First Generation at Yale: Advice to Applicants

Five current students and recent graduates from FGLI backgrounds share their advice for prospective students considering applying to Yale and other selective colleges. The students provide insights on managing imposter syndrome, finding self-confidence, and recognizing that an applicant’s authentic lived experience is their best resource when completing the application. One in three Yale students is a first-generation college student or from a lower-income family, and they represent an amazingly diverse collection of identities, backgrounds, aspirations, and experiences.