For the academic part, besides curriculums offered by the College, the residential colleges also offer courses which are taught by scholars from Yale and from other academic institutions, as well as by poets, playwrights, and individuals who work in government, business, journalism, or film. Yale faculty members from a broad spectrum of disciplines are associated with each residential college. Faculty fellows are in residence at each of the colleges and are available as a resource to students. Many faculty fellows act as departmental representatives and give personalized advice to students majoring in their particular fields of study. Each residential college also has a math and science tutor and a writing tutor who maintain regular office hours. Students may visit these tutors without prior appointment.

For the extracurricular activities, there are countless ways to become involved in residential college life. All the colleges have active theatre groups that stage productions from Broadway-style musicals to student-written one act plays. String quartets, jazz bands, chamber orchestras and folk groups are commonly organized within the colleges, as are literary magazines, newsletters, and photo journals. The intramural athletic program pits residential colleges against each other in friendly, spirited contests. Within each college is a college council, with a social activities committee to plan events and an athletic committee to organize the intramural programs. Each college elects two representatives to the Yale College Council (YCC), where they represent their college in matters affecting the Yale community as a whole.