Tim Tai, Senior Photographer

By Viraj Bhardwaj

For generations, Yale has stood as a beacon of power, producing world leaders, justices and policymakers, giving the U.S. five of its 45 presidents. Its influence stretches across the map, but beneath this prestige lies a pressing question: does Yale truly provide an equal opportunity for all students to rise, or does it function as an elite gateway for those with privilege?

Jeremiah Quinlan, Yale’s dean of undergraduate admissions and financial aid, stated that increasing Yale’s socioeconomic diversity has been a “top priority” since he began his tenure in 2013.

However, various studies show that factors that don’t really contribute to a student’s success often dictate the admission process. For first-generation and low-income students, the challenge isn’t just getting into Yale — it’s navigating opportunities and coming out on top. Although Yale continues to shape global leadership, is it truly a level playing field?

The admissions process: more than just merit

The University’s admissions process is marketed as holistic. But behind a carefully curated image of fairness lies an uncomfortable truth—one’s family background is one of the major factors determining your chances of acceptance at elite institutions like Yale.

A finding by the Opportunity Insights team says that “Ivy-Plus colleges” — a group that includes the eight Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Penn, Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell) along with Stanford, MIT, Duke, and the University of Chicago — “are more than twice as likely to admit a student from a high-income family as compared to low- or middle-income families with comparable SAT/ACT scores.”

The New York Times reported in 2017 that for students born between 1980 and 1991, only 2.1 percent of Yale students come from families in the bottom 20 percent of income earners, the lowest among all the Ivy-Plus colleges, while a staggering 19 percent hail from the top one percent.

According to the Yale Alumni Magazine, about 14% of freshmen entering in 2003 were children or grandchildren of alumni, with an admissions rate for legacies at approximately 30%, three times that of non-legacies, to which, the then Yale University President Richard Levin replied that, “It’s important to understand that being a legacy does not guarantee admission to Yale College. But the pool of legacy applicants is substantially stronger than the average of the rest of the pool.” 

“Legacy students are coming from highly educated households… They tend to be more exposed to and more serious about intellectual matters.”, he further added. 

The debate over legacy admissions continues, with students and advocacy groups calling for reforms to promote equity and diversity in higher education.

Also, beyond all this, even if FGLI students maintain a high GPA, and ace standardized tests, they have very limited access to the resources, training, and counseling required. Even factors like unpaid extracurriculars—such as internships or research programs—can tilt the playing field in favor of wealthier applicants.

But, let’s assume that despite all odds, one gets selected into the prestigious Yale, then there’s good news. The University has made strides in providing financial aid to those who need it, with 54 percent of undergraduates receiving scholarships or grants during the 2022-23 academic year – therefore, there’s a high probability that you will not have to sacrifice your dream due to financial constraints if selected.

But while Yale pledges to meet the full demonstrated financial need of its students, a February 2024 article in The New Journal highlights challenges some students face with the financial aid process. The article details instances where students experienced unexpected reductions in aid, particularly after a sibling’s graduation, even when the sibling’s education was independently financed. Additionally, it discusses cases where errors in financial aid calculations led to significant stress and financial uncertainty. These experiences suggest that, despite Yale’s commitment, the financial aid system may sometimes fall short in addressing the nuanced financial situations of all students. ​

Academics and opportunities at Yale

Your acceptance letter arrives, and for a moment, all your worries fade away. You’ve made it—against all odds. And to give you relaxation, life at Yale is much more inclusive than its admission process. 

“I think Yale actively strives to make leadership roles accessible to students from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds,” Sabrina Guo ’27, a political science student at the University, told the News. “There are many outreach, mentorship and support programs dedicated to increasing accessibility.”

As a student ambassador for Yale’s Admissions Office, Guo actively recruited FGLI applicants, and also presented at high schools with significant low-income student populations in her native Long Island and home state of New York, talking about Yale’s affordability and generous financial aid programs. She is also a student board member of Yale Alumni Fund Student Ambassadors (YAFSA), and shares how impactful givings from alumni are on the Yale student experience.

