Admissions officers review applications one at a time.
Two questions guide our process: “Who will make the most of Yale’s resources?” and “Who will contribute most significantly to the Yale community?”
Step 1: Initial Review
Who: A Senior Admissions Officer
What is reviewed: In all cases: transcript (including GPA and academic rigor), testing, activities, honors, and awards. When further evaluation is necessary: essays and teacher recommendations
Notes: Officers can see all application documents. Applicants with strong credentials move forward.
Step 2: Area Officer Review
Who: An area admissions officer with regional experience evaluating applications from a specific city, state, region, or country
What is reviewed: All application documents, including essays, letters of recommendation, and interview report
Notes: Officer writes a summary of application’s contents and gives an overall rating. Only the strongest applicants move forward.
Step 3: Second Reader Review
Who: A second admissions officer
What is reviewed: All application documents
Notes: Second reader provides an independent summary of the application’s strengths and potential weaknesses and gives a second overall rating. The area admissions officer uses the pair of summaries and ratings to decide who is presented to committee.
Step 4: Committee Deliberation
Who: Five-member committee; the area admissions officer, two senior admissions staff, one Yale College faculty member, one Yale College staff member
What is reviewed: The committee hears the area officer’s and second reader’s summaries and requests to review individual application elements as a group
Notes: Committee members vote anonymously, and each vote carries equal weight. Applicants receiving at least four “admit” votes are admitted to the class.
