chance me, please! :)

Colleges & Universities Yale University
1

<p>I applied to Yale SCEA and am eagerly and anxiously awaiting Dec. 15! :confused: Btw if this format looks familiar, it is from my friend josiah ha.
Test Scores
* SAT I (breakdown):2150 (M: 710, W: 740, CR: 710)
* ACT: 32
* SAT II:
o Math IIC (710)
o US History (710)
o Literature: To be taken in December</p>

<p>Academics</p>

<pre><code>* Unweighted GPA: 3.97

  • Weighted GPA: 4.37
  • Rank: 5/322 (behind four valedictorians)
  • AP Tests:
    o Biology/Macroeconomics/Literature/Calc BC: Take in May 2009
    o European History (4)
    o US History (4)
    o Calculus AB (4)
    o Physics B (2)
    o English Language/Composition (4)
  • IB: None taken
  • Senior Year Course Load:
    o AP Calculus BC
    o AP English Literature/Composition
    o AP Macroeconomics
    o Journalism
    o AP Biology
    o Tennis/Soccer/Track
    </code></pre>

<p>Awards/Achievements</p>

<pre><code> o National Merit Commended Scholar (215 PSAT score)
o AP Scholar w/Honor
o Pepperdine Youth Citizenship Seminar 2008
o Girls State 1st Alternate 2008 (our school only send 1 girl)
o Microsoft Digigirlz Technology Camp 2008 at UCI
o Homecoming Princess 2008 (most prestigious on campus)
o Questbridge College Prep Scholarship 2008
o Graduation Ceremony Flower Girl 2008
o Senior Superlative: Most Likely To Succeed 2008
o Nominated to apply for Principal’s Leadership Award 2008
o Nominated for Toyota Community Scholars Scholarship 2008
o Covina High Girl of the Month 2008
o Interact Symposium 2008
o First Aid/CPR Certified 2008
o LA World Affairs Council
</code></pre>

<p>Extracurriculars:
o School Newspaper (11-12, only upperclassmen allowed on staff)
Positions: Editor-in-Chief, News Editor
o Student Council (9-12)
Positions: Public Relations
o Interact (9-12): Community Service Club
Positions: Vice president, public relations, board member shadow
o Associated Student Body (9-12)
Positions: Secretary of Renaissance, Winter Formal committee chairman,
Renaissance committee
o Alcyonians: All-girl service club
Position: Vice president, activities commissioner, public relations. In
charge of Sadie Hawkins dance, beach cleanups, Secret Teacher
exchanges.
o Tennis (JV: 9-10, Varsity: 11-12)
Positions: #1 doubles on Varsity, captain
Achievement: 2nd round CIF, qualified for CIF Individuals, First Team
All-League, Academic All-League (2 years), League Champions 4 years in a
row
o Asian Culture Club (9)
o Mix It Up Club (9): Assimilation luncheons to bring cliques together
o California Scholarship Federation (9-12)
Positions: President
o Soccer (2 years JV, 1 year Varsity)
Positions: JV captain and left midfield, varsity: to be determined
o Track & Field: 3 years</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Job/Work Experience: </p>

<pre><code> o Covina High School Library Tutor: 2 years, 6+ hours a week, tutor
students from CHS and other schools in the district.
o Tin Frogs Antique Store Sales Clerk: 2 months, 7 hours a week
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Volunteer/Community service: 500+ hours </p>

<pre><code> o Tom Sawyer Camps Counselor (summer 2008, 140 hrs)
o San Gabriel Children’s Center Volunteer Coordinator
o CAHSEE tutor (30 hrs)
o Rowland Elementary School Afterschool Tutor (50 hrs)
o Many, many Interact service projects (200-300 hrs)
o Summer School Spanish Teacher’s Aide (180 hrs)
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Summer Activities:</p>

<pre><code> o Tom Sawyer Camps Counselor
o Pepperdine Youth Citizenship Seminar (275 students, mainly in SoCal, some
from other states)
o San Gabriel Children’s Center
o ASB/Interact Retreats
</code></pre></li>
<li><p>Essays:
o Personal Statement: How a trip brought out the adventurous side of a girl
who was previously used to playing by the rules to the T. Very well written,
praised by AP Lit teacher for originality. Extended metaphor throughout.
o Secondary Essay: An autistic toddler I met at camp and the lesson he
taught me</p>

<ul>
<li>Teacher Recommendation: AP Lit teacher praises my intellectual vitality, eagerness to
learn. AP Calc teacher calls me one of the best students.<br></li>
<li>Counselor Rec: Generic but praises everything I do. I am close to him because
he is in charge of CHS Tutoring Program.</li>
</ul></li>
</ul>

