Chance an anxious senior? RD applicant

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Please bear with me on the length of this post; I greatly appreciate anyone who will take the time to help me out and give me some advice. I know my SATs are on the low side of the applicant pool, but are my ECs strong enough to get in?</p>

<p>Demographics:
Female Caucasian from PA</p>

<p>Have lived in several places including Hawaii, PA, FL, OR, and England.</p>

<p>Moved schools 3 times (experience in public, private, and cyber education both in the US and internationally) </p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>SAT: 2080 (730 CR, 640 M, 710 W) (taken once)
SAT Subjects: 780 US HIST, 600 Lit
GPA: 3.9 (unweighted, my school doesn't do weighted)</p>

<p>I also take college courses at my community college as an early admissioin HS student. I'll have like 24 credits by my senior year in HS. My school did not offer AP which is why I was accepted into this program, but they just recently added AP Calc BC which I am now taking and have an A in.</p>

<p>My college GPA is a 4.0</p>

<p>ECS:</p>

<p>Journalism/Media:</p>

<p>Wrote for my local community newspaper, the Gettysburg Times - Youngest Columnist ever, also did monthly blogging</p>

<p>Intern for another paper called Evening Sun Newspaper that has a circulation of 20,000 and is an award winning newspaper in the community, as a newsreporter and video editor, also their youngest reporter (first person to do videography for their website ever and the first 5 videos on their site were all mine) -- got my editor to write me a really great rec!</p>

<p>Began my own business at age 16 (still running, its a multimedia, family history dvd business, has turned profit, and been recognized by local media) As a part of this business, I have interviewed many WWII vets, some Holocaust survivors, and other very interesting individuals. I have donated some of these to the local historical society to preserve our town's history. I also won the Girls Going Places National Award in recognition of this accomplishment. The profit from my business allowed me to become the youngest ongoing financial contributor to NOYS the National Organization for Youth Safety (something I am passionate about)</p>

<p>Presented to many businesses in support of my own business, including the Veterans Affairs department in Washington DC, United Way, and College Business Seminar. I was recently asked to present to the Young at Heart group at a local church.</p>

<p>Washington Journalism and Media Conference (includes meeting with local congressional rep, maintaining a blog, and learning about the field of journalism)</p>

<p>I began my own blog that had 2,000 hits within first few posts. Was such a success that my newspaper editor decided to add it as an addition to our websites blog, and I now make money off of my posts.</p>

<p>Political:</p>

<p>Founded community chapter for teen politics and am personally active in local politics</p>

<p>Other:</p>

<p>President of the National Honor Society (we are a very active group with many service projects and activities). As President, I organized a book drive that collected well over 1,500 books, and have given speeches for new inductees at the induction ceremonies.
Volunteer service:</p>

<p>Volunteer:</p>

<p>Penn - Pal to prison inmate program
Volunteer service at United Way and YWCA
Began community/school supply drive titled Students Helping Students, collected and distributed 100 full supply kits to associated charities</p>

<p>Awards/Other Achievements:</p>

<p>Student of the Month at high school
Student Presenter/Guest Speaker at community college
Principal's award at HS
Dean's List at College
First in 2 of my college classes
Student of the Month by Evening Sun
Phi Theta Kappa Nominee</p>

<p>Essays: All really great (I hope), and my common app essay is very unique (according to my GC, teachers, parents, editor, and a friend who read it). </p>

<p>I plan to studying political science/government, and participate heavily in journalism and political related activities in college. I would love to either go directly into politics or report on them.</p>

<p>I also may be getting a congressional internship with my US Rep (which is normally only for college students but I have met him a lot of times and he told me to apply anyway since I do have some college credits) but won't find out until Jan. If I do, my guidance counselor is going to put that in her notes with my mid-year report. Would that help my app at all?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Can I ask why you have moved a lot? This might be more helpful/important. Was it just in early years, or recent? How long have you been in PA?</p>

