Admission Advice

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

Hello,

I’m currently a Freshman and am far more than just “interested” in attending Yale Universty. Now, before I go into detail about why I’m here (which in a way is obvious from the title), an understanding must be met. In lack of a more poetic phrase, I’m not going make this forum a massive boasting session. I’m not going to describe my near perfect GPA or my predicted scores for the SAT/ACT. Or, even that I plan to take over 10 clubs and extracurricular activities in my entire High School Career. But, I shall just give the vague details such as the classes I plan to take.

But, unfortunately, that brings me to another topic; the current year. In a sense. I’m “that” kid. The kid that has several brain cells to rub together but rarely turns in his work. I come close to passing and fall short or pass with flying colors. There is no in between. I only reason I stay in Pre-AP classes is because of high exam scores. I’ve walked a tightrope this year. Though I plan to do better, I still can’t help but worry about how this year is going to effect everything. I realize colleges like to see improvement. But, even if I do insanely well the next three years, my efforts could be in vain.

I suppose I should list my planned courses, but, of course, will change. Please note that I can’t take AP until Junior Year.

Freshman Year:
Pre-AP Biology
Pre-AP English 1
Pre-AP World Geography
Algebra 1
French 1
AVID 1
Orchestra (1)

Sophomore Year:
Pre-Ap English 2
Pre-AP Chemistry
Geometry
Pre-AP World History
*MOAS (If accepted, I probably won’t get in.) (Semester)
(AP) Psychology (They told me Ap wasn’t available for upcoming Freshman, but it says it is on the website) (Semester)
Vocab. Development (Semester)
French 2
AVID 2

Junior Year:
AP English 3
AP Physics
AP US History (Dual if possible)
Algebra 2
AP Psychology (If not previously available, it should be now) (Semester)
AVID 3
Vocab. Development OR Sociology (Semester)

Senior Year:
AP English 4
AP Biology
Pre Calculas
AP US Gov./ Economics
PE
AVID 4
(Haven’t decided)

Extra Info:

I plan to become a Biochemist, but also want to write on the side which should somewhat explain the Psychology courses.

Last year, we’re forced to do these endorsements. I chose the STEM Science Endorsement which means I must take:

Algebra 2
5 Credits of Science courses including Chemistry, Biology, and Physics.
4 credits English Required: English I, II, III & IV.
4 credits Mathematics Required: Algebra I & Geometry. Choice: two credits in any advanced math course.
4 credits Science Required: Biology. Choice: one credit in Chemistry or Physics.Choice: two credits in any advanced science course.
3 credits Social Studies Required: one credit US History, half credit Government & half credit Economics & one credit World Geography.
2 credits Language other than English (LOTE) Choice (2 years same language)
1 credit Physical Education Choice
1 credit Fine Arts Choice
7 credits in electives 4 of the electives may be dictated by endorsement
requirements

Questions:

1.) I need to do Community Service for AVID, will this better may chances?
2.) Must I take an internship?
3.) If I don’t get into Yale, but choose to transfer over after two years at another college (if that’s even possible), would I have to take anything specific?
4.) I was in the NJHS in 8th grade, will that do anything?
5.) If I got into NHS or any similar program will that aid my application?

I understand that there isn’t a formula to guarantee a spot, but I want to better my chances as much as possible. I’ll be as flexible as possible, but refuse to take classes I’m not interested in. My pool of class selections is incredibly tiny and I wish I could show you without violating any rules on the forums.

Thank you for your time.

2

Yale is one of the top colleges in the US. They are highly selective. And they don’t admit slackers. Your transcript is the MOST IMPORTANT part of your application.

To increase your chances, you need to start turning in your work, crack open the books and ace your exams. The last thing you want is for your teacher recommendations to say “@DexterousWaste is a brilliant kid, but he lacks the motivation to turn in his work.” FWIW: My daughter applied to Yale SCEA and was deferred and then rejected. She ended up going to Harvard and I posted her stats on another thread. You might want to look them over and compare your grades to hers: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1619966-ivy-standards-for-rigor-of-highschool-curriculum-p1.html.

To specifically answering your questions:

  1. No, you don’t need community service and having more of it on your EC list isn’t going to increase your chances.
  2. No, you don’t need to have an internship. My son, who is a senior at Yale, spent his summers working as a busboy, waiter and camp counselor. Internships are not necessary.
  3. It’s more difficult to get into Yale as a transfer student than a freshman applicant. See: http://admissions.yale.edu/transfer
  1. No. Colleges are interested in what you have done in high school. In fact, when you fill out the Common Application, there is no room to indicate honors or EC’s below 9th grade
  2. Maybe. Getting into NHS demands that your GPA is high in relation to your peers. In would indicate you are one the top students in your school. Will that help you? It can’t hurt. But, as you can see by my daughter’s transcript, straight A students with top ACT/SAT scores are rejected every year.
3

@Gibby || Since there is only one six weeks of school left it’ll be hard to gain any motivation, but I’ll try my hardest (as of now I have one B, the rest A’s.) Your daughter mopped the floor with mine. Despite making all A’s on my exams, I received the semester averages of: 3 C’s, 1 B, and 3 A’s. I suppose the only choice I have is to buckle down the next three years, try to score high on the SAT/ACT, and write a “spectacular” essay, and hope for the best. And, I would need to already have another college in mind in case the odd won’t shift in my favor.

Though, I suppose the major challenge is to over power my collective 9 school years of procrastination buildup. Do you have any advice for that? I mean, I plan to study main courses in advance, so that in class I can focus on completing the work and brushing up my knowledge not learning something completely new. But, to some degree, I doubt that will be enough.

4

Instead of picking colleges in your freshman year of high school it would behoove you to work on your shortcomings. Because I can guarantee you that when the time comes to make a college list it will become obvious by your transcripts and your recommendations what the list should look like. From the sound of your first paragraph you will be looking for midrange colleges. So prepare yourself now to work at the level of the colleges you aspire to, because your only options will be the colleges that pick you back.

As a freshman and sophomore, please get a book, like Fiske Guide, to read about different colleges and attributes they have that might attract you. In your Jr year, once you have a better idea of what grades you have managed to get and how hard you have pushed yourself academically in taking courses and if you have made any notable impacts on your school or community from an EC standpoint, then you can get a good list together.