Chance Me for Yale SCEA, UPenn, Notre Dame, Safeties

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m a UPenn legacy, and I could just apply there ED and have decent odds of getting in. Most of my close friends, family, and guidance counselors are trying to convince me to apply to Yale SCEA, my dream school. I would appreciate your opinion, i’m on the fence about the entire thing.

Demographics: Hispanic/Native American Male (grandparents have tribal affiliation with a tribe indigenous to South America, I was told this counts? Not stressing Native American that much) <100k Family of 5, son of two immigrants. I spent most of my childhood living between the U.S. and a third world country. Bilingual in English/Spanish.

Academics: Ill be applying for a bio or biochem major and minor in philosophy. 4.5W/3.95 UW. Most rigorous courses available every year. 1500 SAT (shooting for 1540+ in spring), 32 ACT (also shooting for 34+, 36 on reading and English, 27 math lmao). 1450/221 PSAT probable NMSF. Only took world history subject test (670 - trash ik), but plan on taking Biology and Math II in the summer (probably wont do that well on math so maybe 720-760).

E.Cs:

  • started a nonprofit that helps educate children in the third world country I grew up in (dedicated most of my time to this, huge project I’m super proud of, currently have upwards of $30,000 in pledges in our first year, and we hope to break $50,000 by summer), I also established a mission trip along side my non-profit that took myself and around a dozen students from my school to the third world country in an immersion trip)
    -crew
  • I’m also self taught in classical guitar - excellent in district competition and good in states (not that impressive may omit from app).
  • Cancer research over summer, name published on paper.

Awards: National Latin Exam - Perfect Score Freshman year, Gold Sophomore, probable gold Junior. Expected national Hispanic scholar as well. Probable AP scholar.

List of Schools in order of preference.
Yale SCEA, Columbia, UPenn, Notre Dame, Dartmouth, University of Virginia, Georgia Tech, UChicago, University of Florida (in-state) + others.

Any advice and or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.

2

I would still consider Yale a high reach. You are hooked and you have legacy at Penn so I think you have a better chance of getting accepted at Penn than at Yale

3

Bump

4

Test-wise, don’t spread yourself too thin. I’d advise you to choose either the ACT or SAT, not both. Take subject tests as soon as possible after finishing the courses, and if you don’t think Math II will be your strong suit, why not take another test you prefer (assuming none are required for your major)? Good luck, you look like you have a great future ahead.

5

I’d apply ED to UPenn.

6

Do you have any reasons for preferring Yale over UPenn? If not, and you’d be happy attending UPenn, I’d apply ED there.

7

Bump

8

Who in your family graduated from Penn?

9

Dad

10

I wouldn’t risk it, dude. You’re a good student and all, but what if you can’t get your testing scores up high enough? I’d go the safer route when we’re talking about two schools with single digit admission numbers. That extra hook could help you out a lot. I’m not a gambler. That’s just my opinion though.

11

@nontranslationalwog it boils down to whether the additional preference you have for Yale over Penn would be worth the extra risk you would taking on. The extra risk is not only that Yale SCEA is harder than Penn ED in general and even more so given your legacy status , but also that ED ivies like Penn and Columbia become utter crapshoots during RD. i think if you manage to raise your SAT to 1540/1550+, then Yale SCEA would become a more viable option.

12

Thanks. I’m shooting for a 1540 in the spring. Ill also probably have published research done by summer so that’ll probably help.