can't say I'm not disappointed, I really hoped this might be a good year to apply early, but more frustrating is that now there's just this sense of limbo, with no college certainty and much less confidence in my application to other colleges. I probably should have applied to some matches EA instead just to have that security...hindsight is 20/20.
SAT II: 790 Math II, 790 Chemistry, 740 US History, 730 Physics
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School does not rank, but probably top 10%.
AP (place score in parenthesis): 5 - European History, Physics B, Chemistry, US History 4 - English Language
IB (place score in parenthesis): None
Senior Year Course Load: Hardest possible course load.
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Questbridge Finalist
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Cultural dance (F&P), SciOly (C), Badminton (P)
Job/Work Experience: Worked all three summers at a Chinese fast food restaurant
Volunteer/Community service: Local elementary school volunteer, Asian LGBT Outreach
Summer Activities: Work, volunteer at local elementary school
Essays: I tried to pour my heart out.
Teacher Recommendation: One was probably amazing, the other one good
Counselor Rec: Probably genuine and a bit generic. She had to write nearly 200 other recommendations.
Additional Rec: None
Interview: Was not offered one.
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Chemistry (Undecided)
State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant): -
School Type: Large, Extremely Competitive Public
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: The one that gets you full financial aid
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First generation
Reflection
Strengths: Well rounded
Weaknesses: I don't want to say my race and gender because honestly, it doesn't matter in the slightest.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: Although I may not have the most impressive resume, I put my heart into everything I've done. I pursued my passions and I think Yale saw that.
General Comments: Still in complete shock! To all my fellow peers who have gone through struggle in their lives: apply through QuestBridge and tell your story.
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Computer Science (5), AP World History (5), AP Calculus AB (5), AP Chemistry (4), AP Spanish Language (3), AP English Lang (5), AP US History (5), AP Environmental Science (5), AP Psychology (5), AP Calculus BC (5), AP Spanish Literature (4)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Government, AP English Lit, AP Statistics, AP Physics B, AP Art History, AP European History, AP Comparative Government
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National AP Scholar, National Merit Semi-Finalist, 4 MUN Gavels, and etc.
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Political Campaign Director (1 year), Model United Nations (4 years) – President, Interact Club (2 years) – President, Church Ministry (4 years) – Youth Leader, Varsity Tennis (4 years), Varsity Lacrosse (4 years), Student Council (3 years) – Treasurer, Student Tutoring Program (3 years) – Founded
Job/Work Experience: Sales associate at J. Crew for 7 months.
Volunteer/Community Service: About 400 hours.
Summer Activities: Various summer programs. Will not into detail.
Weaknesses: Not well-lopsided, lack of major awards, essays, recommendations.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: No hooks.
General Comments: It’s a crapshoot. Some of the earlier posters have been close to a carbon copy of me so it’s not like Yale has a short supply to draw from. There’s no reason for them to draw me in EA and I’m unhooked so they’re not that invested in getting me anyway.
Last edited by subtlypolitical; 12-16-2011 at 05:15 PM.
Reason: Format.
AP: US History (5), Spanish (5), English Lang (4), Chem (4)
Senior Year Course Load: APCS, BC Calc, AP Eng Lit, AP Physics B, AP Psych, Chinese 3H, oil painting
Major Awards: AP Scholar w/ Distinction and NMSC (only mentioned AP Scholar)
Subjective:
Extracurriculars: Scholastic Bowl (Captain for two years), Math Team (no leadership available), Science Olympiad (Co-Captain for two years), anti-drug club (board member for 3 years), Snowball (leader/Fundraising chair, now President), Relay for Life (Co-Captain, now Captain), dance (3 nights a week), Historical Museum volunteer (4 hrs/month)
Job/Work Experience: Fashion Rep at dELiA's since Feb. 2010
Volunteer/Community service:aforementioned museum volunteer
Summer Activities: 2011- spent a week at Brown and two weeks at SAIC, 2010- spent a month in Argentina doing community service and a homestay, 2009- spent a month in Spain doing language immersion and a homestay
Essays: My mom gave me advice, which I took to heart, to let the essays be the opportunity for the admission officers to see the world how I do. My CA activity essay was about Scholastic Bowl and how it changed the way I look at the world and how now, I thrive on learning new, obscure facts. My CA main essay was a comparison between math and photography (two of my passions) and how they're both similar in that I visually problem-solve (I used two anecdotes and connected them in the last paragraph). My Yale additional essay was about my brother who overcame an autism spectrum disorder and how that sparked my interest in the brain (I want to study Cognitive Science at Yale).
