Plan a Day at Yale
Whether you are planning a visit on your own or with your family, the following tips will help you make the most of your time on the Yale campus.
Let Us Know You’re Coming
Registration is not required to visit Yale, but we do encourage students to use our online Campus Visit system. Knowing in advance how many students to expect each day helps us arrange appropriate tour guides and facilities. (Remember, you are welcome to attend any session or tour when you are here, even if you have not registered in advance.) If you do register and your plans change, please do not call our office to cancel. We’ll just hope you can make it another time!
Anchor Your Day with a Tour and Information Session
You’ll get the best overview of Yale undergraduate life and admissions through the combination of a Campus Tour and Information Session. Information Sessions are informal presentations for prospective applicants and their families. An admissions officer or a senior student intern will discuss academic programs, undergraduate life, the application process, and financial aid.
All tours are led by Yale students. Tours for prospective students start at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 38 Hillhouse Avenue, end on Old Campus, and last approximately 75 minutes*. (Please note: During the month of January, campus tours will depart from the Mead Visitor Center only). The Yale Mead Visitor Center also provides campus tours that are geared toward a broad audience of visitors rather than a prospective student audience. If you cannot attend one of the campus tours scheduled to leave the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, we strongly encourage you to attend a Visitor Center Tour, which leave from 149 Elm St. The Visitor Center tours are led by the same Yale student tour guides and cover very similar ground to the Admissions tours, though the routes are reversed. The Visitor Center schedule can be found here.
In June, July and early August (1-9), all tours will depart from Sheffield Sterling Strathcona Hall (SSS 114) located at the corner of Grove and Prospect Streets (1 Prospect St). Information sessions will be held at SSS 114 as well. Student forums and interviews will take place at Undergraduate Admissions (38 Hillhouse Ave). Upon arrival on campus, please proceed directly to the location of your first event. Unlike some colleges and universities, we do not track communications with our office or campus visits. There is no check-in needed at any of the locations.
Request an Interview
A limited number of on-campus interviews are available for students in their senior year of high school on a first-come, first-served basis. These interviews are conducted by current Yale seniors at the admissions office and are approximately thirty minutes in length. The volume of requests for interviews makes it impossible to accommodate all prospective students who would like an on-campus interview. Do not be discouraged if you are unable to schedule an on-campus interview. (Please keep in mind that once you have submitted an application you may have the opportunity to interview with an alumnus in your area.) Also remember that interviews are not required, and that we do not disadvantage those students who may not be able to obtain an interview. If you wish to schedule an interview, please see our interview website for more information.
Attend a Class
Through our Course Catalog you may search classes by term and attend those that interest you during your visit to campus. When sitting in on lecture classes, please be mindful of classroom procedures. If you would like to speak to a professor, please wait until the lecture is over and enrolled students have asked their questions. For smaller seminar classes, we encourage you to either email the professor prior to your visit or arrive at least five minutes before class to ask if you may sit in. Class descriptions on the Online Course Information site include class day, time, and location.
Attend a Students-Only Question and Answer Session (Student Forum)
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions hosts a series of Student Forums. These informal, non-evaluative sessions allow visiting students (no parents!) to meet in a small group with current Yale students (no admissions officers!) to ask specific questions about life at Yale. Please see the Monthly Schedule for availability.
Explore New Haven
We encourage you to make time during your visit to explore New Haven. There are many world-class museums and facilities on and near campus, and New Haven boasts many wonderful restaurants and coffee shops. Visitors are also welcome to eat in Yale Dining Halls at guest rates when dining halls are open.
Suggested Itinerary for Summer Visits (June-August)
In June, July, and August we offer information sessions and campus tours several times daily. We also offer Student Forums, Science Tours, and Engineering Tours daily, through mid-August. A limited number of on-campus interviews are available for rising high school seniors as well, by appointment.
While you are free to attend whatever events you would like in whatever order your schedule allows, we highly recommend going on a campus tour before attending an information session.
Please note: In June, July and early August (1-9), all tours will depart from Sheffield Sterling Strathcona Hall (SSS 114) located at the corner of Grove and Prospect Streets (1 Prospect St). Information sessions will be held at SSS 114 as well. Student forums and interviews will take place at Undergraduate Admissions (38 Hillhouse Ave). Upon arrival on campus, please proceed directly to the location of your first event. Unlike some colleges and universities, we do not track communications with our office or campus visits. There is no check-in needed at any of the locations.
Because of the volume of visitors we receive during the summer months, we recommend you reserve plenty of time (15-20 minutes) for parking and moving about the campus before your event’s scheduled start time.
Group Visits (Confirmed Reservations Required)
A confirmed reservation is required for groups of 10 or more visitors. Requests must be made at least 14 days before your intended visit using the link below.
After we receive your request, our group visit coordinator will be in touch to confirm whether or not we are able to accommodate your request. If approved, we will contact you to confirm your group’s itinerary and to finalize the details of your visit.
Please note the following important items:
- We cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate all group requests. For each request, we will consider the date and time requested, the size and nature of your group, and the purpose of your visit.
- Please note that group tours and information sessions are typically only offered at one of our regularly scheduled tour and information session times.
- If you are working with a for-profit organization, please coordinate your visit through the Yale Visitor Center.
- All tours and information sessions conducted through the Office of Admissions are presented in English, and we are unable to provide translators.
- We are unable to provide on-campus meals as part of the group visit experience. Visitors are welcome to eat in Yale Dining Halls at guest rates when dining halls are open, or try one of our many local New Haven restaurants.
- Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your confirmed event.
Office Hours
Monday-Friday
Sept. 1–May 31 8:30a-5:00p
June 1–Aug. 31 8:30a-4:30p
Saturdays
Sept. 8–Nov. 10 9:00a-12:00p (only)
Open for tours & information sessions only.
Please refer to Admissions Office Closings before visiting. Our office is closed on these dates and there will be no tours or information sessions.
