You should think carefully before submitting supplementary material with your Yale College application. Most successful applicants submit only the required application materials. Because the Admissions Committee gives greatest weight to the required documents, it is recommended that you focus your energy primarily on those elements of the application.
If you have a substantial and well-developed talent that cannot be conveyed adequately in the rest of your application, you may consider submitting an audio recording, musical score, art samples, writing samples, scientific research paper, film, or dance video.
How to submit supplementary material
Applicants planning to submit academic work such as scientific research or creative writing samples should follow the instructions under Academic Work below.
Audio recordings, musical scores, art samples, film samples, and dance videos should be submitted through SlideRoom, an online platform that facilitates the submission of digital files to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. If you are considering the possibility of submitting material, create a SlideRoom account before submitting your application. Once your application is submitted you will not be able to access the SlideRoom program. To submit art, music, dance, or film as a supplementary material, you must send your material through SlideRoom by the appropriate application deadline: November 1 for Single-Choice Early Action candidates; January 2 for Regular Decision candidates; March 1 for transfer candidates. Please do not contact faculty to request an audition or review of your work.
When submitting material to Yale through SlideRoom, first select the specific category that corresponds with your chosen application platform (Coalition Application, Common Application, or QuestBridge Application) and application round (Single-Choice Early Action or Regular Decision). Next, select the program that corresponds with the type of material (e.g. music, art) you plan to submit. Applicants who are eligible for an application fee waiver through the Common Application or Coalition Application, and applicants who are QuestBridge Finalists, will have the SlideRoom fee waived.
Optional Arts Supplement Questionnaire
Students who indicate their intention to submit a visual art, music, film or dance supplement with their application will have the option to complete the Arts Supplement Questionnaire. The form allows applicants to provide additional context for their submission. The optional form will appear on an applicant’s Yale Admissions Status Portal and should be completed by November 15 for Single-Choice Early Action applicants or January 8 for Regular Decision applicants. Information provided on the Questionnaire, like other parts of the application, are subject to audit and verification. Review our Frequently Asked Questions for more details.
Supplementary materials - visual art
Whether or not you wish to major in art as an undergraduate, if you are an advanced visual artist you may consider submitting an art portfolio as part of your application. Please bear in mind that Yale School of Art faculty members review selected portfolios, not admissions officers. You should only consider submitting work if your artwork is a strong and important part of your application and demonstrates a high level of ability for a high school artist. You should limit the submission to between 5 and 8 pieces and include at least one drawing.
Supplementary materials - music
Whether or not you wish to major in music as an undergraduate, you may consider submitting a recording of your playing, or a musical score, if it demonstrates a high level of musical ability. Yale College does not conduct auditions. Please bear in mind that Yale music professors review selected audio recordings and scores, not admissions officers. You should consider submitting work only if your playing or composing is a strong and important part of your application and demonstrates a high level of artistry for a high school musician. Additional guidelines about music submissions can be found on the Department of Music website.
Yale offers a B.A./M.M. program for students with exceptional abilities in performance who are also interested in a liberal arts education. Students may apply to this program during the same admissions cycle in which they apply to Yale College. (Yale College students also have the option to apply after their junior year.) The auditions held by the Yale School of Music for admission to the B.A./M.M. program are not related to the submission of supplementary music material as part of a Yale College application. Please follow the instructions above if you would like a music recording or score to be part of your Yale College application. Additional information can be found on the Yale School of Music website.
Supplementary materials - film
Whether or not you wish to major in Film and Media Studies as an undergraduate, if you are an advanced filmmaker you may consider submitting a sample of your work as part of your application to Yale. Please bear in mind that Yale film faculty review submissions, not admissions officers. You should only consider submitting work if your filmmaking is a strong and important part of your application and demonstrates a high level of ability for a high school filmmaker.
Supplementary materials - dance
Whether or not you wish to concentrate in dance studies as an undergraduate, you may consider submitting a dance video as part of your application. Yale College does not conduct dance auditions for applicants. Please bear in mind that Yale dance faculty review selected dance recordings, not admissions officers. You should consider submitting work only if your dancing is a strong and important part of your application and demonstrates a high level of ability and artistry for a high school dancer. The video should be no more than fifteen minutes in length and may contain a single work or excerpts of different pieces.
Supplementary materials - academic work
If you have been engaged in advanced science or engineering research, you may consider submitting a STEM Research Supplement. To submit a STEM Research Supplement, first indicate your intention to submit STEM supplement when completing the application. Next, you will complete the STEM Research Supplement Form via the Yale Admissions Status Portal after an application has been received and processed. The optional form will allow you to attach a research paper or abstract for review. It also includes the option to invite a research mentor to submit a letter of recommendation electronically or via mail or fax to the admissions office. Full research papers are generally more helpful than abstracts. If your research incorporated work from many individuals or was part of a larger project, please indicate your specific contributions when completing the form. The deadline to submit a STEM Research Supplement Form is November 6 for Single-Choice Early Action applicants and January 8 for Regular Decision applicants.
If you are a creative writer whose work has been recognized at a regional or national level, you may consider submitting a sample of your work as part of your application. A carefully chosen short piece, or a collection of four or five poems, is preferable to a long manuscript or a large number of poems. Bear in mind that the required application essays are the most important “writing samples” in an admissions file. You should insert your creative writing sample into the Additional Information section of the Common Application or Coalition Application. If you are unable to include the creative writing sample with your application, you may also upload your work through your Yale Admissions Status Portal using the Update Application form.
Supplementary materials - extra recommendations
The vast majority of successful applicants submit only required letters of recommendation. If you feel the need to submit extra information, you may ask one additional recommender to write on your behalf. The most useful extra recommendations provide new information and dimension to a candidacy, rather than repeat the strengths and qualities found elsewhere in the application. The recommender should know you well personally or have mentored you closely in some capacity.
Please ask the person writing a supplementary letter of recommendation to send their letter via to the admissions office via postal mail (PO Box 208234 New Haven, CT 06520) or use the document upload tool available via the counselor information page. Please ask the person writing the letter to include the following in the document: your full, legal name as it appears in your application, the name and location of the school you currently attend, and your date of birth.
If you have been engaged in advanced scientific research, you should consider requesting a letter of recommendation from a research mentor who has been involved personally with your scientific work. Follow the instructions in the Academic Work section above to submit your research via the Status Portal and request a recommendation letter from your mentor.