<p>Hello fellow 2011 Eli Whitney Special Program hopefuls!</p>
<p>I know it is still months away from the April 1, 2011 deadline, but I thought it might be helpful to start the dialogue going for those seeking out Old Blue for Fall 2011. </p>
<p>After attending the Yale tour (I gave good old Theodore Dwight Woolsey a good rub!) and then the Harvard-Yale game this year (Yale may have lost, but they still lead the overall record against that other school we shall not name) I am completely inspired!</p>
<p>The generous EWSP students and applicants from previous years have been so informative on past threads, and I wanted to keep the conversation going.</p>
<p>Thought I’d give this a bump since we’re about 3 months out from deadline. I applied last year and was rejected, but I’m giving it another shot. The application sits before me once again and I am reformulating my essay strategy. </p>
<p>I’m definitely not a ‘celebrity’ candidate by any means, but I still think I can bring something to the table. The question of how to define what that something is remains to be answered. </p>
<p>Anyway, that having been said, I have some idea of what to expect during the application process. </p>
<p>Hi there! Thanks for the bump. I remember you from last year’s forums. Just curious-- what was the reason you decided to reapply? Did you feel you did not sufficiently make your case in your previous application? What are you thinking of changing this time around as far as approach?</p>
<p>I feel like I have a better academic foundation than I did last year. I carried a f/t 4.0 and a f/t 3.92 for the last two semesters at a private university, did a summer class at YSS and am currently f/t at Columbia. I also have much better rec letters now, some solid academic awards under my belt, and a better idea of how to frame my essay. </p>
<p>I’m going to streamline my resume, sharpen my essay(s), and see if I don’t have a fighting chance. </p>
<p>My main concern is what I anticipate as the Yale counter-argument: “Well, you’re already at one of the best schools in the country and you’re obviously going to do well regardless of whether or not we let you in…so what makes you Yale material? Why should we give you this slot instead of somebody with raw talent from a CC or who dropped out of high school to start their own business?”</p>
<p>That’s a tough, tough, tough question to answer, but I’m willing to give it a shot. I love that school. </p>
<p>I will be applying to the EliWhitney Program. I am from Maine and I think the only thing that will give me a shot in the admissions process is a project I started in a really bad neighborhood near my home. </p>
<p>Do you guys know what exactly is “DIFFERENT” to the committee?? I’m really not sure what they are looking for. I’m so lost. And, what’s the point of two essays. I feel like I am repeating myself since they are both about the ONE life that I live. </p>
<p>Who are you guys getting reccs from? I don’t really have a professor that I really got to know. I’ve been only taking college classes at a CC for one semester. But I know I can handle the work because its a mix of classes.</p>
<p>Lastly, I think its so stupid that we find out the results in JUNE. What’s the point? That is so close to enrollment time that its not even funny. How am I supposed to manage everything and make a schedule work in just one month and a half? </p>
<p>Please…if someone can help me out, I would appreciate. I would like to hear from people who applied, will apply and maybe someone who got accepted. I am not using this board as a competition because I don’t have time for that. Ultimately, the Yale Admin. office will make the decision, but I want honest perspectives from people here.</p>
<p>BoolaBoola - I’m really curious why you’re applying to EWSP if you’re already at Columbia GS. If I recall the GS forum didn’t you just get in this spring? Does it not seem like the right fit for you?</p>
<p>Thanks for the response CoolRunning…I felt a little lonely out here…in terms of REAL life experiences, I don’t think I have anything creative to say. I haven’t really done anything I would consider exciting. Hhmmmm…I guess I have to think of something or just apply next year. I don’t think this will be my year. </p>
<p>Did you guys start on the application or are we all waiting for the night before April 1st? lol</p>
<p>I’m currently deployed and I caught the Eli Whitney ad in our newspaper. I’m currently taking classes at American Military University, and North West Florida State College. In two years I plan on getting out of the U.S. Air Force and attending school full time. I know of the Yellow Ribbon Program for Veterans and how I can attend prestigious schools. I ADMIT I did bad in high school (reason for joining) but I changed my life around. I have a 4.0 GPA and a strong military background. How’s the admission process for Veterans?</p>
<p>Hi, I am applying and my application is complete. I noticed no one has been active lately. When will the calls for interviews start? 2010 forum had some activity during the first week of May, but that seems late for people out of state.</p>
<p>I am applying. Sending my app in overnight mail on Monday… Wondering if I’m wasting my time, though. I have a 3.92 at a community college and some strong recs, but i worry about my essay. Gotta bite the bullet, though…outta time.</p>
<p>fidaraD…why would you overnight the package when you have sometime left? I’m sure people literally spent months on their applications and essays. When it comes down to the nitty gritty, it’s really what stories they enjoyed reading. I’m sure everyone applying has above a 3.5 gpa and some community service. Not so sure about the standarized tests because I personally don’t care for those. If you can do college work and get good grades, there no point to the tests…makes no sense…which is also the reason why they are recommneded and not required.</p>
<p>Anyways, I think it really comes down to the reccs and essays. We had to write two and I think they are mostly interested in why you took time off and they want to know a little secret about you. Maybe how you have struggled in your life and overcame it. But, i’m sure they have heard of many stories. My advice would be to give it another day or so and make the app special and reflective upon yourself. Afterall, if you get an interview, they can correlate the two. </p>
<p>Who else is applying? Where is everyone from?</p>