Yale SOM — MBA Program & Application Overview (2024)

Applying to the Yale SOM? Read this guide for the most practical strategies and tips curated by the best MBA admissions coaches in the world and Yale alumni to get you that much closer to your dream school.

Posted June 26, 2024

Free Event

Graduate School Exploration: Panel with Admissions Experts and Students

Starting Tuesday, November 26

12:00 AM UTC · 60 minutes

Table of Contents

The Yale School of Management’s (SOM) mission is to educate the future leaders of tomorrow. They want students who care deeply about the problems we are currently facing and will equip them with the knowledge, resources, and networks to be changemakers. That change can come in the form of a new business, a policy initiative, or something else entirely. At Yale, you will find a community of motivated, future leaders who are similarly eager to address these challenges. Their programs exist at the intersection of business and society and include such options as sustainability, asset management, healthcare, education, financial stability, women in business, and global leadership.

Class Profile (2025)

  • Location: New Haven, Connecticut
  • Class Size: 339
  • Average Work Experience: 5.1 years
  • Median GMAT: 720
  • Median GRE: 164 (Verbal), 166 (Quant)
  • Average GPA: 3.64
  • Women: 40%
  • International: 50%
  • LGBTQ+: 13%
  • First-Generation: 16%
  • Joint-Degree: 6%
  • U.S. Students of Color: 48%

"What makes someone stand out can be vastly different from candidate to candidate. The key is therefore to remain your true self throughout the process because what the Admissions Committee is looking to learn about in your application is...you! You should focus less on what you think we want to hear and more on what you want to tell us as you prepare your application."

Yale Admissions Committee

2024-2025 Application Overview

Yale SOM Deadlines

Round 1: September 10, 2024

  • Decisions Released: December 5, 2024

Round 2: January 7, 2025

  • Decisions Released: March 20, 2025

Round 3: April 8, 2025

  • Decisions Released: May 15, 2025

GMAT/GRE

Yale accepts either a GMAT or GRE score, both the on-site and online versions of the exam. They do not have a preference for either.

A lot of pressure is placed on GMAT/GRE scores; however, Yale takes into consideration the larger picture and recognizes the test is just one part of the application. You will only need to list your two highest scores, which you will report yourself during the application, and then send in verified scores after admittance.

To learn more, click here: GMAT vs. GRE for Business School—Which to Take and How to Ace Both

The Yale SOM Essay

Prompt: Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made.

Our best tips:

  • This question was developed in collaboration with Amy Wrzesniewski, a professor at the Yale SOM in the organizational behavior department. Your time in business school and the choices that you will make after graduation represent significant commitments. In asking this question, the committee wants to know how you have approached similarly important commitments.
  • Be genuine when answering this question. Yale SOM wants to hear something that is both meaningful and distinctive. Your chosen commitment can be personal, specific, or expansive, whatever you feel will most represent your unique situation and talents.
  • The most effective essays paint a picture for the admissions committee. Make sure to illustrate specific actions that you have taken to pursue your commitments. This is especially important if you have chosen a more broad topic. Show, don’t tell.
  • Learn more about writing your MBA essay here: How to Write a Powerful MBA Essay

Recommendations

Yale Recommender Requirements

Yale requires two letters of recommendation. They want to get different perspectives on your work and academic performance.

Your recommendation should be professional in nature. The best people to write your recommendation letters should be those who have worked closely with you, preferably someone in a senior position instead of a peer or subordinate.

Ideally, one of your letters should come from a current supervisor. However, Yale knows that sometimes this is not possible, for example, if you are working for your family business or are an entrepreneur. In these cases, they suggest that you ask your most recent former supervisor. In general, they care more about the quality of the recommendation than the job title of the recommenders.

The more insights provided in their evaluation, the better the committee will understand your story and be able to accurately gauge your potential. One potential strategy is to find two recommenders who can speak to different strengths and skill sets, thus diversifying your portfolio.

Ensure that your recommenders submit their letters by the given application letter. A thank-you note after submission would also demonstrate your appreciation.

This year, they are allowing recommendation letters to be submitted in Spanish or Chinese. Their hope is that this will improve the process for non-native English speaker applicants.

Learn more here: How to Get the Perfect MBA Recommendation Letter and Leland Recommender Prep Template.

