New Student FAQs
New Student FAQs
Forms/Deadlines
- Please visit our website: New Students Dates & Deadlines | Yale College
Visiting Campus
• Please visit the Visiting Yale website to find the most up to date information about visiting our campus.
• Tweed New Haven Airport is only a 10 minute drive from campus so a taxi or a ride-sharing company is the best way to get to the airport.
Dining
All first-year students living on campus will be signed up automatically for the Full Meal Plan.
See Explore Meal Plans | Yale Hospitality for more information about the Full Meal Plan.
Campus Life
• Go to the Student Parking web page for more information.
• Bank of America has ATMs at various locations on campus including the library.
• You will find your student identification number (SID) on the Yale Hub website, located in the Yale Hub directory menu under "Personal Data." Your SID is a 9-digit number beginning with 90xxxxxxx or 91xxxxxxx.
- Includes the following: name; dates of attendance; school or residential college affiliation; local and other addresses; local land line telephone number; e-mail address; date and place of birth; major field of study; enrollment status; participation in University-sponsored extracurricular activities and sports; height and weight (athletes only); degrees, honors, and awards; previous educational institution(s); name and address of parents or guardian; pictures or video of you; and University Person Identifier (UPI).
- Please consider very carefully the consequences of any decision to withhold Directory Information. If you choose to withhold Directory Information, you will not appear in the University’s online directory or any directory or face book produced by your school or residential college for use within the school or college. You will have an email account, but the normal alias format of firstname.lastname@yale.edu will not work. In addition, without your specific written approval, University officials will not be able to confirm your enrollment or graduation, unless the disclosure would otherwise be permitted by FERPA. Your decision to withhold Directory Information applies to the Commencement Program as well. If you request nondisclosure in the year during which you receive a degree and if you want your name to appear in the program, you must inform your Registrar in writing. For more information, please email registrar@yale.edu.
- While students can change their preferred first names on the Yale Hub website for display on the Yale Directory, last names can only be changed if there is proof of a legal name change available.
- To withhold your information from the Yale Directory, visit this website: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act: Guidance for Members of the Faculty and Staff | University Registrar's Office (yale.edu). Your email address format will remain the same (first, last name), but not visible on the directory.
Laundry
- The laundry rooms are in the basement of Farnam, Entryway B and Bingham Hall, Entryway D. For more information, visit the Associated Student Agencies website.
- The CSCPAY mobile app allows students to load funds onto an account and then pay for their laundry via the app. Once their account is established, they can load their laundry, select a cycle, and start the machine by entering the number or scanning the machine’s QR code. The app also allows the student to monitor the machine status and request service or a refund. They receive a text when their cycle is complete. They can also use a debit/credit card for payment of laundry cycles. For more info, go to Laundry | Associated Student Agencies (yale.edu)
If you want to preorder a bulk laundry bag, you may sign up online at Laundry | Associated Student Agencies (yale.edu). You will be able to pick-up your laundry bags on August 20th in front of Farnam Hall, on Old Campus.
Students can also sign-up in person on August 20th in front of Farnam Hall, on the Old Campus. After that, students will have to sign-up online and their bag will then be delivered to the laundry room that they have chosen.
Bathrooms
- Durfee, Farnam, Lawrence and Welch Halls have in suite bathrooms. Vanderbilt Hall in suite bathrooms are only in the basement and 5th floor. In suite bathrooms are cleaned by the students assigned to those rooms. Cleaning supplies are provided.
- Bingham and Lanman Wright Halls have hallway bathrooms which are cleaned daily by custodial staff. Vanderbilt Hall has hallway bathrooms on the 1-4 floor.
- Yale provides 1 ply tissue.
- If the bathroom is within the suite, the custodians do not enter, so the students are given supplies to clean their bathroom.