Although the University’s academics are among the best in the world and it does provide students with access to renowned scholars and opportunities, one needs to know how to navigate them. First-generation students don’t always have the same roadmap as legacy students.

Guo, while talking to the News, showed her strong belief in the idea that as an FGLI student, you can succeed—but only if you actively seek out these resources and opportunities. She added that the key is knowing where to look, whom to ask, and how to advocate for yourself in an environment where not everything is explicitly handed to you.

Furthermore, there’s also a persistent myth that wealthier students naturally outperform their lower-income peers in college, which is supported by various research too. However, data from Opportunity Insights shows a different side for this assumption—students from different socioeconomic backgrounds with comparable SAT/ACT scores perform equally well academically.

This data challenges the notion that elite institutions are pure meritocracies—making it all the more important for Yale to ensure equal access to leadership roles, mentorships, and career pathways.

But college isn’t just about academics—it’s also about finding a sense of belonging.

Yale’s Social Scene

A strong social network can be the difference between thriving at Yale and struggling in silence.

The University is very well known for its residential college system, which according to Guo and many others, fosters a ‘close-knit community’ among students. 

Guo also told the News that Yale also offers strong cultural centers and affinity groups that provide supportive communities, in order to promote inclusion and diversity. 

But despite the very welcoming nature of the campus, and among the peers, feelings of imposter syndrome and family acement guilt among the students with a weaker background are common, as students grapple with balancing their cultural identities with the demands of their new environment. 

However, students who develop resilience, actively seek support, and maintain a positive mindset are better equipped to manage these mental health challenges. Research featured in Frontiers in Psychology found that college students with a growth mindset exhibited better mental health outcomes and adaptability when facing challenges compared to those with a fixed mindset.

Melangelo Pride ’26, an ambassador for the FGLI community initiative, advised FGLI students in an earlier interview with the News to take advantage of resources like 1stGenYale. This shared interest group under the Association of Yale Alumni connects first-generation students with alumni from various industries, offering valuable support and guidance.

The University also helps these students by providing various resources to support students’ mental well-being, including Yale Mental Health & Counseling, which offers free therapy and psychiatric services. It also has peer support programs like Walden Peer Counseling and cultural centers that create safe spaces for students.  These efforts aim to ensure that all students, regardless of personal background, have the support they need to thrive.

Finally, Who Are You Now?

After years of rigorous academics, balancing work and studies, and countless late nights, you’ve finally made it—graduation day. But now comes the real question: What does a Yale degree truly mean for your future?

Graduates of Ivy-Plus colleges, including Yale, have a significantly higher likelihood of reaching leadership positions and securing high-income careers.

According to a 2017 New York Times study, 57 percent of Yale students from the lowest income quintile rose to the top fifth—a promising but slightly lower rate than some other elite colleges.

The New York Times also found that students from low-income backgrounds at Yale reached an average income percentile of 71, compared to 77 for wealthier students. Additionally, 10 percent of students climbed at least two income quintiles post-graduation.

And then there’s the power of the ‘Yale name’. The prestige attached to it isn’t just symbolic—it opens doors to opportunities inaccessible to most. From exclusive networking circles to high-ranking positions in government, finance, academia, and tech, the weight of “Yale” on your résumé can be the single most defining factor in your professional trajectory. And this notion is widely supported; for example, an article by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) highlights its impact.

Does Yale truly diversify US and World Leaders, or just perpetuate privilege?

Yale, along with other Ivy-Plus Colleges, has indeed made many efforts to be more inclusive, offering financial aid, mentorship programs, and leadership opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds. Many graduates, regardless of their upbringing, have used their education to achieve great success. However, wealth and privilege still play a role in shaping who rises to the top, giving some an easier path while others face systemic challenges. While Yale’s name opens doors, its true impact on leveling the playing field remains a complex and ongoing question.

True leadership isn’t just about access—it’s about impact. If Yale genuinely seeks to diversify leadership, it must not only admit students from varied backgrounds but also empower them to shape the institutions they enter. Otherwise, prestige will continue to be a reflection of privilege rather than potential. As sociologist C. Wright Mills believed, ‘The power elite are not made; they are born.’ The real test is whether Yale is willing to prove that wrong.