Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut is best defined by the word "and". Yale is both a research university and a liberal arts college. Its students and scholars are driven by the constant pursuit of innovation and more than 300 years of tradition. Students of all backgrounds, beliefs, identities, and interests join a global intellectual community that values a multifaceted approach to undergraduate education.

Yale undergraduates enroll in a single liberal arts college with 80 majors to choose from. All students begin their studies without a declared major, giving them access to all the same courses without the restrictions of a core curriculum. Students choose every course themselves, with the benefit of multiple academic advisors.

95% of undergraduate science and engineering majors conduct research with faculty. Yale has more than 1,200 labs that award more than $1 million in annual research fellowships for first-year students alone.  The Yale Office of Career Strategy works with students starting in their first year to provide pre-professional advising, assistance with graduate school applications, and workshops and networking opportunities throughout the year.

The unique Residential College housing system is at the heart of the Yale College experience. Each undergraduate is randomly assigned to one of fourteen Residential Colleges: close-knit communities that serve as a microcosm of Yale’s diverse student population for all four years. College advisors form an integrated support system and host guest speakers, fellowships, and cultural events.

Yale students mount over 250 theatrical and musical performances annually, write for dozens of undergraduate publications; launch business ventures through the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking; celebrate their identities through numerous religious and cultural groups; and compete on nearly 100 varsity, club, and intramural athletic teams.

Fun Fact: In 1964, Yale became the first American research university to adopt a need-blind admissions policy, with the promise of meeting the full financial need of all admitted students.