July 19, 2024
Dear Members of Class of 2028,
Today, we write to share some thoughts on selecting courses for the fall term and explain the steps and timeline for doing so.
If you have not done so already, start with the steps outlined in our last message on July 5:
- Be sure to complete the High School Math and Science Survey by Wednesday, July 31 (12:00 p.m., noon, EDT).
- Be sure to complete any relevant online placements exams if you plan to take biology, chemistry, math, music, or a language course, by Wednesday, July 31 (12:00 p.m, noon, EDT).
- Complete the Writing Survey by August 15. This ten-minute survey, about your habits and experiences as a writer, will help you determine what kind of writing (WR) course will best help you to develop better writing skills.
- Review the advising videos and any subject videos of interest.
- If applicable, attend the health professions webinar on Tuesday, July 23, 1:00-2:00pm (EDT) or the engineering and applied science webinar on Thursday, July 25, 2:00-3:00pm (EDT). Review webinars and recordings of these sessions available subsequently.
- Make a Zoom advising appointment with one of our summer peer advisers.
COURSE REGISTRATION
Incoming students register for fall-term courses in two stages:
- August 6-12: Preference Selection allows students to request preferences for meeting days and times for sections of introductory courses in Chemistry, English, Math, and some languages (French and Japanese). Students who miss Preference Selection may still enroll in these courses during first-year registration on August 21 (see below), but fewer day/time options will be available.
- August 21: first-year registration for all other fall-term courses. A few days after move-in, and after opportunities to hear from your residential college dean and meet with your FroCo, you’ll be able to register for fall-term courses on the afternoon of August 21.
COURSE SELECTION ADVICE
Below are some general tips for constructing a fall-term course schedule, along with some specialized advice, depending on your interests. Additional advice is available on this website and is summarized in this brief video.
- Students are required to earn at least 8 credits after the first year to be promoted to sophomore standing, and most first-year students enroll in 4 or 4.5 course credits in the fall term.
- Consider enrolling in a First-Year Seminar. This optional program offers first-year students small-sized, discussion-based courses taught by some of Yale’s most distinguished faculty members in a wide range of subjects. Roughly two-thirds of first-year students enroll in a First-Year Seminar in the fall or spring.
- Consider enrolling in a writing (WR) course. Developing college-level writing skills will be useful throughout your time at Yale, and it’s wise to begin early. Many writing courses are offered through the English department, but there are WR courses in many other subject areas, too.
- Follow any placement advice you receive. Many subjects at Yale offer multiple entry-points, based upon a student’s previous experience. The goal of placement advice is to allow you to start at the appropriate level and proceed from there. If needed, you’ll be able to adjust your level up or down in the opening weeks of the semester.
- If you are planning to apply to medical school, or major in the biological sciences, you are encouraged to take chemistry, with the associated lab, and math in your first year, as well as courses in the BIOL 101-104 sequence if possible, but it is not a problem to postpone biology until sophomore year.
- If you are planning to purse a major in engineering or applied sciences, including computer science, be sure to watch this video for course selection advice, and either attend or watch the recording of the July 25 webinar mentioned above. Because these majors have sequential prerequisites, it’s important to start at the right place.
- RELAX. The fall term is just your first at Yale. It’s a time for exploring and for discovering what you like and don’t like. Don’t fixate on finding a major or trying to determine the “perfect schedule,” and don’t fret if you don’t get your top choices or make a choice that doesn’t pan out. That’s part of the process of learning and self-discovery, and you’ll have time to adjust.
- We hope you are looking forward to the intellectual feast that awaits, and we look forward to your arrival.
Sincerely,
The Office of Undergraduate Education
COMING DATES AND DEADLINES
July 31
Summer online placement exams deadline, 12:00 p.m.
July 31
Deadline to complete the High School Math and Science Survey, 12:00 p.m.
July 31
Fall 2024 semester tuition and fees due
August 1
Deadline to upload all health-related documents (applies only to incoming students not participating in Early Start or Yale Summer Session)
August 1
Deadline to complete the Office of the Chaplain religious information form
August 6
Preference Selection for fall-term courses opens
August 7
Deadline to complete Work Hard, Play Smart course on Canvas
August 12
Preference Selection for fall-term courses closes
August 15
Writing survey closes
August 17
Peer advising sessions, required of all first-year students, close