This is my first post and I’m a tad bit confused so I don’t really know if I put this in the right section but here’s to hoping. I would like to know if I’m on the right track for Yale. I’d love to get into there as it’s my dream school and has been since I was 8 years old. It’s apparently a bit early to be looking into this for me (according to my counselor) but I figured I might as well ask.
I’m a Native American girl from a suburb of Atlanta where most kids go to KSU because of how easily they can be admitted. In addition, the Georgia HOPE scholarship basically pays for our entire education if you are qualified.
I’m currently going into my sophomore year with a 4.33 GPA and I can already estimate my GPA and stats by the end of my senior year. I took the ACT in 7th grade and got a 28 with writing and haven’t taken it since. By the end of my senior year, I’ll have taken at least 14 AP classes and possibly more. As of now, I’m a part of Habitat for Humanity, Pre-Med Society, and Thespian Society as well as Drama Club and Science Club. I’m the historian of the Thespian Society, and the way that our board is set up, I will be elected President for my junior and senior year. I’ve basically estimated my GPA by the end of senior year, and it’s around 4.65. Do you think I’m on the right track for Yale? I don’t need a solid answer, per say, but more so of general response to help me decide if I need to stress out for the next 2 years.
Edit: Okay, here are my classes for the 4 years in high school.
9th grade: Drawing & Painting 1, Theatre Fundamentals, AP Human Geography, Honors Spanish 2, Honors Spanish 3, Honors 9th Lit, Honors Bio, Accelerated Algebra 2/Geom B
10th grade: Honors Chem, AP Environmental Science, AP World History, Acc Pre-calc, Honors Spanish 4 (Span 4 and up is 5.0), Acting, Adv. Drama, Honors World Lit
11th grade: AP Land, AP Calc AB, Honors Physics, APUSH, AP Bio + AP Genetics, Honors Spanish 5, AP Spanish
12th grade: AP Lit, AP Chem, AP Gov + AP Econ, AP Calc BC, Honors Spanish 7, Honors Forensics, Adv. Acting
In terms of academics, follow the path you are on. Do as many ec’s as you can, and try to show a depth of involvement in something you are passionate about and that will help you out. I would also recommend doing a lot of community service on your own time, it shows that you care for others in your community and that you’re not completely “me” focused. But as you said, since you’ll only be a sophomore and your ACT score was from a while back, we really can’t chance you until you have legit scores, but a 28 as an 8th grader is impressive, and if you want into Yale, a 34+ will be needed. Also i’m sure you already know that being native American is a huge app boost. In all, you have a lot going for you.
Retake the ACT and get a current score- I’m sure it’ll be high!
Academically, you look like a match for Yale. Because they’re so selective, it’s hard to tell which applicants they will favor, but as the commenter above said, your heritage will certainly help you stand out. I think your odds are pretty good.
The 25th to 75th percentile range for Yale for the ACT is 32-35. Higher of course is better, but you are in the “game” in that range. Conversely, students with a 4.0 UW and 36 ACT are routinely denied admissions, so Yale is a reach for anyone.
Being a Native American is a plus, more so if you are a first generation college student.
I have my own views of EC’s as a Yale interviewer. More is not necessarily better. Quality of involvement in terms of commitment, leadership and results/tangible actions is what is being judged. A community service activity gets no greater weight in of itself than say a sport, art, or music activity. In fact, when I see a long list of activities, I become very skeptical of the quality of participation and have a tendency to view this as resume padding unless proven otherwise. At the very least, when you have an extensive list, it dilutes those activities that are in fact more meaningful.
Yes, it is too early for you to obsess about college admissions. You academic record indicates you are on the right track to get into a great school. However, don’t judge the quality of your worth by whether you get into XYZ schools.
Chance questions are kind of pointless. You can go onto any school’s site and find an objective profile of the entering class as to gpa/class rank, test scores, geography, ethnicity etc… so you can compare yourself against that group. Here is a link to the Yale profiling the Class of 2020 https://admissions.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/class_profile_2020_8-29.pdf When we are talking about highly selective schools like Yale, so much of the process that is critical is subjective, such as essays and LoR, that the most anyone can responsibly say is if you are competitive or not given the objectives.
More fruitful topics relate to specific process questions, school specific questions, comparison between school questions are a few that come to mind. You’ll probably get a higher level and quality of response if you post it on that school’s page. You’ll more likely get current students, alums or parents of current or recent students to give you advice.
I think you re definitely on the right track with both your GPA and ECs. Don’t add any ECs you are not interested in. The common app only has space for 10 which includes stuff you do during the summer. Good luck!
Being Native American gives you a big boost in admissions. However, you need to be able to PROVE that you are. Are you an enrolled member of a tribe and/or can you prove your descent from someone on the Dawes’ rolls? It can take time to get together the requisite documentary evidence and, believe me, Yale, and every other top college will ask for it.(Having a claim that you are Native American accepted is MUCH tougher than claiming African-American or Hispanic status.) I can’t give you the specifics on what proof you will need, but investigate and get the proof in order. If you can’t prove it, it won’t help. Frankly, it can hurt because there are a certain number of people who will try to claim Native American status because, according to family lore, they are descended from King Phillip or some such person so, without the requisite proof, such claims aren’t accepted.
Please understand that I am NOT saying that’s what you’re doing. If you are an enrolled membe of a tribe, you won’t have an issue. If you aren’t…and want to claim the status, start now to get your proof in order. If you haven’t compiled the necessary proof as of the date you apply, do NOT claim the status.