I could possibly take physics honors during the summer through FLVS and AP Biology during the school year.
Do you think that’s necessary or will just one suffice?
AP Biology is thought to be one of the most difficult AP courses offered through the College Board. As such, it tends to bring down the GPA of most students who decide to take it – unless those students are really Bio nerds heading for med school. Does that sound like you? I would take physics honors during the school year instead, as Yale and other selective colleges seem to like a well-rounded student who has taken the holy trinity of Bio, Chem & Physics.
So do you think this schedule is best to increase my chances:
AP English Literature
AP Spanish Literature
AP European History
AP Statistics
AP U.S. Government
Physics 1 Honors
Law 2 Honors
Law 3 Honors
College Admissions is anything but transparent. As far as I’m aware, Yale has not said HOW they evaluate a student’s transcript, but many colleges evaluate a transcript – and recalculate a student’s GPA – by just looking at five core courses every year: Math, Science, English, History and Foreign Language.
If Yale recalculates your GPA, they’ll notice you took two Law Honors courses, but they will NOT include those courses in a recalculated GPA, even if you received A’s in the courses. That’s true also for courses such as Physical Education, Drama, Music, Art, Health etc. That’s one reason why having Math in your senior year is MORE important than having elective courses such as Law 2 & Law 3. So, I would drop the law courses and take a math course.
As an additional note: Yale does NOT have an undergraduate major in law, so your interest in the subject shows a passion for something that Yale doesn’t offer: http://catalog.yale.edu/ycps/majors-in-yale-college/. FWIW: Very few top 50 college offer an undergraduate degree in law, so if you are really interested in law, you should be looking at other undergraduate colleges: https://thebestschools.org/rankings/best-bachelors-legal-studies-degree-programs/
- Legal Studies is not law; to prepare for law school you’d major in philosophy, history, etc.
- you do have a math course (AP stats)
- no need to have two ‘law honors’, is there a reason you’re taking both? What else could you take among honors or regular courses (you already have a lot of APs, so don’t overload, you’re already over what I’d consider optimal but in your situation it’s probably the best combination) as I think one “HS law” course is probably sufficient as far as electives go? What are you interested in?
I’m taking both to graduate from the law academy at my school.
And I want to do a history major in undergrad.
Does it matter that you graduate from the law academy? Is that a graduation requirement?
Not really. I wouldn’t really be taking any other core subject though, since I’m already taking an AP Math, Science, History, English, and Foreign Language class.
The only other option would be an elective like World Religion or Teacher Aid.
World religions sounds interesting and perhaps more academic - which makes me think : what des the law 1-2-3 H sequence entail? What do you study? What sort of papers? (<= You’ll need to write a sentence in Additional information to explain).
Between law honors and world religions which has the best teacher?
Thing is, that’s a lot of AP for an under-performing hs. I wonder if this is a case where it’s a “striving” hs, for the better performing kids. Despite the low school SAT average, OP can be looked at as having a higher opportunity than kids who won’t land in college. (Some require all kids to take the std tests, regardless of college plans or not.)
It can be an issue that OP has three 4 and one 3 score in all the AP humanities taken. They could choose to more or less ignore the 650 math, for a history major. But these AP scores are in his general interest area. And not balanced (or over-ridden) by the ECs, which focus on the high school offers. The law academey is ok, but a bit of a sidetrack, not core (as someone said,) often a magnet school option. There’s no vol work shown or comm service or outside activity that reflects an interest in law. Teen Court is good, but not comm svc. Many high schools actually facilitate this.
Same issue for Bates, Bowdoin, Williams. OP is clearly looking forward, has goals. But the competition is tough.
I’m sorry my comments seem harsh. But the question is what you can do to fine tune, starting now. If you dig into what Yale looks for, they talk leadership, but that’s not all about titles. It has as much to do with how one goes beyond, whether for personal growth or impact for others.
And I wonder if OP omitted some activities he/she does. So, think about it. You’d need to get better AP scores now and add something, incl comm service.
Think about i a Yale level is that important to you. Imo, the real goal is where you can be empowered, catch fire. Not the prestige of the college.
My school offers about 15 AP classes, most of which have around 5-15 students. Our AP program is very limited, especially when it comes to the resources that we have.
An activity I didn’t mention was that I tutor eligible high school seniors to pass their citizenship tests. I work with them on basic history knowledge and practicing their English.
Also, as I commented on my first post, I am an Officer for NHS. We volunteer in a lot of community service events to help out our community, one of our most regular events being visiting a nursing home each month and spending time with them, talking and playing games.
Also, as YCW President, I am able to create a lot of activities to raise awareness of various issues affecting students at my school, such as drug and alcohol abuse and bullying.
I wasn’t very descriptive on my activities but I do put in a lot of work for each of them.
The Law Program has a better teacher, whom I know better.
That teacher is writing my recommendation letter, which is why I wanted to have as many of her classes as possible.
She is also my APUSH teacher, and my sponsor for Law, YCW, NHS, and Mock Trial.
With 15 AP, that’s not limited. Limited is the schools that offer 4-6, if any.
NHS is no tip. Find CC threads that explain this. Most vol work through NHS is dart in and dart out, more socializing with buds, than rolling up your sleeves for the needy. Talking with the elderly is no tip, no challenge. Same for “raising awareness.” Tutoring for citizenship is nice, but what’s it mean to you? Is it outside the hs, a community program?
It’s not about titles and not about hours. Sorry to be blunt, but when Yales brags about some students, do you thnk they say, “And he plays games with the elderly?”
If your future includes the possibility of law school, then Yale would seem to be a top choice for this goal:
(Source: College Transitions. Top Lawyer Producer Schools – Infographic.)
Look at portraits of admitted students on websites to have an idea.
BUT, the challenge is getting an admit to undergrad, at one of those. First things first.
No, that’s not the point. These portraits give an idea of the variety and level of achievements that admitted students have managed. If there is a page for first gen students, look at it too (even if pure not first Gen but especially if you are).
@gibby students who go on to law school do not need to major in “law”. I personality do not even know what schools offer this as a major. Just like you don’t major in “pre-med” you don’t have to have something related to the law to go to law school. Many students major in things like history, poli sci, and English. You can be a science major and go on to law school.
I generally agree to look at ‘portraits’ and suggest it for undergrad. (I was referring to merci’s post.)
But this is about OP’s original question, first. He’s not choosing among collges yet or even in college and asking about law school chances.
I am going to be a bit more positive here given OP’s background. I know Yale is making a serious commitment to reach out to underrepresented schools and groups. S is paid to go to a number of URM majority and rural schools by the AO in our region during the various breaks to encourage the “diamonds in the rough” to apply and to dispel misconceptions about Yale, especially its affordability to middle and lower income families. Calculus > Stats, but I don’t believe it would be a huge factor here, especially if OP would struggle both in at least earning a B and possibly impacting other classes. If OP is Questbridge eligible, he should definitely try that route initially. Leadership is important, but is measured in the context of what is available to the applicant. The “law” focus and academy I would view as a positive, not because it better prepares him for Yale courses, but it indicates a focus and direction that OP wants to go. All this being said, Yale would still be a super high reach. Factors that could make a positive difference: increase your SAT math score; get great LoR’s that tie facts/anecdotes to positive attributes (e.g. leadership, perseverance, intelligence, curiosity, empathy); essays that also portray these positive attributes by providing factual substance, especially when discussing your major EC’s.