So ever since touring Yale this summer, it’s become my dream school. Honestly, the number one reason is the community there. I haven’t seen anything quite like it in any other colleges with its residential colleges and the fact that the students there immensely support each other and are genuinely happy because of that support.
By applying restrictive early action to Yale, I know I am taking a chance, as universities such as Cornell, Dartmouth, and UPenn are considered target schools for me and would be a better bet to apply early decision.
As for academics, I am in the top 5% in my school (around 250-260 students), 4.0 GPA unweighted (our GPA scale only goes to 4), commended PSAT/NMSQT scholar, and 1500 SAT. I have also won numerous academic awards (math contests and state competitions). I am increasing the difficulty of my classes in terms of taking AP courses. Once I graduate, I will have taken about 12 AP courses with 4 years of language (Latin) and band (flute).
As for leadership, I was active in the junior and now senior retreat counsel, vice-president for National Science Honor Society, secretary for Latin Club, captain of my Academic team, and youth leader in vacation bible school. I also tutor underprivileged elementary school kids and the science portion of GED classes. I have well over 100 hours volunteering in a senior care center, and 100 hours volunteering at a hospital.
My main extracurricular is definitely music, as I play three instruments fluently. I play flute in band, piano (in which I have received awards) and veena (graduated and had a debut solo concert). Music definitely plays a big role in my life, and I am looking to continuing it throughout college.
If this is serious, Cornell, Darthmouth and UPenn are NOT target schools. For anyone. Soooooo change that mentality right now.
I’d advise you find actual match schools–none of the top 20 schools will be match schools–that have settings/communities that have a similar feel to Yale. I am not an expert on non-Ivies with residential colleges/those feels but I’m sure there are posters on here who will know.
Deep breaths, and start broadening those horizons. Shoot for the dream but anchor yourself in attainable reality. Good luck.
Totally agree with @proudterrier. Cornell, Dartmouth, and UPenn are reaches for literally everyone. Someone with a perfect SAT score and 4.0 GPA could easily be rejected from any of those schools. Not to say that you don’t have a chance, but don’t get your hopes up. I’d say you have an alright chance at Yale. Your SAT might be a bit low and you will really have to focus on the ECs that make you stand out.
The schools you have listed as target schools are NOT target schools. They are reaches…just like the are for almost everyone applying. The acceptance rates hover around 10% which means that 90% get rejected. In those rejected are some mighty strong students.
There are many, many students applying to Yale who have play an instrument well. To be honest, this isn’t going to distinguish you from others in terms of applications.
You have strong grades, and a decent resume.
i would strongly urge you to drop the “dream school” notation.
You don’t mention finances, but before you apply SCEA, I would suggest you run the Yale Net Price Calculator to see if the net cost is affordable for your family. Ditto the other schools on your current list.
Personally, I think you need to create a more balanced list of schools…find a real sure thing, and a coupe of probables. Then sure, apply to Yale SCEA if you want to…you could get accepted…but then again you might not. So just have all of your other applications either submitted or ready to submit…but no other Early ones! Just regular decision.
I understand and thank you. This isn’t my complete college list. I do have other schools I am interested in (UT Austin, UPitt, Drexel, Lehigh). I have done my research on finances and for all the colleges I am planning on applying for, it won’t be a barrier.
I get the notion of “target” if it means that is what you are aiming for but like the others have said, its a shot in the dark really. Your stats are fine for taking the chance, if it is your dream school then apply and see what happens. There are plenty of other matched schools that you can apply to at the same time and once the early admission season is over you can apply to some of the other reach schools if your dream doesn’t pan out. I suggest picking one good school to apply early to you genuinely want to go to and if for some reason you got in that you could save the money on applying to others. I would not do this with an early decision school because you wont have any other options after that. But to take an early chance on a dream school is fine because it is just a dream. If you are accepted, then Yay! If not then you have other options and more time to think about it all. Be sure to apply to a few free admissions and a rolling admission because if all the schools you apply to after SCEA make you wait until the end of spring, that is a LONG TIME to go feeling like you have nowhere to go. Best of luck!