- Students who live in suites with bathrooms inside the suites are responsible for cleaning their bathrooms. Yale will supply cleaning supplies and toilet paper. However, if they like plush paper, they should bring their own. Students who live in buildings with hallway bathrooms are not responsible for cleaning the bathroom. They must use a shower caddy to carry their toiletries in and out of the bathroom as no items are allowed to be left in the bathrooms.
Housing
- Bingham Hall is the only residence with an elevator.
- Students may contact Georgetta Sheppard, Facilities Superintendent for Old Campus, or call the 24-hour service number: 203-432-6888, if they have room concerns once they arrive to campus.
- The University provides each student with a desk, a chair, a bureau, a bed (extra long, 80” x 36”), and a closet or wardrobe. The beds have mattresses, but no pillows. Common room furniture is provided (couch and chair). Beds are equipped with mattresses; students should supply their own pillows. Mattress may not be removed from the room. Mattress toppers are encouraged because if you choose to purchase a mattress you will need to store it in your room. Since most first-year students live in suites in which they share a common room with several roommates, students should consult with their roommates over the summer about bringing other room items, i.e., rugs, TV, microwave, refrigerator, etc.
- No University-issued furnishings may be removed from student rooms, including, but not limited to, mattresses. A mattress can only be stored in the room to which it was assigned. If any furnishings are missing from rooms at the end of the year, students will be billed for replacement costs.
- Students who damage furniture or furnishings will be charged for repairs. If it is unclear who damaged the items, all the occupants of the suite will be billed for a share of the repair or replacement. (See the Undergraduate Regulations, section H, maintenance of dormitory rooms and campus areas.
- Bingham, Durfee, Lanman Wright, and Vanderbilt Hall rooms have overhead lighting. Farnam, Lawrence, and Welch rooms have no overhead lighting so students should plan to bring a lamp for the bedroom and the common room. Halogen lamps are fire hazards and are not permitted.
- There are curtains in the bedrooms but not the common rooms.
- Yes, if there is enough room for two beds in the room.
- Students living on campus are unable to bring their own mattresses due to housing regulations. However, Yale has partnered with Bulldog Beds, offering a hassle-free and sustainable solution for upgrading the college-supplied mattress.
- Yes, mattresses provided by Yale University are already covered in plastic. Additionally, for students seeking alternative options besides purchasing, Bulldog Beds offers memory foam mattress rentals with delivery, installation, and pick-up services included, providing a convenient and comfortable solution for dorm furnishing needs.
- 12-36. If the bed is raised, students can fit their dresser under the bed.
- Some rooms have closets, and some have wardrobes. Every student is assigned a closet or a wardrobe.
- Bedroom size varies building to building.
- The University does not provide floor plans.
- No. University-issued furnishings cannot be removed from student rooms. If any furnishings are missing from rooms at the end of the year, students will be billed for replacement costs. Students who damage furniture or furnishings will be charged for repairs. If it is unclear who damaged items, all the occupants of the suite will be billed for a share of the repair or replacement.
- No. Students cannot place an air conditioner in the window. If a student has a medical issue that requires an air conditioner, they must contact the Student Accessibility Services at 203-432-2324 or email sas@yale.edu.
- Please reach out to your residential college operations manager or dean’s assistant directly for more information about room specifics.
- Yes.
Yes. Most floors are wood and students bring area rugs for their bedrooms and common room
- Yes.
Yale’s preferred vendor for linen purchases is Dormify. They offer a full selection of linens for purchase, including sheets designed to fit the extra-long Yale mattresses, coordinating comforters, mattress pads, pillows, and towels.
When you check out at the Dormify web site, select the name of your residential college from the drop down list and add your room number. If you are living on the Old Campus, add your building name with your room number i.e. Morse, Durfee A21).
Linen shipments will be available for pickup on move-in day from trucks parked outside of the High Street gate on the Old Campus. For more information, go to Necessities | Associated Student Agencies (yale.edu).