3

<p>I have moved a lot because for the first quarter of my life my dad was in the military. Then he took time off to do mission work in England, and then he got into Veteran’s Affairs (because of being previously in the army). It has been over the span of my life. I was born and lived in Honolulu, Hawaii for the first few years of my life, we then lived in PA for about 10 years. Then we moved to FL for my middle school, and I completed my final middle school year in England. I did the first year and a half of high school in Oregon when my dad decided to enter the VA Department. We then moved to PA (because my family lives here and my dad had an opportunity to transfer within his job at the VA) and I have been here for over 2 years. I did public school my first year, and then switched over to a charter school and community college for the remainder of my high school.</p>

4

<ol>
<li>You only have a chance if you do apply.</li>
<li>If you apply, you need to show that you are making the effort – the least you could do, is to try the Jan 28 SAT and Feb ACT, trying to lift your scores.</li>
<li>Write a good essay about something important to you in you common application.</li>
<li>Ask what can Yale do for you and what you can do for Yale in your supplemental essay.</li>
<li>Keep your fingers crossed, and pray, like everyone else.</li>
</ol>

5

<p>From the locations I was suspecting it was military that’s why I asked. You should incorporate what you learned from each place and how it influenced you and contributed on who you are as its place is so different. You are putting too much emphasis on EC, instead of what you learn from each place you’ve been. That’s what makes you unique from other applicants. Write on how your unique life experience will contribute to the Yale community as this is something that Yale really likes.</p>

6

<p>Okay I will definitely consider the Jan SAT test. My parents keep strongly advising against it and almost forbidding me to retake it, but how can I convince them otherwise?</p>

<p>Also, if I take it and my score goes down, will I be required to submit it to all schools that require you to send in scores from all test dates (I have already sent in my scores to all my colleges and sent my apps out)</p>

7

<p>Your problem is that SAT score–it’s low for an unhooked applicant. You have great achievements, and will get into lots of great schools, but Yale is going to be very tough without a better score.</p>

<p>If you do retake, you’ll have to send the score, but Yale super-scores.</p>

8

<p>Yale requires all test scores. Unless you have enough time to study and really believe that you can raise your math, may be you can try. But it is the holidays, you have other things, can you lock yourself and study? Do you have the perseverance? You are the only one who can answer these questions and ultimate the decision is yours. Have ou already send your app to Yale? What other schools are you applying to? How much aid are you asking for?</p>

9

<p>I do think I would have the time to study and could definitely sacrifice missing out on some parties in order to settle down and really study hard, only I am just not confident my scores would go up because I studied for 6 months the first time and took all 10 practice tests in the CB blue book. The highest practice test score I ever got was a 2120. I did send in my app to Yale. I’m applying to one other ivy, 4 other reaches, and 2 safeties. I’ve already been accepted into the safeties. I don’t know yet how much aid. We have yet to fill out the FASFA.</p>

10

<p>If you’re already in at the safeties, I can’t see the downside of retaking the SATs, unless those other reaches are a lot less reachy than Yale. That is, I see no downside other than prep time and cost and time of taking the test.</p>

11

<p>Then do not do it. Just wait and hope for the best.</p>

12

<p>My reaches are GWU, Stanford, Northwestern, and Notre Dame. I’m just very paranoid that my score would go way down and eliminate all possible chances of ever getting admitted.</p>

13

<p>You have to make the judgment, as where you are vs your score. A good rule to use, is to grab one of the preparation books, take a random practice test set, examine yourself under the same conditions as a real test, and use the score key to score yourself. From that score, take a 10% deduction, is roughly where you are.</p>

<p>Then you ask yourself, how much time do I have to practice in the next 40 days? If you really want it and make a good try, you can make a good improvement. All you need to do, is to grab a prep book (baron, pr, etc), do one test, check the answer, try to learn where you got wrong, and go on to do another one, etc.</p>

14

<p>I think your current scores are going to make Yale, Stanford, and Northwestern extremely tough, and they’re toward the low end of the middle 50% at both GWU and Notre Dame. Your ECs are really good, of course, and that may help.</p>

<p>You might want to research if the other reach schools on your list superscore SATs. If they all do, I would retake if I were in your shoes.</p>

15

<p>Have you thought of adding a couple more mid schools like Georgetown and another same level?</p>