Wikipedia:Eli Whitney Students Program

The Eli Whitney Students Program is an undergraduate program at Yale University designed specifically for individuals who have taken a significant break from their formal education. This program offers a more flexible route to pursue a Yale liberal arts and science education either part or full-time. Eli Whitney students receive the same Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees as other Yale undergraduates, have access to the same classes and majors, and participate in the full range of campus extracurricular activities.

Started in 1982 for students who did not attend college at the traditional age, the EWSP is a small program within Yale College enrolling 25 to 35 students. It is a highly selective program with an acceptance rate below 10%.

Eli Whitney students take all of their classes, and receive their advising, within Yale College. The Eli Whitney Students Program serves strictly as an admissions program; with the exception of being required to live off campus, once admitted, Eli Whitney Students receive exactly the same undergraduate services provided to traditional Yale students, have complete access to Yale facilities, student organizations and libraries, and receive the same degree awarded from Yale College. Eli Whitney students are fully eligible for Yale's need-based financial aid up to the cost of tuition.

Admissions standards used to evaluate Eli Whitney students mirror those applied to traditional Yale college applicants. However, while Eli Whitney candidates are subject to the same academic standards as regular Yale College candidates, in assessing more mature candidates, greater weight is given to achievement than to potential. In contrast to the traditional student application, an interview is required and granted to only a small number of applicants.

The program gets its name from the inventor Eli Whitney, who in 1789 and at the age of 23 matriculated into Yale College.