what can i work on?

Colleges & Universities Yale University
1

<p>I realize I don’t really want a chances thread because the real answer for anyone is reach. So, I’m just wondering what I can, or should, work on before I send in my app in october (im SCEAing).</p>

<p>Hispanic Male
Unweighted 3.8/4.3
11th Grade
School doesn’t Rank
Stuyvesant High School (NYC, NY)
Born in Seoul, South Korea
Languages spoken: English, Korean, Spanish</p>

<p>SAT’s:
800 Math
760 CR
750 Writing (12 Essay)</p>

<p>SAT II:
740 Biology M
800 Math IIC
740 Physics
640 Spanish</p>

<p>AP’s:
AP Euro History – 4
AP US History - 4
AP Psychology- 5
AP Calculus BC - 5
AP Spanish Language- 4
AP Physics C: Mechanics- 5
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism- 5</p>

<p>Planning to take Senior Year: AP US Gov (4-5), AP Comp Gov (4-5), AP Chemistry (5), AP Spanish Literature (3+), AP English Literature (3+)</p>

<p>Intended Major: Psychology/ Neuroscience</p>

<p>Classes for Senior Yr: AP English Lit, Multivariate Calculus, Differential Equations, AP US Gov, AP Comp Gov, Economics, AP Spanish Lit, AP Chemistry, Electronics, Kickboxing</p>

<p>Awards/ Honors/ Special Stuff:
National Honor Society, Member of the Month
Spanish Honor Society
National Merit Semifinalist
National Hispanic Recognition Program
Independent Research Paper (70 pages) freshman year
Short Story published in Spain</p>

<p>Major School Extracurriculars:
1.)The Spectator- (school newspaper) Reporter + Columnist (9-12)
2.)Student Union Newsletter- Writer (10), Editor (11-12)
3.)Student Union Special Events- Member (9-10), Director (11-12?)
4.)Producer, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (11)
5.)Producer, Fiddler on the Roof (12)
6.)SING! Producer, Costume Assistant Director (9-11) (student-run friendly competition, grades split up to make one-hour musicals, judged by alumni, biggest event at our school)
7.)Girl’s Varsity Volleyball Team Manager (11-12)
8.)Diwali Festival: Event Sales Coordinator (took care of raffles and ticket sales, raised $600 for charity) (11)
9.)Raised $250 selling cookies in school for Middle East relief fund (11)</p>

<p>Outside Extracurriculars:
I.) Afterschool:

  1. NYU Medical Mentorship Program (11-12)</p>

<p>II.) Summer:
1.) SSHSAT (Specialized Science High School Admissions Test) Tutor (2004) (Paid) (10)
2.) Return to Motherland Program to South Korea (2005)- won a contest, hundreds applied, only ~40 people got opportunity to travel around S. Korea for free and see the sites, televised in S. Korea (yay, I’m famous =P), first non-full-blooded Korean teenager to get accepted into program (10)
3.) Study Abroad to Spain- took 1 undergrad and 1 grad course in spanish in madrid- 1 month (11)</p>

2

<p>anyone? at least one reply would be helpful</p>

3

<p>hispanic male born in seoul south korea! that souonds really interesting tom e. tell me about it…! spit it out asian (my friend used to awlays say that …lol …to HERSELF lol)</p>

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<p>ur stats are amazing and since ur an URM… u have a good shot</p>

5

<p>Since you’re applying SCEA, there’s not much you could really work on before sending in the app. I think you’re in really good shape, though, so I wouldn’t worry about it. Just keep up what you’re doing.</p>

6

<p>well i don’t really see anything that you can work on… I’d say you have a higher than average chance of getting in …I’d bet money you would get in such every thing seems to be in check… well except that 640 in spanish… but i assume yale takes the highest three sat 2</p>

7

<p>Review:</p>

<p>Okay, academically I’d say you need not change a thing. You have excellent statistics and your URM status will help you especially. Stuyvesant is a great school in NYC and that will also look good. My concern is your class standing relative to your peers. Try to find some indication of where you stand. These types of less than concrete statistics are very important in the admissions process and need to be included in all letters of recommendation. Recommenders also may tend to write things in your favor since they want their students to get into those top schools, especially Stuyvesant. Bottomline: find out your rank relative to your peers and if it is favorable then make sure that it is integrated with your letter of recommendation. </p>

