Is getting into Yale school of engineering harder to get into Yale generally?
From Yale’s website:
“All applicants submit the same materials and are evaluated through the same processes regardless of their intended major. Applicants submitting the Coalition Application or Common Application who express an interest in majoring in one of Yale’s Engineering majors may write an additional optional essay about their interest and experiences in Engineering. Note, however, that applicants are not admitted to any specific major or undergraduate program. All matriculating students enroll in Yale College with access to the same 80 undergraduate majors. Yale College students do not declare a major until the end of their sophomore year.”
I take this as meaning it’s not harder getting in as an engineer (and to be honest, Yale isn’t really known for its engineering). That said, as I’'m sure you’re aware, getting into Yale is extremely difficult no matter what area you intend to focus on.
I wouldn’t make a decision on whether to indicate engineering as a major and writing the supplement as a “gaming” decision. If you have a genuine strong interest in engineering, backed up with academic and EC credentials, having an extra opportunity to sell yourself through the supplement is a plus. Otherwise, it might actually hurt your case.
Completely echoing @BKSquared above. Write the strongest application you can based on your academics and EC’s to date. If they point to engineering, then it makes sense to state that you wish to pursue engineering at Yale. Good luck!
Completely agree with @BKSquared and @ThinkOn they are spot on.
Would just add that Yale is well aware that a high school senior’s intentions regarding a college major or career are extremely subject to change.
Yale actively recruits the STEM kids who also have a passion for the liberal arts. That often results in choices in majors that look nothing like what the kids put down on their applications as well as double majors.
One of my son’s friends intended to major in Math, and ended up majoring in Ethics, Politics and Economics before heading off to a Philosophy and Law JD/Phd.
While many of Yale’s peers require a declaration of major by the end of freshman (or first) year, Yale explicitly recognizes that majors are a work in progress, and only encourages declaration of a major to facilitate the selection of classes in an order that makes completing the major possible within the allotted four years.
"What follows below are expectations for students intending to major in STEM and non-STEM fields, instructions on how to declare a major, and other useful information.
If you are majoring in mathematics, a science or in engineering;
You are expected to declare your major during sophomore year, preferably in the fall term.
If you are majoring in most other subjects:
You must declare your major no later than the start of your junior year. At that time the DUS of your major, or a designated departmental representative, becomes your faculty adviser and the person who signs your course schedules in junior and senior years."