I’m an international Asian male student applying for Yale SCEA with FA
GPA:
3.92 (Unweighted)
On an upward curve (got three B’s in freshmen year, one in sophomore, zero in senior)
SAT:
2300 (730/800/770)
(2nd take - no need for combined scores)
SAT II:
US History - 800
Math 2C - 800
Physics - 750
AP:
English Language - 5
US History - 5
US Gov - 5
Comparative Gov - 5
Microeconomics - 5
Macroeconomics - 5
Calculus BC - 5
Psychology - 5
Physics B - 4
EC:
5 out of 10 activities definitely in conjunction with my major Journalism (internships, school paper editor, etc.)
English Debate club member
Swimming varsity team member
School rock band leader,
Volunteering experiences for international events
TEDx Speaker, etc
My counselor commented my ‘story’ is outstanding in my class
Awards:
Have 5 in Debate, MUN, Speech events all at least bronze award
(But no international ones)
Recommendation Letters:
US History teacher - my writing ability and academic ‘intuition’ is exceptional
Debate teacher - said he will comment on my great speech skills
Counselor Letter:
My school’s counselor said I am among the top 2 or 3 in my school’s humanities class and will write that in his report
If this helps any, he personally likes me very much
Essay:
I have one good one to use, according to my teachers and counselor (but not great)
Are my chances reasonable enough to try for Yale?
How about Amherst, Oxford PPE and LSE?
(I am fully aware they would be all crapshots but still)
@ahnoow PPE has a cutthroat applicant pool, but you’d have a chance with that profile. The interview will be key, however-80% of applicants get interviews, but only a quarter of that number will get an offer.
I don’t recommend applying to LSE as an undergrad unless you like the idea of classes taught mostly by graduate students and large class sizes. They have some marquee professors, but the emphasis is definitely on the graduate-level programs. Oddly enough, Thomas Piketty isn’t interested in teaching Econ 101. Who knew?
That’s a large part of the reason that, when UK university league tables are issued every year, LSE regularly ranks at the top, with stellar results in criteria like entry standards, research, graduation %, etc-and still has abysmal student satisfaction. For one example, see the link below.
In short, LSE is one of those schools that have an excellent reputation, one justified by the graduate school, but fail to live up to it at the undergraduate level. My school’s full-time admissions counselor, a UK specialist, advises all but a few students to apply to schools like Warwick or Durham instead.
You are qualified, but you are also in uber competitive applicant pool–International Asian male…you will get serious consideration, but statistically speaking, the odds are not fantastic.
@NotVerySmart Thnx for your valuable insight regarding LSE. I thought undergrad would be naturally as prestigious as grad school but guess that is not the case…
@NotVerySmart is mistaken- the interview rate for PPE is 45%, not 80%, and about 1/3rd get offers. Take a whack at a sample TSA test- as your stats are (obviously) very strong, it will be your TSA score will be what gets you over the interview hurdle. Once you get to interview all bets are off!