StraightBasicPenguin '25–'26 app cycle Class of 2029 class year

Apply early. It matters much more than I thought it did when I began applying. Reach out to your recommenders far in advance as it will take them longer than you–and potentially they–think it will. Two academic letters of rec is a must; this is actively discussed in one of the information materials that Yale has released, but I can’t recall which one. Lastly, the KJD tax is real and will cook you with some schools if you’re not careful to highlight relevant work experience or show that you can be competitive in the job market. This was true in some of my apps and I saw it happen with so many others.