<p>Test Scores:
SAT I - CR 800/ M 800 / W 800 / Total 2400
SAT II - M IIC 800 / Chem 800 / Phy 790 / Total 2390
British GCE ‘O’ Levels* - English A / Mathematics A / Further Mathematics A / Second Language A / Chemistry A / Physics A / Biology A / Social Studies A
GCE ‘AS’ Levels - Maths A / History A / Economics A / Chemistry A / Critical Thinking A / General Studies A
GCE ‘A’ Levels** (predicted) - Math A / Hist A / Econ A / Gen Studies A</p>
<p><em>Note: GCE ‘O’ Levels is a international standardized test taken by students ~16 yrs old.
*</em>Note: ‘A’ levels are interchangeable with the American AP and can be used for college credit, according to the adcoms I’ve asked.</p>
<p>So as you can see, I’m a good test-taker, but will that be enough to cover up or compensate for my monumentally-sucky rank? Do I even have a chance at Yale with that kind of rank??? How can I distract the adcoms from looking at my rank? Essays? Loads of community service? I’m desperate…</p>
<p>dude, that’s still top 10%. It could be better, obviously, but don’t stress too much. Rank’s only one part of admissions.</p>
<p>But you are going to be dealing with a lot of kids who are top 5 students, so anything else you can boost would be great. Your scores are awesome, I just hope your teacher recs and essays are as good.</p>
<p>What are you talking about, your test scores stink =P.</p>
<p>Yale is a school where even perfect test scores and perfect GPAs can’t guarantee an acceptance. You need to have what they are looking for. If your ECs show passion, you have a pretty good shot, but testing is probably one of the least important aspects of Yale for an application.</p>
<p>“If your ECs show passion, you have a pretty good shot, but testing is probably one of the least important aspects of Yale for an application.”</p>
<p>This is not accurate. At highly selective schools like Yale, the most important components of an application are grades, rigor of curriculum, and standardized test scores. Only after you get past the threshold with those elements will other components --including ECs, even fantastic ones – come into play. Yes, it is important to have ECs that show passion, but they will not compensate for poor test scores.</p>
I don’t know much about admissions selection process, but I kind of disagree with the bolded part. Then how come some applicants get accepted with lower scores or gpa? If they have a certain threshold to pass then those applicants with lower scores (or whatnot) wouldn’t even have a chance!</p>
<p>plus do you have time to pull up your grades? or is your semester over?</p>
<p>
because they don’t have low scores. a 3.7 GPA and a 2000 SAT isn’t “low” particularly. The “threshold” where they just automatically reject you is pretty low.</p>
<p>Do you get an A*'s or A+'s in the British System? If not, then your grades should be fine. Your rank is unweighted right? If so, then you should be alright, if you can show that it is a very challenging courseload e.g. there isn’t a “Adv. Chemistry” or “Higher Mathematics”, that sort of thing.</p>
<p>With the rank, is it because some kids have taken easy subjects and gotten A’s? Or is it that there are more kids doing harder subjects (which often is the reason)?</p>
<p>If you’ve got good EC’s (you’ve mentioned IMO), then you’re in with a great chance. It’ll be difficult to say for sure; it’s near impossible to really gauge chances these days. Good luck anyway!</p>
<p>I don’t mean to sound like a jackass (even tho by making such a disclaimer, I already know that it is inevitable), but the reason why there is no advanced chemistry or other such courses is because the levels themselves are probably already as in-depth as an AP subject in the American education system (Any of you in the US took calculus at 9th grade? Didn’t think so). Any more “advanced” and they might as well give me a degree upon graduation of high school =)</p>
<p>“With the rank, is it because some kids have taken easy subjects and gotten A’s? Or is it that there are more kids doing harder subjects (which often is the reason)?”</p>
<p>Umm… I would say the latter.</p>
<p>My school is a special school for gifted education, so everyone who’s in it (besides me, of course) is pretty much an over-achieving nerd… it’s kinda hard competing w/ ppl who are able to recite Pi to a thousand places (yes, I’m serious) and IMO Gold medalists (I only got a Special Mention)… The hard part is trying to convince the adcoms of that fact without sounding too pompous/defensive/desperate…</p>
<p>Narcissa: The academic year where I’m from is slightly different from the American one. School years are from Jan - October, so I still have the rest of 2008 to catch up, tho it is unlikely that my rank will go up much. >_< </p>
<p>umm signal2noise, you should consider being less cocky. if the college sees through your application into your arrogance then i can tell you that your chances will drop significantly.</p>
<p>yes you scores and rank are certainly good enough to get in, but that is not what it is all about. yale rejects tons and tons of perfect scores so im 100% sure you wouldn’t be the first 2400’er they reject because of other reasons, trust me.</p>
<p>and to specifically address your cockiness. i actually did take calculus in 9th grade, but not one person on this website knew that because i dont go around bragging about it. i am sure others on here are also extremely gifted in math and other areas, but do not flaunt their accomplishments and gifts as you have done.</p>
<p>i dont think hes being cocky he was just kind of unaware…im in calculus right now because my school doesnt offer it to anybody except seniors :/</p>
<p>signal2noise, presumably your school will manage to convey to Yale that it is not the average secondary school in any nation. (When you took calculus has far more to do with the fact that you are at a school for the gifted, than what country it is located in.)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about sounding somewhat cocky. In my experience, Yale loves kids who project an “I’m so special” attitude. They want “winners.” However, being literally obnoxious, as in your calculus remark, is not a good idea.</p>
<p>actually, my [US] school system offers fifth/six graders who take the sat and score in the 50%-tile or better super advanced math and english. I took advanced algebra (normally a 10th grade course) as a six grader and I have a friend who took BC Calculus in 8th grade. </p>
<p>Your pretentiousness my well just keep you out.</p>
<p>LOL@most of the comments above… sorry if I sounded too cocky. I wasn’t trying to insult the American education system, really (besides, I’m an American citizen too). I think it just came off the wrong way. I was just trying to explain why there weren’t any “advanced” courses in my curriculum. Yes, I know that lots of gifted ppl back in US take calculus at an early age too, but it is mandatory in my school in freshman year (<= again, NOT trying to be cocky). Sorry, my interpersonal skillz suck big time.</p>