Yale Interviews

Through each of the three rounds, interviews are offered on a rolling basis. These invitations are not sent out by region, so another applicant in the same area may receive an interview earlier or later than you.

For Yale, you will participate in a 30-minute, blind interview conducted by either a second-year student or an Admissions Officer. Your interviewer will only know what they see on your resume.

You can be on the waitlist without being interviewed. As the committee revisits waitlisted candidates throughout the application cycle, waitlisted candidates may be offered an interview at any time.

To learn more, click here: How to Ace Your MBA Interview: With Prep Questions and Answers. Doing your interview online? Find out more here: How to Nail Your Virtual MBA Interview.

Other Application Items

Application Fee

Applicants need to be $95 for their application fee. It is non-refundable and can be paid online.

Applicants in the following categories will be able to waive their application fees:

  • Active US military and veterans
  • Current corps members or alumni of Teach for America, Teach for China, Teach for India, or any other organization related to teachforall.org
  • Current or former Forte MBA Launchers or Rising Stars
  • Current or former Peace Corps volunteers
  • QuestBridge college seniors or alumni
  • Current Yale graduate students
  • Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) or Jumpstart MBA Prep Fellows
  • Yale undergraduate students

Resume

Your resume is a great place to ground your application. It’s the fastest and easiest way to show the committee what you’ve done with your career. Make sure to spell-check several times.

Learn more about How to Craft the Ultimate MBA Resume

Academic Transcripts

You are required to submit transcripts from all undergraduate, graduate, study abroad, and non-degree programs that you have been a part of.

You may upload unofficial transcripts during the application process. However, once you are admitted you will be required to submit official transcripts in order to enroll. Offers of admission are conditional upon the receipt and verification of official transcripts.

GPA

To Yale, you are more than your overall GPA. If you do have a lower GPA, they know that there isn’t anything you can do to change it. They look at the overall picture to get a better idea of the entire applicant.

Click here to read more: Application Tips: Academic Record

Activities

In this section of your application, you will enumerate the activities that you are currently involved in or have participated in outside of the classroom. This will not be a complete list, but rather a narrow list of the top two activities from your undergraduate time and another two from after graduation.

Learn more here: Application Tips: Activities

Post-MBA Interests

In this section, you will need to state your career goals three years after finishing your MBA degree. Think about how those interests have developed, what kind of exposure you’ve had to them so far, and what steps you’ve taken to explore those interests.

Learn more here: Application Tips: Post-MBA Interests

Optional Information

Most candidates will not need to complete this section—this space is for addressing concerns that you think the admissions committee might have with your application. For example, if there is a gap in your resume or your recommender is unconventional, this is the appropriate place to provide clarification.

Video Questions

Once you have submitted your application and paid the fee, you will receive access to several video questions. These questions are not a substitute for the interview, it is a component of your MBA application.

You will receive a set of randomized, previously recorded questions by an admissions team member. These are typical interview questions but no two applicants will have the same set of questions.

Free trial!

Access a library of videos, templates, and examples curated by Leland’s top coaches.

Ben L.Christina P.Matt P.

From 149 top coaches

Example Essays

Example Essays Image

Example Resumes

Example Resumes Image

Application Prep

Application Prep Image

Video Courses

Video Courses Image

Expert MBA Admissions Coaches on Leland

… and many more! Click here for our full roster of world-class MBA admissions coaches.

MBA Options

Full-Time MBA Program

  • A traditional, full-time MBA degree program
  • Their integrated curriculum will help you grasp complex challenges and see how the pieces fit together to form the big picture.

MBA for Executives

  • In the modern global business world, it is essential that broad-minded leaders are present; they should have the knowledge, energy, and capability in seizing opportunities and lead change for the benefit of individuals, organizations, and communities. The Executive MBA program offered by the Yale School of Management combines the integrated core curriculum and leadership development program with advanced study in their chosen area at the intersection of business and society: asset management, healthcare, or sustainability.
  • The students explore theories and new research about leadership in the classroom and practice their skills in the Leadership Development Curriculum. They will then be given hands-on workshops specially designed for students in their MBA for Executives program.

