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Read on if you plan on applying to Yale and want to learn more about their interview process.
According to Forbes, the number one way to reduce interview nervousness is to practice, practice, practice. They even suggest you over-prepare for your interview to avoid any surprise questions.
This guide will review the Yale interview, how it works, sample questions and how to respond to them, and some final tips to ace your interview!
Contrary to popular belief, Yale's interviews are optional for application. Considering Yale receives as many as 37,000 applicants each year, it's only possible for them to interview some of their candidates.
As such, Yale only extends interview invites to applicants who require more information. So, if you aren't asked to interview, don't automatically assume it means rejection. Many successful applicants are not interviewed, and many that are interviewed still don't make the cut.
As the admissions committee reviews applications, they may come across a few that pique their interest, but they must provide a comprehensive picture of the applicants. In this case, Yale will invite these applicants to an interview to get to know them better and make a final decision on their candidacy.
If you are asked to interview, it’s strongly recommended that you do; otherwise, the admissions committee will have to decide with an incomplete understanding of who you are.
These interviews are conducted by senior Yale students or alum volunteers on the Yale Alumni Schools Committee (ASC). Each alum interview is conducted by a local volunteer linked to a specific geographical area.
If the Yale ASC does not cover your area, you will likely be unable to interview unless a senior Yale student can conduct a virtual interview with you. If you cannot interview, your application will still be considered, but getting accepted to Yale will be harder.
To ensure you’re well-prepared for your Yale interview, here are some questions senior interviewers suggest students consider:
1. Reflect on something that doesn’t come naturally to you or a particularly difficult experience in the thing you love.
Pick which of these two prompts you can discuss best. If you pick the former, Yale offers the example of taking English courses as a STEM student, which is relatable for many applicants.
If you choose the latter prompt, you could write about a tough acting role, an obstacle in research, or a difficult sports game. Regardless of your prompt, remember that your answer can be separate from your academics.
You’ll likely come up with a more genuine response if you talk about your hobbies, passions, or interests outside the classroom. Think about what you do in your free time. What do you enjoy? Do you enjoy it because it’s easy?
The key elements the interviewer will look for in your answer are:
Use this list as a checklist when brainstorming your response to this question!
2. Tell me about an influential person in your life.
Students tend to freeze up on this question during interviews, so you must prepare for it beforehand. Avoid mentioning people you haven't interacted with. While you may have a celebrity idol or look up to a prominent historical figure, mentioning someone like a teacher, family member, or friend is best.
If you know someone who has gone through significant adversity but rose above it, you can talk about how their experience influenced you to work even harder and push through your challenges.
Some students see this question as an opportunity to boast about themselves. They erroneously claim they’ve had the most influence on themselves. While pursuing higher education requires a high degree of self-motivation, especially at a prestigious school like Yale, this answer can come across as self-absorbed.
3. What do you do for fun?
This question seems relatively simple because it’s meant to be! It isn’t a trick question and is typically asked to make you more comfortable during the interview. It will also help the interviewer learn more about your personality, values, and interests.
Answer this question honestly. While you may be tempted to use this question to discuss your work or volunteer experience, your interviewer will know you did not pursue these experiences for fun.
Make a list of your hobbies and pick the one you’ve participated in most. Share this hobby and explain what makes it fun.
If you’re an avid horror movie fan, you may enjoy analyzing these films and discovering their deeper meanings. By sharing this, you explain a realistic hobby and tie it back to a valuable skill that will aid you in your undergrad! If you follow this two-step process, you can discuss any hobby! Try sharing a specific anecdote about your hobby to make your answer more personal and genuine.
4. What do you hope to gain from your undergraduate experience?
There’s a reason you chose to apply to Yale, and the interviewer will want to know it. Please do your research to ensure you have a unique response that proves your dedication to the school and strong interest in it.
Consider your personal and professional goals and how Yale will help you achieve them. Explain the type of student you are and hope to be at Yale and how you plan on contributing to their community.
While it’s no secret that a Yale degree holds tremendous prestige, avoid revolving your answer around this reason. The interviewer will want to ascertain you’re applying to Yale because of its unique and impressive resources and programs, not just for street cred!
5. What has made you stick with an interest for years?
As you can tell, Yale interviewers like to ask questions about your passions and interests. This is to get to know you better and to learn more about your skills and traits, such as perseverance!
The Yale admissions committee aims to admit students that demonstrate a clear commitment to their school, so you must follow through with your commitments. If you pick up and drop interests often, it can ring some alarm bells for the interviewer as you may lose interest in their program or transfer schools.
