Ella Gaines Yates wrote in her admission letter to Spelman, "I wish to come to Spelman, because I feel there is no other college anywhere in the world finer for a girl to receive training to prepare her for higher gain in life; I have always looked forward to entering Spelman College, because Spelman students have a certain air about them that denotes character and culture," but she did not get into the school.
She was accepted to Spelman on July 13, 1944. 
