Yale University

I learned that Yale is divided into “residential colleges.” There are 14 of these. Freshmen are “randomly” assigned to a residential college in their freshman year. It is a random assignment, but they try to replicate the microcosm of Yale at large in each of the 14 residential colleges. A residential college is a group of dorms that each house from 400-500 students. Students remain in the same residential college for the final three years. There are two adults who head each residential college. One is in charge of all the specific traditions to that residential college. The other one is the dean who helps with scheduling classes, finding a school/life balance, being sure students are on track for graduation, etc. Each residential college also has its own dining hall, library, common space, and Buttery aka late night cafe/hang out spot.

The slogan of their informational pamphlet is “Y&le Embrace the spirit of And,” and the first sentence says, “Yale is best definition by the word and. Yale is both a research university and a liberal arts college.” Each page is titled with the ampersand. Learning at Yale: Big & Small. Academic Programs: Inside & Outside the Classroom. Residential Colleges: Diversity & Community. Student Pursuits: On Campus & Abroad. Beyond Yale: Service & Success. Next Steps: Applying & Affording. For those inquiring minds who want to know, Yale is test optional and does a holistic application review (during which they accept about 6% of applicants). They do meet 100% of financial need, and 88% of the class of 2021 graduated with zero loan debt. The average need-based scholarship last year was $60,820. The booklet does not list the cost of attendance; rather they give median costs based on the family’s income range. After a little poking around on their website, I found the “sticker price” to be $84,525 per year. Go, Bulldogs!