Teacher Recommendation: One was from my APUSH teacher. I worked extremely had din his class and he wrote a very detailed letter with myriad examples of what I did (partially because I sent him a two-page letter about why I'm asking him; i.e. strengths I had in the class). My second was from my current math teacher who was the math team coach (which I had been a part of since freshman year). I chose him because I wanted him to comment on my participation in clubs.
Counselor Rec: I always talked to my consoler but I didn't see it.
Additional Rec: Nope.
Interview: I went really well! I love conversations so interviews are my strong suit. It went for over an hour, even though it was supposed to be 30 minutes.
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: No.
Intended Major: Cognitive Science
State: IL
School Type: large, public, suburban college prep
Ethnicity: white
Gender: female
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): No.
Reflection
Strengths: Leadership and continued participation in many clubs, summer activities, rank/grades/test scores, interview, essay topic
Weaknesses: I have an informal writing tone, no hook, too well-rounded (i.e. not nationally recognized for something; not GREAT at something, just good in many things)
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: I know many people look on here to compare their number of activities or test scores to other applicants, but I think admission officers see so many of those that they look for a focus and personality. I had the topic of 'the brain' throughout my application and included humor. I mean, I don't stay up till 2 every morning studying and I didn't write a patent for a new element. I Facebook stalk and watch moves every week and love SNL. I'm a person, and I think a huge part of why I got in was because I showed that to the admission officers. But I'm still in shock; I was expecting to be deferred.
General Comments:Congrats to all other acceptees! To those deferred, don't lose hope but also, make sure you look up what you should do to show to admission office you're still interested. To those denied, you'll probably end up at a place that you'll love, so don't feel down on yourself.
SAT II: 790 Math II, 790 Physics 580 Literature (took it without being in a literature class)
Weighted GPA (out of 4.0): 100.81, so I guess 4.0?
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 4/257
AP (place score in parenthesis): Physics B (5) Calc AB (5) Computer Science A (5) English Language and Composition (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics C- Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism, AP Calc BC, AP English Lit/Comp, IB Environmental SS, IB Spanish HL, IB Computer Science, Digital Electronics, stupid NJ mandatory Gym
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): 1st place nationally for a cyber security competition, 7th place nationally FBLA Networking Concepts, 1st Place in TSA Tech Bowl, and 2nd/3rd in other ones, a lot of state cyber security competitions, NJ Boy's State rep, NYU cyber forensics national top 12
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Class President
Technology Student Association (reporter, treasurer, vice president)
Math League (officer, treasurer, president)
Science Olympiads and Princeton Science Bowl
National Spanish, Math, English, Technical, and regular honor society (VP of SNHS and President for NTHS)
Student to student peer leadership and mediation
Environmental Club
Future Business Leaders of America (Secretary)
School Improvement Team
Varsity Swimming (Captain)
Vocal Lessons
Job/Work Experience: ...I pumped gas the summer going into my sophomore year
Volunteer/Community service: Relay for Life (team captain), American Littoral Society, and Clean Ocean Action
Summer Activities: FBLA Nationals (2 years), Boy's State, Stanford high school engineering program
Essays: My common app was about an acupuncture treatment where I felt one with the table and I connected that the universal connection between everything (Ohmm and all that good stuff) and how it helps me as a scientist.
Extra Curricular and Yale Supplement - both about the national cyber security competition we won.
Why Yale - the research opportunities
Why Engineering - The reason I chose my intended major was because of Yale's website. Rarely any other schools beside Yale have chemical and environmental engineering in the same department, so that would be amazing so I can double major/ or whatever. And my experiences over the summer.
Teacher Recommendation: Junior AP English teacher (went to Harvard) loved me, and I didn't get to see it but I can imagine her saying she thought I was going to win the nobel prize. My computer teacher from freshman - junior year who coached and won all the cyber competitions (I have been on like 5 field trips and she knows me so well)
Counselor Rec: Probably average, knew him but not that well.