Master of Advanced Management

  • This is a one-year program at the Yale SOM for exceptional MBA graduates from top institutions who want to become global leaders for business and society.
  • This program will prepare you for the challenges facing global leadership through Yale’s carefully calibrated course of study. There will be a series of required courses followed by a tailor-fitted curriculum that you choose by selecting elective courses across Yale University.

Silver Scholars Deferred Admissions Program

  • The Silver Scholars Program is a unique opportunity given to ambitious college seniors for them to pursue a Yale MBA degree immediately after graduating to begin their accelerated career path in their desired industry.
  • Once admitted as a Silver Scholar, your first year at Yale SOM will be spent developing the basic skills and mindset of a manager through their innovative core courses. During the second year, you will complete a full-time internship. They know that through this extended work experience, you will be able to put your business academics into practice, develop your leadership skills, and be provided with a competitive edge as you pursue a permanent position. In your third year, you will return to campus for the conclusion of your MBA program. You will take electives through the SOM, as well as other colleges, that most support your interests and career goals.
  • Learn more here: Barry Nalebuff on the Silver Scholars Program

Yale Program Overview

Year One, Core

The first-year courses are carefully designed to build your understanding of the whole organization which will lead to larger questions of business’s impact on society. From Orientation to Management, you will be given the tools and frameworks that you will need for the remainder of your MBA career.

In the Organizational Perspectives course, you will apply the tools you have learned and draw on a variety of disciplines to look at the different perspectives of various stakeholders. These perspectives will then come together in The Executive, which teaches you to look at the CEO’s perspective of the entire organization and to tackle larger challenges. They include,

  • Competitor
  • Customer
  • Investor
  • Power and Politics
  • Sourcing and Managing Funds
  • State and Society
  • Workforce
  • Innovator
  • Operations Engine
  • The Global Macroeconomy
  • The Executive

Orientation to Management Courses: This is a series of foundational courses that teaches you the skills and language you will need in any career in business and management. They include,

  • Managing Groups and Teams
  • Basics of Accounting
  • Probability Modeling and Statistics
  • Basics of Economics
  • Modeling Managerial Decisions
  • Introduction to Negotiation
  • Global Virtual Teams

Year 2, Electives

During their second year, MBA students will expand their range of knowledge and team up with experts across different disciplines. The challenges faced by global organizations exceed the abilities of any one individual. This is why at Yale SOM they engage closely within the various sectors of the university, where the faculty consists of the best scientists and thinkers. They believe that by doing so, they build powerful networks and accomplish more than any individual can do alone.

Global Study

In our global world, many people will do business in many countries. Because of this, Yale believes you will need to understand the business, legal, political, social, and cultural environments of foreign offices. At their SOM, you will be able to lay the foundation for a global career by fulfilling the Global Studies Requirement. As a student pursuing a Master of Business Administration, you are required to participate in at least one of the following before you graduate:

  • Global Network Weeks
    • Yale SOM, as a founding member of the Global Network for Advanced Management, fosters substantive ties among the world’s leading business schools. During the semi-annual Global Network Week, students will have the opportunity to travel to one of the 30 schools in the Global Network. They will undergo an intensive course according to their interests or specialization.
  • Global Network Courses
    • In order to work on project teams with students at Global Network schools around the world, Yale SOM has developed new virtual courses. They develop important skills in cross-cultural, and cross-time-zone collaboration.
  • Global Social Entrepreneurship Courses
    • Among all the elective courses offered by Yale SOM, the two with the most international and global affairs focus are the Global Social Entrepreneurship courses. They will give you the opportunity to travel abroad for an entrepreneurial consulting experience. These courses offer to connect students with mission-driven social entrepreneurs in a developing country in order to help them address specific management challenges. The Global Social Entrepreneurship works in the social enterprise in the country to work on a number of projects focused on expanding their reach and impact. Another course also pairs students with partner companies in different countries each year.
  • Exchange Programs
    • You can also choose to spend a semester or a quarter studying abroad in a partner school. Yale SOM maintains semester-long international exchange programs with five top business schools:
      • The London School of Economics and Political Science
      • HEC Paris
      • IESE Business School, Barcelona
      • National University of Singapore Business School
      • Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management, Beijing
  • You can also propose your own custom exchange program that can last a semester or a quarter, at another school in the Global Network for Advanced Management. The Global Network Exchange allows students to join classes and electives at a Global Network school. Aside from that, it also gives them the chance to pursue individual projects with a faculty mentor at a partner school. Please note however that not all proposals are accepted and turned into an exchange.

