Chance me for Yale SCEA and other top schools [Class of 2024]

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi! I’m a junior from Missouri and plan on applying to schools like Yale (SCEA), Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Caltech, Columbia, Penn, USC, Cornell, WashU

These are my stats:

ACT: 35 (36 English, 35 Science, 35 Math, 34 Reading)
Unweighted GPA: 4.0, Most Rigorous course load (10 ap courses so far, 4 more next year + college calculus)

AP (tests not scored yet): USH, Lang, Calc BC, Stat, Chem
AP Scores: HUG, CSA, Physics 1, World (5’s)
Senior year course load: Senior Mentor, Calc 3/Differential Equations, AP Biology, AP Lit, AP Physics 2, AP Lit, Internship

Extracurriculars:

FIRST Robotics (9-12) - programming captain, outreach lead, sponsorship lead
—100+ outreach hours, personally led 8 camps that influenced 200+ kids total
—2x Worlds Qual
Mu Alpha Theta (10-12) - President
Chemistry Club (11-12) - President
Red Cross (10-12) - Leader
French Honor Society (10-12) - Secretary
Speech and Debate (9-12) - Varsity

Job/Work Experience: Paid tutor for AP Computer Science A, CSA Review book editor
Volunteer/Community Service: 100+ through robotics, and some through red cross
Essays (rating 1-10, details): will probably write around 8-8.5 since I’m not a natural writer
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): probably around 8-9

Awards:

FRC Dean’s List Semifinalist (2019)
HOSA internationals qualifier (2019)
HOSA State 3rd Place (2019)
Congressional App Challenge Winner (2018)

MathLeague National Championship Qualifier (2019)
Mathleague State Finalist (2019)
USACO Silver (2019)
District Debate 3rd place (2019)
USNCO Local Section top 5 (2019)

Other stuff

Aced the PSAT, probably will get national merit.
Attending a relatively selective summer research program this summer (10-12~ acceptance) in Biology/Bioengineering
—Hoping for a rec letter out of it
Got accepted into another 10~12% acceptance a while back, did not go due to insufficient aid
Bioengineering internship at state school for 2 years - drafting paper for publication - not sure if it will be published b4 apps
Paid Internship at USDA biology lab my freshman year
I’m studying really hard for HOSA internationals and will try to get something there…

Low income - 40k~
I’m an Asian male and go to a public high school.
Intended Major: CS/Premed

Please chance me!! Is it wise for me to apply SCEA to yale?

2

There is no ‘Premed’ major at Yale- do you mean a life science like biology? There are only premed track courses/pre requisites but no one designated major.

3

I would say that you definitely have the qualifications and stats to try Yale. Just keep in mind that Yale SCEA is quite selective and restrictive in terms of other schools you can apply to early.

4

Look for Questbridge matches. Given the income level and grades there is a likely bet of being matched somewhere.

Any foreign languages taken? Most Top 20 schools expect a FL taken to at least level 4.

5

You certainly have a legit shot of getting into Yale SCEA. At under $40k family income, assuming no major family assets, if you got into any of YHSP, you’ll basically go for free with 100% grant aid. At the same time that you apply Yale SCEA, apply to some good state honors programs that grant aid, including to out of state students, early action or rolling admissions.

6

@pollute you definitely have a shot at the IVY’s so good luck! I would not apply SCEA though. It restricts your early private applications and SCEA is only used to get in the athletes, development cases, under represented minorities and other heavily hooked applicants. For a typical applicant it is a waste of luck. Very different than ED.

7

Yes, I believe SCEA gives a definite, though slight edge in admissions to top schools (other than CIT and MIT) regardless of what the schools say. A recent analysis of Harvard ‘s Restricted EA showed that even unhooked applicants get a boost. I don’t think Yale is much different.

You have excellent academic credentials so, absolutely if you want to try for the most selective schools, do so. When you give your GC your notes on things you want included in that important letter of reference, make sure that it is clearly brought up that you live in a low income household with the constraints that go with it.

Also understand that Yale is a long shot for most anyone. Look for your absolute safety schools. The ones you can afford and will take you. Don’t leave them to last. Those are your most important options because they can be your only viable options. It’s too easy to just cherry pick top schools from just about any list. Searching for schools that fit your needs including the financial needs is the true crux of college search.

8

For students with top stat’s, even without hooks, SCEA is a great option. Plenty of non-hooked students get into top schools. If you get in, the rest of senior year is 0 stress. If you get deferred, no harm, no foul. If you get denied, it might tell you something about the strength of your application. ED on the other hand is only for those with a clear number 1 choice and FA is not a major issue. HYPS are probably the most generous schools when it comes to FA and the.y are all SCEA. As mentioned above, you should simultaneously apply to some good state programs EA (usually allowed by SCEA schools) and those with rolling admissions. Also take note that state school FA and merit aid often is limited, so the earlier you get all of your material in, the better.

9

Basics are good and we know you’ll get past first cut. Problem: is Speech & Debate truly the only non-stem thing you do? And stem “outreach” to kids is not the same as other forms of rolling up your sleeves and working with the needy. Honor societies aren’t an “it.”

Admits hang on your actual app/supp. Not just a resume. Imo, you need to stop in you tracks and get a better idea what Yale and the others do look for.

Yale describes “leadership,” but that’s not being leader of everything. It has to do with how you get past that, the willingness to expand beyond your own interests and do some good around you, even small. Committed. That broader vision and effort. Unilateral is a risk. Tell us more.

10

I disagree about those needing Financial Aid NOT applying ED. If You run the NPC for the school, and the numbers look good and you do not have a business or Non custodial parent in the picture, that should give you a good idea as to what your financial aid package will be. The chances are better for a good package early, with some schools flat out saying so. There is more money to give out and colleges want as close to a 100% yield on ED. The FA Officer can go over your package more carefully, and will be under pressure to make it match the NPC or have a danged good reason for it not matching.

If it’s not doable, you have an out. You’ll also now know what challenges you have ahead with your RD applications and financial aid

11

@2022soon - I disagree with your statement above: "SCEA is only used to get in the athletes, development cases, under represented minorities and other heavily hooked applicants. For a typical applicant it is a waste of luck. "

I was an “unhooked” applicant that was admitted SCEA to Yale, and that goes for many of my peers at Yale. As @BKSquared has said very helpfully above (and on multiple other threads): “For students with top stat’s, even without hooks, SCEA is a great option.”

@pollute - Financial aid is extremely generous at Yale and at the the other ivies, and for some of my classmates, made Yale more affordable than their state honors colleges/universities. Best of luck!