<p>This is like a chances thread but instead, you are chancing yourself. No one knows you better but yourself (or so they say…) So make a list of reasons Yale should accept you (the “pros”) and reasons why Yale shouldnt or wouldnt accept you (your application weaknesses)</p>
<p>For me, Yale should accept me b/c</p>
<li>I’m salutatorian of my high school class</li>
<li>My EC’s are very solid</li>
<li>I demonstrated a strong interest in service activities</li>
<li>My essays ranged from mildy interesting to unique</li>
<li>I got excellent teacher/counselor recs</li>
<li>3.83 gpa, IB diploma candidate</li>
<li>I got the highest SAT score in my high school class (which averages 1400 on the SAT…out of 2400)</li>
<li>I come from a school where less than 50% go to a 4yr college and half of them that do end up dropping out at some point.</li>
<li>I wrote really unique/interesting short answers</li>
<li>I’ve accomplished a hell a lot considering the fact that:</li>
<li>I’m not rich (less than 30k for a family of 7)</li>
<li>Many of the students in my school are VERY unmotivated and discourage others to do the same</li>
<li>Some of my AP/IB classes dont really prepare for the exams, and to get high scores (5’s) I had to study/learn a lot on my own.</li>
<li>I’m a URM (notice the fact that i put that last, and it is only one of many many other “pros”)</li>
<li>my interview rocked! :)</li>
<li>I used my telepathic powers to order Yale to accept me.</li>
</ol>
<p>Yale would not accept me b/c</p>
<li>There are lots of applicants wanting to get in early too</li>
<li>There simply isnt any space for me. They already got their share of low-income URM kids from Questbridge lol </li>
<li>Perhaps there is someone EXACTLY like me but with better SAT’s…</li>
<li>My essays were all about me, me, me. Not about some major service project or club I founded or my passion.</li>
<li>Yale hates me. They read my application and started bawling…tears came down their eyes, not because they were touched by what i wrote, but b/c they were laughing soooo hard!!!</li>
</ol>
<p>Wow! That made me feel much much better!! haha</p>
<p>Why Accept:</p>
<ol>
<li>Because I’ve been able to make it out of the “bad” public school system into a private school “by my bootstraps” so to speak</li>
<li>Because I have fairly solid SATs scores considering I took it only once and without tutors or any studying</li>
<li>Because I have done very well in school up to now and continue to do well (not as well, but well nonetheless) now</li>
<li>Because I’ve taken the hardest classes I could and have done fairly well in them</li>
<li>Because I am VERY active in my school… like, VERY active and do almost everything I can get my hands on</li>
<li>Because I wrote good essay (I thought, and so did pretty harsh critics)</li>
<li>Because my teachers wrote very good recommendations (I assume, since they like me and know me well)</li>
<li>Because I think I would bring unique experiences to Yale</li>
<li>Because I am one of the most amazing people I think people will ever know (like, honestly…)</li>
<li>Because it would suck to be rejected</li>
</ol>
<p>Why Not Accept:
- Because I’m just not a match for Yale, or so they think
- Because my GPA is not as amazing as some other people’s
- Because the other 8 kids applying from my school paid them to reject me
- Because, at the end of the day, there was another person who deserved it more than me</p>
<p>Accept:</p>
<ol>
<li>3.95 UW/ 4.71 WGPA (+1 for APs, +1 for honors)</li>
<li>Semi-independent research at NIH sponsored by HHMI, writing paper, presentation, giving talk, etc.</li>
<li>I’m building a boat.</li>
<li>Good subject test scores (780 Chem, 750 Bio E, 750 Math II)</li>
<li>Varied ECs (Teen Court Juror, 3-day Environmental Education, President of National Honors Society)</li>
<li>Essays are really good, especially my common app one.</li>
<li>Hardest course load possible, took 5 APs junior year and got 5 5’s.</li>
<li>Did all of this while being a victim of domestic violence (I hate to play this card, but my guidance counselor put it in her rec since I’ve been getting a lot of help from her)</li>
<li>Stellar reccomendations (one from my lab preceptor, who has a very high position in the CDER/FDA (center for drug evaluation and research).</li>
<li>My family currently has zero income. Hooray for “SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY.”</li>
</ol>
<p>Reject:</p>
<ol>
<li>Bad SAT scores (720 Math, 720 Writing, 670 CR - 2110 superscore)</li>
<li>Bad interview</li>
<li>I don’t really want to go to Yale, even though I didn’t show it in the app.</li>
<li>Yale doesn’t have a great earth sciences/oceanography department - my interviewer actually told me to apply to MIT instead.</li>
</ol>