Immigrant Background = Yale Admission???

babuskagirl
Mon, 07 Aug 2006 22:01:28 +0000

Hi everyone,

I’m going crazy (like everyone else) with apps and wondering if I even have a chance of getting into Yale.

Romanian immigrant female with unique background (came here with political refugee grandfather during 1989 anti-communist revolution, separate from mother until I was ten, grew up in mutlicultural ethnic Chicago neighborhood, etc.)

Stats:
ACT: 32, but retaking it (I could get a 34 or 35) Essay: 12
SAT: 2150 Essay: 12 Math: 660 Reading: 690 Writing: 800

Rank: 1/463 (top .002%)

GPA: 4.773/5.0

EC:

1. National Honor Society

2. Runs Bingo games for retirement center every sunday since 2004

3. President of high school debate society- 2nd place speaker, Best legislation

4. Editor high school newspaper

5. Treasurer key club, this year will organize music competition fundraiser at our high school

6. Bilingual: Romanian and English

APs:
English Lit.
Calculus B/C
Biology (5)
Environmental Science
Psychology
History (5)

Will take A.P. Spanish and A.P. Government tests

I thought of centering my essays on my Romanian background and how it has influenced my personality, about our journey to the United States, etc. My second essay is on my experience with rich old ladies at the nursing home, what lessons they have taught me, and the contrast between my life and theirs, and what has brought us together. Too cheesy?

They say that it is quality not quantity of ECs that counts. Thanks in advance for any input!