Leadership and Teams

To be able to lead and work effectively in teams is important to the success in any organization. While leadership is an important component of Yale’s integrated curriculum, selected core courses are designed specifically to build your leadership skills, on four distinct levels:

  • Individual
    • Designed to teach individual skills, knowledge, and expertise to deeply understand your industry and organization.
    • Learn more about your strengths and weaknesses.
    • Master negotiation and human behavior skills that you will need to communicate effectively and persuasively.
  • Teams
    • Throughout the completion of your MBA degree, you will learn the process of forming and managing teams, specifically what works and what doesn’t. You will learn by doing and applying the lessons learned in the next challenge.
  • Organization
  • You will be learning to view your organization as a whole, not by its function and geography. This approach will teach you innovative thinking and the skill to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
  • Global & Society
    • Climate change, financial stability, and inequality, these examples of global challenges will require you to think and take action that will cross industries, sectors, and regions.
  • Beyond the Core
    • You can also customize your leadership training by taking elective courses at Yale SOM and in other departments in the university. Every student in an MBA class has to fulfill the Leadership Distribution Requirement by taking at least one leadership elective in a particular industry or on the major ethical and societal challenges that business leaders have to solve.
    • Leadership thinking and learning opportunities in Yale SOM are limitless. You can further expand your leadership skills at the individual level. Some examples of leadership courses are Interpersonal Dynamics, where you develop emotional intelligence and skills in giving and receiving feedback, and Strategic Leadership across Sectors, where they invite top CEOs to come into the classroom to talk about the challenges they face in their role.
    • Learn more here: The Team Experience: First Days

Centers and Initiatives

These include the Yale School of Management’s research centers for investigation, discussion, collaboration, and experimentation on subjects that impact markets, organizations, and society

  • Center for Customer Insights
  • International Center for Finance
  • Program on Entrepreneurship
  • Program on Social Enterprise
  • Program on Financial Stability
  • Center for Business and the Environment
  • Chief Executive Leadership Institute
  • The Broad Center
  • Thurman Arnold Project at Yale
  • Yale Center Beijing
  • China India Insights Program
  • Initiative on Leadership and Organization
  • SOM Lab
  • Y-Rise

The Campus

Yale SOM’s campus is situated at the Edward P. Evans Hall where they have state-of-the-art classrooms, faculty offices, academic centers, and meeting spaces. These are organized around an enclosed courtyard. On this campus, students get to collaborate with their classmates across different colleges at Yale and all around the world.

Architecture + Design

  • This building was designed by Foster & Partners. This is the well-known firm chaired by Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Lord Norman Foster ARCH ’62. The materials that were used showed the project’s scope and ambition: 4 million pounds of steel, 16.2 million pounds of concrete, 2.25 million pounds of glass for the exterior façade, 123 miles of copper wire, and 500 doors. It also incorporates “green construction” materials and practices, the 4.25-acre plot is also sustainably landscaped.

Courtyard + Other Key Spaces

  • There is an enclosed courtyard at the center of the school, this provides outdoor spaces to study and socialize. The openness allows people to see from one area to another across the campus. Other key features of the campus include the 350-seat Zhang Auditorium, the Ross Library, a dining commons and coffee shop, 16 state-of-the-art classrooms, a student gym, and the Beinecke Terrace Room, which is a lecture hall and an entertainment space with an outdoor terrace. This provides a view of the landscaped gardens at the back of the campus.

Innovative Classrooms

  • Evans Hall's design is inspired by the need of making sure that the teaching and learning environment supports the school’s integrated MBA curriculum and houses 16 classrooms of varying layouts and sizes. There are also breakout rooms, lounges, and a library. Other common spaces, like the faculty offices, are positioned and planned in a way that maximizes the interchange and collaboration of members within the Yale community.

Community + YALE

  • The new design has fostered a strong community at the university for the past three decades. As an example, lounge spaces have been placed outside the classrooms and near staircases. This allows students and faculty to run into each other during the transit to classes and meetings.

