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littleathiest · 04-01-2009, 12:14 AM

This is posted for my sister...

Decision: Rejected

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): M-750, V-690, W-770, E-12 (2210)
ACT: M-36, R-34, W-34, S-36 (35)
SAT II: Math I-750, Math II-770, Biology E-680
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): ~3.95
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1 out of ~60, however, her school doesn't formally rank its students, so this didn't show up on her application.
AP (place score in parenthesis): US History (4), BC Calculus (5), Chemistry (5), Biology (5), European History, Physics C, English Literature, Spanish Literature, Statistics
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Senior Year Course Load: European History, Physics C, English Literature, Spanish Literature, Statistics, Multivariable Calculus, Independent Study in Organic Chemistry (second semester), Health (second semester, Clay
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Cum Laude Society, National Merit Finalist, Rensselaer Medal, Bausch & Lomb Award

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity field hockey 9-12 (captain 12), school newspaper 9-12 (opinions editor 11, managing editor 12), regional orchestra 11-12 (first chair flute 12), school jazz band 9-12, school musical pit band 9-12, math team 9-12, Model UN 9-10
Job/Work Experience: summer school math tutor 12, biofuel research intern 11
Volunteer/Community service: library bookstore volunteer 10, senior home performer 9-12, tutor 10-12
Summer Activities: summer school math tutor 12, biofuel research intern 11, library bookstore volunteer 10
Essays: I read them all and thought they were fair to excellent. Her common application on her interests in music and chemistry was very good.
Teacher Recommendation: should have both been excellent.
Counselor Rec: should have been good, but a little vague.
Additional Rec: none, to my knowledge
Interview: pretty bad. The interviewer hadn't done an interview in ten years and apparently talked about himself the entire time. He was also quite conservative, which didn't work to well with my very liberal sister.

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: no.
Intended Major: chemistry & music
State (if domestic applicant): CT
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: small private. The last student from her school to go to Yale graduated in 2004.
Ethnicity: white
Gender: female
Income Bracket: high
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): nothing.

Reflection

Strengths: with her resume, stats, and abilities, she definitely gave herself a shot.
Weaknesses: she had no "big thing" she did that showed that she was particularly brilliant in chemistry and/or music.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: The lack of a "big thing" as well as her background and demographics.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted at Johns Hopkins, Rensselaer, Tufts, Wesleyan, and Brandeis. Waitlisted at the University of Pennsylvania. Rejected at MIT, Swarthmore, Yale, Princeton, and the Peabody Institute.

General Comments: Congrats to everyone who got in! Best of luck to everyone who did not!

04-01-2009, 12:14 AM	#68
littleathiest Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Connecticut... Vassar '11 Posts: 1,036	This is posted for my sister... Decision: Rejected Objective: SAT I (breakdown): M-750, V-690, W-770, E-12 (2210) ACT: M-36, R-34, W-34, S-36 (35) SAT II: Math I-750, Math II-770, Biology E-680 Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): ~3.95 Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1 out of ~60, however, her school doesn't formally rank its students, so this didn't show up on her application. AP (place score in parenthesis): US History (4), BC Calculus (5), Chemistry (5), Biology (5), European History, Physics C, English Literature, Spanish Literature, Statistics IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a Senior Year Course Load: European History, Physics C, English Literature, Spanish Literature, Statistics, Multivariable Calculus, Independent Study in Organic Chemistry (second semester), Health (second semester, Clay Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Cum Laude Society, National Merit Finalist, Rensselaer Medal, Bausch & Lomb Award Subjective: Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity field hockey 9-12 (captain 12), school newspaper 9-12 (opinions editor 11, managing editor 12), regional orchestra 11-12 (first chair flute 12), school jazz band 9-12, school musical pit band 9-12, math team 9-12, Model UN 9-10 Job/Work Experience: summer school math tutor 12, biofuel research intern 11 Volunteer/Community service: library bookstore volunteer 10, senior home performer 9-12, tutor 10-12 Summer Activities: summer school math tutor 12, biofuel research intern 11, library bookstore volunteer 10 Essays: I read them all and thought they were fair to excellent. Her common application on her interests in music and chemistry was very good. Teacher Recommendation: should have both been excellent. Counselor Rec: should have been good, but a little vague. Additional Rec: none, to my knowledge Interview: pretty bad. The interviewer hadn't done an interview in ten years and apparently talked about himself the entire time. He was also quite conservative, which didn't work to well with my very liberal sister. Other Applied for Financial Aid?: no. Intended Major: chemistry & music State (if domestic applicant): CT Country (if international applicant): USA School Type: small private. The last student from her school to go to Yale graduated in 2004. Ethnicity: white Gender: female Income Bracket: high Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): nothing. Reflection Strengths: with her resume, stats, and abilities, she definitely gave herself a shot. Weaknesses: she had no "big thing" she did that showed that she was particularly brilliant in chemistry and/or music. Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: The lack of a "big thing" as well as her background and demographics. Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted at Johns Hopkins, Rensselaer, Tufts, Wesleyan, and Brandeis. Waitlisted at the University of Pennsylvania. Rejected at MIT, Swarthmore, Yale, Princeton, and the Peabody Institute. General Comments: Congrats to everyone who got in! Best of luck to everyone who did not!
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