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
- 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 in SIS 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.
• Go to the University Registrar's Office to find your student identification number (SID). Your SID is a 9-digit number beginning with 90xxxxxxx or 91xxxxxxx.
• Go to the Student Parking web page for more information.
• Bank of America has ATMs at various locations on campus including the library.
Laundry
- 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). All pre-ordered laundry bags will be delivered to the rooms prior to move-in.
Students can also sign-up in person on August 21 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.
- 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.
Bathrooms
- If the bathroom is within the suite, the custodians do not enter, so the students are given supplies to clean their bathroom.
- Yale provides 1 ply tissue.
- 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.
- 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
- The mattresses are covered in plastic. We encourage students to bring a mattress topper.
- There are curtains in the bedrooms but not the common rooms.
- 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.
- No. Students cannot bring their own mattress. Students can bring mattress toppers for their beds. Mattresses may not be removed from the room.
- 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.
- The University does not provide floor plans.
- Yes, if there is enough room for two beds in the room.
- 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.
- Bingham Hall is the only residence with an elevator.
- Yes.
- Bedroom size varies building to building.
- Students can use Yale’s preferred vendor, Residential Hall Linens at Necessities | Associated Student Agencies (yale.edu). When ordering, list your housing assignment, building and room number. 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. Information about home or campus delivery will be sent to students during the summer.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
Microwaves/Refrigerators/Cooking
- No. There are rules about appliances though (see Undergraduate Regulation, Housing, Section F. Fire Safety)
- Each student is allowed their own microwave/fridge combination.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- If you rent a microwave/refrigerator, it will be delivered to your room and ready to use when you move in.
Move-In
- Students are required to arrive on Sunday, August 20th. Please plan to arrive at campus between the hours of 9am and 4pm. 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.
- 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
There will be events for families of new students on August 20th and the morning of August 21st. More information is forthcoming and will be posted on the Yale College Opening Days Calendar.
- You should expect to hear from your program regarding your registration status and detailed logistics soon.
The full orientation schedule will be released mid-summer. For now, you can find the most important dates on the New Students Dates & Deadlines page.
Mail and Packages
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.
- The United States Post Office is in the basement of Lanman Wright Hall (used by all students).
- Your Name
Yale University
Your Residential College
250 Church Street, Lower Level
New Haven, CT 06510-1714
- Information will be sent to students in August about how to receive packages.
Family Information
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 eBill/ePay, the student account payment system. Take a moment to log into SIS and begin entering your proxy information. After you are finished, your proxy must also take steps to complete their account setup. More information and instructions for students and proxies can be found at Proxy Access | Student Financial and Administrative Services (yale.edu). For help with system access, setup and features, email proxy.access@yale.edu.
The deadline to complete the family information card is July 6, 2022. · Here is a direct link to the Family Information Form: https://cglink.me/2dA/s62218
The form may also be accessed this way:
- Log on to Yale Connect
- Navigate to the Class of 2026 page
- Click on Surveys & Forms (in the menu at the top of the page)
- Click on Family Information Card
Class of 2027 dates are to be announced.
Please visit the website to view last year’s information: Welcome | Yale College Family Weekend 2022.
- Students may visit the SIS (Student Information System) portal and update parent/guardian information. Student Information Systems (SIS) | University Registrar's Office (yale.edu)
Academics
- Usually there are a few dining halls that offer brunch and dinner during recess.
- 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 eBill/ePay, the student account payment system. Take a moment to log into SIS and begin entering your proxy information. After you are finished, your proxy must also take steps to complete their account setup. More information and instructions for students and proxies can be found at sfas.yale.edu/proxy. For help with system access, setup and features, email proxy.access@yale.edu.
- Students can remain in their residences during the November recess, or they can depart and return when their classes begin. Students must leave their residences for the December recess and the dining halls close.
- There is at least one college open from the last day of classes in November through the day before Thanksgiving November 23rd. We close Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) through Saturday and re-open on Sunday November 26th.
- First-year registration will take place sometime in August. You will receive email notifications containing registration information as we get closer to that date.
Healthcare
Two important first steps for this summer are:
- Submission of your physical exam to yhmedicalrecords@yale.edu and immunizations records to the Yale Vaccine Portal.
- 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. The Vaccine Portal will be open to incoming students on June 20th.
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
- The first-year students will receive their residential college, room, and roommate information online on Wednesday, June 22nd beginning at 12 noon.
Go to Residential Colleges | Yale College for more information.