With its centuries-long legacy of excellence and a community built on curiosity, leadership, and service, Yale University is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world. From the residential college system to a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching, Yale offers students the chance to explore across disciplines and challenge themselves in and out of the classroom.
But with an acceptance rate under 5%, it is also one of the most competitive schools to get into. That means every part of your application matters, especially the Yale supplemental essays. These short answers and essays are your chance to show how you think, what excites you, and how you would contribute to the Yale community. Below, we will walk you through each of Yale’s current prompts, with tips to help you write responses that stand out.
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Yale Supplemental Essay Prompts
Short Answer: Academic Interests
Students at Yale have time to explore their academic interests before committing to one or more major fields of study. Many students either modify their original academic direction or change their minds entirely. As of this moment, what academic areas seem to fit your interests or goals most comfortably? Please indicate up to three from the list provided.
This question is more straightforward than it seems. It is less about crafting a narrative and more about giving Admissions Officers a sense of where your current interests lie. Make sure your choices here align with the rest of your application. If you have focused on journalism, for instance, selecting “Humanities” and “Social Sciences” might make more sense than “Engineering.”
PRO TIP: Avoid random or contradictory combinations. Be intentional. If you’re listing “Biological Sciences,” “Global Affairs,” and “Visual Arts,” make sure your other essays or resume reflect those interests in some way.
Short Answer (200 words): A Topic That Excites You
Tell us about a topic or idea that excites you and is related to one or more academic areas you selected above. Why are you drawn to it? (200 words or fewer)
This is your chance to show intellectual curiosity, something Yale deeply values. Go beyond a general statement like “I love economics.” Instead, dig into a specific question, problem, or idea that fascinates you. What have you done to explore this interest? How does it shape the way you think?
Let your passion shine, but make sure it connects to your selected academic areas. You might talk about your fascination with urban food deserts and how it bridges public health, policy, and ethics. Or maybe you are obsessed with medieval literature and how it reshaped your understanding of modern political thought.
PRO TIP: Pick something niche or specific. Vague ideas like “climate change” or “mental health” are too broad unless you connect them to a focused angle or personal experience.
Short Answer (125 words): Why Yale?
Reflect on how your interests, values, and experiences have drawn you to Yale. (125 words or fewer)
This is Yale’s version of the classic “Why Us?” prompt, but condensed. Do not waste time listing off generic features of the school. Instead, connect Yale’s offerings to your specific goals. Are you excited about Directed Studies? Yale’s approach to interdisciplinary majors? The residential colleges? The Yale Political Union?
Make sure the things you mention are distinctly Yale, and tie them to your identity or aspirations. The best answers here are often personal and show clear research.
PRO TIP: If your response could be copied and pasted into another school’s application, it is not specific enough.
Very Short Answer Questions (200 characters each)
These next four questions, unique to the Common App and Coalition App, are Yale’s way of getting to know you more informally. Keep your tone sharp, insightful, and authentic. Humor can work, but do not force it.
1. What inspires you?
Think about people, ideas, or moments that light a fire in you. The key is to be genuine and avoid generic answers like “my mom” or “helping people” unless you can make it specific and compelling.
2. If you could teach any college course, write a book, or create an original piece of art of any kind, what would it be?
Be creative here. Show your imagination and interests beyond the classroom. Maybe you would teach a course called “Algorithms of Empathy” or write a book called “The Sociology of Superheroes.”
3. Other than a family member, who is someone who has had a significant influence on you? What has been the impact of their influence?
Use this opportunity to reveal a value, belief, or interest through the lens of someone who shaped you. It could be a coach, teacher, author, or even someone you have never met like a historical figure or artist.
4. What is something about you that is not included anywhere else in your application?
This is your moment to drop an unexpected fact, hobby, or quirk. Do you play the bagpipes? Bake competitive-level sourdough? Speak four languages? Keep it short but memorable.
Essay (400 words): Choose One
Applicants using the Common App or Coalition App must respond to one of the following prompts in 400 words or fewer. This is your main supplement, so take your time.
Prompt 1: Opposing Views
Reflect on a time you discussed an issue important to you with someone holding an opposing view. Why did you find the experience meaningful?
Yale values open dialogue and intellectual humility. This prompt is an invitation to show that you can engage in respectful disagreement, even when emotions run high. Avoid vague stories. Instead, focus on a specific moment: what you discussed, how you navigated the conversation, and what you learned about the other person, the issue, or yourself.
PRO TIP: Do not just say “I changed their mind.” That is not the point. The best essays here focus on listening, mutual growth, and grappling with complexity.
Prompt 2: Community
Reflect on your membership in a community to which you feel connected. Why is this community meaningful to you? You may define community however you like.
Think beyond traditional groups. “Community” could mean your school newspaper team, your religious group, your chess Discord server, or even a neighborhood you grew up in. The goal is to show how you engage with others and what you have learned through that connection.
PRO TIP: Do not just describe the community. Describe your role in it and how it has helped shape your identity, values, or goals.
Prompt 3: Personal Experience
Reflect on an element of your personal experience that you feel will enrich your college. How has it shaped you?
This is the most open-ended prompt. You could write about a family experience, cultural background, challenge, identity, or defining moment. The goal is to show how your life experience gives you a unique lens you will bring to Yale’s campus.
PRO TIP: The key word here is “enrich.” Do not just describe the experience. Explain how it has equipped you to contribute meaningfully to a diverse, dynamic academic community.
Final Tips for the Yale Supplemental Essays
1. Be specific and personal
Every student says they want to make a difference or that they are passionate about learning. The best essays show this with examples, anecdotes, and clear details.
2. Use every section wisely
Each prompt is a chance to add a new layer to your application. Avoid repeating the same activity or story across multiple questions.
3. Avoid clichés
Resist the urge to write about overused topics unless you have an original angle. Common clichés include global warming, a sports injury, or “I learned more from failure than success.”
4. Do your research
Even though Yale does not have a full-length “Why Yale?” essay, your responses should still reflect an understanding of what makes Yale special.
Ready to Start Your Application?
Crafting thoughtful supplemental essays takes strategy, clarity, and a deep understanding of what top colleges are looking for. That is where we come in. At InGenius Prep, our Former Admissions Officers and top counselors help students write standout applications. Every year, students we work with get into Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and other Ivy League schools.
Want help with your supplemental essays? Book a free strategy call and begin your admissions journey today!