<p>Let me make something clear. I have never said that the OP has "no chance" at Yale based on his/her standardized test scores. What I said is that IN MY KIDS' SCHOOLS, an unhooked kid would have little or no chance with scores in his range. That is based on history. It is accurate. The local record is relevant when you're developing a college list. </p>
<p>Nor have I ever said that the ACT/SAT is the most important factor in an application. Grades and rigor of curriculum trump scores every time. Scores come next.</p>
<p>I don't purport to know everything about college admissions, and I don't say my word is law. I am a parent with a fair amount of experience with college admissions, and I try to be helpful on CC when I think I have something useful to contribute. I also try to be civilized in my postings. You might want to try some civility yourself.</p>
<p>Dbate 32+ ACT, 2100+ SAT, and 700+ subject tests are acceptable scores for Yale. The more unhooked you are in subjective areas (i.e, not URM, legacy, recruit, etc.) the more focus on grades, test scores, essays, and other factors. Basically, Yale is looking for REASONS (not A reason) to accept you.</p>
<p>Whatever, milessmiles. First of all, there was no EA at Harvard or Princeton last year, and while the acceptance percentages changed the scores did not change drastically. </p>
<p>I'm surprised that you believe your counselor so devotedly. Counselors are very often wrong.</p>
<p>There are obviously differences of opinion here, it's a very gray area and since none of us are AOs, there's no way to know exactly what happens behind closed doors. You are all are providing some good input to the OP, as it's helpful to hear both sides of an argument. However, please keep your comments to opinions focused on the subject, not other posters.</p>
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I'm surprised that you believe your counselor so devotedly. Counselors are very often wrong.
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<p>I'm not "devoted" to him. He's heard this info from an adcom at Yale. Is that not enough?</p>
<p>Dbate still has a great chance regular decision, and might have a good one early as well, depending on how Yale approaches this coming application season.</p>
<p>Can someone fill me in on how to use Naviance? I tried navigating the site but it seems like individual schools have to use it or something. PM me if you can help!</p>
<p>embeezy - I was given some info in one of my old threads. It might help. In general I found Naviance hard to use because very few schools around our town participate. What I did find was interesting though.</p>
<p>Try Googling the names of high schools in your area and logging onto their websites. Once there, look for sections on college counseling. On at least a few sites you should find direct links to Naviance with open guest access. Some request a guest password, which may be something relatively obvious, like the name of the school mascot. (Some are case-sensitive.)</p>
<p>Thanks! I'd never heard of Naviance before.</p>
<p>I live in the part of my state where schools don't ever send any high school grads to Ivies, so I haven't found any great info for my area yet. But thanks for the resource!</p>
<p>You're welcome. Don't despair if your HS seldom sends graduates to top schools and has fewer resources than a school like New Trier. Colleges are going to judge your application in the context of what's available to YOU at YOUR high school. Few high schools in the US have the abundant resources of a New Trier, and that factor likely accounts in part for the height of the ACT bar there for Yale.</p>
<p>I think most posters have made good points. Clearly there is no right or wrong answer to the OP's question.</p>
<p>The truth, though, is that Yale now has to select from an applicant pool that is filled with Harvard and Princeton hopefuls. Hopefuls that would, without hesitation, choose Harvard or Princeton over Yale. To get accepted early at Yale, then, one must really stand out amongst applicants. In other words, there is no gray area like there is in regular decision. There is no compromising. No admissions officer will say, "We'll this applicant is pretty strong, but not exactly what we're looking for. That's okay, we'll accept him (or her) anyway." There will be none of that. Instead they will defer. And defer. And reject. And very few will be accepted.</p>
<p>So what will make the difference then? Test scores will play some role, but the Why Yale essay will, in my opinion, be the main decider between an acceptance and a deferral. </p>
<p>If you think you have a strong chance of being admitted, then, pay careful attention to the Why Yale essay. That's how the admissions office will sift through the applicants who are only applying to Yale as a second-choice.</p>
<p>Those who will be accepted SCEA will have a strong propensity to yield, and will also be top notch.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>P.S. As a URM applicant, a 33 is more than sufficient. Work on your essays now, and just hope that Yale will want you as much as you want Yale.</p>
<p>Last year Yale called for a very, very short "Why Yale" essay. I don't recall the precise character limit on the Yale Supp to the Common App, but the word count on my son's came out to under 50. Unless Yale has changed its requirement this year, "Why Yale" is not a major component of the application. (That doesn't mean it's unimportant.)</p>
<p>my s had a 2270, a double legacy, lots of leadership, great references, and a top GPA-and he was rejected. Geography, athletic prowess, will do you more good than a score and academic potential at Yale.</p>