- Yale is not responsible for loss of, or damage to, any personal belongings anywhere on or off campus, whether in a dormitory room, an off-campus apartment, or a storage area, regardless of the cause of the loss or damage. All students are encouraged to make their own arrangements to obtain insurance against loss or damage. Yale's Office of Enterprise Risk Management provides access for students to a comprehensive insurance policy to protect student personal belongings. Details can be found at https://ogc.yale.edu/erm/ins/protecting-personal-property-yale-university-campus.
- Renting from Bulldog Beds provides students with hassle-free, eco-friendly bedding solutions, eliminating the need for purchasing, transportation, and storage. It's a convenient, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to traditional bedding options.
Microwaves/Refrigerators/Cooking
- Students may have one of the following appliances: microwave (maximum output of 700 watts) OR a refrigerator (maximum capacity 3.1 cubic feet) OR a combined microwave-refrigerator (maximum output 700 watts). For more information about housing regulations go to the Housing section of the Undergraduate Regulations.
- Each student is allowed their own microwave/fridge combination.
- No. There are rules about appliances though (see Undergraduate Regulation, Housing, Section F. Fire Safety)
- Students can rent microwaves/refrigerators through the Associated Student Refrigerator Agency. During the summer students will receive an informational leaflet and ordering instructions. All preordered microwave/refrigerators will be delivered to the student’s room prior to move-in day. When ordering, please enter your room location, not your residential college. If you bring a refrigerator from home or buy one elsewhere, you will not be permitted to store it in the residential colleges during the summer.
- If you rent a microwave/refrigerator, it will be delivered to your room and ready to use when you move in.
For reasons of fire safety or because of limits of power capacity, only the following cooking appliances are permitted in dormitory rooms:
- Small electric tea kettles
- Keurig-type beverage makers
- One of the following appliances: microwave (maximum output of 700 watts) OR a refrigerator (maximum capacity 3.1 cubic feet) OR a combined microwave-refrigerator (maximum output 700 watts)
- All appliances shall be directly plugged into a receptacle. No power strips or extension cords will be permitted
Prohibited items. The following items are not permitted in dormitory rooms:
- Hot plates
- Air conditioners, including portable units such as "Move in Cool"
- Freezers
- Toasters
- Toaster ovens
- Broilers
- Griddles
- Rice cookers
- Coffeepots
- Appliances that are in poor condition or that are deemed hazardous by Yale officials
- Halogen lamps
- Space heaters, except when issued in emergencies by Physical Plant. Only liquid-filled space heaters issued by Physical Plant are allowed. Space heaters must be returned to Physical Plant immediately after the emergency is mitigated.
- Any electrical appliance with defective wiring or of an improper current rating
- Kerosene lamps, camping cooking equipment, or other open-flame devices
- Fabric or fishnet textiles hung from the ceiling or more than 20% of the walls in a room
- Cork boards more than four square feet in size
- Flammable fluids and gases such as kerosene, gasoline, and propane
- Candles and incense
- Live holiday trees and decorations
- Residential-grade extension cords and power strips; only UL-approved commercial-grade extension cords and power strips are permitted.
Move-In
Students are required to arrive on Sunday, August 18th. Please plan to arrive at campus between the hours of 9am and 2pm. Move-in times are by reservation only; you will receive instructions later this summer for making yours.
- Information about move-in logistics will be sent to you in early August.
- Information about move-in logistics will be sent to you in early August.
- What to Pack Flyer (PDF)
- If you need tech help, you can reach a Student Tech or the IT Help Desk. You can also attend First-Year Tech Help office hours throughout August; dates and times will be posted on the Tech Setup Guide
Orientation
Please find information about the orientation schedule on Camp Yale Calendar of Opening Days webpage.
Please find information about the orientation schedule on Camp Yale Calendar of Opening Days webpage.
On Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 12pm EDT, you will receive the welcome letter from your residential college. Included in the letter will be your Camp Yale assignment.
