MC1991

Thanks for taking the time to help me out with critique and recommendations for the months to come.

The schools I am most interested in are: Harvard, Yale, and Cambridge (majoring in Art History)

General : White male from small town in Southern Maine. Currently attend a top New England prep school (consistently ranked top 1-2).

Family/Legacy : Father is a major benefactor to Harvard, Yale, and Cambridge, to the tune of several million dollars. Used to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Yale.

Father, 1 uncle, 2 aunts, 1 grandfather, 1 brother, 1 cousin went to Yale.
Another grandfather went to Harvard, as did great-grandfather.

Academics: Difficult to estimate, really, because the school uses a numeric rather than letter system. Averages would probably be in the low 90's or high 80's, A- or B+. The school does not rank in class or even quartiles, but I have been on the Honor Roll for each term for the past.

I have consistently taken 6 courses where the standard is 5. Most of courses are at least a year accellerated, at an already challenging school. (European History Sophomore Year; Comparative Governtment, French Literature, BC Calc, Art History Junior year) My college counselor will confirm this in his letter to colleges.

Work:
Internship at the French Consulate in NYC (Summer 2007)
Internship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Summer 2008)

Extra-curriculars:

Selected to proctor/mentor the incoming freshmen students (prestigious)

Involved with the weekly school paper
Vice President of Debate Club
Qualified for international debate competitions in the UK
President of French Club
Managing editor of a monthly political magazine
President of Model UN (numerous awards in MUN competitions)
President of Republican Club

Recommendations:

Probably from a Philosophy teacher and History Teacher, Art History Teacher recommendation for my Cambridge application. All should be quite strong.

Standardized Testing:

800 US history
780 World History
740 Math II

760 Critical Reading
710 Math
720 Writing
(2190) Composite, will retake in the fall (aiming for 2300)

232 on PSAT, National Merit

APs: European History (5) US History (expecting 5) French Literature (expecting 5) Art History (expecting 5) BC calculus (expecting 4)

Next year I will take 7-9 APs.

~~~~

Ultimately I realize that admission to a top school is no where as easy to predict as it used to be, but I am hoping that my hard work will pay off. I understand that I have much to be grateful for already, and that my family has helped me get where I am now; my hope is that I have done enough on my own to augment that.

SCHOOLS I'M APPLYING TO:

Yale (early)
Harvard
Cambridge
Brown
Columbia
NYU
American University in Paris (safety)
Vanderbilt
U Chicago

MC1991

Any responses?

USimperialist

I think the fact that your father was benefactor in the area of "several million dollars" and the fact that your he was on the board of trustees for Yale is enough alone to get you in to Harvard, Princeton, or Yale.

Otherwise, your academics are decent enough too.

Phead128

You definitely have a chance at Harvard, Yale, Cambridge. Given you have legacy status at both Harvard and Yale, this fact will help you tremendously. You would probably be tagged with both a legacy status and as benefactor status as your father was a benefactor in the area of several millions.

If I were you, boast that SAT score higher to around 2250-2300 if you can. Increase your score in your math and writing section.

Very strong leadership credentials. I would add one more to the list of colleges you are applying if I were you. As a fellow History of ARt major myself, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland has one of the premiere programs around for Art History. #1 in the nation for History of Art by Chronicle's ranking of faculty research productivity for 2007. The Baltimore Museum of Art is located right next to the Homewood undergraduate campus and the Walter's Art Musuem is located on the Peabody campus just a short bus ride away. Internships and research opportunies are plentiful. I would recommend you consider this place as well.

MC1991

Wow thanks for the input.

I am working on the SATs... some summer studying should help boost me into the 2250-2300 (2400?) range.

I am applying to Johns Hopkins (my college counselor listed it as a safety) but I was hesitant to pursue it aggressively as I had heard it, along with many Southern universities, was very fraternity-oriented (same gripe about Vanderbilt).

What's your take, Phead128? Did it feel focused/academic? I guess I'm looking for a JHU pitch...

Once again, I really appreciate the advice

llpitch

Honestly you're in everywhere. Stop worrying.

azngod1992

sigh, why can't my father be a multi-million dollar donor to HYP...

zfox001

oh....well my dad donated 32 billion to harvard....you know...pretty much the entire endowment.
seriously man...even knowing people or such stature can be magical.
You are in everywhere and anywhere you want to go. Ill be looking for the MC1991 building next time im walking the yale campus btw
lol

MC1991

I guess I was looking for is more information on how much of a pull significant donor/legacy situations exert on admissions committees have. It's one of those intangibles that is never mapped out (the way GPA's/SAT scores are) nor discussed (at least not within my family or my college counselor).

MrPrez

Father is a major benefactor to Harvard, Yale, and Cambridge, to the tune of several million dollars. Used to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Yale.

LOL automatic in at Yale, gg.

ivyonthewall

i have a similar question

how much can legacy/donor status help out in admission? ive searched the site but there's never really a discussion of this topic.

this guy seems to have pretty good stats backed up with incredible connections, but what if the academics are more mediocre (2050 on SAT)? could the same connections still get you into top schools?

ivyonthewall

anyone have any experience or advice with this??

ivyonthewall

bump again, any thoughts?

aairzoom34

Umm it really depends on how "incredible" these connections are. With your connections, I'd say you'd have a good shot at getting into the schools you have connections with, but it's a better bet with above mediocre grades. That's really all I know about the topic.

I'm applying to Wharton. Can you chance me?
Applying to Wharton.....is there any chance??

seniorftw

just like with every thing in life, connections and money are key.