Additional Rec: Sent in my recommendation from the stanford summer camp, teacher said I was one of the best students he has seen, even through his graduate school
Interview: Average, she talked a lot. We found out I actually did plays with her daughter and we bonded over like the arts. But it went over very well, and nothing negative about it
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Chemical Engineering
State (if domestic applicant): NJ
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~150-200k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): nerp
Reflection
Strengths: Defiantly all the competitions I won, ecs , and being well rounded with math, science, athletics, and art.
Weaknesses: SAT score, I was worried that literature SATII would kill me, and community service
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: Defiantly the competitions, I thought my essays were really good too.
General Comments: I still don't believe I got in, and keep thinking it is some big lie. But, the past threads like these helped me a lot, so I want to help the next year (and this year's) applicants. Also congratulations to everyone, and I can not wait till the bulldog days.
I've been meaning to get on College Confidential ever since yesterday afternoon, but the website was down Decision: Accepted
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2290 - 780CR 800M 710W
ACT: 34 - 33Eng 35Math 33Read 35 Sci
SAT II: 800 Math II, 800 USH, 800 Physics
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): ~4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): #1 baby!
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Phys B (5), Phys C: Mech (5), Phys C: E&M (5), Chem (5), Calc BC (5), US History (5), World History (5), US GoPo (5)
Senior Year Course Load: Hardest
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): NMSF, Nat'l AP Scholar, Rensselaer Medal Award, Yale Book Award, state finalist for USNCO
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Math Team (captain), Band (treasurer, VP), Student Council, NHS, completed a good part of a mathematics major at a local university
Job/Work Experience: nope
Volunteer/Community service: counselor at summer camp (150+ hrs)
Summer Activities: slacking off, driver's ed, going on vacation, reading, going to the art museum, going to the library, research camp
Essays: My Common App main essay was what probably got me into Yale. Yale's shorts were good, Yale essay was meh.
Teacher Recommendation: A history teacher and a math professor. Probably good.
Counselor Rec: Meh.
Additional Rec: Research professor. Probably good.
Interview: Pretty cool and friendly guy, interview wasn't spectacular or earth-shattering though
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
Intended Major: math/econ/undecided
State (if domestic applicant): midwest
School Type: weak public
Ethnicity: Asian ^_^
Gender: M
Income Bracket: 80k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): weak hs
Reflection
Strengths: very motivated, looked for opportunities outside of hs
Weaknesses: Asian
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: I was a fairly strong applicant who got lucky in the lottery of Ivy League admissions.
General Comments: First, let me tell you about what's special about Yale SCEA this year. Yale is traditionally seen as a liberal arts college, more so than any school in HYPS. This year, both H and P began accepting SCEA applicants, which probably siphoned off otherwise strong applicants to go early at those schools, which helped Yale SCEA applicants. I am also strong in math and science, which is a segment of the university that Yale has been trying to improve over the past few years, so that may have given me an extra boost. Also, I'm great at english and history so I can still compete against strong liberal arts applicants.
Currently in shock since yesterday afternoon. I'm not sure if this is definitely where I want to be, but it's definitely one of my top choices. To all of you who didn't get in, don't sweat it. I don't exactly have brilliant stats (they're pretty good, I'll give you that) there's a bit of chance in these decisions. I'll maybe see some of you at Bulldog Days?!
Last edited by lolzcats; 12-16-2011 at 06:12 PM.
Reason: Stats errata.
Decision: Deferred[*] SAT I (2340, 740CR, 800M, 800Wr):[*] ACT:36 Comp (36 Eng, 36 Math, 36 Reading, 34 Sci)[*] SAT II:800 Math2, 780 USH, 780 BIOL-M[*] Unweighted GPA (4.0 out of 4.0): 4.46 weighted highest possible at my school[*] Rank (1/180):[*] AP (all 5's-Calc AB, Bio, Eng Lang.,US history):[*] Senior Year Course Load: most rigorous possible. 4 AP's-calc bc, latin, eng lit, physics [*] Major Awards (National Merit semi-finalist, top 10 national HS guitar player, loads of academic awards, international music scholarship, essay award winner and others):
[ /list][ b]Subjective:[/b]
Extracurriculars (plenty of great ec's. will list after RD):
Volunteer/Community service: over 300 hours, varied.
Summer Activities: College classes in Computer science and music. National workshops.
