The Yale School of Management: Everything You Need to Know

 

The Yale School of Management, or Yale SOM, as it is known to its students, has a mission of “educating leaders for business and society.” The program focuses on preparing leaders who will have an impact in areas at the intersection of business and society, including sustainability, asset management, health care, education, financial stability, the role of women in business, and global leadership.

Yale SOM achieves its mission through its comprehensive, integrated curriculum, designed for MBA students to understand the whole organization. Yale relies on an innovative case study method that includes “cooked” and “raw” case studies. Cooked case studies are the kind typically seen in the traditional case study approach that several top MBA programs use. Yale School of Management also pioneered the raw case study method, in which information is presented from various angles and in multimedia formats, and students must identify what elements are actually relevant to the case—much like in real life. Among top business schools, Yale SOM is the most connected to its parent university, which is also a draw for many candidates. Compared with peer institutions, Yale School of Management has a much higher percentage of joint degree students, specializing in such areas as forestry, environmental management, law, global affairs, and public health while also working toward their MBA.

Although the Yale School of Management was previously thought of primarily as a “finance school,” the largest proportion of graduates tend to enter positions with a consulting function. Of the Class of 2024, 54.2% did so, while 23.1% accepted finance function roles, 10.0% marketing/sales, and 5.0% general management (including sustainability).

 

The Yale School of Management Insider’s Guide

The Yale School of Management Insider’s Guide

After consulting with Yale School of Management students, admissions committee members, and alumni about their experiences, we have prepared our Insider’s Guide to the Yale School of Management. We take an in-depth look at life at Yale SOM, highlighting how the school’s location, class size, curriculum, teaching methods, facilities, alumni involvement, and rankings all affect its culture and MBA experience. Then we delve into Yale SOM’s faculty and professional student clubs, revealing how they facilitate the careers of Yale SOM students. Through our guide, you will learn more about the Yale School of Management’s integrated curriculum and raw case format, as well as hands-on experiences such as the Net Impact Case Competition and the Integrated Leadership Case Competition. Yale’s high-caliber finance faculty offers more than 40 courses, and the International Center for Finance supports research in this area. As one of the first top MBA programs to require an international component for graduation, Yale SOM offers exceptional resources in international business and general management, and in other areas, such as marketing and health care.

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The Yale School of Management Interview Guide

The Yale School of Management Interview Guide

Yale School of Management interviews are typical MBA behavioral interviews and are often described as “friendly and conversational.” Yale SOM wants to get a sense of whether the applicant is a good fit for the school’s values, approach, and culture. As a result, “Why Yale SOM?” is a common question. The Yale School of Management wants to know that you understand not only how and why the MBA program is right for you but also how and why you are right for Yale SOM. You will need to be ready to share why you are a good fit for the school, offering particular reasons your post-MBA goals can be best served via the Yale School of Management’s resources. For sample interview questions and commentary from past students, check out our Yale School of Management Interview Guide.

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Yale SOM Essay Analysis, 2024–2025

The Yale School of Management (SOM) is one of the few top MBA programs that give candidates just one required application essay with which to make an impression on the admissions committee. The school offers applicants a choice of three topics to, as the admissions committee states, “ensure that you’re able to write about something important to you.” Applicants can expound on a significant commitment and its underlying impetus and meaning (until last year, this essay had been required), discuss a particularly significant community involvement, or describe a major challenge they have faced. The essay has a 500-word maximum, so you need to be clear, direct, and rather succinct in your response, without much preamble or extraneous text. If you feel your primary essay does not allow you to share an aspect of your profile that you believe is particularly important or compelling, or if you have an issue in your candidacy that would benefit from further explication, you can use the “optional information” space to fill in the blanks.

Required Essay: We want to know what matters to you, and our essay question is designed to help us gain insight into your background, passions, motivations, responsibilities, ideals, identities, challenges, or aspirations, depending on where you take your response. To ensure that you’re able to write about something important to you, we offer you three essay prompts from which to choose:

  1. Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. Why is this commitment meaningful to you and what actions have you taken to support it? (500-word limit)
  2. Describe the community that has been most meaningful to you. What is the most valuable thing you have gained from being a part of this community and what is the most important thing you have contributed to this community? (500-word limit)
  3. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced. How have you confronted this challenge and how has it shaped you as a person? (500-word limit)

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Yale SOM MBA Class Profile (Class of 2026)