One common example is discussing an instrument you played for most of your life. You can share how you’ve always been motivated to learn more challenging songs and improve. Talk about your progress over the years and share specific accomplishments that resulted from your perseverance.
The above questions are the most common and applicable to most students. However, the interviewers will also ask questions about your extracurriculars and accomplishments.
For instance, if you’re a theater buff, they may ask you your favorite role or character you’d like to play. If you’re a writer, they might ask you what book you recommend, what inspires your creative process, and your proudest writing piece.
Sports players may be asked more about their role on their team, why they chose their sport, and what they’ve learned.
Students with extensive volunteer experience can expect to elaborate on specific organizations or projects they worked on, their most memorable experiences, and how their perspective has changed through their community service.
You're already aware of several general interview tips: dress to impress, maintain eye contact, smile, and breathe!
Students should also follow these specific tips:
Above all else, ensure your personality shines through in your interview. Tell the committee what makes you unique so that your interview is memorable!
Read on for any remaining inquiries about the Yale Interview questions to find your answers.
Getting a Yale interview means the admission committee needs to know more about you to decide on your application. This interview will help them move you from a "maybe" to a "yes" or "no." An invitation to an interview does not guarantee acceptance.
No, not all applicants get interviews at Yale. Only select students are asked to interview for more information on their application.
The amount of applicants that are interviewed depends entirely on the application pool. There is no limit on how many students Yale can extend an interview to, but it is typically only a small percentage of candidates.
The Yale interview will take approximately 30 minutes but may run shorter or longer depending on the questions and how well you do. Try to focus on something other than the clock during your interview! Let the conversation flow naturally; it should be over before you know it.
The best way to prepare for your Yale interview is to review common questions from admissions committees. This guide shares specific questions that senior interviewers like to ask, which can help you determine which aspects of your application you’d like to highlight.
Ensure you also review your resume before your interview; this is the only application material your interviewer will have. Remind yourself of the experiences you included on your resume and the skills you listed.
If you’re asked to interview at Yale, consider it an opportunity to share aspects of your life missing from your application. This interview is a second chance to wow the admissions committee and prove your dedication and eagerness to join Yale!
Good luck!
Read on if you plan on applying to Yale and want to learn more about their interview process.
According to Forbes, the number one way to reduce interview nervousness is to practice, practice, practice. They even suggest you over-prepare for your interview to avoid any surprise questions.
This guide will review the Yale interview, how it works, sample questions and how to respond to them, and some final tips to ace your interview!
Contrary to popular belief, Yale's interviews are optional for application. Considering Yale receives as many as 37,000 applicants each year, it's only possible for them to interview some of their candidates.
As such, Yale only extends interview invites to applicants who require more information. So, if you aren't asked to interview, don't automatically assume it means rejection. Many successful applicants are not interviewed, and many that are interviewed still don't make the cut.
As the admissions committee reviews applications, they may come across a few that pique their interest, but they must provide a comprehensive picture of the applicants. In this case, Yale will invite these applicants to an interview to get to know them better and make a final decision on their candidacy.
If you are asked to interview, it’s strongly recommended that you do; otherwise, the admissions committee will have to decide with an incomplete understanding of who you are.
These interviews are conducted by senior Yale students or alum volunteers on the Yale Alumni Schools Committee (ASC). Each alum interview is conducted by a local volunteer linked to a specific geographical area.
If the Yale ASC does not cover your area, you will likely be unable to interview unless a senior Yale student can conduct a virtual interview with you. If you cannot interview, your application will still be considered, but getting accepted to Yale will be harder.
To ensure you’re well-prepared for your Yale interview, here are some questions senior interviewers suggest students consider:
1. Reflect on something that doesn’t come naturally to you or a particularly difficult experience in the thing you love.
Pick which of these two prompts you can discuss best. If you pick the former, Yale offers the example of taking English courses as a STEM student, which is relatable for many applicants.
If you choose the latter prompt, you could write about a tough acting role, an obstacle in research, or a difficult sports game. Regardless of your prompt, remember that your answer can be separate from your academics.
You’ll likely come up with a more genuine response if you talk about your hobbies, passions, or interests outside the classroom. Think about what you do in your free time. What do you enjoy? Do you enjoy it because it’s easy?
The key elements the interviewer will look for in your answer are:
Use this list as a checklist when brainstorming your response to this question!
