Yale SOM

New Haven, CT · Private · 2-year full-time

Median GMAT Focus: 675 (638–715 (middle 80%))
Median GPA: 3.69
Class size: 367 (Class of 2027)
Median base salary: $175,000 (Class of 2025)
Program tuition: $181,800 (≈ 2 × first-year tuition)

Deadlines

Round 1: Sept. 15, 2026
Round 2: Jan. 6, 2027
Round 3: April 7, 2027

Essays

Essay option 1: commitment (500 words)

Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. Why is this commitment meaningful to you and what actions have you taken to support it?

Essay option 2: community (500 words)

Describe the community that has been most meaningful to you. What is the most valuable thing you have gained from being a part of this community and what is the most important thing you have contributed to this community?

Essay option 3: challenge (500 words)

Describe the most significant challenge you have faced. How have you confronted this challenge and how has it shaped you as a person?

Video questions (2 questions, 60 seconds each; completed after submission)

To complete the video questions, you will receive a set of two previously recorded questions asked by admissions team members. The questions are similar to typical interview questions.

Optional Information

However, if you think the Admissions Committee would benefit from a brief explanation regarding any aspect of your application, you may provide it in the Optional Information section.

Editor's notes

Round 1 closed Sept. 15, so the real choice is Jan. 6 or April 7. SOM says the same application has a comparable chance in any round, but its FAQ also says Round 3 depends on space left in the class and scholarship money. If you'll need a Dean's Scholarship to attend, aim for Round 2.
Winning admission doesn't enter you for scholarships. SOM decides aid after admission through a separate short application, and only admitted students who complete it are considered. That's also where the Aspire Fellowships (up to full tuition) are decided. Don't let the admit email be the last thing you read.
Take the recommendation rules literally. SOM says you can have no role in drafting or submitting your letters, and it suggests you not show recommenders your essays, because matching language makes it question whether the letters are independent. Walk them through your resume instead, as the guide suggests.
One 500-word essay carries all the written weight, so choose the prompt carefully. Pick the one where you have the most concrete material, not the one that sounds most impressive. The two-activity limit works the same way. Depth wins.