The most accurate AI grader for Yale essays.
Kolly was built and calibrated on hundreds of thousands of essays from students who actually got into Yale University and the rest of the T20.
Yale essay prompts for 2026-27
Copy the prompt you are answering into the prompt field above, then paste your draft, so the readers grade the answer against the question it has to answer.
Short answer questions
All first-year applicants will respond to the following short answer questions:
Students at Yale have time to explore their academic interests before committing to one or more major fields of study. Many students either modify their original academic direction or change their minds entirely. As of this moment, what academic areas seem to fit your interests or goals most comfortably? Please indicate up to three from the list provided.
Required
Tell us about a topic or idea that excites you and is related to one or more academic areas you selected above. Why are you drawn to it?
200 words max · Required
Short takes
Common Application and Coalition Application only: respond to the following short answer questions, in no more than 200 characters (approximately 35 words):
If you could teach any college course, write a book, or create an original piece of art of any kind, what would it be?
200 characters · Required
Under 100 words? Grade it in the supplemental essay reviewer, which reads from 50 words.
What is one aspect of yourself that you hope to grow or develop during college?
200 characters · Required
Under 100 words? Grade it in the supplemental essay reviewer, which reads from 50 words.
What is something about you that is not included anywhere else in your application?
200 characters · Required
Under 100 words? Grade it in the supplemental essay reviewer, which reads from 50 words.
Essay
Common Application and Coalition Application only: respond to one of the following prompts in 400 words or fewer.
Choose 1 of the following.
Reflect on a time you discussed an issue important to you with someone holding an opposing view. Why did you find the experience meaningful?
400 words max · Optional
Reflect on your membership in a community to which you feel connected. Why is this community meaningful to you? You may define community however you like.
400 words max · Optional
Reflect on an element of your personal experience that you feel will enrich your college. How has it shaped you?
400 words max · Optional
All Yale supplemental essays, with word limits and the published source.
How Kolly grades a Yale essay
The grade covers the same six dimensions as every Kolly read: hook, theme, detail, authenticity, reflection, and writing, each scored from 0 to 5. The big number is a percentile that shows where your draft lands among accepted essays of the same type from top US schools. Yale readers, like their counterparts at peer schools, read fast and form an impression in the first paragraph. The verdict quotes the line that lands and names the weakest moment, so you know what to fix first.
Why Kolly instead of a ChatGPT read
ChatGPT and other general models grade against writing in general, which is not what Yale readers do. Kolly grades against essays that got in, and four readers argue over the draft before they vote, so a polished answer that says nothing specific gets called out instead of praised. The quick read is free without an account. A free Kolly account adds the full review: a stronger scoring model, notes on each paragraph, and a fix-it plan.
Grading your personal statement?
Use the main college essay grader for a Common App essay that goes to every school on your list. For acceptance rates, test scores, and cost, see Yale University admissions.