<p>I'm a bit conflicted as to whether or not (or how) I should apply to Yale.</p>
<p>Here are my stats:
34 ACT (retaking this month)
2120 SAT I (probably not sending unless I do amazing on SAT II this month)
5.0 W GPA
3.98 UW GPA
Ranked 1 of ~250
AP scores: 5,5,5,5,5,5</p>
<p>Beyond that, I really don't have anything exceptional though. My EC's are pretty mediocre, just a few clubs, volunteering, work experience, and I'm self-taught to play four instruments but nothing that stands out.
As far as awards go, I have a few school awards (again, nothing special) and NMS Semi-finalist and AP Scholar.
I come from a tiny little town in NC and my high school is not very competitive at all (only around 50% of seniors even apply to four year colleges). The counselors are not even familiar with the Common App, and are generally pretty discouraging. </p>
<p>However unrealistic this is, if I had the opportunity to go to Yale I would pretty much die. My problem is that for one, I feel like I don't have much of a chance. I could maybe sliiiiiiightly qualify as a legacy because I have a (somewhat distant) relative with the same last name who attended and now teaches at Yale. </p>
<p>Basically my long, drawn-out point is that I'm stuck between applying to Yale (SCEA?) and applying ED to Duke where I feel I have much more of a chance (I've visited many times and am pretty confident that I have a chance considering their ED acceptance rates).
Help?</p>
<p>I would stick to the age-old CC advice that you should apply ED only to your #1 choice. It is clear that you prefer Yale much more than Duke. You do have a shot at SCEA, so don’t lose hope.</p>
<p>Your ACT score is great. However, if you think your EC are weak, then SCEA is not the time to apply. The problem with Ed to Duke is that if you get in, that is were you have to go even if accepted RD at Yale.</p>
<p>I would like to point out, though, that Duke would be my first choice. It almost is. I just feel like there’s this nagging little dream of Yale in the back of my mind whenever I consider ED for Duke.
Plus, it’s probably just a result of being at my school (getting into Duke is unheard of) and I’m terrified of getting stuck with a safety if I get rejected by both or all of my reaches when I could have just done Duke ED. Yale seems kind of hopeless.
I don’t know.</p>
<p>You know what, when you close your eyes, where do you imagine yourself being?? That’s your answer. Yet, another problem arises: you should ONLY apply ED if you honestly believe that your app cannot possibly improve with a few more months to prepare. I had an interview last summer at Yale and my interviewer told me that although the ED admission rate is slightly higher than the overall rate, it is because the BEST applicants apply ED. If you feel that Yale and Duke rank as high, then apply ED to Duke. If you feel that you would be sooooooo much happier at Yale, do not apply ED anywhere. Applying ED to Yale would actually hurt your chances. I am not applying ED to Yale (although this is by faaaaar my DREAM school) because I know that competing against me will be people who have written novels and are basically future nobel-prize winners. ;-)</p>
You should draw attention to it in your app.</p>