Obviously, Yale University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. So it’s not surprising if, as a high school student, you find yourself wondering about the Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) program.
But you also wanna know if this two-week summer program is worth $6,500.
Because that seems like a lot (because it is a lot, since $3,250/week is more than most human beings make). So, very reasonably, you have questions, like
What can you actually learn in this two-week program?
What kind of students is YYGS looking for?
Does Yale Young Global Scholars look good on college applications?
Can attending a Yale summer program help you get into Yale?
This guide will answer those questions and more! We’ll start with a brief description of the program, then dive into eligibility and application requirements.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(click to skip ahead)What is the Yale Young Global Scholars program?
The Yale Young Global Scholars program (formerly the Ivy Scholars program) is a two-week academic summer program for high school students. The program takes place on Yale University’s campus, giving students a chance to experience a bit of college life at one of the world’s most renowned universities.
The program aims to “facilitate global conversations with young leaders from around the world” and offers students the choice to focus on one of four academic tracks:
Innovations in Science & Technology (IST)
Literature, Philosophy, & Culture (LPC)
Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE)
Solving Global Challenges (SGC)
During the day, students attend lectures, seminars, symposiums, talks, and other events planned by YGGS. Class sizes are small, with a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Why?
One of the program’s goals is to facilitate small-scale conversations among students to encourage critical thinking, analytic, and teamwork skills.
In the evening, students have time to work on class assignments, attend discussions, socialize, eat dinner, and participate in group activities.
The program also attracts a diverse range of students. Every year, over 2,000 students from 150+ countries and all 50 US states participate in YYGS.
(For a massive guide to 400+ extracurricular activities and how colleges view them, head here.)
The YYGS programs—details and key facts
Now, let’s dive deeper into the Yale Young Global Scholars program’s curriculum, academic tracks, and other key facts.
We’d recommend using this information to help you evaluate whether the program is worth the high tuition cost.
Program curriculum
YYGS is all about open, exploratory, and collaborative learning. And the curriculum is designed to keep things exciting and dynamic.
Here's a quick look at the different ways YYGS would challenge you academically:
Breakout Discussions. Dive deeper into lecture content with a small group. Share knowledge, ask questions, and brainstorm real-world implications.
Capstone Project. Work on a collaborative project with guidance from YYGS staff.
Family Time. Build strong bonds with peers through identity reflection, courageous conversations, active listening, and fun social activities.
Lectures. Hear from Yale faculty and leading experts about their fields' most important and relevant topics.
Seminars. Explore over 1000 exciting seminars.
Symposium. Engage in hands-on activities related to your academic track.
No grades. No course credits. Just pure learning and creativity (so hopefully that’s what you’re looking for).
And at the end, you get an electronic certificate of completion.
Academic tracks
YYGS offers four distinct academic tracks. On the YYGS application, you can select all four and then rank your preferences.
You might not receive a spot in your top choice for academic track. But you can improve your chances with a thoughtful response to the following prompt on the application:
Please explain why you chose the session(s) above, including your reasoning for how you ranked each session. (100 words or less)
Assuming the track you chose connects in some way to a potential major or career path you’re considering, you can treat your response to this prompt similarly to a short combo “Why Major” + “Why Us” essay, showing how you’ve developed your specific interests, and how the program could help you continue to level up. (See those links for full guides to those kinds of essay prompts—you’ll likely need to write them for your college applications.)
Here’s what you need to know about each academic track.
Innovations in Science & Technology (IST)
IST is for students interested in various STEM fields and applying scientific principles to real-world situations. Participants explore a wide range of scientific disciplines, including physics, molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, astronomy, engineering, neuroscience, immunology, psychology, and earth science.
The program aims to build critical thinking and analytical skills. Students engage in examining the world through the lens of a scientist.
You might enjoy the IST track if you’re intrigued by the following kinds of questions:
How do we find new planets, and could they sustain human life?
Why are certain drugs more effective than others?
Can nature-inspired designs improve products and buildings?
Can organisms be engineered for specific purposes?
