<p>Congratulations guys! It must be so exciting to be accepted into Yale! I'm applying regular decision and I'm feeling insecure about my applications...mainly because my SAT scores aren't that great. I was wondering if you guys think sending in a supplemental essay would help. I'm also sending in an extra letter of recommendation. I know that some schools discourage sending extra material because they don't want a cluttered application but what are your thoughts? Any other advice that would be helpful is welcomed too!</p>
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<p>some schools discourage sending extra material because they don't want a cluttered application </p>
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<p>That's quite true.
Exactly what the Yale Adm Officer said at an Info meeting:
"If an appl file is really thick, we hate that kid!"</p>
<p>Try to make sure to send in very high quality material, esp. recomm letter
(not just avg boiler-plate type).
Would encourage you to submit an optional essay, since that's coming from youself to help the Adm Office to know you better.</p>
<p>I was worried about clutter too. If by extra essay you mean the second, supplemental one, definitely do it. Beyond that, I wouldn't be sure.</p>
<p>I had an additional rec (I wasn't going to do it because of the clutter issue and then my mom went and asked for me) from my voice teacher, who went to Yale. I think it was useful because my involvement in music, while mentioned on my application, got much more weight. She was also able to give a good idea of how I'd fit into Yale.</p>
<p>I also sent two poems as an arts supplement. So I guess what I'm saying is, as long as what you send is important and necessary, you should be okay. Good luck!</p>
<p>Right, I meant the additional (2nd) essay; not any ones beyond.</p>
<p>My application was like a million pages thick and I still got in. I had:
5 letters of recommendation (including counselor rec)
3 essays
1 abstract
all the other stuff
So, maybe they were annoyed, but hey, I still got in!</p>
<p>you may have gotten in, but whether you will be famous or anything is still another matter.</p>
<p>i think what everyone is trying to say is, make sure the extra stuff really says something that they don't know about you. DEFINITELY do the supplemental essay. as for teacher recs, i sent one at the recommendation of my counselor because my two main recs were math/science teachers so i sent a third one from my english teacher. </p>
<p>Good Luck with your app!</p>
<p>I agree. I didn't sent in anything beyond the optional essay on the supplement, so also don't worry about not sending in enough extras!</p>
<p>Good luck RD :)</p>
<p>Yeah, I just sent the bare minimum (along with the supplemental essay) and was lucky enough to get in. Don't worry about your SAT too much either - as long as it's above 2100 (I think they like 700+ in every category), you should be in decent shape. I only had a 2190 on the SAT and 34 on the ACT, and I got in. Once again, scores aren't everything...</p>
<p>Right, I had a 2240 total on the SATs and a 33 on the ACT. Paired with a 730 Math2C SAT II, a 680 Physics SAT II and a 620 French SAT II, it really was, um, not a plus? Anyway, they look at a lot of other stuff more, or they have to, or I wouldn't have got in. ;)</p>
<p>I actually sent in a brag sheet because it seemed like the common app was too restricting and it helped me to consolidate my ECs, awards, and other things. But other than that, I didn't send in anything extra.</p>
<p>yeah, i did exactly the same as mijehar.</p>
<p>I did the same thing. I think it was two pages, and I sent it in to the office and gave it to both interviewers, on campus and alumni. I think onw copy must have gotten somewhere. That's the only extra thing I sent too.</p>
<p>See...that's the thing. My SAT scores are really bad. I was only able to raise them from 1990 to 2070. I don't even know how I improved because I never practiced taking the SATs. I never had time since I'm responsible for taking care of my parents. (My dad has stage 4 cancer and my mom is works long hours to support us since we're really low income.) So I think there's a lot of reason for me to feel insecure. </p>
<p>I was thinking of writing about my experience as my dad's caretaker for the main essay and my experience living in the "ghetto" for the supplemental. I'm not looking for pity but these experiences are a big part of my life. I'd like to show the positive aspects and what I've learned through them. Should I go with these topics or will it seem like I'm looking for sympathy no matter what?</p>
<p>no. i think you should go with them as they will show why you weren't able to achieve at a higher level.</p>
<p>could you do one essay about the difficulties you've faced and how you've ultimately triumphed, and than another one about something else, like a passion or something you're really interested in? A girl who goes to Yale said something that really helped me write an additional essay, which is that they want to see who you are- beyond the scores and grades and varying economic situations- they want to see what makes you tick, what excites you, how you are intellectually curious and eager to learn. I think if you can get these things across in your short answer and resume, than you'll be ok. If not, I'd definitely use an essay to display that. In terms of extra things- I'd say only send supplemental material if you have, like they say, a highly-developed talent. Like a science abstract, poem, short story, CD, etc. Now, I'm no opera singer, and I sent in a vocal CD (I'm going to be a theatre major and have done musical theatre all my life)-- but it does need to show that this is something that you've developed all your life and haven't just sent in for the sake of giving them more to read. That they'll hate.</p>