예일 대학교 (Yale University)
- Paschar
- Mar 18
- 4 min read
Yale University is well-known for students who have clear personal convictions and a deep interest in humanities or arts. It’s smaller than Harvard but larger than Princeton.
Yale’s Residential College System, established 75 years ago, has been widely benchmarked by other universities. Through this system, students develop a strong sense of community within their Residential College—these aren't separate colleges academically, but rather vibrant residential communities. While New Haven, where Yale is located, isn't as large as New York City, it has recently evolved into a lively, engaging area.
Founded in 1701, Yale University has historically emphasized undergraduate education, and most students have strong emotional ties to the institution.
The 1895 Yale football team
Yale perfectly embodies the traditional image associated with East Coast Ivy League schools. When I attended a summer program at Yale during high school, I was impressed by the Gothic architecture, traditional American university aesthetics, and a beautiful college town atmosphere.
All programs at Yale are excellent, particularly in the humanities and arts. To graduate, students must complete 36 courses instead of the typical 32, averaging nine courses per year. Students agree that coursework is challenging, yet Yale uniquely fosters a collaborative rather than competitive atmosphere.
"While the workload is challenging, most classes help students collaborate by promoting study groups, facilitating discussions in small, seminar classes, and organizing class section meetings for larger lecture classes."
A current Yale student
Yale includes 12 professional schools and a Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, but Yale College (the undergraduate institution) remains the university's core. Nearly all professors teach undergraduate courses, and the university's extensive resources are readily accessible to undergraduates.
William Nordhaus, a 2018 Nobel laureate in economics
Economics at Yale is especially renowned, producing numerous hedge fund managers and management consultants. Other popular and outstanding programs include natural sciences, political science, engineering, history, and English literature.
Yale's history program is among the most challenging in the country, requiring a senior essay of 30 to 50 pages. Its English literature program consistently leads in American literary theory. Interdisciplinary humanities programs span medieval, Renaissance, and contemporary studies.
Traditionally, Ivy League universities have excelled in humanities, but since 2001, Yale has invested over $1 billion in science and engineering, attracting a growing number of STEM-oriented students. New majors like data science and neuroscience have recently been added, alongside a strong language program.
Yale offers undergraduate programs in biology since 2006
First-year students interested in humanities may choose Directed Studies—a challenging three-course sequence covering literature, philosophy, history, and political science, colloquially referred to as "Directed Suicide" due to its intensity. Students must apply by June of their senior year of high school.
About 95% of STEM students participate in research, often beginning the summer after their freshman year in one of Yale's 800+ research labs.
Sterling Chemistry Lab
Unlike many universities, Yale has no specific mandatory courses but requires students to complete courses in humanities and arts, social sciences, sciences, quantitative reasoning, and foreign languages.
"Yale Works hard to make study abroad affordable for every student. I spent a summer abroad in Siena, Italy, and best of all, the entire experience was covered by my Yale financial aid."
Current Political Science major at Yale
Yale offers various study abroad opportunities
Introductory courses at Yale are often large lectures accompanied by smaller discussion sections led by TAs. Freshman seminars, covering diverse topics, offer close interaction with professors.
Laurie Santos 교수의 "Psychology and the Good Life" 코스입니다. 1/4의 학생들은 이 코스를 듣는다고 하는데, 현재 온라인에서도 들으실 수 있습니다.
Among Yale's approximately 1,000 courses offered each semester, 73% have fewer than 20 students, showcasing the university’s commitment to high-quality undergraduate education. Popular courses include John Gaddis’s Cold War history class and introductory economics by Nobel Laureate Robert Shiller. Nobel Prize-winning professor James Rothman resides among students in a residential college.
예일대학교 출신 인물들
"Yale students are incredibly active politically and socially and are very conscious of world issues."
A History major at Yale
Yale’s 14 Residential Colleges form the heart of campus social life. These communities—akin to Hogwarts houses in Harry Potter—feature their own libraries, dining halls, gyms, theaters, and social events.
Each Residential College has a distinctive architectural style, from Gothic fortresses to red-brick colonial buildings, filled with historical character.
Branford College (좌), Timothy Dwight College (우)
Most students live in suites with single or double bedrooms, with many seniors enjoying single rooms. About 84% of students reside in campus housing, a high percentage compared to other universities.
Outside Residential Colleges, students often define themselves through extracurricular activities. It's common for students to invest heavily in activities like the school newspaper, radio station, or computer center.
Yale is known for secret societies like Skull and Bones, which maintain exclusive clubhouses and invite select students. Around 10% of students join fraternities or sororities.
George W. Bush, a former president of U.S., was known to be a member of Skulls and Bones
Notable traditions include a Halloween performance by the Yale Symphony Orchestra, attended in costume, and a campus-wide snowball fight on the first snowfall each year.
"There is a movie theater, two world-renowned art galleries, a popular dance club, and countless shops and restaurants within a 10-minute walk from my dorm room. "
A Political Science major at Yale
New Haven
Yale is among America’s oldest institutions. Its students and alumni strive to embody the phrase from Yale’s traditional anthem: "For God, for country, and for Yale."
"When I meet other Yalies abroad, we can immediately connect by talking about our residential colleges, and other shared Yale traditions, such as the Halloween show."
Acceptance Rate: 6.3%
SAT Math Scores 25th percentile - 740
SAT Math Scores 75th percentile - 800
SAT English Scores 25th percentile - 720
SAT English Scores 75th percentile - 770
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