews. 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.

• Financial Aid application. If you wish to apply for financial aid, please follow the Application Instructions. Please note that the financial aid application deadline for Eli Whitney candidates is May 1.

Mailing Instructions:

Send all completed forms and other documents, if by U.S. Postal Service, to:
Eli Whitney Students Program
Yale College, Office of Undergraduate Admissions
P. O. Box 208234
New Haven, CT 06520-8234

If by overnight delivery company such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL, send to:
Eli Whitney Students Program
Yale College, Office of Undergraduate Admissions
38 Hillhouse Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511