Essays: very good to excellent IMO
Teacher Recommendation: probably very good, unique
Counselor Rec: great
Additional Rec:
Interview: went very well. Interviewer said she would've loved to attend Yale with someone like me.
[ b]Other[/b]
Applied for Financial Aid?:yes
Intended Major: history
State (CA):
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: religious private
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: > 200k
Strengths: academics, test scores, in depth ec in music-composer, recording artist teacher, and nationally recognized guitar player.
[ ] Weaknesses: no sports, no Yale connections, my HS isn't well represented in the Ivy's
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: not sure. Hoping for RD admit.
SAT I (breakdown): 2300- 790 Math, 730 Verbal, 780 Writing
SAT II: 800 Biology M, 800 US History
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/100
AP (place score in parenthesis): US History-5, World History-5, European History-5
Senior Year Course Load:
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Scholar Semifinalist, AP Scholar
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Varsity Cross Country, Student Council (President), National Honor Society (President), Varsity Track, JV Volleyball, Yearbook (Section Editor), Community Interact Club, Cornell Government Internship
Volunteer/Community service: Working at Soup Kitchen, Assisting in various school and church functions
Summer Activities: College courses, Farm work
Essays: Pretty Good (I thought…)
Teacher Recommendation: Very Good
Counselor Rec: Good
Interview: None
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Biology
State (if domestic applicant): NY
School Type: Small Public, Rarely sends students to top schools
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket:100,000-200,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None
Reflection
Strengths: Descent GPA and Scores, Good Leadership
Weaknesses: White boy from NY, Nothing Spectacular
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: Nothing Spectacular..
[ b]General Comments:[/b]
Accepted Students: Congratulations! You should be proud of your accomplishments. Have fun at Yale next year : )
Deferred: Good luck and don’t lose hope. There’s always a chance for the regular admissions round.
Rejected: Well, it was a good shot, but everything happens for a reason I suppose. Don’t lose hope. Everyone on this board is a fantastic student and I’m sure we’ll all end up at great schools!
SAT II: 800 Math 2, 800 Us history, 700 Lit, 760 Physics
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/356
AP (place score in parenthesis): 5's on calc AB, world history, euro history, Human geo, stat, english lang, us history
IB (place score in parenthesis): Philosophy SL (6), Latin SL (6)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics B, IB ToK, AP Psych, AP Calc BC, IB Math SL, AP English Literature, IB English HL, AP Comp Gov, AP Latin Vergil, IB Physics HL
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Not really any i guess, national Merit Semifinalist, member of a bunch of honor societies
[ b]Subjective:[/b]
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):Boy Scouts (eagle scout), Explorer Post (VP), JSA (VP), Great Decisions (President), IB Magazine (Co-Editor), Academic Worldquest (Captain), Brain Brawl (Captain), Certamen team (Latin Brain Brawl)- Captain
Job/Work Experience:na
Volunteer/Community service: Boy Scouts, hospital work
Summer Activities: volunteer stuff, slept on my long suffering couch
Essays: One about an experience I had when I went rappelling, One about playing guitar, why Yale about my love for the classics and political science
Teacher Recommendation: History/Philosophy Teacher, Latin teacher
Counselor Rec: He's a pretty respected guy, I barely know him though
Additional Rec: Scoutmaster
Interview: Idk, got it super late (about a week before decisions), guy seemed pretty uninterested idk why he he even does them
[ b]Other[/b]
Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
Intended Major:Undecided
State (if domestic applicant): FL
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Top 5 public school in the nation
Ethnicity: Indian
Gender: M
Income Bracket: 130,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): lol
[ b]Reflection[/b]
Strengths: academic record
Weaknesses: ethnicity, I'm not a great essay writer
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: Idk, not very interesting I guess, my essays probably put them to sleep
[ b]General Comments:[/b]
Whatever, pretty disappointed, gotta work on like 20 more essays
Deferred.
What makes this so bad is that I don't know if anything was wrong in my application to make this happen, so I don't know what to fix for the regular decision round.
Deferred....
I just typed up the whole form thing and CC died on me. I'm going to wait awhile (i.e., after the huge wave of college results coming out this week) to post stats.
Teacher Recommendation: One from chem teacher, one from bio teacher, both recommended me with high enthusiasm
Counselor Rec: Recommended me with high enthusiasm
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Biology (Evolutionary and Ecology)
Country (if international applicant): Lebanon
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: Mediocre SAT scores
General Comments: It is not the end of the world if you're deferred or rejected. There are more universities to look forward to hear from under RA plans.
