Olive_Tree

I'm focusing on Yale because I already gave a group of safeties I'll most likely get into, including U of M (in-state). I know there are plenty of other amazing schools to get into other than Yale, and I have already organized my college list which includes reaches, matches, and safeties. Also, I wish people would stop assuming that I'm just sitting around on my butt because I'm not. I've simply decided to not be a procastinator and have had my college list ready since before junior year ended. In addition, for the past week, I've been slaving away on my essays to try to make them as amazing as possible.

Lastly, please don't assume I don't take advice and resort to calling me a "bottomless pit." I just wish to don't mind people who have been arguing with me over taking tests I have no possible way of taking anymore, like the ACT or SAT. Oh and, I'm sorry, I can't help but worry about my scores since it's the only thing people have been choosing to concentrate on in the last three pages of this thread.

Bescraze

if you had done the correct research you would realize that Nov SAt scores will still reach Yale in time for EA--you just need to send them to Yale right away, before you even see what they are. Also its summer, my advice is chill a little. Whats the rush on the essays?

Olive_Tree

Well, I'm going to be really busy come fall and I don't want to send in BS essays. Besides, it's not like I'm going on vacation or anything, so I'd rather do that than sit on my butt and do nothing. So, the SATs are on Nov. 1st; they'll still reach Yale on time? Really?

AmbitiousMind07

Yea...Yale says that the last possible date to take the SAT is November 1 and the last possible date to take the ACT is in October. You will have time to take both: ACT in October and SAT in October & November. (The ACT and SAT aren't on the same day, so that's a good thing!)

Olive_Tree

Well, then... I guess I'll take the SAT in November. It sucks how I'll have to do it cold turkey, but I think the SAT is better since it has the Reading and Verbal, which are areas where I will go great in. Math... eh.

Well, instead of having one more thing to worry about, I won't retake the U.S. Subject Test. Is that a good score if you want to study History, though? If it isn't, should I retake it? This is really stressing me out! Ugh...

Bescraze

wow do you not read people's advice...the history score is fine. I got an 800, but in the end there really is not that much difference in admission criteria between a 720 and an 800.

yalie343

First of all, I think you are becoming too nervous about the whole thing. Try to relax and enjoy the summer a little bit -- Yale is a reach for everyone, and over 90 percent of applicants will be rejected. Just don't obsess too much about it...

That said, I don't understand why you can't study for the SAT instead of taking it "cold turkey" in November. If you do anything this summer, I would work on taking practice tests and trying to be prepared to get a good SAT I score. You can do essays and other application materials later on, but summer is ideal time to practice for the SAT, especially when standardized testing is your weakness.

Olive_Tree

I agree and I definitely will study this summer. I meant cold turkey in that I wouldn't see my score, I will just have to send it in without looking at how I did first.

ivyleaguewannabe

Olive_Tree,

I am in sort of the same situation as you. Will you allow me to give you some input on how I am dealing with my testing schedule and Yale SCEA?

I want to do Yale SCEA, but am probably going to do Yale RD. Here's why. I want to make sure that I have the best standardized test scores as possible. I completely understand the draw SCEA has, but what good does it do if the scores are not as good as they could be?

Also, most of the best students apply Yale SCEA. Now if you think past the initial response to this stat, you will notice that if you feel underpar for Yale by the time SCEA comes along, you will get lost in all the other "better" (for lack of better terms: your stats look pretty good) applicants that apply during EA. But if you apply RD, which is almost 2 months later, you may have some amazing testing scores that will stand out among all the other "not-as-good" applicants.

Just some advice from a novice!!

And what everybody else has said so far is true. Just make sure you don't bomb your chances just to rush the process.

Hope this helps and good luck!

partxtimexlovah

dear ivyleaguewannabe,
how do you exactly know that RD students have lower test scores than SCEA applicants?

Olive_Tree

Thanks for the advice ivyleaguewannabe! However, I'm sure Yale is my first choice, so EA is a bit of a no brainer.

wjb

I believe you are missing ilwb's point. For a student who needs scores from first-semester senior year (post-ED/EA deadline) to bolster his/her academic record, EA or ED is a poor strategic choice, even if he/she has a clear first-choice college. So although Yale is your first choice, applying EA may not work to your advantage. It's possible that you will improve your chances of admission if you raise your scores during first semester, then apply RD.

Olive_Tree

How is it advantageous if I'll the SAT in November and the scores will be sent in time? I think from now up until November I'll have enough to study the SATs and bolster my scores? I don't see the reasoning in that, and if that's a bad move, oh well, I can take the risk.