Chance? (Fingers crossed!)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Yale has been my dream school as long as I can remember. I visited there, and I go to sessions when they visit locally, and, so far, I LOVE every single thing about it!! If anyone would look at this and tell me if I have a chance and, if so, how much of one, that'd be great!</p>

<p>I'm a junior.</p>

<p>ACT score (from last year): 35 (I didn't really study, so I think I can get perfect this spring.)
PSAT score: I haven't taken it, but I will this week. I took the practice test (without studying) and got 67 on reading and math, 80 on writing. I'll study a lot; I know I need to bring up the first two.
SAT score: Do I need to take it? Does Yale really care if you give them ACT or SAT?</p>

<p>GPA (weighted): 4.6 (regular math b/c of schedule conflicts with theatre & theatre pull it down)
GPA (unweighted on reg. scale): 3.6
GPA (unweighted on reg/hon/ap scale): 4.4</p>

<p>in IB program</p>

<p>AP courses last year: AP Euro (made a 5)
AP & IB courses this year: U.S. History, English 3, French, Psychology, Biology</p>

<p>extracurriculars:
dance, piano, and voice outside of school, can play violin okay
habitat for humanity, animal awareness club, interact club (community service)
theatre at school - haven't made any plays yet, but I got call backs for the spring show, and I still help out with them
summer: church camps, acting/dancing/singing camps
been in about 15 plays and I love, love, love acting
I'm the organist at my church</p>

<p>I'm lacking in leadership</p>

<p>Sorry that was so long!! Thanks in advance to all who help!</p>

2

<p>Scores are awesome, unweighted GPA seems a bit low. Extracurriculars aren’t too special, and as you mentioned you lack leadership. </p>

<p>Chances seem pretty low at this point for Yale, but with those stats, a lot of other schools are going to be sending you acceptance letters.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for answering. Do you have any suggestions to make myself a better candidate? What do you mean about the extracurriculars thing?</p>

4

<p>I left off that I’m in the French Honor Society, Thespian Society, and English Honor Society (NHS doesn’t start here until senior year). I don’t know if that helps me or not.</p>

5

<p>Amazing scores!! How did you manage it??? </p>

<p>Chances are pretty good, considering the scores. Just improve your EC’s… add more leadership! (:</p>

6

<p>Don’t bother with the SAT, concentrate on getting your grades up, jr year is very important.</p>

7

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</p>

<p>Although you do not need the SAT for college admissions, it is likely that you will qualify as a National Merit semi-finalist and I believe you will need to take the SAT if you want a shot at the $2500 National Merit scholarship.</p>

8

<p>needstostudy: Thank you, I will.</p>

<p>entomom: Thanks, I am definitely going to work really hard at raising my grades this quarter.</p>

<p>YaleGradandDad: I didn’t know that. Thank you very much.</p>

9

<p>So . . . I realized I was calculating my GPA wrong. I just saw someone else’s post on here that asked how to figure out unweighted GPA.</p>

<p>unweighted GPA: 3.85</p>

<p>Oops.</p>

10

<p>Yale picks kind of idiosyncratic people, so don’t let anyone here tell you that you won’t get in… Our valedictorian last year didn’t get in, but some shy girl who was like 35th in her class got in xD</p>

<p>I think your AP course load last year might have been on the light side, but that also depends on your school’s program and system. </p>

<p>Your music definitely helps, but make sure to stress on your apps/essays that your academics are most important. I know people who don’t get in because they seem too passionate for something and Yale would basically say, “There are better schools for theater out there” and pass over them.</p>

<p>plus you’re a junior, so relax, you still have a year to make yourself the perfect candidate xD</p>

<p>also you might want to look into volunteer opportunities. Ideally, look for something where you can give back to the community using your acting talents (perhaps volunteer at an organization that provides musical education to underprivileged kids!)</p>

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<p>Thank you, everybody, for your helpful and nice responses!! You’re all awesome.</p>

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<p>psat = national merit, super easy dont study i made it to semi finalist so far. finalist notifications are next semester so that doesnt really matter for colleges. you have boring ECs, test scores just wont do it for you. sorry. maybe if you do something REALLY CREATIVE with your acting talents this year you’ll have a shot. you never know</p>

<p>good luck!</p>