PS: I didn't fill everything out 'cause I'm just that awesome.
SAT I (breakdown): 2320(790/730/800/11) and 2170(680/710/790/12)
ACT: 35(36/35/31/36/11) and 33(34/33/35/28/11)
SAT II: US History 790, Math II 780, Bio-M: 760
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0(4.99 weighted)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 2/793
AP (place score in parenthesis): WorldH(5), EuroH(5), USH(4), English(5), CalBC(4), Biology(5), Chemistry(4), Spanish(3)
IB (place score in parenthesis): MathSL(6), SpanishSL(6)
Senior Year Course Load: 4 IB HLs, plus AP Physics, Env Science, Psycho
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Nothing major
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):Book Club (president), Env Club (VP), Academic Team(Leader), Math Club and Marching Band (leading role, two years)
Job/Work Experience: One year Internship in public defender's office
Volunteer/Community service:500+ hours for the past 3 years
Summer Activities: Bio Research Internship and Travel.
Essays: Good, but not exciting
Teacher Recommendation: Should be good
Counselor Rec: Should be good
Additional Rec: Great
Interview: Not have one
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Biological Science
State (if domestic applicant):CA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: F
Income Bracket: ~140K
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None.
Reflection
Strengths: Good academic scores, good EC
Weaknesses: No flashing awards, no sports
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: No idea, just did not have eye catching stuff I guess.
General Comments:
It is tough to stand out, being an Asian from Ca.
Last edited by longone; 12-17-2011 at 10:57 AM.
Reason: formating
Location: where it's mostly sunny & hot -------> Yale '16
Posts: 9
Blessed
Pick one: Decision: Accepted
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): M: 650 R: 760 W: 740 (2150, second time).....first time was a 2050 with M: 610 W: 710 R: 730
ACT: 30
SAT II: Math II : 650 US History: 700 Literature: 600 (took SAT II junior year but taking literature class senior year)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.92
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/95
AP (place score in parenthesis): Junior Year-
Eng Lang (5), USHist (4), Calc AB (5), Macro Econ (4)
Sophomore year - World Hist (3)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc BC, AP Physics C, AP Eng Literature, AP European History, computer course w/ community college (required course), Health Education (required course), AP Psychology
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar w/ Distinction, Questbridge College Prep Scholar, National Achievement Semifinalist
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Debate (LD) - Captain, various national, state, and local awards Concert Band (Bassoon) w/ multitude of state and local awards, Mu Alpha Theta (VP, tutoring peers), started a debate team w/ friends at an elementary school, various church projects (including teaching sunday school), National Honor Society (President, also various service events, especially tutoring for freshmen)
Job/Work Experience: worked at law firm over summer through local bar association, reference desk clerk at a library
Volunteer/Community service: (see extracurriculars)
Summer Activities: debate camps, library work, church work, math/science camps
Essays: common app, yale supplement, short takes - all were good in my opinion and reflected my sense of self (which was easier to convey on paper than in person )
Teacher Recommendation: one was from law teacher/assist debate coach ... the other was from my physics teacher...I waived my right to read them but have known all my teachers/counselor since fresh yr except for physics which I have known for 2 yrs)
Counselor Rec: (see above)
Additional Rec: n/a
Interview: pleasant and interesting....
[ b]Other[/b][list][*] Applied for Financial Aid?: yes
[*] Intended Major: ethics, politics, and economics
[*] State (if domestic applicant): tx
[*] School Type: selective magnet school
[*] Ethnicity: african-american
[*] Gender: female
[*] Income Bracket: <$65,000
[*] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): .....
[ /list][ b]Reflection[/b]
Strengths: my passion for the things I do/participate in was evident in my essays...
Weaknesses: typo on the word "psychology" in one part of common app with the current year course load (it was correct everywhere else on the app, so it was obvious that it was intially a typo)....other than that, it's difficult to objectively evaluate myself
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: only God knows why...
[ b]General Comments:[/b]...thank God for blessing me with acceptance to yale...i think it is a place where I can further explore myself and hope to grow as a person...congratulations to those accepted and I'm sure God has a plan for those who were deferred or rejected
Last edited by spokenword; 12-17-2011 at 11:43 AM.
