Should I apply?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Hi everyone! I’m currently a junior thinking about where I want to apply EA (I could never do ED, I’m too indecisive), but I’m torn between applying to Georgetown EA and a few of my safeties/comfortable target schools, or applying to Yale restricted early action. I know that I’m more likely to get into Yale at all if I apply early, but I’d also be taking on a lot of stress if I don’t get in in terms of 1) having a lot more uncertainty as to whether I’d get in anywhere and 2) having to apply to a lot more schools instead of originally getting into some safeties or target schools. Basically, I don’t want to apply to Yale unless I have a shot of getting in. Obviously nothing can be guaranteed though, it is an incredibly selective school, but I want to know that I have a decent chance.

Stats:
GPA- 4.0 (unweighted)
ACT- 35
APs (by end of senior year, and this is basically the max I can take at my school)- AP US History, AP Psychology, AP Calculus (AB and BC), AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Seminar, AP Literature, AP Statistics, AP World History, as well as a class at a prestigious local liberal arts college (other than this I took all honors courses)

Activities-
Debate team- 4 years (captain, qualifier to both nationals every year, 10 bids to the TOC by mid junior year)
Diversity Trainers- 4 years (leadership)- mentor ship program educating children on diversity
School chapter of High Schools Democrats- 2 years (President)
State chapter of High School Democrats- 2 years (Executive board position)
Fellowship Director of a congressional campaign- 2018 election cycle
State Chair and later Development Director of an education advocacy nonprofit- 2 years
State Director of a democracy advocacy organization- 2 years
Principal’s student committee- 4 years
Volunteer work with local Democrats group- 2 years
Student leader with local gun control awareness organization- 2 years
National Honor Society- 2 years
Marching Band- 4 years (leader)
Symphonic Band- 4 years (1st section)
Chorus- 4 years
Select Chorus- 4 years

Other random things-
Native speaker of both English and Arabic
Middle Eastern
Lived in Egypt as a child
Spanish immersions in Costa Rica and Spain (Freshman and Sophomore summers)
American Politics Institute at Georgetown (Summer 2017)
Debate Camp (Summer 2017)
Extensive travel in the Middle East and Europe

I’m also the daughter of two immigrants, and might be receiving a letter of recommendation from a Yale professor if I apply there early. Nobody from my school has gotten into Yale in recent years as far as I’m aware. Please let me know what you think! I would love to hear about Yale (my #1), Georgetown (also sort of my #1), UPenn, Dartmouth, Brown, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Tufts, American, and George Washington if you know about any of them!

I do completely understand that my chances of getting in Yale or any other school are impossible to determine and based on a ton of subjective factors, but I do want to know if I stand a chance at all. Thank you!!

2

I think you have a chance. Work on getting more matches and safety schools since lots of the school on your list are reaches for everyone.

3

that yale rec will really help you. Good luck!

4

@momofsenior1 Thank you! I definitely plan on doing just that and appreciate the advice!

5

@HighlyIvySavvy That’s super good to know. Thank you!

6

My daughter applied Georgetown EA and to Harvard and Penn (not Yale) RD last year. My impression is that EA at Georgetown doesn’t really help that much compared to RD, while SCEA at Yale could help a little. And you can still apply to public schools EA if you do the SCEA. (In any case, you should probably apply to at least one public school, EA or not.)

For most of the schools on your list, ED would probably help, but EA either wouldn’t help much or they don’t have it. You could theoretically apply ED to somewhere like Penn or Brown (it might help), but, even without your indecisiveness, it’s not a good idea to apply somewhere ED if it’s not either one of your top choices or your only shot at a good school. I think you have a pretty good shot at one (or a few) of the top eight on your list. And if you don’t get into one of those, American or GW could be good for what you’re interested in, and seem pretty likely.