What is Yale's most famous class?

Asked by: Jackson Swift  |  Last update: August 1, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (36 votes)

Yale psychologist Laurie Santos is famous for teaching the university's most popular class ever — on happiness. Her insights on how to achieve the good life were so incredibly popular that they have even been turned into an online class taken by millions of people.

What is the hardest class at Yale?

It's called "Psychology and the Good Life," and enrollment soared to almost 1/4 of Yale's undergraduates just days after registration opened. Deemed the "hardest class at Yale" according to Dr. Laurie Santos, the course focuses on accountability and positive psychology.

What program is Yale best known for?

#1 Yale Major: Economics

The economics program at Yale gives students the opportunity to participate in research with some of the leading minds in the field while participating in coursework designed to explore the forces shaping the past, present, and future of our economic climate.

Which Ivy whose most popular course ever is about happiness?

What if happiness is a skill we can learn? Laurie Santos, a Yale professor, cognitive psychologist, and host of the popular podcast The Happiness Lab, joins me to explore the science behind happiness and why her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” has become the most popular course in Yale's 300-year history.

What is Yale's best sport?

Football. The football team has competed since 1876. They have won nineteen national championships when the school competed in what is now known as the FBS. They are perhaps best known for their rivalry with Harvard, known as "The Game".

Yale’s Most Popular Class Is Teaching Students How To Lead Happier Lives | NBC Nightly News

42 related questions found

Who is Yale's biggest rival?

The Harvard and Yale football rivalry, known as "The Game," is the second-oldest continuing rivalry in college football.

What is Yale's Speciality?

Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, is known for its excellent drama and music programs, which reach outside the classroom with student organizations such as the Yale Whiffenpoofs, a famous a cappella group, and the Yale Dramatic Association.

Which Ivy is the most preppy?

The Preppy Handbook's list of the top 20 preppy colleges in America includes over half of the 11 schools of the NESCAC (Amherst, Colby, Connecticut College, Hamilton, Trinity, and Williams) but only one member (Princeton) of the eight schools in the Ivy League, despite the public perception of the Ivies as “the ...

What is the most famous class in Yale?

Yale psychologist Laurie Santos is famous for teaching the university's most popular class ever — on happiness. Her insights on how to achieve the good life were so incredibly popular that they have even been turned into an online class taken by millions of people.

What college is ranked #1 for happiest students?

Auburn University ranks No. 1 for happiest students in the nation. Auburn University, in the “Loveliest Village on the Plains,” is also home to the happiest students in the nation, according to The Princeton Review's 2025 rankings released recently.

What is the least popular major at Yale?

THE FINDINGS
  • Judaic Studies (3)
  • Russian (5)
  • Physics & Philosophy (6)
  • East Asian Languages and Literatures (7)
  • Astronomy (8)
  • German Studies (10)
  • African Studies (11)
  • Archeological Studies (13)

Why is Yale so famous?

A LEGACY OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

As a member of the esteemed Ivy League, Yale stands alongside renowned universities known for their academic prowess. Consistently ranked among the top universities globally, Yale attracts some of the brightest minds from around the world.

What is Yale's motto?

As you know, Yale's motto is Light and Truth—Lux et Veritas in Latin, Urim v'Thummim in Hebrew—and you will see it etched ubiquitously on crests around campus.

Is Princeton or Yale harder?

Princeton may be considered easier by a small margin based on the estimated acceptance rates for Yale and Princeton's Class of 2026. Still, it depends on the course you're applying for and whether your profile shows you are a good fit for those universities.

Is Yale a dry campus?

Alcohol is forbidden in first-year suites and entryways on campus. In addition, no alcoholic beverages may be served at organized or private functions on the Old Campus, except at functions confined to rooms occupied solely by upper-level students or when authorized by the Yale College Dean's Office.

What's the easiest major at Yale?

Easiest Bachelor's Degrees
  • Psychology. Psychology is rated as one of the easiest degrees to earn at the bachelor's level. ...
  • Criminal Justice. ...
  • Sociology. ...
  • English. ...
  • Education. ...
  • Social Work. ...
  • Religious Studies. ...
  • History.

What is the most popular major in Yale?

The Most Popular Yale College Majors
  • History (200)
  • Political Science (145)
  • Economics (128)
  • English (107)
  • Biology (98)

What is the most popular class at Harvard?

D. Harvard's Positive Psychology 1504, taught by professor Tal Ben-Shahar Ph. D., will enter the books as the most popular course in the history of Harvard University.

What is Yale better at than Harvard?

Similarly, Harvard is ranked No. 1 in 12 out of 48 subjects, while Yale is also in the top ten for 12 subjects. As a rough rule of thumb, Yale is stronger in art, music, drama and architecture, while Harvard attracts business-orientated students, and those who wish to study STEM subjects and medicine.

What is the whitest ivy?

Ivy League race demographics: how diverse are they?
  1. Harvard University: - White: 35% - Asian: 24% ...
  2. Yale University: - White: 40% ...
  3. Princeton University: - White: 39% ...
  4. University of Pennsylvania: - White: 35% ...
  5. Columbia University: - White: 30% ...
  6. Dartmouth College: - White: 48% ...
  7. Brown University: - White: 45% ...
  8. Cornell University:

What is the prettiest ivy?

1. Princeton University: Princeton's campus is renowned for its beautiful, spacious, and well-maintained grounds. Gothic and collegiate architecture dominate the landscape. Their eating clubs also add to the uniqueness of campus life.

Which Ivy is most like Hogwarts?

Yale University: New Haven, CT

As the third-oldest college in America, this might be as close to Hogwarts as one can get. Yale University's campus is full of towers, courtyards, arches, and balconies, and boasts some of the country's most breathtaking gothic architecture.

What is Yale's best subject?

Top 10 Best Majors at Yale
  1. Economics. Economics is one of Yale's most popular programs. ...
  2. Political Science. ...
  3. History. ...
  4. Computer Science. ...
  5. Psychology. ...
  6. Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. ...
  7. Global Affairs. ...
  8. English.

Was Gilmore Girls filmed at Yale?

For Rory's first visit to Yale, Pomona College was the filming location. Subsequent Yale scenes were shot at the WB Studios sound stages as well as the University of Southern California (USC).

What GPA is required for Yale?

To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1560 SAT or a 35 ACT. You should also have a 4.18 GPA or higher.