Q&A with Lindsay: How Our Mentors Help Students Earn Admission to Yale

Lindsay: In my experience, the most successful applicants to Yale are bold, individualistic thinkers who have deep interests in multiple (sometimes completely unrelated) fields and combine their intellectual interests in creative and unexpected ways. Academic prowess in a singular discipline can generally be taught, and Yale admissions officers encounter thousands of applicants each year who are exceptional math, science, or history students. What can’t be taught is intellectual curiosity, innovative problem solving, and outside-of-the-box thinking—so these characteristics are highly desirable to Yale admissions committees. What distinguishes successful Yale applicants is their ability to draw connections between very different areas of interest, whether it’s Shakespeare and environmental science, flute and physics, STEM and painting, or South Asian studies and classics.

Additionally, Yale looks for students who are deeply committed to social justice and seek to use their academic interests to enact positive societal change. In other words, they are not just passionate about their studies but also committed to making the world a better place.

Lindsay: Every student and parent knows that you have to be “highly qualified” to be accepted by Yale—but few understand that being qualified is different from being perfect. Our founder and CEO Christopher Rim is a prime example of the fact that you don’t need to have perfect grades and test scores in order to be accepted. However, what Chris did have—and what other students need—is a clear and defining passion that he used in a positive way in his community. Students should consider what unique story and set of talents they bring to Yale’s campus, then clearly articulate those throughout their application materials.

Lindsay: Students who are starting early and planning ahead should note that Yale values tangible demonstrations of students’ talents—a student who achieves local, national, or international recognition for the work they have done in their area of interest will be more likely to catch the eye of admissions officers. Younger students who aspire to attend Yale should identify ways that they can showcase their work and elevate their profile through prestigious honors and awards.

Students who are in the process of applying should devote the most time, effort, and creativity to their essays. Yale admissions officers place a lot of stock in these essays—they look for writing that demonstrates thoughtful execution and showcases a student’s unique perspective. Rather than a catalog of accolades and achievements, a good essay should show Yale admissions officers how a student thinks. Given that the school places emphasis on interdisciplinary curiosity and positive social change, students should craft original essays that showcase their dynamic thinking about their own identity, how they relate to others, and the kind of impact they want to have on the world.

Lindsay: Extracurricular activities are a crucial part of an application to any top college, but Yale in particular looks for unique levels of achievement, leadership, and community engagement. Students should avoid partaking in generic activities such as sports, debate, and student government unless they are intentionally developing a hook in that area. In particular, the Yale admissions committee wants to see students participate in activities that allow them to break ground or solve problems in creative or novel ways. Activities like this are generally hard to come by, and students with Yale aspirations should consider founding a new club or organization or becoming an innovative leader in an existing club in order to showcase their capacity for groundbreaking thinking.

Lindsay: I have helped students with every aspect of the Yale application process, but I think two factors in particular have helped to make my students’ applications stand out to Yale admissions officers. First, I have helped students level up their application by connecting them to research opportunities and guiding them through applications for selective extracurricular programs, fellowships, and grants, both at their high schools and beyond. Yale wants to see that third-party experts have deemed a student’s work excellent in their field. That being said, sifting through the many types of awards and fellowships to determine which are the most legitimate, prestigious, and worthwhile can be overwhelming. Having guided students with many different interests through the process, I am able to help them determine which opportunities will be most beneficial for their growth and impressive for their application.

I have also mentored students as they tackle the challenging Yale supplemental essays, guiding them as they craft standout pieces of writing. Yale’s supplemental essays are particularly challenging, in part because they require students to be concise—the “Why Yale” essay allows only 125 words, and other short answer questions have a 35-word limit. This is where the ability to communicate effectively under constraints really comes into play. I help students cut the fluff and be specific while adding a creative touch and showcasing their unique voice—which is no small feat in just 1-2 sentences!

Lindsay: Yale is one of the most competitive schools in the world, and even the most talented and qualified students should be prepared for the possibility of rejection. That being said, if you’re aware of the odds and prepared for whatever outcome you may receive—don’t be afraid to apply. You never know what kind of story the admissions officers may be drawn to or what niche they are looking to fill—your voice, perspective, and talents might be just what they want to add to their class! Take the opportunity to be as authentic as possible—the more you try to fit yourself into a mold, the more forced your application will feel. Whether you receive an acceptance letter from Yale or not, trust that you will find a school that is the right fit for you!