Yale + The World

  • Evans Hall is at the northern end of the university campus and this serves as the gateway to Yale. It also demonstrates the significance of the School of Management to the broader university. Yale SOM is a trailblazer in partnering with global institutions. This is done in part through the founding of the Global Network for Advanced Management. Both students and faculty regularly use the communications technology offered in Evans Hall to initiate discussions with Network schools and to work with global teams.

MBA Tuition and Financial Aid

Since pursuing a full-time MBA is a major investment, a degree from Yale ensures that there is a return on investment by creating global opportunities of limitless potential.

The Financial Aid Office at Yale assists students in obtaining financial resources to help them with their education. They work with prospective and admitted students on their tuition fees. Post-graduation, they also will continue to advise on loan repayment and forgiveness and fellowship programs.

After you apply to SOM, you will be considered for merit-based scholarships; they do not require a separate application. Once you are admitted, you will be notified if you are eligible for any of those, or other, scholarships.

In-School opportunities for current MBA students:

  • Internship Fund
    • This is a completely student-run organization that brings together first-year students to financially support their public-service classmates who often have a greater financial need.
  • Global Studies Requirement Financial Support and Teaching and Research Assistantships
    • You may apply for Teaching & Research Assistantships once you are matriculated to cover some of your MBA expenses.
  • Summer Grants for Entrepreneurs
    • If you are pursuing ventures as an entrepreneur, you can apply for existing grants.

Joint and Dual Degree Programs

At Yale, you can pursue your MBA in combination with a degree from the Yale Law School, School of Medicine, School of the Environment, School of Architecture, or any other of the university's world-class graduate programs. The joint degree programs prepare future leaders who will bring a broad understanding and analytical thinking to their industry.

Admission

If you are a joint-degree applicant, you must apply to and be admitted to both programs independently. In general, they recommend that you apply to both programs simultaneously in order to have a more integrated learning experience. In some cases, you may apply to another program during your 1st year at Yale SOM, or you can apply to Yale SOM during your 1st year in another graduate program. The requirements vary so review the requirements of the program you are applying in.

Structure

In most joint-degree programs, the students spend one year full-time completing the integrated MBA core curriculum, then one or more years enrolled in the other program, to be followed by another year taking courses in both programs.

It will be less than one year if you take the courses separately. Both degrees are awarded at the same time during the end of the course of study.

The following are the joint-degree programs offered at Yale:

MBA/Master's Degree in Asset Management

If you are planning for a career in asset management, this joint degree is for you. This STEM-eligible program will provide early-career students with a deep understanding of the application of data science and quantitative techniques to investment decisions. There will be an emphasis on ethics, fiduciary responsibility, and investment performance.

MBA/JD with Yale Law School (Four-Year)

  • This is designed for you to gain expertise in both law and management for future careers in government, law, or the private sector.
  • In this accelerated, integrated joint-degree program, students spend one year at Yale SOM and two years at the law school for a total of three years.

MBA/MEM or MF with Yale School of the Environment

  • The first class as part of the joint management environment program took place in 1982. This program consists of two integrated disciplines preparing business leaders and environmental managers with the proper tools to address the complex relations between a business and the environment.

MBA/MPP in Global Affairs with the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs

  • If you want a global career in the government or non-profit sector, this combination of an MBA and a master of public policy degree in global affairs is for you.

MBA/MD with Yale School of Medicine

  • This joint degree program prepares physician-managers who are able to balance clinical care and management in a difficult healthcare environment.

MBA/MPH with Yale School of Public Health (Two-Year or Three-Year)

  • The first of its kind in the United States, this innovative program enables students to earn an MBA and an MPH in just 22 months of intensive study at the Yale School of Management and the Yale School of Public Health.

MBA/MARCH with Yale School of Architecture

  • If you are interested in combining design, urban development, and management in your career either in the government or the private sector, this joint-degree program will suit your interests well.

MBA/MFA with Yale School of Drama

  • This program is for those who want to take advantage of Yale’s globally ranked School of Drama while also learning business and management skills.

MBA/MDIV or MAR with Yale Divinity School

  • This is designed for students who want a career in church management or in the nonprofit sector. It is a combination of an MBA and a master of divinity or a master of arts in religion.

