Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE)

Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE) is a session aimed at students with an interest in understanding diverse economic theories, the values and practices of government, and legal frameworks in historical and comparative perspectives. Students learn key ideas in topics such as public policy, human rights, market regulation, governance structures, international policy, and conflict and cooperation across borders. The session builds students’ critical thinking and analytical skills, enabling them to examine social systems and present-day issues through the lenses of economic, legal, and political theory. During PLE, students draw extensively on interdisciplinary approaches to build their expertise and increase their exposure to a wide array of topics within the session theme, preparing them to be more informed and engaged global citizens.

The application process involves reviewing eligibility and required components, reviewing a sample application, contacting recommenders (parent/guardian, teacher, and/or school official), starting and completing the online application, submitting the application, and paying the non-refundable application fee ($75 for Early Action, $90 for Regular Decision) or applying for a fee waiver. Required components include an activities list, one 400-word essay and one 200-word response, two “fast take” responses (280 characters each), official school transcript, and one recommender who will complete the YYGS Recommendation Form. Optional components are English fluency test scores (TOEFL or DuoLingo) and a need-based financial aid application.