<p>I dropped out of high school and took GED instead. And I’m just wondering if Yale would accept a GED? Would I be eligible to apply? </p>
<p>I know the chance is really slim… but I’d still like to know if it’s possible for me to get in. </p>
<p>Here’s the stat.</p>
<p>GPA: high honor. straight A’s at one of the top boarding schools in CT until the 10th grade (then I had to quit school because of some financial problem) Got almost a perfect score on GED.</p>
<p>SAT: V 770 M 780 W 790</p>
<p>SAT2: 780 Japanese 780 Math 770 US History</p>
<p>EXtracurricular: model united nations, published a book, work experience as an English teacher, mission trip to Africa, have my own business (online business), perfect trilingual</p>
<p>Gender: Female</p>
<p>Ethnicity: Asian</p>
<p>This is it… well, I guess I can try to explain my drop-out story in some impressive way on my personal essay. And I’m not applying for FA. </p>
<p>Search the Yale admissions page or call and ask. The admissions department should be able to answer this question very quickly. I suspect a GED is OK because it’s hard to imagine Yale denying someone outstanding because they have a GED instead of a standard high school transcript. I know Eli Whitney candidates can have GEDs.</p>
<p>I thought that Yale did not in fact require graduation from high school, so the whole question of GED vs. regular diploma would be moot. On the other hand, in many/most cases the circumstances that led one to acquire a GED rather than a regular diploma would not be moot. My guess is that a GED is hardly an absolute barrier, but that there had better be a strong, compelling story to tell. (This is all apart from the Eli Whitney program, where GEDs are probably common.)</p>
<p>Your GED story might be the thing that helps you “stand out” among the many excellent applicants. I would try to go for “heartfelt and moving” in your essay rather than “impressive.” Financial Aid is generally done after admission so that should be irrelevant to your application to Yale. Good luck with writing the happy ending to your educational story!</p>
<p>I was accepted to Yale through the Eli Whitney Students Program. It is untrue that GEDs are common amongst EW students at Yale; I know of both traditional and EW students at Yale College that had GEDs, though its very rare. Almost every school accepts GEDs, and that goes for Yale, though it might be harder to contextualize your academic record that route. </p>
<p>How old are you? If you’re 21+ and have been out of school for more than 3 years then you would be the perfect EW candidate. Your stats and accomplishments look outstanding, two key criteria for the EW program (especially the latter; the EWSP program assesses more carefully what it is that you have been doing while away from school). The other MAJOR factor is your personal essay, which must identify and cogently explain a very “compelling reason” for being a nontraditional student and wanting to study at Yale. </p>
<p>I myself experienced financial problems that forced me to work and take care of my family instead of going straight to college after high school. I made the most of it and traveled/learned/read when I wasn’t working. On that note, you will also want gushing recs from academics preferably. In your case, it will be important to furnish recs from employers, organizations, etc. that can corroborate your backstory and testify to both your skill and character in the face of adversity. </p>
<p>One other strong suggestion: enroll in a cheap, no-name, local university, take a few (4-6) upper-level or graduate courses across the board: hard science to social science to humanities to languages (pick a challenging one) and kick ass in them. Take a couple upper-level seminars and make as many intelligent comments closely related to the required reading as possible without looking like a show-off. Ask for recs only in the classes where you were the top student or among the top students and where you really left a notable impression of your scholastic abilities. That’s what I did since my high school record was mediocre.</p>
<p>With your background and ability, I’m sure you will be a stand-out student at any local college. It seems to me that you will also be an awesome and highly competitive applicant to Yale through the EWSP. Good luck!</p>
<p>Im 23, will be 24 when i apply to YALE. Im looking for some help on what exactly to do about applying to YALE. </p>
