Am I on the "right track" for Yale?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

I’m a ninth-grader and am interested in applying to Yale later in my high school career. (I know, it’s a bit early to be thinking about this, but I come from a low-income family, and my brothers barely got into state school, so I want to be the one that makes my mother proud.) So, here is my basic info, grades, and extra-curriculars:

Race: Latino (Argentine)
Income Range: technically low-income, but comfortable

Grades: 3.9 first trimester; 4.0 second trimester
Classes: honors biology, regular geometry, honors Spanish, advanced French (all other classes are school-required; I can’t take honors English, etc. yet)
Teachers’ Comments: “Another excellent trimester…continues to be a pleasure to teach.” (Humanities) “A delight to have in Spanish class, and is doing beautifully.” (Spanish) “A very successful Algebra student.” (Algebra) “Pleased with his progress.” (Science)

Extracurriculars: Boy Scouts (becoming Eagle Scout in 10th grade); Order of the Arrow (Boy Scouts honor society); BBYO; fencing (thrice a week, will start to compete nationally by late 10th or 11th grade, likely); piano (not very good, no musical talent); writing book on international policy (will likely be self-published by 11th grade); working with an organization to found a charity for river blindness; school jazz band; applying to Johns Hopkins Gifted Youth program, likely to get in.

Awards: NRA Youth Essay Contest, 1st place ($1000 prize); Stossel in the Classroom Essay Contest, National Finalist (top 25 of 3,500 essays submitted); Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Silver Medal (top 0.7% of 300,000 essays submitted); President’s Volunteer Service Award, Silver; various small Boy Scout awards, including rifle award and religious award.

Miscellaneous: I speak Spanish and French (self-taught, got special permission to do two languages).

Thanks, guys!

2

Yes, you’re on the right track for acceptance to a selective college. Whether that’s Yale or not is anyone’s guess. Just because you have top grades and test scores, along with spectacular teacher recommendations, interesting EC’s and thought provoking essays doesn’t mean that you’ll get admitted to Yale. My daughter, for example, was rejected at Yale, waitlisted at Princeton and accepted to Harvard. Three top schools all saw the same application, yet each made a different decision. College admissions is highly subjective, which is why you should not have one “dream school” and apply to a broad range of colleges. Keep up the good work!

3

If your parents did not go to college, you should investigate the Questbridge program – designed for low income first generation college attendees. Good luck

4

Many thanks to both of you! I will be sure to look into the Questbridge program, and I thank gibby for his advice–I will be sure to expand the list of schools I apply to when the time comes.