Chance me please (YALE freak!)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Hello,
I'm totally in love with Yale and I feel that it is really the best fit for me. I have been optimistic thus far and leaning on the holistic system for support, however, as I read some stats on CC, I have become a little nervous. But here we go:</p>

<p>Ps: I am a black, male, South African student</p>

<p>Academics:
GPA 63% (American "B" or so I'm told)
Top 15% rank
I have had an upward trend from the 8th grade
Highest mark in one AP course
I took both the AP courses offered by my school, and the most challenging curriculum.
Due to financial reasons I am only writing the SAT in January, but I have no school from now up until then, so I will be preparing very hard!</p>

<p>EC:
Debating: reached provincial level by 9th grade, and I have been the leader in this activity for two years now (1st 11th grade to be a school leader)
Public Speaking: participated for 5years, received a number of awards, and I am the leader for this too(also for two years)
I also coach all our debaters and public speakers.
One Act Play club(drama) : participated for 5years, played main roles for 3 of those years, been co-director since 10th grade.
Creative writing: 1st ever 8th grader to be published in a national poetry anthology, describe writing as my talent in more depth in the supplement essay.
Youth counselor at my church: I mentor younger teens and was the first 16year old to be appointed as a mentor.
Started a club that help other poor teens such as myself with raising funds for university application fees.</p>

<p>Special circumstances:
I come from an impoverished background.
Went to a school with privileged kids, yet made it to the top 15%.
In the 10th grade I worked 2 jobs and started a business to finance a Rotary Exchange Program that took me to Germany and Austria for 6 weeks.
In the 11th grade I maintained those two jobs to pay for the only two AP courses offered by my school, I entered the programs a year later than everyone else, but got the highest in one of them (both of the courses are Math)
I have a sickly grandma that I take care of as my mom works late.
1st in my family to even dream of college.
I am black and from a poor part of my country.
I know at least one of my Recommendations will be exceptionally good, and the other will also be fairly great.
My mom is a single parent who had me when she was 17(didn't mention this anywhere on the application,though)
And I'm thinking of submitting an additional supplement discussing my experience of being openly gay in a small African community, and how much bravery I need just to survive a day(I came out to everyone by the age of 16 and faced a lot of issues with regards to my sexuality-even with teachers at school) This was also particularly hard as I go to a traditional all-boys school</p>

<p>I am confident in the quality and uniqueness of both my essays, and had an alumni interview that was scheduled for 1hr, but went on for almost 2 and half hrs. The chat was amazing! </p>

<p>Please be honest, I am very nervous and worried about letting my mind run wild with my YALE dream, only to face disappointment.</p>

2

<p>Without an SAT score, it’s a bit to early to ask for chances. Ask again after you have your score. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Thank you for the reply!</p>

<p>Just one question, though, how much of a killer is my mediocre GPA? (63/100)Its really stressing me out</p>

<p>Thanks again, I’ll definitely ask again once I have my SAT scores</p>

4

<p>^^ I would imagine that Admissions will be comparing your GPA, test scores, teacher recommendations and essays to all other applicants from South Africa. So, it really depends on how you stack-up. Without knowing your competition, it’s very difficult to say how much of a killer your GPA will be.</p>

5

<p>I see…very difficult to take that in(only the elite few in South Africa would apply abroad)</p>

<p>But we’ll see how it goes.
Thanks a lot!!!</p>

6

<p>Wow, you sound like an extremely qualified applicant to me! I am applying to Yale this year as well (Yale is my #1 school by a wide margin). You obviously don’t come from the same type of educational background as the traditional American applicant, so it will be hard for most people on these forums to give you an idea of your standings.</p>

<p>Personally, I would say that you have an excellent shot. You have so many things going for you (impoverished, first generation, black, openly gay, backstory, etc.). While your GPA is below the average GPA you may see here on the forums, I don’t believe it would automatically condemn you to the reject pile :stuck_out_tongue: If your SAT is strong, and your course load is as rigorous as you say, then I believe it will be a lot easier for admissions officers to overlook the GPA. Although, you will need two SAT II subject tests to submit as well. If taking multiple tests is a problem for you, you may want to investigate the ACT (I don’t know if its available in your area), which is accepted by Yale in place of SAT and SAT II. Study hard!</p>

<p>Overall, I think you have a great shot!</p>

<p>I really hope we both get to attend next fall!</p>

7

<p>@DolphinBoy Thank yoooou so much!</p>

<p>I’ve decided to go for the SAT, as the local embassy can borrow me study material. So the decision to write the SAT over the ACT was really by default.
The two subjects will be Math level 1 and Literature. I hope YALE has no preferences with the subjects you test in???</p>

<p>…WOW,
To think we might just bump into each other next year!!!</p>

<p>Dolphin, would you mind sharing your records? </p>

<p>Ps: which college is your fav?</p>

8

<p>You’re such an interesting dude. I really hope I get to meet you someday.</p>

<p>However, you really should be careful with your dreams. Yale is a dice roll for everyone, and your grades are indeed going to hurt you (hopefully not too much, considering your circumstances). Apply to other awesome schools, too — they are around, I promise you. Set your heart on getting into a great school, not a specific brand of one. The world has a lot more to offer than just that one school.</p>

<p>But having strong test scores is pretty important here, I think. You have to prove that despite your circumstances you are prepared for a Yale education.</p>

<p>Good luck. :S</p>

9

<p>@Philovitist, thanks a lot!</p>

<p>I am also applying to other Ivies(except Brown) and a few of the other great schools(Amherst, Davidson, Williams etc)</p>

<p>However YALE is my first love, in some ways my only. Though, I do see myself at Princeton or Dartmouth.</p>

<p>Thank you again for your reassuring words(on CC I think an answer like that can be regarded as ‘reassuring’)</p>

10

<p>I’m so in love with Yale too :stuck_out_tongue: I hope so badly that we will be accepted.</p>

<p>About the SAT II subject tests: I don’t know if Yale has any specific preferences, but the general rule is to take subject tests in areas that you know you’ll do well. I picked Math 2 and Chemistry.</p>

<p>You can see my stats here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/questbridge-programs/1414144-dream-school-yale-think-i-can-get-matched.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/questbridge-programs/1414144-dream-school-yale-think-i-can-get-matched.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Even though I know its silly, I’m a superstitious kind of guy… I don’t want to jinx my chances of getting in by picking a favorite residential college and getting too comfortable with Yale hahaha</p>

11

<p>

Even if you did get in there would be no benefit to “picking” a residential college as Yale places you where they think you would fit best (outside of legacy admits).</p>

12

<p>(Sorting Hat)</p>

<p>I have already sorta kinda planned which courses I want to take for the next four years if I get in. >.></p>

13

<p>I have more or less an idea of which courses I will take, but I am certain on the extracurricular activities I will be part of! (Including starting a writers club)</p>

<p>Somehow, when I speak about Yale, I feel like I’m betraying my dream when I say “if I’m accepted”. So I always attempt to use “when I am at Yale…” (Until I’m hit by reality of course)</p>

<p>Just wondering am I the only one with that problem? (Confidence VS reality- I know it sounds like some of Shakespeare’s themes, though rest assured its not intentional)</p>

<p>Ps: For what its worth, I do like Shakespeare</p>

14

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<p>Yes, I know you can’t pick. Sorry if I made it sound like that’s what I was saying. Actually, Yale housing does not do the deciding. They use a special algorithm to evenly distribute matriculants across colleges (randomly), so by no random chance will there be a whole college filled with athletes, or musicians, or whatever. </p>

<p>While I am fairly confident that I will get accepted to a great school, I don’t want to tell myself that I will be accepted to Yale. It would be a dream come true, but it is still a reach, after all.</p>