Too high?

Colleges & Universities Yale University
1

<p>I posted this in the main forum and got a couple good responses, but I figured it would behoove me to post it on the actual Yale forum.
Chances!</p>

<p>High School
Competitive suburban public
White/Male</p>

<p>GPA:
5.304 weighted (5.0 scale)</p>

<p>General courseload
Took 1 AP class freshman & sophomore year, 4 APs junior year. Challenging courseload, but took Gifted and Talented program.</p>

<p>Senior courses:
AP English Lit
AP Microeconomics/Government
AP Statistics
AP Biology
AP European History
PAP Latin IV
Concert Band
Professional Internship Program (at a hospital)</p>

<p>Rank:
20/490</p>

<p>SAT(superscore):
M:740
CR:690
W:760
Total:2190</p>

<p>ACT:
Composite: 30</p>

<p>SAT Subject tests:
American History: 720
Math Level 1: 700
Math Level 2: 710</p>

<p>AP:
Human Geo: 3
Eng. Lang: 4
Chem: 4
Psych: 4
World Hist: 5
US Hist: 5</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
-Class President (9-12)
-InterACT (11-12) President (12)[service organization affiliated with Rotary Club]
-Rachel’s Challenge (11-12) Treasurer (11) Vice-President (12) [outreach committee]
-Marching Band (9-12) Varsity Show (9-12)
-Band Council Treasurer (12)
-Students Against Destructive Decisions (11-12)
-Student Council (9-12), Representative
-Drill Team Honor Guard (12)
-Cross Country(11)</p>

<p>Awards:
-AP Scholar with Distinction
-award given to students who exhibit character (received sophomore and senior year)
-outstanding band member of the week (9,10)
-best overall low reed (11, 12)
-National Honor Society
-Superior division on UIL Solo and Ensemble (9, 10)
-State-bound for Destination Imagination-Improv
-Homecoming Court (1 of 3 senior guys elected to the Court)</p>

<p>Community Service
-Medical mission trip to China (50+ hours)
-Mission trips to Mexico w/ Rotary (16 hours)
-Vacation Bible School, Sunday school teaching, and counseling at church camp (70 hours)
-Internship at local hospital (100 hours)</p>

<p>Teacher Recs:
I didn’t read 'em, but I was told they were “glowing”.</p>

<p>Essay:
I wrote about my medical mission trip over to China and about how I realized what I’m supposed to do in my life through my experiences over there.</p>

2

<p>crapshoot. :)</p>

3

<p>You have about a week to find the real answer. Posting “chances” here won’t get you anything that you don’t already know, right?</p>

<p>Good luck to you nonetheless!</p>

4

<p>haha, that is true. it’s my scots-irish roots…i get pretty impatient. but it’d be nice to see if I’m worthy by CC standards.</p>

5

<p>one thing which i feel most CCers miss out in chances threads is to post what they wrote in their essasy…i think essays play a major role in deciding hwo gets accepted…if your essays highlight something unique about yourself which not many applicants have, then i think that will get you in…</p>

6

<p>You’re a great applicant, no doubt about it, but Yale may be a little bit of a reach. Comes down to the intangibles.</p>

7

<p>Definitely possible. SAT a little low for a competitive suburban school, but i know plenty of yalies w. lower scores. Nobody can tell you anything definitively, but you have a shot.</p>

8

<p>your med trip to china may be your strongest point, and how well you wrote your essay on that will be very important.</p>

<p>gl</p>

9

<p>I’d agree that you won’t get in on your scores–SAT or AP. Did you take calculus or physics? You’d have to knock em dead with your essays. Good luck, in any case.</p>

10

<p>Am I the only one with the impression that all people who open chance me threads are almost identical? :slight_smile: There are thousands of you and you all have the same stats/essays/recommendations… aaaaaaaah Not only that, the answers are always the same, too.</p>

11

<p>avrah it is because these are all excellent candidates that have done everything,making admission decisions really confusing.</p>

12

<p>You are below average academically for a white suburban male with an obvious display of privilege. Your ECs are quite bland; I don’t see what you will add and your essays were a disaster, unbelievably stereotypical. Considering that you have never worked in your life your mission trip essays sound like this:
'Hi, I am a privileged boy from the suburbs who has never had to work in his life so I spent my summers volunteering and going on mission trips, I couldn’t believe that everyone does not live like me. I was so touched by the people living in Mexico and China. Despite the fact that I have not excelled considerably in relation to my peers on the academic or EC fronts, you should accept me because I want to help the world."</p>

<p>You really should have read a few admissions books before writing your essays/filling out your application. I can guarantee a rejection on this one.</p>

<p>You really should take a look at the 2011 RD thread to get a taste of the caliber of students being admitted. In fact, everyone who posted saying that he has a great chance should also examine the thread. You will all be unpleasantly surprised how difficult it truly is to be admitted to a top school</p>

13

<p>1MX, no need to be harsh</p>

14

<p>1MX, you seriously sound like you have a grudge or something. You don’t know how eloquently our OP wrote his essay. You’re just twisting it to suit your fancy.
And c’mon, how “stereotypical” is it to go out and buy books to write an admissions essay? Hypocrisy is not the best way to argue a point, mate.
And I don’t see crap about how our OP is priveleged. Again, this is proof of your prejudice against him.</p>

15

<p>Funny, I definitely had two jobs in order to pay for my mission trip. I appreciate what everyone has said, including the harsher commentary. Regardless of whether you believe so or not, I know I would be able to make a huge difference as a person. I may not have outstanding awards or shocking ECs, and I realize my rank is not of extraordinary merit. But I do have a sense of direction, and if Yale cannot tell that, then so be it.
I respect your opinion, 1MX, but I believe your presentation was a rather biting one. Your example of my essay was particularly offensive, for you made unmerited judgments. But I thank you for your criticism; I thank you all for your help.</p>

16

<p>^^^^^^
actually, you’re the type of person that not only Yale, but the world needs…
:)</p>