Application Update 2026-2027

Yale recently expanded its financial aid program to cover tuition costs for families with annual incomes below $200,000. Director of Undergraduate Financial Aid Kari DiFonzo joins Hannah and Mark to discuss the news, to share how families can get personalized estimates of their college costs, and to explain the simple steps involved in applying for financial aid. Kari shares her advice for families as they go from planning for college, to applying, to enrolling.

The admissions process can seem like a mysterious black box. Your application goes in one side and, a few weeks later, a decision comes out the other. At Yale, real people make decisions at every stage of review, and every student is admitted by a committee. Hannah and Mark walk through each step in an application’s journey from data download to initial review, area reading, second reading, and committee deliberation. They explain the “who” “what” and “how” of each stage. For a quick overview of Yale’s process visit https://admissions.yale.edu/step-by-step.

Continuing their in-depth review of what Yale admissions officers look for, Hannah and Mark discuss the importance of making a positive impact on others and review how different application components demonstrate students’ support for those around them. The episode explains how officers consider an applicant’s impact on other people and details how Yale’s values and approach to evaluating applications is grounded in a letter written by Yale’s president in 1967. The hosts also shine a light on the shameful history of exclusion that characterized the origins of holistic admissions in early 20th century America.

The first in a new mini-series giving an in-depth look at what Yale admissions officers look for when evaluating applications. The first and most important consideration in every application is academic strength. Hannah and Mark share how admissions officers evaluate an applicant’s baseline academic preparation and how applicants stand out as prospective Yale College students. The admissions officers discuss how each part of the application can help demonstrate that an applicant is a strong, compelling, and well-prepared future college student.

At the start of a new application cycle, Hannah and Mark share the annual updates to Yale’s first-year application. Admissions Officer Dara joins to discuss a change in standardized testing policy, the addition of a new “short take” question, and the elimination of a “Why Yale” question. This episode complements previous annual application update episodes and “Essays: The Little Stuff.”

For their fourth annual Bulldog Days Live episode, Hannah and Mark ask four recently admitted students visiting campus to reflect on the factors and forces that affected their college application journey – including things they chose to do and things that were completely out of their control. Admissions officer Brynne dazzles the audience with her encyclopedic knowledge of what her admitted students shared in their applications. Hannah and Mark share many more insights from admitted students who considered how they were successful in their college application process.

Hannah and Mark discuss the exciting work of the admissions office’s “I-Team” with colleague and director of international admissions, John. The officers review the process of applying to Yale as an international student and share how officers evaluate applications from every corner of the globe with a holistic understanding of students’ diverse contexts. Hannah and John share their favorite experiences from traveling internationally and provide advice for students interested in studying in the United States.

Hannah and Mark respond to the latest questions sent in by podcast listeners. Admissions officer Amelia joins to discuss summer programs, high school course rigor, Yale’s new fly-in program, and planning for the college admissions process early in high school.

Hannah and Mark interview Jimmy Hatch, a recent Yale graduate and 26-year US military veteran who is the host of the new podcast, The Ivy League Insurgent. As a former Navy SEAL, Purple Heart recipient, and nonprofit founder, Jimmy became Yale’s oldest freshman at the age of 52. In their interview, Jimmy reflects on his remarkable story, the importance of connecting with those who are different, and how the humanities have shaped his understanding of what it means to be a “better human.”

A prospective student’s high school transcript is the most important individual component of an application. Hannah and Mark discuss what admissions officers look for when reviewing transcripts and how transcripts demonstrate an applicant’s academic preparedness and academic resourcefulness. They share advice on building a high school course schedule and how to navigate the challenges that inevitably arise when students are unable to enroll in their preferred courses. The hosts share answers to some of the most frequently asked questions and give their advice on how to keep a healthy perspective on often-fraught topics such as mathematics placement and maximizing advanced courses.