Dear Yale College Class of 2026, 

 

We are writing to remind you of academic matters that you should attend to over the summer and resources that are available to you.   

Here are some actions you should take before you come to campus:  

  • Complete the mandatory High School Math and Science Survey. This survey asks you to self-report your course history in four subjects: chemistry, economics, math, and physics. Even if you are not planning to take courses in these subjects, all first-year students must complete the High School Math and Science Survey by 11:59 p.m. on July 29.  
  • Take any relevant Online Placement Exams. Yale offers two dozen optional placement exams, in biology, chemistry, math, and many languages, between July 1-29. You are strongly advised to take a placement exam if you have prior study of a field and plan to enroll in it during your first year at Yale. Additional placement exam information may be found here.  
  • Participate in Preference Selection from August 9 to August 15. During this time, you may rank order your preferences for courses and meeting times for many of the introductory courses commonly taken by first-year students, including biology, chemistry, English, math, language courses, and firstyear seminars. You may enter your preferences and change them any time between August 9-15, and the time of submission is not a factor in the selection process. You will have an opportunity to adjust your schedule when registration opens on August 29 and during the subsequent add/drop period, but it is to your advantage to secure preferred courses and meeting times during Preference Selection.
  • To help you consider how best to strengthen your writing skills while at Yale, please complete a tenminute writingsurvey about your habits and experience as a writer. The writing survey will remain open until August 15.  
  • We also remind you that academic advising is available over the summer:  

  • Peer advisers are available seven days a week, through August 19. If you have questions and cannot find the answers in Yale’s online publications, we encourage you to sign up for a videoconference by going here. Members of the Yale College Dean’s Office are available for referrals as well.  
  • A one-hour webinar for students considering medical school after Yale will be offered on Monday,
  • In our next message, on August 5, we will provide some specific guidance about constructing your fall schedule. In the meantime, we encourage you to read program descriptions in the Yale College Programs of Study YCPS) and browse course listings in Yale Course Search (YCS).

 

Best wishes,   

Office of Undergraduate Education

              


             

This week’s important dates and reminders include:

  • The Calendar of Opening Days is now available! Keep an eye on the Yale Connect page as we post these events along with more details. Yale Connect will also show many other events like auditions, religious services, technology assistance sessions, and open houses around campus. If we need to adjust the schedule, we will let you know as soon as possible and post the changes in Yale Connect. We look forward to welcoming you all to campus very soon!  
  • Move-in for first year students is Sunday, August 21st. Please register for a move-in appointment using the housing portal. If you need to make changes to your appointment time, you can do that through the portal.
  • o    Transfer students: make your move-in appointment only after receiving your housing assignment in July

  • July 29th - Summer online placement exams deadline. Placement exams and information can be found here.
  • July 29th - Deadline to complete the High School Math and Science Survey.  
  • July 31st - Fall term payments due - Yale Pay.
  • August 1st - Religious information forms are due
  • August 8th - Required online course due: Work Hard, Play Smart: Making Mindful Choices about Alcohol and Other Drugs (hosted in Canvas)
  •  

    Please go to New Student Forms & Tasks for first steps and important resources.

     

    For answers to commonly asked questions, please go to First-Year Affairs FAQ (frequently asked questions).

                 

                               

    Please go to New Student Dates and Deadlines for a full list of deadlines.

     

    July 25, at 12 pm (EDT), led by Sandy Chang, M.D., Ph.D., Dean of Undergraduate Science Education, and Kristin McJunkins, Director of Health Professions Advising and STEM Connect. They will discuss important considerations for course selection in your first year. You may join the meeting through this Zoom link. A recording of the meeting will be posted afterwards on the Office of Science and Quantitative Reasoning and the Health Professions Advising Office websites.