<p>Other</p>

<pre><code>* State: CA

  • School Type: Public
  • Ethnicity: Chinese-Vietnamese mix
  • Gender: Female
  • Income Bracket: 75k
  • Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): 1st gen college student, parents
    were boat refugees from Vietnam, live in a city where academic standards
    equate to community college. Avg SAT is 1500. Few students sent to schools
    of prestige.
    </code></pre>
2

<p>I somehow think you have an excellent shot at Princeton.</p>

<p>Competitive for Yale as well, but that Physics B might bite you.</p>

3

<p>thanks so much! makes me feel better about my applications lol.</p>

<p>haha where did the princeton comment come from? i AM applying there actually. :)</p>

4

<p>u really upset me T<em>T i dunt even think i deserve to apply to Yale
i got like 580 for CR, no awards T</em>T activities notihng compared to urs.</p>

5

<p>SAT/II’s/APs are low for Yale. 1st gen and involvement is good, but nothing really jumps off the page.</p>

6

<p>thanks for the honest opinions, guys.</p>

<p>anyone else? please help me out! i’m very nervous and want to know if i have any sort of chance :/</p>

7

<p>I think you have a pretty good chance w/ your activities.
In order for yale to see all these activities you have to be able to fit it in the limited space provided How were you able fit all your activities on the common app?</p>

8

<p>i attached a short and concise resume as an additional doc (they have room for you to attach things you feel should supplement your app)</p>

9

<p>

</p>

<p>Just wondering about these awards-- at my school these types of “awards” are seen as a bit superficial (homecoming princess is more of a popularity/beauty contest)-- is this different at your school?</p>

10

<p>I think these peer-voted “awards” do say something positive about the applicant–that she is well-liked in her school, even though she is a high-achieving student. I think that’s positive. They don’t substitute for academic and other awards, but I would leave them on the resume.</p>

11

<p>Like someone said before, scores are sorta low for Yale, especially as an Asian applicant dealing with affirmative action.</p>

<p>You seem pretty involved, but I’m seeing my breadth than depth
</p>

<p>I’d say you have a shot, but not a great one.</p>

12

<p>

</p>

<p>Whatever, mistofthekane. Don’t give the OP a reason as absurd as AA to blame if she happens to get rejected. And her scores are not “sort of low”; they fall in nicely with Yale’s average student body.</p>

<p>Geesh.</p>

<p>Good luck, cassielam09! I’m a SCEA candidate, too, so let’s pray together! :)</p>

13

<p>agreed^
the scores are within the average, so what does it matter?</p>

14

<p>With average scores, it’ll take an extra wow factor.
I don’t think the OP would blame affirmative action anyway, especially as a first-generation applicant and someone who probably realizes that this is Yale and anything is possible.</p>

15

<p>the wow factor can come in forms of her essays and teacher recs
we don’t know. admissions is holistic, not numeric. i hope the OP doesn’t blame AA, but you seemed ready to give her a reason to on your previous post. that’s what disappointed me. </p>

<p>anyway, with Yale, you’re right; anything sure can happen for anyone. :)</p>

16

<p>So many of the posters above are saying that these scores are low, especially for an Asian. So would these scores be decent for an applicant of non-Asian descent? Not to hijack or anything, but my final SAT superscored composite is 2170. I am not asian or a minority, just your average middle-class white male student. I know this score won’t shoo me in, but is it still a competitive score for my situation?</p>

17

<p>thanks so much guys! like every other SCEA applicant i am probably super paranoid right now so any comment helps a lot :)</p>

18

<p>notastalker!!- at my school, homecoming court is the most prestigious in that it goes to the 5 girls on campus who are most involved. you can say the most popular girls as well because you’re known on campus if you’re involved :)</p>

<p>as for the graduation ceremony flower girl, also goes to 2 most involved juniors who stand out most to the current senior class.</p>

<p>btw GOOD LUCK ALL YOU GUYS :slight_smile: it’s a pretty exciting/scary time but I hope we all have a spot in yale’s class of 2013!</p>

19

<p>haha cassielam09, you are quite a lot like me . except that im international and you aren’t
 and you are first gen and im second gen
 i have “lower” scores like you, am asian and involved at a wide range of activities. It is a harsh time for admissions, but let’s hope for the best!!! You seem like a really nice person! hopefully, we’ll see each other at yale
</p>

20

<p>mistofolis, what is ur ethnicity?? - -"
and u say 2150 is low for SAT?? mine is like a bit above 2000 only!</p>

<p>wait, is eng ur first language??</p>