Am I too lopsided?

Colleges & Universities Yale University
1

<p>I applied SCEA and like everyone else here I’m getting more and more nervous as Dec. 15 approaches…good luck to us all!</p>

<p>However in my application there is really only one thing standing out over and over again. I’m worried that I might not be showing enough “well-roundedness” sought by colleges.</p>

<p>Here it is:</p>

<p>Chess - 14 years</p>

<p>5-time Canadian champion, 15-time provincial champion
Twice national representative at world youth (top 50 worldwide U18)
Qualified for adult provincial championships 9-player final 4 times, best finish 4th</p>

<p>Six private students, coached 2 provincial champions in their grade
Recruited by two high school to act as head coach of their teams, led 1 team to Eastern Canada 1st place
President and founder of school chess club
Organized 4 chess camps for kids last summer, acted as coordinator and instructor</p>

<p>Both my essays were chess-based, but deals with different things. One is a reflection about how teaching led me to understand myself, and another tells the story of the things I learned from a local arbiter who recently passed away.</p>

<p>Excellent additional rec from executive director of the largest chess organization in Canada</p>

<p>Aside from that…I won a French Canada math competition and did well in a few others
200 hours of volunteering @ local hospital, nothing much
Some sports, not competitive
Concert flute (no prizes or anything)</p>

<p>What do you guys think? Should I try to show more of another side of me in my other applications?</p>

<p>Thanks for reading!! Sorry for the length</p>

<p>PS. my stats
Rank 20/450, highly competitive private school, top in province
GPA 94/100
SAT I 800 R 800 M 770 W (11E) - 2370 one sitting
SAT II 800 Math IIC 800 Chem 770 Bio M
School doesn’t offer AP
OK recs from teachers and counselor, not sure</p>

2

<p>Top colleges like “pointy” kids, too. You look like a strong candidate, and I think focusing your essays on multiple aspects of chess is fine. Several of my son’s essays were also narrowly focused, on different aspects of a single, non-conventional (even potentially controversial) area of interest. I worried about it at the time. But he portrayed himself honestly, and colleges got him. He had outstanding admissions results.</p>

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<p>^ok you got me curious…what was this potentially controversial thing he was talking about? i can’t really think of any interests that are controversial unless he talked about being a passionate member of westboro or something. lol.</p>

4

<p>you’ll do fine</p>

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<p>His religious faith.</p>

6

<p>Thanks guys, I actually feel better now =D</p>

<p>Now I’m just going to stare at that 3% international admissions rate and hope…</p>

<p>Does anyone know how many people from Canada got in last year SCEA/total?</p>