How can we mitigate human pollution in the atmosphere, oceans, and soil?
Literature, Philosophy, & Culture (LPC)
LPC is for students interested in interpreting creativity and culturally significant texts. Participants study a wide range of creative arts, including fiction, philosophy, poetry, theater, film, music, visual arts, and dance.
The program also explores how the arts and humanities can inspire solutions to social problems. This approach helps students understand their places in the world and develop skills in articulating their thoughts in speaking and writing.
You might enjoy the LPC track if you’re intrigued by the following kinds of questions:
What makes an argument compelling?
How can dance function as a political statement?
How do economics impact art production?
What expressive potential does music have when words fail?
Where does meaning come from in avant-garde film?
Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE)
PLE is for students interested in economic theories, government practices, and legal frameworks from historical and comparative perspectives. Participants learn about public policy, human rights, market regulation, governance structures, international policy, and global cooperation and conflict.
The program focuses on building critical thinking and analytical skills. Students become more informed and engaged global citizens by examining social systems and current issues through economic, legal, and political theories.
You might enjoy the PLE track if you’re intrigued by the following kinds of questions:
What legal frameworks govern surveillance and foreign intelligence gathering?
How does international law govern asylum processes amidst climate change and global conflicts?
What resistance movements bring about lasting political change, and how do social media innovations shape these movements?
How can policymakers tackle cross-border criminal economic activities?
Should governments regulate markets, and how do they balance economic growth with workers’ protections?
Solving Global Challenges (SGC)
SGC incorporates various academic disciplines, including STEM, social sciences, humanities, and the arts. Participants practice critical analysis, problem-solving, and creativity while exploring sustainable solutions to contemporary social, economic, and environmental problems.
In particular, students work on developing solutions to problems highlighted in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as global health, gender equality, poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, and green technologies.
You might enjoy the PLE track if you’re intrigued by the following kinds of questions:
How can we design sustainable cities?
Should we edit human genomes, and what societal impacts could this have?
What are the most effective poverty alleviation strategies?
Should artificial intelligence be used to solve human problems, and what differentiates it from human intelligence?
How do we balance environmental protections with economic development?
Tuition and financial aid
How much does it cost to attend one 2-week session at YYGS? $6,500.
The tuition covers all on-campus expenses, including residence in the Yale dorms, meals in the dining hall, and class materials. However, YYGS does not cover travel to and from the program.
What about financial aid? YYGS offers need-based financial aid, covering up to 100% of tuition for domestic and international students.
On the application, you’ll have the option to complete an additional financial aid application. The program website states that while it can’t guarantee meeting all requests for financial aid, it did meet 99% of student requests for financial aid in 2022 (which is encouraging).
Yale Young Global Scholars eligibility and application components
What all goes into an application for the Yale Young Global Scholars program? Let’s start with making sure you’re eligible to apply.
YYGS eligibility requirements
To apply for YYGS, you must:
Be between the ages of 16 and 18 by the start of the first program session.
Have English fluency to participate in a rigorous academic curriculum.
Be a current high school sophomore or junior (or international equivalent).
Be a first-time participant in YYGS.
YYGS application components
Your YYGS application includes the following components:
An extracurricular activities list (similar to the Common App activities list)
One 400-word essay response
One 200-word essay response
Two “fast take” responses (280 characters each)
Official high school transcript
Contact info for one teacher who can write a recommendation letter (they must submit the recommendation using the YYGS Recommendation Form ONLY)
Application fee ($70 for Early Action and $85 for Regular Decision)
OPTIONAL: English fluency test scores (TOEFL or DuoLingo)
You can view a sample YYGS application here.
Early Action vs. Regular Decision application deadline
The YYGS program reads and reviews applications on a rolling basis, meaning applications get evaluated in the order received. However, there are two application deadlines.
Early Action
The Early Action deadline is typically Nov 1.
If you apply by this deadline, you’ll get an admissions decision by mid to late December. You will either receive an admission offer or be deferred for further review in the Regular Decision pool.