<p>As for your Extracurriculars, I do like them and they are impressive. In your letter of recommendations have your counselors write something that demonstrates that you are an anomaly of excellence in your school. At Stuyvesant, it will be tougher than your typical public school, however. Admissions Officers want to see you as a legend at your school…a true leader not merely for this school year, but among your school’s history. Stupak, I must say that unless you were to attend some unknown public school this is tough. Also, a word about organization. Your resume needs to be NOT like a traditional job resume but more like a table/chart effectively organizing your Extracurricular activities, the years you were in them, the time committed, and specific bolded events that you did in that activity. Detail will get you points as admissions hates simple labeling. Also, in the same table/chart format, include your (honors, awards, recognitions), your community service that you did INDEPENDENTLY, and any job/internship experience. It would also be nice to include a very breif hobby list. Just remember to bold leadership positions and specifc events that you did for each club/project. </p>

<p>Well, I hope this really helps. Your academics appear excellent so you really need to nail your Extracurricular and other subjective part of your application. Remember, it’s what sets you apart from your own school that will be used to separate you from other Yale applicants.</p>

<p>Good Luck and PM if necessary.</p>

8

<p>ignore apfreak… it doesn’t matter how you really stand with your peers…stuy doesn’t rank … and colleges are looking at you compared to every other senior at stuy … they are viewing you against everyone that’s applying… so it dosen’t matter. and no its not tougher because you go to stuy… its somewhat an advaantage because it shows you took a demanding courseload…even though im sure plenty of kids form stuy have above averaghe stats…</p>

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<p>ikwame, every single thing you mentioned is contradictory. I know what I am talking about. Period. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Regardless if Stuyvesant does not rank Yale will look for some indication of rank among your peers, even if it means how the letter of recommendations are judged. </p></li>
<li><p>“and colleges are looking at you compared to every other senior at stuy … they are viewing you against everyone that’s applying… so it dosen’t matter.”</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Honestly, you are saying what I am or you are not clear.
“and colleges are looking at you compared to every other senior at stuy”:
And I said that in my post becuase this is how they judge you most heavily, within the resources of your school. </p>

<p>“they are viewing you against everyone that’s applying… so it dosen’t matter”</p>

<p>You just contradicted what you said before.</p>

<ol>
<li>“even though im sure plenty of kids form stuy have above averaghe stats…”</li>
</ol>

<p>And that’s why he needs to find his rank and stress it in his application if it is favorable–because he would be stellar in an already stellar High School (an Advantage). </p>

<ol>
<li>“and no its not tougher because you go to stuy”</li>
</ol>

<p>You will be held to tougher standards on the SAT and what you make of your school’s resources. Do you think his SAT score would stand out more at Stuyvesant or at some rural and modest High School?</p>

<p>Overall, if you take advantage of most of what Stuyvesant offered (Which is a lot) and have grades and scores that stand out within your school (an anomaly), then you have an excellent chance in admissions. </p>

<p>Look stupak, I clearly know what I am talking about. You need to ignore
ikwame’s poorly constructed and contradictory excuse for constructive criticism. Ikwame, you need to refine your argument. End of Story.</p>

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<p>ok apfreak chill out… and and yes im right yeah… stuy kids have above average standards and teh have above average acceptance to yale… it makes sense anfd its not contradictory think about it,… and some of my friends who have graduated form stuy and went on to ivy league schools had similar stats to stupak … wel with less EC’s and they were asian males and females… </p>

<p>“Look stupak, I clearly know what I am talking about. You need to ignore
ikwame’s poorly constructed and contradictory excuse for constructive criticism. Ikwame, you need to refine your argument. End of Story.”</p>

<p>I’m sorry but yopu sound like a baby</p>

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<p>(Sigh) Dude, okay whatever!</p>

<p>“stuy kids have above average standards and teh have above average acceptance to yale… it makes sense anfd its not contradictory think about it”</p>

<p>Another point entirely and not relating to what I am saying. </p>

<p>“and some of my friends who have graduated form stuy and went on to ivy league schools had similar stats to stupak”</p>

<p>Cool, I am just saying on what he can improve on. I think he has a great chance! I am answering his initial query by offering additional advice. Nothing more.</p>

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<p>wel not like he can do much more if he sends in application in october… jus keep up the grades</p>

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<p>Idk, there’s still time to cure cancer.</p>

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<p>oh, i knew i forgot to mention something when i first wrote this =P</p>

15

<p>Well, what about AIDS?</p>

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<p>At this point, just focus on things that you can esaily control: essays and letters of reccomendation.</p>