Chance me, please!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Hello! I'm relatively new to CC and I've never been chanced...so I figured Yale would be a great place to start. :)</p>

<p>First, let's talk curriculum.<br>
I attend a tiny private school that doesn't rank.
Every class available is Honors (unless it's AP), so my GPA is skewed. I have a 3.89 weighted (I know...ugh), but if you add in the weights from all of the Honors courses, it's substantially different. Additionally, I had straight A's for my entire junior year (and first semester senior year is looking to be the same), after I took AP Euro (a class that changed my life).</p>

<p>I obtained special permission to take two AP's my sophomore year (and remain the only student at my high school to do so), and overall, I will finish with 9 AP's. I took two sophomore year, two junior year, and I'm taking five this year. I am one of 4 students that has taken 9, and there is no one else at my high school who has taken more. (Rigor = high.)</p>

<p>I am a Caucasian female from North Carolina, middle-upper class. My mother did not attend college. </p>

<p>Test scores:
SAT I:<br>
Reading: 770
Math: 660
Writing: 750 (Didn't miss any multiple choice but got a 9 on the essay...ugh, timed writing.)</p>

<p>ACT: 33 </p>

<p>SAT II:<br>
US History: 770
Literature: 730 (even though I hadn't taken a Literature class yet)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>I have completed a novel (Young Adult Fantasy/Romance). My school gave me an independent study where I work with a published author to edit the manuscript, and it will seek publication later in the year. I am at work on a draft for a sequel, in addition to pursuing an entirely different project. I have worked on the first novel since 7th grade (most of the years were spent planning a 5-book series; actual writing for the current draft commenced in March). </p>

<p>Additionally, I started my own community service project. My elementary school recently lost magnet funding, and the local school system as a whole is struggling due to the economy. I'm extremely close with many of my former elementary school teachers, so together, we designed a program that helps disadvantaged children build necessary literary skills. I organized a pen pal program between excelling students at my high school and the kids at the elementary school, and sold the idea to my private school's administration, pitched it to the student body, and gathered over 85 volunteers (out of about 320 total!) to write letters for the entire school year. It was a truly amazing experience, and I had the honor of meeting my sweet pen pal, and it honestly changed my life. </p>

<p>I've done other things (Junior Varsity Volleyball - 4-time Captain [because I played JV in middle school, as well] and 2-time Most Valuable Player - Cupcakes for the Community (a more artistically inclined club that decorates cupcakes for a local orphanage), and a handful of elected positions (Vice President of SADD, Secretary of European Culture Club, etc). However, my passions are my novel(s) and my community service pen pal project, so I don't plan to spend too much time elaborating about the other activities. </p>

<p>I've won a few awards, including:
The Sewanee Book Award for Excellence in Writing
Junior Social Studies Department Award
Sophomore English Department Award
Honors-in-Course for AP English Language
National Spanish Exam Silver Award
National Spanish Honor Society</p>

<p>I will get a glowing recommendation from my AP English teacher, in addition to excellent ones from my AP US History teacher and my AP European History teacher (whose class transformed my life...I haven't gotten anything besides an A in any class after I took hers). </p>

<p>Oh, and if you've read this far, thank you so much for chancing me. I truly appreciate your expertise and consideration. I personally believe that my biggest weakness is my GPA, but unfortunately, it's the one thing I can't change.</p>

2

<p>Oh I think your ECs really appeal to the admissions people. But the SAT score may impede you… Anyways I think I would probably accept you should I be the AO.</p>

3

<p>Thank you! Do you think it would be best to only submit my ACT score, then? I know it’s higher…but I thought Yale might want to see everything. I know the SAT score isn’t Yale quality, but I’m not trying to sell myself as a math student, either.</p>

4

<p>Splendid EC’s and awards! Good chance of getting in to some other Ivy League schools too :)</p>

5

<p>This is an amazing “resume!” I think you’ll have a great chance! So you started a school?!</p>

6

<p>sorry to be the one to burst your bubble but I would have to say you have an average chance, meaning around 7%. While you are solid all around, SAT scores in general could be higher, you like many of us including me don’t really have anything out of this world about you on your application. Now I am not saying that that is necessary to get in or that you aren’t a great person, its just that without some extraordinary aspect, for most qualified applicants its the luck of the draw. Don’t be fooled by these people above you saying you have a great chance, remember its a 93% reject rate, and that is hard to overcome.</p>

7

<p>Hi Wikiman,</p>

<p>I actually agree with you! I recognize that the rate is extremely low, and that my SAT scores are low for Yale (see my earlier posts). However, I do think that my ACT is higher and I’m seriously considering submitting only ACT. Do you think that would matter?</p>

<p>The only thing I disagree with would be my uniqueness. I think completing one novel, being in the middle of two other novels, and having plans for three more is rare. (Not unheard of. Not that I’m the only person in the Class of 2011 who will apply with that. But I do think it’s rare, and I think it gives me an advantage.)</p>

<p>I’ve seen a few chance threads and lots of people are focusing on awards, club leadership, etc. I don’t think I’ve seen three novels yet.</p>

<p>With that said, I don’t think it’s an automatic yes, but I do think the novels will be helpful.</p>

<p>YaleBowWow - Oh, dear! No, I haven’t started a school. Where did you get that impression, haha?</p>

8

<p>I think the novels really will set you apart. Unfortunately, unless I’m mistaken, Yale requires all your scores, though they take into account the highest.</p>

9

<p>the Novel thing is unique, but my question as an admissions official would have to be, how serious is this novel writing, not proof that you are doing it but do your novels have merit. You said something about working with an author, could you get a recommendation from him. How certain is this publication deal. I just feel like some admissions officials might not take your literary pursuits that seriously without any “awards”. But yeah if you find a way to really make the writing thing stick out, you have a better chance, but still not anywhere near a hooked applicant or athlete.</p>