<p>I am so incredibly happy and blessed to have been accepted into the Yale Class of 2015. Yale has been a dream school for me, and I can hardly believe this is true.</p>
<p>However, now that it is coming true, I've realized that I have some reservations about actually attending. My main fears are about academic competition and keeping my GPA up.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong--I really, really, really want to attend, and I'm more than willing to work hard. I just don't want to spend my next 4 years constantly scrambling to scrape a 3.0 together or something like that.</p>
<p>Has anyone been in a similar situation? How well do small-town, under-represented state, Yale students typically do?</p>
<p>If its any consolation at all, I am feeling the exact same way…
I’d also appreciate any responses from Yalies who had similar doubts about attending.</p>
<p>If you got in, you can do the work. You’ll be fine unless, maybe, you can only be happy if you’re in the top 5% of your class. Otherwise, you’ll love Yale. If you work hard, you’ll do very well academically, and be competitive for admission to top graduate schools.</p>
<p>And – very important – you’ll learn as much from your fellow students as from your coursework. Why would you not want to go to a school where you’re surrounded by so many high-talent, high-energy peers?</p>
<p>I feel the same way right now, even though Yale has always been my dream school, my stats are relatively low. But I have already accepted Yale’s offer as it is the only need-blind and full-need (for internationals) school I have on my list. </p>
<p>I was a Chinese American, from an immigrant family, attended an inner-city HS. I’m sure it has to do with my personality but worrying about “would I be able to make it” was not in my frame of mind attending Yale. Most everyone, once they get to New Haven, has that nagging doubt: “Did Admissions make a mistake? Do they know how low I compare to this guy and that girl?”</p>
<p>That’s common. And everyone – from the football star recruit to the top Choate & Andover student – feels this to some degree. But trust me, Yale didn’t make a mistake. </p>
<p>My academic background? I was ranked about 10-12th in my class of 210. Attended a top magnet school, took the most rigorous courses, had OK SATs (but not stellar). How was Yale work? Nothing I couldn’t handle. Never blinked. Never cared about the backgrounds of my fellow students either. Nor should you.</p>
<p>Scrape to get a 3.0GPA? Impossible. Scrape and work hard and you’ll have a 3.8 or 4.0. Be lazy and you’ll get a 3.0. Seriously.</p>
<p>As for competitiveness – your greatest competition will be yourself – self-drive and initiative are hallmarks of the typical Yalie. Institutional cutthroat culture? Not at Yale. VERY collaborative. </p>
<p>If you have any doubts, go to Bulldog days and speak to current undergrads. If you know kids from your HS who are or have gone there, ask them too.</p>
<p>In my four years, I only recall one student – from a small rural HS in Texas, struggle and eventually leave about 2 weeks into Freshman year – and since it was so early, I’m sure it wasn’t about academics.</p>
<p>You will have no problem doing well as would many others who failed to gain admission. Once again I find myself in agreement with T26E4 about how important it is to go to Bulldog Days and meet/talk with current students to convince yourself that Yale is the right place. His GPA projections seem a bit high to me (3.85 GPA is top 15% of class) but 3.5+ GPA would be typical of a conscientious student leaving enough time for enjoying college. Your self doubts are common.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it all–indeed, being in an IB program will make it easier for you, because you will already have done a lot of writing.</p>
<p>The only advice I would give–and this is really for anybody going from a small town or weaker high school to a more selective school–is to be careful in determining what level of math and foreign language you should be placed in. Don’t automatically go into the most advanced level that you are theoretically qualified for. When I went to Yale decades ago, I came from a weak high school, and I had very few problems–except for French, and I shouldn’t have taken the level I did. But I still got a B.</p>
<p>I’m also coming from a small town… in a “rural” non-English-speaking country! I’ve had the same thoughts as the OP and decided that no matter how qualified or unqualified I am, I will take up the challenge and do my best - without sacrificing my social life for a high GPA.</p>
<p>My D (now a soph) had the same doubts, and I kept repeating to her: “Yale would not have accepted you if they did not think you could do the work.” So far, Yale was right.</p>
<p>My daughter is a freshman at Yale. She loves it and is so glad that she chose to go there after a long process of trying to decide between lots of different college choices. She says that she has talked to NO ONE who does not like Yale – It is an outstanding place to be . . . As a parent, I cannot say enough good things about Yale – I have been HIGHLY impressed. I do not think anyone could possibly go wrong by choosing Yale.</p>
<p>Your concerns are entirely valid. Simply put, there is no one in the world that can get an A in every Yale course. I would even go so far to say that there are few indeed that can even pass every Yale course. That being said, your concerns are predicated on a couple false assumptions.</p>
