Undergraduate Program
Supplementary Materials for Admission
Yale College does not conduct musical auditions for applicants. Music faculty members will review selected audio recordings or scores from advanced musicians, whether or not they wish to major in music as undergraduates.
Please send materials only if your accomplishments are truly outstanding for a high school musician and if your playing or composing is a strong and important part of your application. Submissions that demonstrate an average or merely competent level of ability for a high school musician will not help your application and are discouraged.
All audio recordings must be submitted as .mp3 files at the Office of Admissions online supplementary materials submissions website by the appropriate application deadline (November 1 for Single-Choice Early Action candidates; December 31 for Regular Decision candidates; March 1 for transfer candidates). Musical scores should be submitted as .pdf files at the Office of Admissions online supplementary materials submissions website as well.
The following guidelines must be observed:
1. Submissions from instrumentalists and vocalists should consist of two or three pieces of contrasting styles ( e.g. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, etc.) which demonstrate abilities in the areas of tone, technique, and interpretation. Singers should submit at least one piece in a foreign language. Do not present selections from method books. Whole pieces or movements (as opposed to excerpts) are preferred.
2. Submissions from composers should contain scores (.pdf) and matching recordings (.mp3).
3. Submissions of recordings or scores of popular music or jazz at a high level are welcome.
4. Although your recording need not be of professional quality it should be clear enough to enable the evaluator to arrive at a judgment without distracting interference. Live recordings from recitals or performances are fine, so long as the quality is high enough to discern the applicant's musical abilities. Scores must be neat and legible.
5. When uploading individual files onto the supplementary materials website, please indicate the title and composer of each submission, including movements, in the space provided. (For example, "Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, Scherzo. Frederic Chopin."
6. Only digital submissions in proper .mp3 format will be considered. Applicants submitting recordings or scores must also check the appropriate box in Section VI of the Yale Supplement to the Common Application, titled "Supplementary Material (Optional)."
7. The Online Supplementary Materials Website site is here:
8. The Online Supplementary Materials Upload page is here:
