Chance Me for Yale?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am looking to EA at Yale this fall, major undecided, but leaning towards Econ/Math with a French or Music minor. I go to an above-average suburban public high school, but nothing special. </p>

<p>Estimated Rank: top 3 of ~275, so top 1% (rank and weighted average announced in Sept.)
Unweighted Average: ~98.5/100 (my school only does averages out of 100)</p>

<p>SAT: 2400 (second time, 2140 first time)
SAT II: Math II 770, Physics 750, Biology 740, U.S. History 750, French and Lit in the fall</p>

<p>AP Courseload:
Sophomore - Bio, US History, Chinese (challenge) - all 5s
Junior - Physics B, Macro, Psych, Language, Calc BC, Music Theory Euro - scores pending</p>

<p>Extra Curriculars:</p>

<p>Music - I've been playing the violin for over 11 years, had some accomplishments.
Concertmaster of the NYSSMA All-State Symphony Orchestra, local youth orchestra, school orchestra, regional festival orchestra (the last 3 for the past few years)
Selected to play on a local NPR station's Young Performers showcase program</p>

<p>School Newspaper - Editor-in-Chief
Science Olympiad - Captain juinor and senior years; team does relatively well
Model UN - President, local conferences only
Orchestra - President and Treasurer, some responsibility in planning trips and buying music
Math Club - President
Masterminds (state-wide competition, like Quiz Bowl) - Captain</p>

<p>member of: French Club, Shakespeare Club, Yearbook staff</p>

<p>National French Exam - first place regionally for past 3 years</p>

<p>Swimming - member of varsity team; likely to be Scholar Athlete this fall</p>

<p>Community Service - not a big focus, but I tried
Volunteer with a local youth group, ~40 hrs a year.
Helped organize a Science Olympiad competition, and team for local middle school
Volunteer at local library - ~20 hours total</p>

<p>I know it seems like I'm spread out all over the place, but I honestly do what I love, and I push myself to excel in everything I do. My recommendations will likely be good as well. I didn't realize until quite recently how badly I want to go to a top-notch institution. Chances and/or advice?</p>

2

<p>someone chance me? pretty please with a cherry on top?
also found out my AP Scores: 5 on everything except Psychology (4) → National AP Scholar
AND forgot to mention that I am the President of the National Honor Society</p>

3

<p>Yale is really tough to get into, but I think you have a really good chance getting in judging by your EC’s and you test scores.</p>

4

<p>Of course, as everyone here on CC loves to say, Yale is a “crapshoot” when it comes to admissions. EA, of course, will raise your chances. You have the ranking, scores, SAT, GPA, and course load to be admitted to Yale. Problem is, there’s thousands of other perfect SAT-all A’s-Yale obsessed applicants who pad their resumes with clubs and volunteer hours. So, what you have to do is find your “hook”/“spike.” Not having one almost certainly guarantees rejection. Since you seem to have chosen your major, develops yourself around it. Get top scores in math. Tutor younger children in math. Take classes at a local university (not a community college) on math topics. Do math-related summer or after school programs. If you show passion for your major (and convey this passion in your essays/interview) I’d say that you have a VERY strong chance of getting into Yale. (Your music EC’s are also impressive; it would make a great minor!) Best of luck!</p>

5

<p>Thanks so much guys! I know it’s a crapshoot, but I plan on doing EA because I don’t want to regret not having given it all for my dream school! I am in fact taking Calculus 3 at a SUNY school this summer :slight_smile: I also worked really hard and dealt with a ton of administrative red tape and bulls*** at my school to get an AP Stats class to run, possibly using that story for a supplement essay. Instead of having one exceptional “hook”, maybe I could focus on both passions? I’m trying to figure out what to write my essay on…ahhh!</p>