Demographics: Male, half black/half Mexican(i know), super competitive high school in Michigan
ACT: 36
SAT: 1560
SAT II: awaiting results
UW GPA: 3.95/4
Coursework: Full IB school, including HL math
Awards:
National Hispanic Scholar
Bunch of Science Olympiad stuff
1st place financial plan in some obscure business camp
Extracurriculars:
Secretary, Black Student Association
Board Member, Mock Trial
Head Tutor, Math Lab
Science Olympiad
Mow Lawns every week
Worked as a tutor at Kumon
Gave a speech in front of the school about Housing Discrimination(not really an EC, I’m just proud of it)
NHS, SHS
Peer Corps
Your test scores and grades are excellent, but your academic accomplishments and extra-curriculars beyond these are a bit lackluster from my perspective, and less compelling than those of most of my friends who attended (I’m an alum). Focus on your essays and recommendations in the coming months if you can.
Being a URM will help. If you are SES disadvantaged and have to work (mowing lawns, tutoring), I wouldn’t worry about not having the typical upper middle class EC’s (sports, music, “cause” volunteer). You will, as @exyalie15 advises, need to paint a strong, coherent and consistent picture of who you are, how you will best use the opportunities offered by Yale and how you will benefit the greater Yale community in your essays, LoR’s and EC’s that you choose to highlight.
Your stats are outstanding, particularly as an IB diploma candidate. And yes, colleges value kids who have to work as much or even more than those who have the basic upper middle class ECs. Good luck to you!
I say that if you are really proud of your speech then you should use what makes you proud of it and what it meant to you in your essay somehow. Passion goes far. Just the fact that you felt the need to mention it means something.
I like Memmsmom’s suggestion about your essay. I heard advice once that ring really true to me: With elite schools, you just have to get your stats in the ballpark (yours are) and hope that something in your file catches the eye of the admissions counselor who reads it. A sparkling and personal essay will help.
I’m betting mock, head tutor (presumably, this is more than the usual minimum effort,) and Sci Oly, will get adcom attention. We’d need to know more about your peer corps and your role. (You haven’t described some community service where you work directly with needs or in advocacy.)
It’s not a bad start, but what’s the possible major and where are those activities?
As for the rest of what it takes, it’s up to you to know enough about the college and what it wants, to present this well in the app and supp. Put in that effort to understand. And if you’re missing something (the ques about service and ECs related to the major,) now’s the chance to think about catching up.
I actually started a response but realized it would probably get booted. I recruit students in majority minority public schools systems (the very ones I graduated from) so if OP wants some sage advice, they should PM me.