Get a Taste of College Life at Yale
Yale Summer Session gives motivated high school students the opportunity to take Yale College courses, learn alongside college students, and experience the challenge and excitement of college-level study.
Explore a subject that interests you, discover what it’s like to learn in a Yale classroom, and build the skills and confidence you’ll carry with you to college and beyond.
[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; Class of 2028) or a current senior (graduating from high school/entering your first year of college; Class of 2027)
- 16 years of age or older by your program's start date; students who are under 16 are not eligible to attend Yale Summer Session
If you are a current sophomore, you are not eligible to apply.
Yale Summer Session admits visiting students in two rounds: priority and rolling admissions. Apply early for the best selection of courses.
Before applying, keep the following in mind:
- Choose your courses thoughtfully. Select your desired courses or program in the online application. Review course descriptions in advance to make sure your selections are a good fit for your academic interests and goals. Some courses are not open to pre-college students, so check individual courses for eligibility requirements or restrictions.
- Course changes are limited. Yale Summer Session does not have an Add/Drop period, and the window for changing courses is very limited.
- Admission means enrollment. Admission to a course or program constitutes enrollment. If you decide not to attend, you must withdraw by submitting the Change Form by the applicable deadline. Students who do not withdraw by the applicable deadline will receive a grade.
- Maximum enrollment: Full-time study is two courses, totaling two credits, per session, or one program. This is also the maximum enrollment allowed. Students living on campus must enroll in two courses to maintain full-time status. You may take two in-person courses or one in-person course and one online course during the same session.
For more information, please refer to the Yale Summer Session Student Handbook for the relevant academic regulations.
Application Requirements
The following materials are required for pre-college student applications:
- An online Yale Summer Session application
- A non-refundable $80 application fee
- A high school transcript, in English, that includes 2.5 years of grades, including Fall 2026. If your transcript does not include 2.5 years of grades, please contact us.
- Two letters of recommendation: Recommendations should come from a teacher, guidance counselor, or academic advisor. At least one recommendation must be from a current teacher.
- A copy of your valid health insurance card (for in-person courses only): Students from the United States must provide proof of valid U.S.-based health insurance.
- Standardized test scores (optional): You may submit scores from one or more of the tests listed below.
[cal] Please refer to the Dates and Deadlines page for all relevant deadlines. All supporting documentation must be received on or before the application deadline.
Standardized Test Scores
Yale Summer Session is test-flexible. Standardized test scores are optional, but encouraged as they can provide additional information about your academic preparation.
You may submit scores from:
- ACT
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- SAT
- PSAT
If you submit AP or IB scores, include results from all subject exams you have taken before applying. If you submit ACT, PSAT, or SAT scores, you may also choose to include AP or IB scores.
There are no minimum test scores or score cutoffs for admission. All applications are reviewed holistically.
You may apply even if you have not taken any of these tests or choose not to submit your scores. Applications are reviewed based on the materials submitted at the time of application and will not be held for pending or future test scores.
What Type of Transcript Do I Submit?
An academic transcript in English is required for your Yale Summer Session application. You may upload an unofficial transcript through the online application.
Pre-College students must submit their high school transcript containing 2.5 years of grades, including your Fall 2026 grades.
Your transcript should include:
- Your name and the institution's name
- Dates of enrollment
- Courses or subjects taken and the credits or units awarded
- Final grades
How We Evaluate Academic Records
Yale Summer Session uses a holistic admissions process and does not have a minimum GPA requirement. We look for students who are academically prepared to succeed in an accelerated five-week course.
You should be prepared to keep up with the pace of the course, complete college-level work, and participate actively in class discussions.
For In-Person Study: Insurance, Vaccinations, and Required Forms
Required Health Insurance
You are required to be enrolled in a U.S.-based health insurance in order to attend Yale Summer Session's in-person courses. We will ask you to upload your valid insurance card as part of your online application. 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
Yale University requires all students studying in person to submit required immunization and health forms before arriving on campus. You will not be allowed to attend in-person courses until all required forms are submitted and immunization requirements are met. You will submit your immunization records after admission.
Some immunizations may take a month or more to complete, so start the process as early as possible to ensure you meet the requirements before the start of Summer Session.
[point] Be sure to review all vaccination requirements and deadlines. Delays in submission may require you to switch to online courses (if available) or withdraw from Yale Summer Session if your immunization 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
Letter and Agreement for Parents
Online Learning and Electronic Communication Form
Note: 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. Students living on campus must enroll in two courses per session.
During the summer, select Yale Residential Colleges (dormitories) are open, offering students a unique opportunity to experience campus life. You are expected to remain on campus overnight, except with written permission from your parent or guardian to leave for a specified period. Students under the age of 18 will 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.
Yale undergraduates serve as residential counselors, offering support and assistance. For more details about living on campus, be sure to visit our Living on Campus page.
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 Students page for further information and additional requirements for international students.
