Chance Me? Thanks in advance!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>I know that my resume has some weak spots but I'm hoping that some of my EC's and a solid interview can give me a shot!</p>

<p>GPA UW - 3.56 (estimate, I live in Texas and my school only produces weighted GPAs)
GPA W - 5.25
ACT - 33 (35S, 33R, 33E, 29M) Will retake in October to improve math score.
Not submitting SAT scores.
SATII - I will be taking 3 in October most likely either WH or USH, Math II, and possibly Lit. Hopefully my scores will be 700+ on all 3.
Rank - 40/479</p>

<p>The reason my UW GPA is so low is due to the fact that my school is on an extremely competitive weighted system that makes it almost impossible for competitive students to take a rigorous courseload and still have a 3.9+ GPA, in fact, I don't believe that anyone in the top 10% of my class could possibly have an unweighted GPA higher than a 3.9.</p>

<p>Freshman year = PAP Geometry, PAP Gifted English, AP Human Geo, Spanish I (no honors offered), Theater I (had to fill art credit), PAP Biology, and Golf</p>

<p>Sophomore year = PAP Algebra II, PAP Gifted English, AP World History, Spanish II (no honors offered), PAP Computer Science, PAP Chemistry, and Golf</p>

<p>Junior year = PAP PreCalculus, AP Lang&Comp, AP USH, PAP Spanish III, AP Psychology, PAP Physics, and Golf</p>

<p>Senior year = AP Calculus AB, AP Literature, AP Government, AP Economics, AP Environmental Systems, AP Chemistry, Golf, and a period of senior release that I will use to learn Arabic on my own (I have no interest in continuing Spanish)</p>

<p>That is very near to the most rigorous courseload offered at my school.</p>

<p>ECs
- I have played golf all 4 years in a very competitive 5A district, lettered 3 years, All-District honors twice, Regional Qualifier twice, and hopefully a state qualifier next year
- I am the Senior President of my chapter of National Charity League
- Senior Class Council Historian, prom committee, and will be a distinguished student panel member (I get to sit on stage) at graduation next spring
- I am the current founder/President of the first Arabic Club at our school
- current member of National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society
- Freshman PTSA Student Representative
- 4 year Student Council Member
- President of Philosophy Club
- Chosen as a graduation usher for the Class of 2013 by administrators </p>

<p>My recommendations will come from teachers who see me as hard-working and interested in learning as well as the director of secondary schools in our district whom I have worked with closely since elementary school. </p>

<p>I am a very witty-person and I'm hoping that will give me an edge when it comes to my essays and interview. My english teachers have always enjoyed the satire I add to my essays so I am hoping that will make me stand out a little bit more.</p>

<p>I plan on pursuing International Relations/Political Science as well as Arabic in college and I feel that Yale would be the best place for me to do so. My extracurriculars are focused around leadership and service; I'm hoping that will shine through. I know I am not an extremely competitive candidate but I'm hoping a little luck will give me a chance.</p>

<p>Honest opinions are welcomed and appreciated! Thank you! :)</p>

2

<p>You have a wonderful ACT score, but Yale is on record as saying (<a href=“What Yale Looks For | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions):%5B/url%5D”>What Yale Looks For | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions):</a></p>

<p>“While there is no hard and fast rule, it is safe to say that performance in school is more important than testing. A very strong performance in a demanding college preparatory program may compensate for modest standardized test scores, but it is unlikely that high standardized test scores will persuade the admissions committee to disregard an undistinguished secondary-school record.”</p>

<p>According to Yale’s latest Common Data Set ([Common</a> Data Set (CDS) | Office of Institutional Research](<a href=“http://oir.yale.edu/common-data-set]Common”>Common Data Set | Office of Institutional Research)), C10 data, 95% of accepted students were in the top 10% of their class. Not knowing your school, my best guess is that your unweighted GPA of 3.56 (roughly an 89) does not place you in the top 10% of your class, so your chances do not seem to be that great.</p>

<p>By all means apply to Yale if it is your dream school, but with an 89 average, Yale is an ultra-ultra-ultra-high reach school for you.</p>

<p>Does your high school use Naviance or some other electronic means of tracking college applications? Has anyone else from your high school with your GPA been admitted to Yale? If you don’t know, ask your guidance counselor.</p>

3

<p>gibby: Thanks so much for your response! I actually am in the top 10% being #40/479. I’ll definitely talk to my counselor about former admits from my school. Great response - thanks again!</p>

4

<p>usually someone with your gpa would have no shot, but in this case your school was obviously pretty brutal and you are still in the top 10%. your chances are not great, but give it a shot!</p>

5

<p>If I must be honest, you;re a solid candidate. But at Yale “solid” means the kiss of death. </p>

<p>I’m doing Global Affairs at Yale’s Jackson Institute (we dont call it IR no more), and the reason I think your app is solid is because your extracurriculars really have few things to do with IR/Poli Sci, which is what you want to pursue. For instance, most Global Affairs kids i know do debate at nat level, Model UN, Model Nato, or some sort of freign policy-related clubs.activites. (Needless to say many are nat champions or runner-ups or at least president of said clubs). They also write wonderful essays connecting their experience with the specific discipline/track they’d like to do. </p>

<p>So. That’s my concern. Also do our research about Jackson’s B.A degree. It may or may NOT be for u</p>