MBA/Ph.D. with Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

  • This program involves a Ph.D. in the sciences or humanities from the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and an MBA degree from the Yale SOM.

More info on the Yale Application Process:

Learn more about Yale’s Integrated Curriculum Approach:

Meet Yale's Admits & Applicants in Leland’s Free Slack Community

If you’re interested in attending Yale, boost your odds by joining the Leland MBA Applicant Community. It’s a free, private community of MBA applicants, admits, and world-class admissions coaches who are all here to answer questions, give feedback, share stories, and help each other through the admissions process.

Membership in the Community is by invitation only. To apply, click below.

Yale FAQs

What are the requirements for applying to the Yale School of Management?

  • The following is required to apply to the Yale School of Management. Applicants must have a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or the international equivalent. You must also submit the online application (including an essay), and the following materials:
    • Transcripts from every college or university you have attended
    • Two professional recommendations
    • Completion of the video questions
    • Completion of the behavioral assessment
    • Official GMAT or GRE score (valid within 5 years of exam date)
    • Paid application fee

What is the application fee?

  • Yale School of Management uses a sliding-scale application fee structure to make the application process more affordable for candidates with diverse backgrounds. The standard application fee is $250. If you earn less than $30,000 a year, the application fee is $175. If it’s less than $15,000 a year, it is $125.
  • The application fee is based on the total annual compensation you have provided in the application. Once you are admitted and enrolled, Yale will verify your compensation information. The offer of admission is dependent on successful verification.
  • Your application fee is waived if you are a member of the following groups:
    • An active U.S. military members and U.S. military veterans
    • Members and alumni of Teach for America, Teach for China, Teach for India, or other Teach for All Network Partners
    • Current Forté MBALaunch or Rising Star program participants
    • Current and former U.S. Peace Corps volunteers
    • Current Yale graduate students
    • Current Yale undergraduate students
    • Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) or JumpStart MBA Prep Fellows
    • QuestBridge college seniors and alumni
  • If you are a member, they request that you let them know within 48 hours before the application deadline to have your application fee waived.

Is there a minimum GMAT or GRE requirement?

  • There is no minimum required score for the GMAT or GRE to apply to Yale SOM.

How long is my GMAT/GRE score valid? If I designated Yale SOM as a score report recipient two years ago, does the admissions office have my score report now?

  • All test scores, either online or in-person, must be less than five years old from the date you submitted your application.

I’ve taken the GMAT and/or GRE more than once. Does Yale SOM consider all of my scores?

  • They check and consider all scores reported to Yale as they review your application although they will take account of the highest score achieved. They do not average scores. If you have taken the exam more than once and have already reported scores, you will need to report all subsequent scores to their institution code.

What is the Behavioral Assessment?

  • This is an online admissions tool administered by the ETS and their research division. It measures a set of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills associated with business school success. You will be answering a forced-choice module that takes about 20-25 minutes to complete and should be taken in a single sitting. No preparation, specialized knowledge, background, or information is required.

How will the Behavioral Assessment be used in the admissions process?

  • Since Yale is looking for open-minded, intellectually curious students who represent a diverse set of backgrounds and interests, they consider applicants holistically. They review each candidate within the context of the overall pool they received, without fixed weight given to specific pieces of the application. The Behavioral Assessment is one piece of the puzzle and although not a deciding factor on its own, it can provide valuable information when used in context with the other elements of your application.

What transcripts will I need to apply?

  • You should provide transcripts for all undergraduate, graduate, study abroad, transfer, and non-degree programs you have attended. If you have taken professional and personal development activities such as CPA, CFA, and online classes, transcripts are not required.
  • Official transcripts are not needed when you apply. You may submit a copy of your transcript released to you by the institution, or a screenshot of your online transcript. The transcript should clearly show the name of the institution, all course descriptions and grades. All available pages of your transcript should be submitted, including the grading scale.
  • Upon admission, official transcripts will be required and all offers of admission will be conditional upon the receipt and verification of your official transcripts.
  • If your transcript is not written in English, you will need to submit the un-translated transcript along with a notarized English translation.
  • If you studied abroad or participated in a summer course experience at another school, and your home institution accepted your coursework as pass/fail, you will need to include those transcripts which should list both your courses and the grades earned for the courses.

