International applications drop in first test-flexible admissions cycle
International applications are down 26 percent compared with last cycle, and domestic applications are down 8 percent.

YuLin Zhen, Photography Editor
Yale received 50,262 total applications to the class of 2029, between early and regular applications — the third-largest group ever in the University’s history but less than last year and year before.
This group of applicants will be the first to be evaluated under Yale’s test-flexible policy. After four years of a test-optional policy that allowed applicants to decide whether to submit test scores, the class of 2029 applicants must submit one or more types of tests from a list of four options — SAT, ACT, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate. Those who choose to send AP or IB scores are required to include results from all subject exams that they have taken.
This cycle saw a much greater decrease in applications from international students than from domestic students. International applications are down 26 percent compared with the last cycle, and domestic applications are down 8 percent. Many international students previously expressed concern about test-flexible admissions because of the difficulty accessing standardized test centers in many countries.
“Yale’s new test-flexible policy appears to have affected our applicant pool in ways that line up with our expectations,” wrote Hannah Mendlowitz ’12, director of first-year process in the admissions office. “Our applicant pool remains very large and strong across numerous dimensions, and our new policy is providing the Admissions Committee with more data to inform our whole-person review process.”
Compared with the last cycle, the number of applications has decreased by 13 percent. However, the total number of applications is larger than two of the four test-optional admissions cycles.
Mendlowitz said that the data gathered so far indicates that applicants are taking advantage of the flexibility the new testing policy affords and are choosing to apply with a range of different test types.
“When we create our class profile in August, we will include new information about our matriculating students’ test reporting choices,” Mendlowitz wrote.
In December, Yale admitted 728 early action applicants to the class of 2029 and 66 students to the class of 2029 through the QuestBridge National College Match, a program that connects high-achieving high school students from lower-income backgrounds with selective universities nationwide.
These students, along with those who will be admitted in the regular decision, are invited to attend Bulldog Days, a three-day event where the admitted students explore Yale’s campus and get to know their potential classmates.
“As always, the strength and diversity of the applicant pool is much more important than the number of applications we receive in any given year or application round,” Jeremiah Quinlan, dean of undergraduate admissions and financial aid, previously wrote to the News. “And it will take our staff the many weeks and months ahead to understand those qualities of the pool, as we review applications one at a time.”
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is located at 38 Hillhouse Ave.
Correction, Jan. 24: This article has been corrected to reflect that 50,262 applications were received for both early and regular decisions, not just regular decision.