We’re thrilled that you’re considering Yale Summer Session!
Before you apply, please review the application requirements and information for pre-college students below.
We’re looking for motivated high school students who are academically strong and ready to take on the challenge of Yale’s rigorous undergraduate courses. As a participant, you’ll join college students in the classroom and engage in college-level work, held to the same high standards as all Yale students.
[point]Eligibility
Pre-College students who wish to apply to Yale Summer Session must be:
- A current junior (entering your senior year of high school; join YSS in the summer after junior year) or a current senior (graduating from high school/entering your first year of college; join YSS the summer after senior year)
- 16 years of age or older by your program's start date
If you are a current sophomore, you are not eligible to apply.
[date]2025 Yale Summer Session Dates
Session A: May 26 - June 27, 2025
Session B: June 30 - August 1, 2025
The 2025 Yale Summer Session application is open.
Application Requirements
Below is a list of the required documents for your application, along with additional details on specific requirements for pre-college students applying to attend in-person courses.
[cal] Please refer to Dates and Deadlines for all of the relevant deadlines. All supporting documentation must be received on or before the application deadline. Below the requirement list, we provide further explanation about some of the requirements.
Requirements for Pre-College Student Applications
- Online Application
- High School Transcript in English with at least 2.5 years of grades. Please contact us if your transcript does not have at least 2.5 years of grades.
- Two Letters of Recommendation from a teacher, guidance counselors, or academic advisor. One recommendation must be from a current teacher.
- Valid U.S. based health insurance card (for students from the U.S.)
- Optional standardized test scores as described below.
Yale Summer Session’s Test-Flexible Policy
Submitting standardized test scores is strongly encouraged, but not required. Applicants may choose from five options to submit scores:
- ACT
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- SAT
- PSAT
Applicants who choose to submit AP or IB scores should include results from all subject exams taken before applying. Those submitting ACT, PSAT, or SAT scores may also include any AP or IB scores of their choice.
Please note that, while the submission of standardized test scores is entirely optional, such scores can offer Yale Summer Session's admissions team additional insight into an applicant's academic background. All applications are evaluated holistically, so there are no fixed score requirements or "cut-offs" for admission. Applicants who have not yet taken any of the standardized tests listed, or who elect not to disclose their scores, are welcome to move forward and submit their applications for review. Once submitted, no applications will be held for, or re-reviewed based on, pending or new test scores.
Additional Application Requirements for Attending In-person
Immunization records for students who will study in-person with us and live on or off campus.
[point] Be sure to read about Yale Summer Session's immunization requirements for students applying to take in-person courses or be on the Yale campus. This requirement will need to be fulfilled after admission but before arrival to Yale.
Academic Information for Pre-College Students
In the online application, you’ll select the courses you’d like to take for credit or choose a program. Before making your selection, we recommend reviewing the course descriptions to ensure you choose the best fit for your academic goals. Please note that some courses are not open to pre-college students, so be sure to check the individual course descriptions for any restrictions.
Once admitted to a course or program, you will be officially enrolled in Yale Summer Session. If you decide not to attend after admission, you must withdraw by completing the online withdrawal form.
Full-time study for pre-college students requires enrollment in two courses (totaling 2 credits) per session, which is also the maximum allowed. Pre-college students living on campus must take two courses to maintain full-time status. At least one course must be in-person so you may take two in-person courses or one in-person course and one online course in the same session.
What kind of transcript do I submit?
An unofficial transcript or academic record in English is required as part of your application to Yale Summer Session. The online application enables you to upload an unofficial copy of your academic transcript.
Pre-College students submit your high school transcript.
All academic transcripts must show the name of the institution, dates of enrollment, and the subjects or courses taken, together with the units of credit or time allotted to each subject and the final grade.
Applications are evaluated holistically, therefore, we do not have a G.P.A. requirement.
For In-person Study: Insurance, Vaccinations, and Required Forms
Required Health Insurance
You are required to be enrolled in U.S. based health insurance for the duration of the session. Students coming to study in-person from abroad should review the visiting international student page for information about the Yale Summer Session insurance for international students.
Required Vaccination and Immunization Records
After admission, you will be required to upload proof of vaccinations if you will be attending classes in-person or living on campus. After admission, you will be emailed a link and information about where to upload your vaccination records (this process is managed by another office at Yale).
[link] Review all vaccination information and the relevant deadlines to submit your information and be verified so that you can successfully attend Summer Session in-person. Any delay in providing this information may cause you to have to withdraw from Yale Summer Session if you cannot be verified in time.
Required Forms for Minors Living on Campus
Minors residing on campus as part of the Yale Summer Session must submit five required forms with their application. These forms must be printed, signed by a parent or guardian, and uploaded to the application portal.
Authorization for Medical Care
Permission to Use Images and Recordings
Yale Summer Session Release Form for Minors
Residential Program Rules Acknowledgement
Online Learning and Electronic Communication Form
Minor students who are living on campus and participating in the Yale Young Writers' Workshop must also fill out a Health Exam Form in lieu of immunization records.
[point] Your application will not be considered complete unless all forms are properly signed and submitted.
Residential Information for Pre-College Students
If you're a pre-college student, including a recent high school graduate, you'll be required to live on campus if you're taking in-person courses, unless you live with your family within commuting distance of New Haven. If you're enrolled in only online courses, you’re not required to live on campus. Students living on campus must enroll in two courses per session.
You are expected to remain on campus overnight, except when participating in Yale Summer Session activities or with written permission from your parent or guardian to leave for a specified period. Yale undergraduates serve as residential counselors to provide support and assistance. If you're under the age of 18, you'll live in the same residential college and follow a curfew along with other special regulations. If you're 18 or older, you’ll be housed separately.
For International Pre-College Students
If you are an international high school student joining us from outside of the U.S., visit our visiting international student page for further information and additional requirements for international students.