Inside the Yale Admissions Office

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Admissions Officers Hannah and Mark share the complex and dynamic work happening inside the Yale Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The podcast gives firsthand accounts of how officers read applications, make decisions within the Admissions Committee, and collaborate with other offices and resource centers. Yale College receives more than 35,000 applications annually for a first-year class of 1,550 students. Hannah and Mark give an inside look into the strategies and processes that enable admissions officers to attract promising applicants from around the world, consider every applicant through a whole-person review process, and build a class filled with strong students from an amazingly diverse collection of backgrounds. Recorded inside the Office of Undergraduate Admissions on Hillhouse Avenue, this new podcast pulls back the curtain to reveal some of Yale’s most fascinating and rewarding work.

Recent Episodes

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Recent Reviews

Rhbber duck

As entertaining as it is helpful

Come for the college admissions tips, stay for Mark and Hannah’s wildly entertaining and hilarious personalities.
LBD634444

Extremely helpful

Great podcast for students and parents, whether applying to Yale or not.
NickName123!?$7

Incredibly helpful with a few flaws

I absolutely adored this insider look, very entertaining and informative. Only had a few complaints: the stuff about ratings feels very secretive, they say they don’t have them but they also do and refuse to get specific about it. Also I wish they would discuss how Yale differs from other universities a little bit more. This is obviously very Yale centric but they may lead some people astray by saying things that only apply to Yale
Rgopalani

Mostly unhelpful

These folks are very articulate and the audio is good but the content is drivel. Getting into schools such as these truly is a crapshoot if you’re not a recruited athlete, moneyed legacy, or target demographic. In fact, the tone of this podcast probably gives people false hope. There are far better (and more practical) admissions podcasts out there.
Schennkin

Yale is so approachable!

It’s really nice to see how the Yale admissions process tries to make their process more transparent and approachable. Applying to college is incredibly stressful partly because so many schools tell you nothing about what they’re looking for or doing behind the scenes. Hannah and Mark make this process feel personal and respectful. Thank you for this!!
Sadie685555

The best advice and information in the entire college process

Yes, this podcast has its flaws, but I’m giving this 5 stars because it is so, so helpful and honest compared to every thing else in the admissions process. Thank you for actually talking about what makes an applicant stand out and what makes an essay stand out, and for combatting the false information people spew online to make money off of teenage anxiety. This podcast is so informative and calming for high schoolers, and I really hope you continue and find ways to reach more people.
Hfhshg

The for real insider lens

We can’t afford expensive admissions counselor so this podcast has been so helpful. I help mentor underserved students so what you share helps so many others. The 1/28/22 episode…LOL, Mark. I smashed that subscribe button and here’s my review!!
colinlord

Must Listen For HS Juniors and Seniors

I wish this podcast had been around when I was applying to colleges. There’s a ton of wonderful insight here even if you aren’t applying to Yale or another Ivy League school.
smokejumper2014

Probably not worth your time

There are some interesting discussions, but it’s highly polished and mostly surface level stuff. Yale is not going to reveal how they actually make the sausage.
RoBloxlady123

Please read!

First off, I love this! My dream college is Yale! This gives me a good perspective of Yale! Thank you so much for making this! I want to go to Yale school of medicine. I’m just wondering if you could talk about it.. Thank you again!
elpcreek326566swdw

background music is…too much

The background music is really out of place and unnecessary. It has a bad quality and cheap feel, with no production value added. It takes listeners’ attention away from the interesting content. So one star off, otherwise a five star podcast.
Amy IvyLeagueGuide

Must Listen for college counselors

I’m so grateful for this podcast Inside Yale Admissions and appreciate Mark and Hannah advocating for it against doubts from the administration! I love how Mark and Hannah interject empathy by understanding the struggles of writing a college essay and fun by referring to movies!
Danannananannana

Not helpful

The admissions officers honestly just sound condescending and this podcast is no help to college admissions.
bananabreadbaker

Kudos to you !!

All around excellent balance of content and tone, hosts (love Hannah’s laugh) producing , And last but certainly not least , Andrew Brick Johnson’s music .
NicknamebecauseIcan'thinkofone

10/10 Obviously Just Applies to Yale

Great podcast for those looking to get an inside view on the Yale admissions process, don’t listen if you think these episodes will apply to all application essays.
Mommy7520

I’d have given one more star but

...it’s my pet peeve when people pronounce the t in often. This podcast had great information but I felt they were very full of themselves and kind of annoying.
Abby2107

Thanks, y’all.

Never thought that a college admissions podcast would be interesting, but here I am...again. Appreciate the info.
MyNameIsInFactJesse

Egos on parade

This podcast is about the grandeur and exaltation of Yale and only Yale. Its lessons and conclusions are applicable only to Yale. The stereotypes of Ivy League ego are on the fullest display. After suffering through three episodes, I want nothing more than to spare you this slog through perky people wallowing in their own self-images of exclusive excellence.
Jdub#

I like it

I enjoy this podcast. The participants come across as really nice and it could help applicants feel less intimidated and more informed.
Love this apppp!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you

THANK YOU to these kind admissions officers for opening up what before was a mysterious world with humor and kindness. (Who ever thought a podcast on admissions could make you laugh?) Any student applying anywhere should listen to this, not only for technical advice on completing the application but also for worldly advice on searching yourself to decide what matters in a university and in life. Admissions officers everywhere also should thank them as the reason for fewer essays this year that just don’t work. The podcast on Questbridge is invaluable; I will share it with those students unfamiliar with but eligible for the awesome program; this podcast describes in such an easy-to-understand way. Oh, and keep up the Boggle references!
MichaelSteiner2020

Helpful

This podcast gives great advice for students in the college admissions process. It is worth listening to, if you are aiming at the best universities.
ophiesay

Actually interesting and insightful

But not in the way you would expect for an “admissions” podcast. First this podcast is really well-produced - it sounds like Radiolab, WNYC podcast with the audio lead ins, good audio, calm NPR-ish voices, music and guests. I also love how they weave in random (but interesting) facts (eg gymnastics scoring). The admissions directors are unexpectedly chill. Lol
Dexter Fowler

Sound Quality

You may wish to turn down the background music. At times it’s hard to hear the person speaking
Warb19azh

Full of half-truths and spin

A rose-colored perspective is peddled heavily from the start. In one episode the hosts declare applications aren’t “scored” yet a quick online search reveals articles of admitted students reviewing their Yale admission records (ferpa laws), and guess what? The student files are PACKED with numerical rankings. Spoiler: you better pray you’re a 6/9 or higher! This podcast teeters on fake news. It is strategically edited at juust the moment something insightful—and dare I say unflattering about the admissions process—is revealed. Too much pixie dust and half-truths to deem reliable. Hard pass.
Jen_Listens

Cringe

The creepy background music played over people speaking makes this podcast unlistenable. Skip it.
hongcaitlin

Really Clarifying

As a prospective student for this upcoming school year, this podcast has been really reassuring. It’s definitely relieving to hear that the focus in judging applicants is still the same. I look forward to listening to future segments.
Adam Walker 0417

AMAZING!

So far, this series has been really helpful to admissions. I plan on applying to Yale in the future, and I think this will give me a head start. Giving me tips into their admissions office, and strategies when approaching the application. If you plan on applying, you should listen too!!
Ndjcbsbskfn

Pretty neat

Interesting look into the admissions process. Curious to see where the rest of the series goes

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