Yale University Overview

Overview

This lecture offers an honest reflection on the value of attending Yale University, covering costs, academics, student life, and overall benefits.

Yale’s 2023-2024 annual tuition is approximately $83,880, making it very expensive without aid.
Most students pay far less because Yale’s large endowment funds generous financial aid and scholarships.
The average cost paid by a student per year is about $15,000, much lower than the sticker price.
The speaker graduated debt-free thanks to scholarships and aid, and notes Yale gave more support than other schools.

Yale has a 97% graduation rate and a 5% acceptance rate.
Difficulty of classes varies by subject; intro courses may be manageable, while advanced or unfamiliar subjects can be challenging.
The academic content can often be found elsewhere, but Yale stands out for its renowned professors.
Professors include pioneers in their fields, such as Nobel Prize winners and biotech founders.
Valuable learning often comes from direct interactions with esteemed faculty.

Yale has over 500 undergraduate clubs, making it easy to get involved but also potentially overwhelming.
It’s easy to start new clubs or even launch startups with university support and funding.
Social groups range from acapella and dance to Greek life, which is less prominent than at some other schools.

Yale students are highly intelligent but generally humble and supportive.
Strong emphasis on diversity, with many first-generation, international, and underrepresented students.
Inclusive environment where students are accepted regardless of background or interests.

The most rewarding aspect was meeting diverse, genuine people with varied backgrounds.
Biggest regret was not creating more content to share insights during the Yale experience.

For the speaker, Yale was a 9/10 experience, offering education, connections, and career opportunities.
The value comes not just from academics, but also from the network, prestige, and unique opportunities.

Endowment — a pool of donated funds that universities invest to support scholarships, programs, and operations.
Financial Aid — monetary assistance provided to students to help pay for tuition and living costs.
First-generation student — a student who is the first in their family to attend college.

If interested, comment below with questions about Yale or Ivy League experiences.