<p>My son has Yale as his No.1 choice. Has 33 on ACT, 3.9uwgpa, 4.3 uwgpa, class president, eagle scout, 6 varsity letters, all honor and AP courses (taking 5 AP senior year and got a 5 on AP copurse laset year), works during school year and will have great rec's....and even homecoming king. Goes to public school.</p>
<p>But no special "hook", have you seen cases were well rounded kids can get in to Yale? Does the rec's have to be extra special? Any recommendaitons?</p>
<p>I've seen plenty of well-rounded kids get in. A large percentage of every class is well-rounded. The well-rounded kids need to show leadership, initiative, and commitment in their extracurriculars. I was a well-rounded kid--no extracurricular so outstanding that it would make me hooked, but top leadership in one of my ECs and state/national recognition in another (mere state/national recognition doesn't make it a hook unless it's something Yale really wants/needs). </p>
<p>I think essays and teacher recs are very important for well-rounded kids. I was able to read my teacher recs after they had been submitted and they made me sound like I walked on water. My essays, in retrospect, made me seem like a "residential college kid", someone who would really fit the Yale ethos. Sorry to sound arrogant, but I'm trying to express why I think I got in as a well-rounded student. Then again, I got in a long time ago and things are more fiercely competitive now. As an alumni interviewer, however, I interview a lot of kids and see plenty of well-rounded ones get in and suspect what worked for me probably worked for them.</p>