<p>I would like advice and analysis on my chances of getting into Yale, Harvard, Duke or University of Chicago. Every schools policy is different, but from what I have gathered I can apply as a first-year at Yale. I know what I am about to say is going to sound insane, and quite possibly is. My situation is somewhat unique and certainly messy. Like many young American teenagers I got into drugs when I was in high school and adopted a philosophy that seemed to contain poor academic performance as a central tenet. This resulted in a 1.9 high school GPA and no SAT scores. Furthermore I was arrested and charged with two felonies as an adult. This would be for entering unlocked cars. This headfirst dive into oblivion ended with a drug trafficking arrest which carries a 3-30 year prison sentence. Upon hitting the bottom, I gave my life to God, and walked out of jail a free man.</p>
<p>Since I have gotten out I enrolled in an online college, working on a Paralegal degree. So far my GPA is 3.68, with all 3 of the Bs coming from the first classes. I have managed to get a 100% in one of my classes, and earned 672 of 675 available points in my Business Law II class. Most, if not all of my As have been above 96%. I estimate that I will have a 3.7-3.8 GPA by the time that I apply. It is also important to note that during this time I have maintained full employment, working 60 hours per week while receiving As. I recently took the SAT, but do not know the scores yet. Normally I am accommodated for a variety of learning disabilities, and probably only scored an 1850-2100. Despite track record of terrible decisions, I am actually fairly intelligent. With accommodations and studying, a 2300-2400 SAT is extremely feasible. I will be taking the SAT subject tests on Math 1 and U.S. History, with daily study I am aiming for the 700-800 range.</p>
<p>As far as extracurricular activities, I have helped start a homeless feeding ministry. I have roughly 100 community service hours with my local church, as well as 100 volunteer hours for the Salvation Army. I have started a weekly Bible study for underprivileged and drug-addicted youth. I have also been involved in prison ministry, as well as volunteering for the Juvenile Court system. I am very interested in politics, and have volunteered for Congressional campaigns as well as Herman Cains Presidential campaign. Also another fun fact, in 2008/2009 I acted as my own attorney in a misdemeanor case. After legal research, witness prep, and testimony, I was victorious in trial.</p>
<p>I don’t know a lot about paralegal degrees, so please correct me if I am wrong. My concern is that it seems like a this is a technical degree, with classes directed at specific career skills, rather than a liberal arts education.</p>
<p>You don’t say how many credits you have, but I assume that it is less than a full year of courses as defined by Y.</p>
<p>Right now I have 44 credits, and will have 48 in roughly 2 weeks. But as have pointed out the paralegal degree is like a technical degree, where the majority of the course work are law-related classes not part of a liberal arts education. That fact combined with the online element qualifies me as a 1st year applicant. This is what Yale has told me, I am also eligible for Duke and ineligible for Harvard/ UChicago. So I kind of have a benefit of college experience and success, without the handicap of transfer status. What do you think of my chances?</p>
<p>@entomom, if you don’t believe in them, no need to comment on one.</p>
<p>Yale loves stories like that. The only issue is they might think that you might relapse into drugs. I would have to say probably not (though Yale has a reputation for picking idiosyncratic people!) but you could probably get into a good state school and go to Yale for grad/professional education!</p>
<p>Have some more respect for entomom who is a super moderator and probably knows more about college admissions than you will ever hope to know. Without access to much more information than can be posted on college confidential, there is no way to give realistic “chances” to anyone despite this being a popular request. You say that “Yale loves stories like that.” And what is your great expertise as a new member with 16 posts to make a statement like that? The OP should be and probably is well aware that he faces extremely poor odds of admission with a 1.9 HS GPA.</p>
<p>After the OP directly asked me for Chances, I politely (see the “Sorry”), told them that I didn’t do chances. If you don’t agree, that’s fine, but rather than attack another member, you could either discuss your position politely or not comment at all.</p>
<p>I kind of agree with the position that realistic chances are near impossible for us mere mortals to calculate and impose onto others! I say this as the OP, but I figured I would post my circumstances and see if I could receive any useful feedback. Also @Seanleephoto, I hope your right.</p>