2. Tell me about an influential person in your life.
Students tend to freeze up on this question during interviews, so you must prepare for it beforehand. Avoid mentioning people you haven't interacted with. While you may have a celebrity idol or look up to a prominent historical figure, mentioning someone like a teacher, family member, or friend is best.
If you know someone who has gone through significant adversity but rose above it, you can talk about how their experience influenced you to work even harder and push through your challenges.
Some students see this question as an opportunity to boast about themselves. They erroneously claim they’ve had the most influence on themselves. While pursuing higher education requires a high degree of self-motivation, especially at a prestigious school like Yale, this answer can come across as self-absorbed.
3. What do you do for fun?
This question seems relatively simple because it’s meant to be! It isn’t a trick question and is typically asked to make you more comfortable during the interview. It will also help the interviewer learn more about your personality, values, and interests.
Answer this question honestly. While you may be tempted to use this question to discuss your work or volunteer experience, your interviewer will know you did not pursue these experiences for fun.
Make a list of your hobbies and pick the one you’ve participated in most. Share this hobby and explain what makes it fun.
If you’re an avid horror movie fan, you may enjoy analyzing these films and discovering their deeper meanings. By sharing this, you explain a realistic hobby and tie it back to a valuable skill that will aid you in your undergrad! If you follow this two-step process, you can discuss any hobby! Try sharing a specific anecdote about your hobby to make your answer more personal and genuine.
4. What do you hope to gain from your undergraduate experience?
There’s a reason you chose to apply to Yale, and the interviewer will want to know it. Please do your research to ensure you have a unique response that proves your dedication to the school and strong interest in it.
Consider your personal and professional goals and how Yale will help you achieve them. Explain the type of student you are and hope to be at Yale and how you plan on contributing to their community.
While it’s no secret that a Yale degree holds tremendous prestige, avoid revolving your answer around this reason. The interviewer will want to ascertain you’re applying to Yale because of its unique and impressive resources and programs, not just for street cred!
5. What has made you stick with an interest for years?
As you can tell, Yale interviewers like to ask questions about your passions and interests. This is to get to know you better and to learn more about your skills and traits, such as perseverance!
The Yale admissions committee aims to admit students that demonstrate a clear commitment to their school, so you must follow through with your commitments. If you pick up and drop interests often, it can ring some alarm bells for the interviewer as you may lose interest in their program or transfer schools.
One common example is discussing an instrument you played for most of your life. You can share how you’ve always been motivated to learn more challenging songs and improve. Talk about your progress over the years and share specific accomplishments that resulted from your perseverance.
The above questions are the most common and applicable to most students. However, the interviewers will also ask questions about your extracurriculars and accomplishments.
For instance, if you’re a theater buff, they may ask you your favorite role or character you’d like to play. If you’re a writer, they might ask you what book you recommend, what inspires your creative process, and your proudest writing piece.
Sports players may be asked more about their role on their team, why they chose their sport, and what they’ve learned.
Students with extensive volunteer experience can expect to elaborate on specific organizations or projects they worked on, their most memorable experiences, and how their perspective has changed through their community service.
You're already aware of several general interview tips: dress to impress, maintain eye contact, smile, and breathe!
Students should also follow these specific tips:
Above all else, ensure your personality shines through in your interview. Tell the committee what makes you unique so that your interview is memorable!
Read on for any remaining inquiries about the Yale Interview questions to find your answers.
Getting a Yale interview means the admission committee needs to know more about you to decide on your application. This interview will help them move you from a "maybe" to a "yes" or "no." An invitation to an interview does not guarantee acceptance.
No, not all applicants get interviews at Yale. Only select students are asked to interview for more information on their application.
The amount of applicants that are interviewed depends entirely on the application pool. There is no limit on how many students Yale can extend an interview to, but it is typically only a small percentage of candidates.
The Yale interview will take approximately 30 minutes but may run shorter or longer depending on the questions and how well you do. Try to focus on something other than the clock during your interview! Let the conversation flow naturally; it should be over before you know it.
The best way to prepare for your Yale interview is to review common questions from admissions committees. This guide shares specific questions that senior interviewers like to ask, which can help you determine which aspects of your application you’d like to highlight.
Ensure you also review your resume before your interview; this is the only application material your interviewer will have. Remind yourself of the experiences you included on your resume and the skills you listed.
If you’re asked to interview at Yale, consider it an opportunity to share aspects of your life missing from your application. This interview is a second chance to wow the admissions committee and prove your dedication and eagerness to join Yale!
Good luck!