If my GPA is not reported on my transcript, do I need to calculate it in order to complete the academic record section of the application?

  • If your GPA is not in your transcript, you should not calculate it for your application. Otherwise, you should report the same GPA listed on your transcript.

When should I complete the "Optional Information" section?

  • If your application would benefit from further explanation, you may choose to complete this section. It can include explanations for gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance, promotions or recognitions, or any other information not apparent from your application. It is perfectly acceptable to leave this section blank.

Is full-time work experience a requirement for admission?

  • It is strongly encouraged that you have full-time work experience, but this is not a requirement. Incoming students at Yale have an average of five years of work experience when they start their MBA, although there is a wide range of experience. Their Silver Scholars program also accepts students directly from college.

What types of recommendations does the Admissions Committee require?

  • Two professional recommendations are required, one of which should be from your most recent supervisor. If you are running a business or work for a family business, you can get a professional recommendation from a client or mentor. You should select recommenders who know you well and can speak about your strengths. Recommendations in Chinese or Spanish are also accepted by Yale.

Is an interview required for admission to Yale SOM?

  • An interview is required for admissions. It is granted by invitation and can be extended at any point during an admission round.

What is the application process like for a joint degree applicant?

  • If you are applying as a joint degree applicant, the application process is exactly the same. In addition to the requirements, you will need to submit an essay to explain your interest in the joint degree. You must submit a separate application to each program and be admitted separately as well.

What is the application process for a re-applicant?

  • If you are a re-applicant, you will submit a new application, upload new essays (including a re-applicant essay), pay the application fee, and complete the video questions. If you have applied in the last two years, you are not required to submit new transcripts or a new test score report. Even though it is not required, you can submit new letters of recommendation if they would provide new insight in your application.
  • If your last application was more than two years ago, you will need to submit an entirely new application and provide all required documents.
  • If you are reapplying, the Admissions Committee will look at what has changed in your candidacy. Therefore, you should reapply when you have reflected on your past one and have meaningful updates.

In which round should I apply?

  • Candidates should apply when they feel that they have put their best foot forward. There is no difference in your chance of being admitted whether you applied in Round 1 or in Round 2. However, there are fewer spaces available for Round 3 applicants than for Round 1 and 2, which could potentially affect chances of being admitted.

How can I check the status of my application?

  • You will be able to check your online status by signing in with your email address and password. You can check which materials the Admissions Committee has already received. It may take up to a week to receive your official test scores.

When should I hear if I’ve been invited to an interview?

  • You will be notified via email if you are invited to interview. Even though they try to extend invitations as early as possible, they may be extended as late as the admissions decision deadline. The timing of your interview invitation has no bearing on your application. There are also some instances where waitlisted candidates may be interviewed on a future round.

I submitted my application by the application deadline. When can I expect to receive a decision from the Admissions Committee?

  • Notifications will be released by the close of business (5 p.m. ET) on the decision date.

How do I communicate a change to the Admissions Committee after I have submitted my application?

  • If you are going to add changes to your application such as a new job or test score, you can update it through the status page and it will be included in your file.

What do I need to do to be considered for a merit scholarship?

  • Every applicant is automatically considered for a merit scholarship. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will be notified at the same time as your admission notification. If you did not receive a merit scholarship, there are other ways of financing your MBA studies.

Does Yale SOM accept three-year undergraduate degrees?

  • Yes, a three-year degree from an accredited institution is accepted.

Is the TOEFL, PTE Academic, or IELTS required for all international applicants?

  • No, they do not require these tests for international students.

If my transcript is not in English, do I need to submit an English translation of it?

  • Yes, you should translate non-English transcripts. If your institution does not provide an English translation, you should provide a notarized English translation. This should be submitted along with a copy of the transcript in its original language.

What resources at Yale exist for international students?

  • They have the Yale's Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) which provides language support, local community connections, and daily events for international students and their families.

Final Note

Leland provides you with the content, community, and coaching that you need to get into your dream MBA program and accomplish other ambitious goals. Sign up today to gain access to additional free resources, community events, small group classes, world-class coaching, and more.

Browse hundreds of expert coaches

Leland coaches have helped thousands of people achieve their goals. A dedicated mentor can make all the difference.

Browse Related Articles

Sign in
Inbox
Free events