If deferred, you will be notified by March of the final decision—admit, waitlist, or deny.
Regular Decision
The Regular Decision deadline is typically early January.
If you apply by this deadline, you’ll get an admissions decision—admit, waitlist, or deny—by March.
Writing the YYGS Essays
The YYGS application essays are your chance to showcase your personality, experiences, and motivations. They also provide an excellent opportunity for you to learn the style of writing required for good college application essays.
Here’s one of the essay prompts currently on the sample application:
Please reflect on a typical day in your life currently, and then consider what you imagine would be your ideal/perfect day. If you could have the perfect day tomorrow, how would you spend your time? Why? Imagine you are discussing this with a person who is unfamiliar with your background (i.e., your country, customs, and culture). (200-400 words)
How should you approach responding to a prompt like that? Here are a few tips:
Be Yourself. Write authentically about your experiences and perspectives. Authenticity resonates more than trying to fit a mold.
Show, Don’t Tell. Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points rather than just stating them.
Be Concise. Stick to the word limit and make every word count. Clear, concise writing is more impactful than lengthy, unfocused responses.
Answer the Prompt. Make sure you thoroughly address the essay prompts. Stay focused and relevant on the specific questions.
Edit and Proofread. Review your essays multiple times to catch any grammatical errors or awkward phrasing. Consider asking someone else, like a teacher or parent, to review them, too.
Reflect on Growth. Highlight how your experiences have shaped your goals and character. Admissions officers are interested in your personal development.
Stay Positive. Even if discussing challenges, focus on what you learned and how you overcame them, showing resilience and a forward-looking attitude.
You can find more tips on writing application essays by checking out this blog post from YYGS or our guide on how to write college application essays (the same tips apply to summer program essays).
Yale Young African Scholars
Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) is the sister program to YYGS. It’s specifically for secondary school students in Africa. Assuming you're eligible, you can apply to both YYGS and YYAS.
The YYAS curriculum is just as rigorous as the YYGS curriculum. However, YYAS participants attend the program on a host campus in an African country instead of on the Yale campus.
YYAS also offers an online program option and a residential program option. Both programs are free of charge for admitted students.
Does Yale Young Global Scholars look good on college applications?
Participating in YYGS can demonstrate a commitment to academic enrichment and a willingness to engage with challenging topics. However, it’s important to understand that YYGS participation alone won’t significantly impact your admission chances at Yale or other top colleges.
Admission committees look at a holistic picture of your application, and YYGS is just one part of that.
For a guide to what colleges look for in students, check this out.
While YYGS doesn’t guarantee admission to any college, it can still be beneficial in several ways. It provides a platform for intellectual growth and offers a glimpse into the college experience, which can be valuable for your personal and academic development.
The program is most beneficial when it aligns with your academic interests or the narrative you’re building in your application. If a YYGS academic track connects to one or more of your passions, participating in the program can strengthen your college applications by showcasing your dedication to learning.
If you’re applying just ‘cause you think the name “Yale” will impress admissions readers, you’re thinking about this wrong.
Final Thoughts
The Yale Young Global Scholars program can potentially be an opportunity to deepen your academic interests and connect with other ambitious students from around the world.
Yes, the $6,500 program tuition fee is relatively high for a 2-week high school summer program. However, generous financial aid—potentially covering 100% of tuition costs—is available for both domestic and international students.
Consider the information and tips shared in this guide to evaluate whether YYGS fits your goals and interests.
You may also want to consider options (e.g., internships, research projects, etc.) to make the most of your high school summers. If so, read this guide next: How to Spend Your High School Summer.
Special thanks to Ameer for writing this blog post
Ameer is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about college admissions and career development. Prior to freelancing, Ameer worked for three years as a college admissions consultant at a Hong Kong-based education center, helping local high school students prepare and apply for top colleges and universities in the US. He has a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from UCLA. When he’s not working, Ameer loves traveling, weight lifting, writing, reading, and learning foreign languages. He currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
Top values: Growth / Diversity / Empathy