<p>The first false assumption that you’re making is that your college GPA is the most important outcome of your college experience. This is simply not the case. The skills you develop, the relationships you build, and your extracurriculars (depending on what they are) will be far more important after college. Many fantastic opportunities are available to Yale students that are simply not available to others. Some are school provided, while others are more specific. A close relationship with a professor can score you both summer and post-graduate employment that others can only throw resumes at. You can do research that will mean far more than your grades when applying to grad schools, and you can learn creative and technical skills that can garner you opportunities without ever showing a transcript. A good GPA is great, but the world won’t end if you get a (horror of horrors) 3.6.</p>
<p>The second is that you can’t keep up with other Yale students. While there is certainly a visible disparity in preparation between the different Yale students, the fact is that it disappears quickly. Yes, some students get their first paper assignment and have no idea what to do, while others can take it in stride.</p>
<p>Finally, you have the ability to choose the difficulty level of the courses you take once you get to Yale. You can also choose to take primarily courses that are in your areas of specialty. You probably don’t have what it takes to complete Freshman Organic Chemistry or Math 230, (few freshmen do) but that’s okay. If you’re worried, take it easy your first semester. There are many classes you can succeed in, and probably some you can’t. Choose to take the ones you can succeed in.</p>
<p>Do not worry, you’ll be fine. First of all, Yale’s admissions office knows how to spot the best among a vastly talented and intelligent pool of applicants. Let me reassure you with my daughter’s story. She is a sophomore at Yale and attended an IB public high school in So Cal. She did earn a Bilingual IB Diploma as a non-native speaker–a rare feat–by researching and writing her extended essay in French on an art history topic. Fortunately, with this public school IB background and as a double French/Art History major she has had absolutely no problems at Yale–in fact she jumped right in to upper division French classes as a freshman and has excelled in all of them. She has earned a couple of B’s in miscellaneous courses (which she’s completely fiine with), but only a couple (and frankly I think if she had applied herself more they could have been A’s–she does much outside the classroom and has lots of fun which is important to her Yale experience). Especially in the areas of writing, art history and foreign language, subjects she loves and excels in, she completely holds her own with any of the fanciest prep school kids. Best of all, she knows it and feels quite confident about her standing at Yale. Despite being amidst–or I should say “one of” the members of–a pool of the most brilliant undergrads on Earth, she has not experienced an ounce of inferiority. </p>
<p>Finally, Yale is an extraordinary college–like none other in the way they build and foster community for their undergrads. My daughter is very involved in myriad arts-oriented extra-curriculars, a sorority, her residential college (JE) and she’s quite social. She regularly takes advantage of Masters’ Teas and the various events that take place at Yale each day (e.g., she just attended the Yale Rep’s production of Romeo and Juliet earlier tonight). The opportunities are amazing. I cannot imagine a richer undergraduate experience. I agree with many of the other posters, if you got in you’ll be fine (and if you are truly struggling with certain courses, there are tutoring services, academic deans and helpful faculty–the profs my daughter has had have all been accessible and wonderful). And definitely try to attend Bulldog Days if possible. Best to you.</p>
<p>Honestly, I know how you feel, but you don’t need to be worried. I came from a really crappy inner-city high school to Yale two years ago. I had never taken a final exam, midterm, or any kind of comprehensive test. I had never written a paper more than 4 pages long. Yes, my first semester was an adjustment. I got a D+ on my first science midterm. It was horrible - I felt so bad about myself. But I figured it out. I did a ton of work, got a B+ in the class, and now have a 3.85. Yes, I was at a bit of a disadvantage compared to my elite private school classmates. But honestly it all pretty much evens out after the first semester. And it is SOOO worth it.</p>
<p>OP - I am looking at your credentials and you have great credentials. Even though you are from Arkansas, your SAT test scores, AP and IB classes and their scores are what you have for comparison with the rest of the country/world and you seem to be doing extremely well. Take a chill pill.</p>
<p>All my friends who currently attend Yale LOVE it, and they’re doing just fine (fine as in 3.6+ GPA with enough time to relax and breathe). You have an fantastic opportunity ahead of you. Make the most of it. </p>
<p>If you’re already that worried about attending, why go? I presume those negative feelings you have right now would only be accentuated during your stay.</p>
<p>Nosike, inquiring minds might investigate whether you have an ulterior motive in suggesting that somebody accepted to Yale should decide not to attend.</p>
