About

Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) is one of the largest and most internationally diverse academic summer programs for high school students. Founded in 2001 at Yale University, it distinguishes itself not by extreme selectivity but by global scale and access: each summer more than 2,000 students from over 150 countries attend. Unlike elite research programs such as RSI or PROMYS, YYGS emphasizes breadth across disciplines—STEM, social sciences, and humanities—via several dedicated tracks that must be selected when applying. Tuition is high (~$6,500 before aid), but the program does offer need-based financial aid and scholarships.

Although YYGS does not publish admissions data, in 2025 the program announced a record-breaking 13,000 applications for 1,800 spots, meaning an acceptance rate just under 15%. The application requires essays, transcripts, and recommendations; no nomination is required. YYGS actively seeks out international students, and in fact more than half of attendees come from outside the U.S., giving it a reach and diversity unmatched by most peer programs.

Students choose from four main academic tracks (Innovations in Science & Technology, Literature, Philosophy, and Culture, Politics, Law, & Economics, and Solving Global Challenges). Students attend lectures by Yale faculty and graduate students, participate in discussion seminars, and complete a capstone project in teams. The program is structured less around independent research and more around exposure to advanced fields, critical thinking, and collaboration across cultures. Housing, meals, and campus life are integral parts of the experience, giving attendees a taste of U.S. college life.

YYGS does not provide (or claim to provide) the individual research mentorship that elite STEM programs do, and students should not expect benefits like strong recommendation letters, paper publications, research mentorship, etc. However, YYGS carries strong brand recognition with admissions officers and draws high-achieving students from all over the globe. It is also valuable for students seeking experiences in fields like economics, law, and other areas less-represented by quality summer programs.