Should I bother applying? (Have weird major and interests

Colleges & Universities Yale University
1

<p>I’m a senior this year:</p>

<p>White female, upper-middle class, from Minnesota
large public school</p>

<p>-ACT:32
-WGPA: 3.7 UW: 3.6
-WRank: 43/802 UW: 101/802</p>

<p>-EC’s:
Newspaper (11, 12) Senior Writer, 12 (Given to 3 writers on a staff of 8)</p>

<p>Science Club (10, 11, 12)</p>

<p>3rd-Grade Teacher’s Assistant (10, 11, 12) +100 hours</p>

<p>Volunteer at Summer Reading Program at public library (11, 12)</p>

<p>Student Aid in school office (deliver papers, do paperwork) (10,11, 12)</p>

<p>Customize and sew for Asian Ball-Jointed Dolls since I was 13 years old (paint faces on dolls, make doll clothes. I pay for my hobby by selling doll clothes) I’ll send samples of work.</p>

<p>-Instruments:
Banjo, flute. Have played flute solo in church choir.</p>

<p>-Travel:
England 2005, raised $ through fundraising
Cruzando Lutheran Youth Gathering 2006, raised $ through fundraising</p>

<p>-Academic Honors:
NHS
Honorable Mention, regional science fair-- 2nd prize round-draft to paper</p>

<p>Research paper on the influence of conflict between Catholicism and Buddhism in Vietnam on American religious roles in 1960’s-1970’s submitted to the Concord Review (student research journal)</p>

<p>Research paper on disillusionment and disabuse as themes in 1950’s literarure submitted to the Lincoln Heights Literary Society.
^^^ Both papers written outside of school, not for credit.</p>

<p>** I’ve been uber-Lutheran since I was a baby; I want to major in religion. I’ll put a lot of emphasis in my essays on my knowledge of other religions and on my desire to learn more about different religions.</p>

<p>Should I even bother applying? I know I’d be a weak applicant, and it’d be like an ultimate dream-reach school.</p>

2

<p>You should apply. Even if you are a weaker applicant, you never REALLY know with these colleges. That being said, you should stay realistic. The worst that could happen is you lose a bit of money, right?</p>

3

<p>If you’re willing to pay the application fee and fill out the Yale supplement, there is no reason not to apply. If the time or the money is an issue, I wouldn’t bother. It sounds like you already know it’s a tremendous reach.</p>

<p>Don’t send in examples of your doll work. There’s no need. You can just explain what you do in a supplement.</p>

<p>I would not emphasize your knowledge of other religions. It could easily come off as arrogant.</p>

4

<p>of course you should apply</p>

5

<p>AdmissionsAddict: </p>

<p>Why shouldn’t I send in examples of my doll work? I’m actually pretty good, and not many other kids have the same interest…</p>

<p>How would knowledge of religion come across as arrogant? I’m really interested in different beliefs and religions.</p>

<p>Just curious :(</p>

6

<p>They discourage supplemental materials. If you’re going to send something in, it had better be amazing. If you feel you can’t describe the dolls adequately in words, a couple of photos would be the most I would do. My impression is that there are few people who have a strong enough artistic talent to merit supplemental material. For most people, a description gives the admissions team an excellent sense of what you’re up to.</p>

<p>If your essay is about how you know x, y, and z, then you’re just bragging. Worst case scenario, you’re bragging, it makes for an essay that isn’t revealing, and what you’re bragging about isn’t even that impressive given the Yale pool. If your essay is about your interest and how you developed it, that’s fine. What concerned me was your statement that your essays would (in addition to discussing your interest) emphasize your knowledge of other religions.</p>

7

<p>^^ Okay. Thanks!</p>