Mail and Packages
- Please see the Student Mailing and Shipping page for information and instructions.
Go to the Student Mail and Shipping page for more information (this info will be updated in July). A mobile unit at Yale Station for student PO box registration will be available mid-August through mid-September and may extend further as needed.
- Your Name (Your Residential College)
Barnes & Noble Student Package Center
77 Broadway, Lower Level
New Haven, CT 06511
For additional information, please visit the Student and Mailing Shipping page linked below.
- The United States Post Office is in the basement of Lanman Wright Hall (used by all students).
Family Information
The deadline to complete the Family Information Form is July 8, 2024.
Please follow the below instructions to access the card:
- Log on to Yale Connect
- Navigate to the Class of 2028 page
- Click on Surveys & Forms (in the menu at the top of the page)
- Click on Family Information Form
- Click on Surveys & Forms (in the menu at the top of the page)
- Students may visit the Yale Hub website to update this information.
Yale College Family Weekend will be held September 27 - September 29, 2024.
Please visit the Family Weekend website to view last year’s information and events: Welcome | Yale College Family Weekend.
- You can grant permission for others to view grades and holds in Proxy Management. Proxy Management will also include settings for you to give others access to YalePay, the student account payment system. You may manage your Proxy information on the Yale Hub website, listed in the Yale Hub directory menu as "Proxy Management." After you have completed the necessary steps, your Proxy must also complete their account setup. For help with system access, setup and features, email proxy.access@yale.edu.
Academics
- First-year registration will take place sometime in August. You will receive email notifications containing registration information as we get closer to that date.
Students can remain in their residences during the October and November recess, or they can depart and return when their classes begin. October recess begins at 5pm on October 17, 2023, and classes resume at 8:20am on October 23, 2023. November recess begins at 5pm on November 17, 2023, and classes resume at 8:20am on November 27, 2023.
Residences close and all students must depart campus for the December recess on December 21, 2023 at 12pm. Residences reopen on January 10, 2024, at 9am.
- Usually there are a few dining halls that offer brunch and dinner during recess.
Healthcare
Two important first steps for this summer are:
- Submit of your physical exam to yhmedicalrecords@yale.edu. You can submit your physical exam anytime. If you have a medical issue that has been followed closely by your physician or specialist, please contact us at studentmed@yale.edu, so that we can begin preparing for your care here at Yale.
- Submit your immunizations records to the Yale Vaccine Portal. The Vaccine Portal will be open to incoming students in June.
Understanding and determining your health care coverage.
- All full-time students receive Yale Health Basic coverage services free of charge. This consists of visits to Student Health, Athletic Medicine (varsity athletes), Mental Health & Counseling, Acute Care, Gynecology, Inpatient Care (4th floor infirmary), Blood Draw, and Nutrition.
- Students are automatically enrolled in and charged a fee for Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care coverage. If you have other insurance that covers care in Connecticut, you can choose to waive this coverage. Please review Health Coverage Overview for Students at Yale for more details. Our Member Services team is available to answer any questions you have about coverage (203-432-0246 or member.services@yale.edu).
- If you are experiencing activation code issues as you register for your MyChart account or have been locked out of your account, please reach out to the MyChart team via phone at: 203-688-5101.
- Please be prepared to provide and confirm demographic information to the MyChart support team as they will assist you with activating your chart.
- MyChart support will need the following: Full name, Date of Birth, Email Address, Home Address, Telephone Number
- Please note: MyChart is not functional from many international locations. For a full list of these locations please see the Yale Health website: https://yalehealth.yale.edu/countries-where-mychart-not-accessible.
- If you are currently located in one of the locations where MyChart is not accessible and cannot reach MyChart support by phone, then please download Yale's designated VPN: Cisco AnyConnect. Once you connect through the VPN, you should be able to login directly to MyChart without issue
Residential Colleges
Please visit Residential Colleges | Yale College for more information.
In late June.