Class Size 347
Median GPA 3.68
GPA Range (Middle 80%) 3.31–3.94
Median GMAT 730
GMAT Range (Middle 80%) 700–760
Median GRE (Verbal) 164
Median GRE (Quant) 166
GRE Verbal Range (Middle 80%) 159–170
GRE Quant Range (Middle 80%) 161–170
Average Years of Work Experience 4.9
Women 39%
LGBTQ+ 12%
International Passport Holders
(includes U.S. permanent residents and dual citizens)
48%
Countries Represented
(including the United States)
42
U.S. Students of Color
(percentage of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who identify as Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Islander, or Multiethnic)
56%
U.S. Underrepresented Students of Color
(percentage of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who identify as Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Islander, or Multiethnic)
16%

Yale SOM Rankings

The Yale School of Management has done quite well in recent MBA rankings. In the Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2023–2024 domestic survey, the SOM was in 15th place. The program was also ranked 15th internationally and tenth domestically in the Financial Times’ 2024 survey. The school was ranked fifth in the 2023 Poets&Quants survey of U.S.-based MBA programs. Finally, in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 rankings, the business school was in seventh place and was also listed in the following specialty rankings: nonprofit (1), management (8), international (18), executive MBA (16), finance (16), marketing (15), and business analytics (36).

Yale SOM MBA 2024 Acceptance Rate

The Yale School of Management’s acceptance rate hovers around 29%. This competitive rate underscores the institution’s commitment to cultivating a diverse and highly qualified cohort of future leaders. For prospective MBA students, gaining admission to Yale SOM means joining an elite network of thinkers and innovators who are driven to make a significant impact on the global stage.

As you consider your MBA journey, understanding what sets Yale apart is crucial. Known for its integrated curriculum and emphasis on real-world problem-solving, Yale SOM offers an unparalleled educational experience that prepares students to tackle complex global challenges. With a focus on leadership and ethics, the program attracts individuals who are not only academically accomplished but also possess a strong desire to make a meaningful difference. If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and join a community that values collaboration, innovation, and social responsibility, Yale School of Management could be the perfect fit for you.

Yale SOM Deadlines (2024–2025)

Round 1 Application Deadline
September 10, 2024

Round 1 Decisions
December 5, 2024

Round 2 Application Deadline
January 7, 2025

Round 2 Decisions
March 20, 2025

Round 3 Application Deadline
April 8, 2025

Round 3 Decisions
May 15, 2025

mbaMission Testimonials from Yale SOM Applicants

Great Advice, So Helpful!

Michael [Guttman] was an invaluable help throughout the entire application process. He gave me thorough and incisive feedback on essay drafts—both line-by-line commentary and big picture strategic direction.

Michael’s suggestions for where I should apply were quite helpful as well. He met with me and did a complete mock interview before one of my interviews, which really helped me to refine and improve my messaging. Most importantly, Michael was always prompt to respond to ad hoc, stream-of-consciousness questions that I had throughout the process, which was immensely valuable.

Thanks to Michael’s help, I was admitted to two of my top choice business schools, Dartmouth and Yale. I couldn’t be happier with how this process played out and would recommend any other prospective applicants to use Michael’s consulting.

Go with Susan [Kaplan]!

I worked with Susan on the start-to-finish package for four schools, was admitted to three of them, and used all of the self-reflection and tools that Susan provided me with to apply to and get accepted at three additional schools.

I didn’t have many friends who had applied to business school, nor did I have a great understanding of the application process, and Susan was a true partner and guide throughout the whole process. I tend to be quite verbose as a writer, and sometimes I struggle to concisely make a clear point. While I knew why I wanted an MBA and what in my past experience made me qualified, I was having trouble articulating it clearly in my essays. Susan was a tough critic and pushed me to write at a much higher level than I would have on my own. I appreciated that she didn’t just say “good job” when my applications were “good enough.” She pushed me to the next level, and I don’t think I would have as many acceptances and scholarships to top programs without her!

Despite her pinpointed and sometimes tough feedback, Susan was a warm and caring coach who truly cared about my journey and who was rooting for me throughout the process. She made me feel proud of my accomplishments and was such a great cheerleader. With her help, I was admitted to Kellogg, Tuck, Columbia, Darden, and Yale SOM, all with scholarships, and to Wharton as well! I can’t recommend Susan enough!

Katy Lewis is the absolute best—highly recommend her!

As many prospective students will quickly find out, top MBA programs really want to hear your story, and there is no better person than Katy to help you with the introspection process. She has this unique ability to get to know you as a person and help get that authentic self across to the admissions committee. Together, we were able to brainstorm specific themes of my life, how they were important to me, and communicated those in my essays.

Through all of her help, I was able to secure R1 interviews at six top programs—Stanford GSB, HBS, Booth, Kellogg, Tuck, and Yale. She spent a lot of time prepping me for my interviews and provided her perspectives on each of the different programs.

Because of Katy’s help, I was able to secure multiple offers and ultimately accepted my offer to attend Stanford GSB. I truly cannot recommend Katy enough as an admissions consultant and now as a friend!”
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