Any advice for 007?

Colleges & Universities Yale University
1

<p>Hey all. I’m a junior right now at a competitive public school. Yale is my first choice - I’m going to apply SCEA this fall. What do you think my chances are, and do you have any advice on things I can improve on by next year?</p>

<p>[Academics]
GPA: 3.96
WGPA: 4.75
No rank
Courseload: 5 college prep courses, 9 honors, 8 AP, 2 at Princeton University, 1 independent study on environmental studies; skipped 2 years of math, 1 year of programming, 1 year of chemistry, and 1 year of music theory; exhausted all bio courses at my school, so I’m taking 200-level classes with Princeton students next year –> hardest courseload in my grade</p>

<p>[Test scores]
SAT M: 800
SAT CR: 720
SAT W: 720
SAT II Bio: 800
SAT II Chem: 800
SAT II Math 2: 800
AP’s sophomore year: Computer Science A 5; self-studied Biology 5 and Environmental Science 4
AP’s junior year: Calculus AB, Chemistry, English Language; self-studying Human Geography, Psychology, Statistics</p>

<p>[Primary extracurriculars and TERMINAL officer positions]
Environmental Club - President (and founder)
Debate League - President
Tutoring Society - President
Amnesty International - Vice President
Model United Nations - Vice President</p>

<p>[Secondary extracurriculars]
French National Honor Society
Science Club
Soccer</p>

<p>[Recognitions]
USA Biology Olympiad semifinalist (top 500 in the nation)
NJ Science League qualification and certificates
NJ Governor’s School on the Environment nominee, finalist, then the program was canceled
AIME qualifier (115 AMC 12)
Shore Bowl quarterfinalist and team captain
NJ Scholars Program (humanities focus) nominee, finalist, scholar
Princeton University Moot Court Tournament seventh place team/quarterfinalist
Colonial Valley Conference fourth place team
Varsity Policy and Lincoln-Douglas debate teams
JPMorgan Chase Lincoln-Douglas Tournament Award
AP Scholar last year, hopefully National AP Scholar this year
…And some other small stuff</p>

<p>[Summer activities]
2003 - travel in Europe and Asia
2004 - skipped 2 courses
2005 - skipped 1 course, worked as a tutor
2006 - NJ Scholars Program, Environmental Management course through Harvard SSP, JSA symposium on leadership and politics, maybe getting a job and/or a course or two at the local CC if possible</p>

<p>I’ve explored the fields of biology and public policy throughout high school, and they overlap nicely in the field of environmental studies, which I plan to major in in college.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any comments. :)</p>

2

<p>For a second, I thought you were James Bond. Lol.</p>

<p>No matter how stellar your stats are (very impressive, btw), Yale is always a reach for everyone. I know one person who had stats like yours got rejected by one of Ivy League schools. You have a good chance of getting in, but don’t be surprised if you get rejected or waitlisted. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Those certainly look like some strong numbers - well done!</p>

<p>My only advice is that you make sure that your passions come through on your application. Don’t allow the admissions panel to brush you aside as just another overachiever - make sure they understand that you truly love what you do, and so your numerical triumphs are a natural corollary of that love, as opposed to a demonstration of your ability to test well. Or maybe even write about something unrelated to your academic successes that highlights a more earthy, humorous, or thoughtful side. I wrote my common app essay on how my work mentoring a kindergartener has helped make sure I’ve got my priorities straight and has helped to remind me that the time to act like a 40 year old man is when I’m a 40 year old man. I wrote my supplementary essay on being a former fat kid and how it’s helped my character development. I guess the key to any of those types of essays is to stay off the soapbox and see if you can be somewhat self-deprecating with them - no one wants to read 500 words of self-congratulation.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

<p>Sincerely yours,
DMW</p>

4

<p>Yes, I do agree that a bit of humility is a sign of sincere strength. I was planning on writing one essay on my academic interests and one to magnify my character (or, as my sister calls it, my “quirks” haha). I think I’ll be able to tie my interests together in a cohesive essay and get that through pretty easily, as I have spent the last three years developing my interests and a few of the recent weeks shaping them into tangible interests that I can express through my admission profile (the whole biology + public policy thing). The tough part will be deciding what part(s) of me to emphasize with my other essay, that nobody else would be able to talk about. No pressure, no pressure. ;)</p>

<p>Thanks, dmw123.</p>