Chance this Dreamer

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Basics:
- Gender: Male
- Ethnicity: Chinese-Vietnamese-American
- School: Public
- Cumulative GPA: 3.9 (Weighted: 4.3)
- Class rank: Top 6%</p>

<p>Testing:
- SAT I: Taking in October
- SAT II: US History - 650, Biology - 640
- ACT: 29 (Plan on retaking)
- AP: US History - 4, Spanish - 3, Biology - 3</p>

<p>Grades:
- 9th Grade: World History (A/A), English (A/A), Geometry (A/A), Biology (A/A), Spanish 2 (A/A)
- 10th Grade: English (A/A), Honors Algebra 2 (A/A), Honors Chemistry (A/A), Spanish 3 (A/A), Intro to Art (A/A)
- 11th Grade: AP US History (A/A), English (A/A), Honors Pre Calc (A/A), AP Biology (A/B), AP Spanish (A/A), Honors Physics (B/A)</p>

<p>Senior Schedule: AP Calc, AP Stats, AP Euro, English, Intermediate Art, Gov/Econ</p>

<p>Extracurriculars, etc.:
- Youth In Government (Shadowed local officials and presented in mock City Council meeting)
- California Scholarship Federation
- National Honor Society
- Interact (service club)
- Renaissance award for Art (only one person per grade level receives)
- Published poem in school anthology
- AP Scholar
- Interned for a computer programmer over the summer</p>

<p>Majors:
- Computer Science
- Architecture
- Accounting/Business</p>

<p>My test scores stink...I plan on taking Math II in November and retaking the ACT in December. I am a bit depressed because I found out my ACT score tonight, and I was hoping for a 30+, lol.</p>

<p>Do I have an actual chance of getting in?</p>

2

<p>Doesn’t look too good at the moment. As you mentioned, test scores are low, and your ECs aren’t too comprehensive. Your rank is not too favorable for someone attending public school.</p>

3

<p>Hmm…thank you for responding. Do you have any suggestions on how I can improve my ECs?</p>

4

<p>Well… ECs are usually the hardest thing to improve on. I’m assuming you’re a Junior, and it’s pretty late in the game for any drastic changes. Also, ECs represent that one field where effort alone can’t get you the results you need. It’s more of a combination of opportunity/talent. For example, a nationally recognized saxophone player. You won’t be one if you never had the opportunity to learn from youth. You also won’t be one if you don’t have the talent. Though you can make minor changes, maybe be elected to some leadership positions, drastic changes are largely impossible. </p>

<p>I would try to raise scores and cultivate many other colleges as options.</p>

5

<p>Alright, thanks! How embarrassing for me…I’m a senior, lol! I don’t think I will be applying to Yale :frowning: …Do you think I would have a chance at any of the ivies?</p>

6

<p>I suggest you concentrate on top public schools, not on ivies. ACT 29 is low for any ivy, and not high for top public schools either. you need to improve your act score to at least >30 or sat at least > 2000. you also need to enhance your SATII score a little bit, for example > 700. In such a short period, improving your test scores is most effective way to increase your chance for top schools.</p>

7

<p>the scores=ouch
even if you have a 2400, there’s no guarantee you’ll get in. the ECs aren’t extraordinary compared to a lot of the other applicants. but hey what do I know
jack is right though, top public schools should be more of a target for you. do you like UVA, UNC, michigan, berkeley?</p>