<p>My high school expereince was mediocre. I graduated in 2006, and I moved from california to CT in sophmore year. I did not take the SAT’s (should i take them for the sake of applying to YALE?) I cannot remember what my GPA was in high school but i believe i got a solid high B+ average? Since high school i have attended community college for 2 years 2007 and 2008. I then transferred to a one year tech school where i recieved a 3.6 GPA. Im going back to Community college this fall 2011 semester and spring 2011 semester. In high school i was a volunteer with the american red cross, i am First aid, CPR and AED certified. The semester after high school graduation i took off to work for financial purposes, as my parents were in bankruptcy years before we moved to CT and could not afford to send me to a 4 year college. So i chose community college, which was more appropriate for their financial budget. Now almost at age 24 i can apply for my own loans. </p>
<p>These coming semesters i plan on taking some challanging courses and volunteering in some clubs.</p>
<p>I heard EW would be the best choice for me as applying to YALE, is this true?</p>
<p>How can i better my application to get into YALE? its my dream school and i really need some help here.</p>
<p>Spertoso: You would have to apply as a transfer student. The admit rates for those are about 2%. And those who really are in the running are those who already attend other top tier schools or otherwise, turned down Freshman offers to schools like Yale. Tons of 4.0GPA applicants will be turned down. While Yale might be a dream of yours, reality dictates that you set your sights elsewhere, I’m afraid. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Thank you for your honesty, however i firmly believe that someone who takes the “easy” way out never believed in thenselves. You’d be surprised at how many people get into schools purely on “luck”. Just by writting one essay in community college i jumped 2 classes because my english professor took my essay to the dean of english and told him that my words of choice are much to intellectual for his class. Im going to have to say that i disagree with you on this. Miracles happen everyday and im hoping that my essays prove them wrong. Im an all around average american but when it comes to things i want i go after it whole heartedly and nothing stops me. At the age of 18 i had two poems published in a book. I excel in most aspects of school, and i give it my all. Discouraging ones dreams is only stupidity. </p>
<p>Anyone who can answer some questions i have please reply to my post:</p>
<p>I would also like to know how many “average” students apply to any ivy league schools and got in based on different reasons other the grades? Such SAT scores? Extraciricculars? The application essays itself? </p>
<p>Im one determined woman!
I have two poems published in a book, i’ve worked full time while going to school full time, i have a good GPA, i have volunteered, i plan on taking the SAT’s this fall and attending some difficult courses. What else should i do to prove i belong there? My essays will be swift, my best subject is english so im not worried about that part of the application. Afterall i did skip 2 classes because of one essay i wrote 2 weeks into the semester. </p>
<p>Anyone one have any advice? (please refrain from discouragment, i believe in myself)</p>
<p>This a sampling of accepts and rejects for this year’s incoming Freshman class. And these applicants are accepted at roughly THREE TIMES MORE than transfer applicants – i.e. about 2/3 of the few “accepts” in this list would be transfer rejects.</p>
<p>If you see yourself as a lover of learning and analytical thinking and creativity, then you should also be able to examine a situation and gain direction on which path to choose. As I said before, transfer accept rates are about 2%. The kids on the thread I cited have about a 7% chance of being admitted. </p>
<p>While I don’t doubt you have success in your path, I’m afraid your view of being admitted to Yale is clothed in fantasy more than on facts. Luck? Sure – anyone who gets in is “lucky”. But to rely on a miracle – makes one scratch the head.</p>
<p>Im not relying on a miracle, i am going to rely on my abilities. I would rather say i have tried and failed then to regret and not try at all. Thank you for the advice.</p>
<p>T26E4: I also thank you for the information about all the rejections from Yale. But i have done a lot of research on Yale’s website and everything comes down to diversity! They want someone who stands out! As those applicants have incredible accomplishments, everyone has the same story. 4.0 GPA, AP classes, some of the essays Yale sees over and over. All i am saying is, Yale needs diverse students who are NOT only smart but really STAND OUT! Anyway, yale has seen these types of students apply over and over, and if yale let in every student just because they have a 4.0 GPA then there would be no room for anyone. Thats why i firmly hope I will be the one who stands out in my essays. I have a reason and a purpose to stand out.
Thank you again for all of your information. It was very helpful.
“crossing fingers” fall of 2012 :)</p>