<p>dont consider the GYLC prog to be too big of a hook. its great.fun etc but at the end of the day atleast 2000 kids do it every year, most of whom will probably land up applying to yale themselves.</p>
<p>dont be fooled by their mailings ,"congratulations XYZ, u are one of the selct few global scholars with exceptional abilities etc etc" </p>
<p>i admire ur determination towards getting into yale. i say take the year off, do something really offbeat- write a book or something, and then give it ur best shot.</p>
<p>but definately work on ur SAT 1 and 2's. u might wanna retake history?</p>
<p>I agree flamethrower -- thanks to everyone....</p>
<p>Doing someting 'offbeat' is nice in theory, and I would love to pursue it, but it is so difficult to execute -- I mean the actual task is not nesseccarily difficult, but the fact that there is not something planned is a bit scary (...especially for family and friends). </p>
<p>Working at Yale doesn't seem like the right coice. Wow...this is really tough. </p>
<p>You obviously really love yale, so it is hard to say goodbye to a school you've liked for so long, but accepting an offer at another school doesnt mean its all over for yale. You'd be taking a foolish risk by taking a year off and doing various activities you think would get you into Yale, becuase what if you didn't get into Yale for a year, or any other schools? I say, enroll in one of the other schools that offered you acceptance get great grades, and try to transfer. maybe even take the SATs again. Good luck!</p>
<p>Ok....I'm beginning to think that going to CMU would be a good idea. BUT...I'm still very open to all suggestions, as my ultimate goal IS to get accepted to Yale...its just a question of how. </p>
<p>Maybe I should go to CMU, follow my passions (start a few clubs -- writing, community service -- join the band) while maintaing a 4.0.</p>
<p>I am afraid, though, that all 700 of those transfer applicants who apply to Yale each year have the 4.0 and the clubs, and I'll just be another name. I'm afraid that the real success stories (that exclusive group of 30) are the ones who have worked, say, in the White House, or for an ambassador or something (I know how crazy these examples sound, but it seems too true!) At least in the Freshman applicant pool I'm not just 'replacing' someone else. </p>
<p>Also, could someone PLEASE tell me something? If I apply after my freshman year as a transfer to Yale, what is looked at (specifically .... i.e., not just EC's, but EC's from high school or college? Grades from high school or college? Recs from high chool or college? etc. </p>
<p>This is difficult to say. I can't help but feel a sense of defeat, yet perhaps the 'battle' is only beginning. I mean, after a couple years, I think I'll have some pretty awesome accomplishments under my belt. We'll see. </p>
<p>However, I'm still seriously considering a year off. 60% -70% leaning toward CMU, but 30%-40% leaning toward NYC. I really appreciate discussion, so continue!</p>
<p>Wow...I'm really not sure about the tranferring thing. Yale doesn't even look at college EC's and you should have a really 'compelling reason' ????? I mean, its basically like H.S. app all over again but with a college GPA and worst odds. Doesn't seem too enticing to me. </p>
<p>The odds of getting into Yale either as a tranfer or a re-applicant are pretty damn low (and I think if they put out stats for kids applying to Yale's freshman class for a second time the percentage might be lower than that 30/400 on transfers, so don't think you're necessarily playing the odds -- and even if you are and you're going from 8% to 12% that final 4% is such a crapshoot that there are 5,000 kids in the applicant pool at least who could fit into it). I hate to be a naysayer but I don't think improving your scores will even help much, as SAT is meant to compare your performance to other high school seniors and so anyone who takes it a year later is expected to improve (plus they'll assume you were coached -- and if you think they'd be more amenable just b/c you'd keep their average scores up, remember 6 or 7 out of the 10 kids applying for your place have those scores).</p>
<p>I do fully agree with whoever said to think of Yale for postgrad work. Go to CMU, continue to get involved with similar academic disciplines to Yale's East Asian studies, distinguish yourself through skill and hard work (maybe do some research that involves talking to/working with ppl from Yale) and see if they don't like you better for a graduate degree program. This is where the school's distinguished and unique work in a specific field is more likely to have an impact on the educational experience anyway (not that I know anything about Yale's EA studies program, but you should think about what you want out of it and see if this isn't a different means to the same end).</p>
<p>BTW, even though I think the odds are against you, definately do apply as a tranfser - but go to CMU and I think you will find you are happy enuf.</p>
<p>I don't know...it just surprises me that Yale isn't concerned with what your doing with your life outside of the classroom in college. I mean, college is the place to really ground yourself in your passions. Are Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Princeton -- all those guys --the same way?</p>
<p>I think they are concerned with what you do outside of classes. Did you apply to other Ivies, and are you interested in others? If you could make working in the international business sound intriguing, and connect it with intellectual interests, and put together a well-packaged application, you might have a hook into the Ivies. But I would not just bank on Yale. You might need to apply to one that you haven't tried before.</p>
<p>I don't agree you should take a gap year either. What happens if you don't get into Yale the following year? Will you take another year? Go to a college and try to transfer</p>
<p>If you take the gap year, I would concentrate on the job and activities. I doubt that they will be imoressed with just another course, unless it really fits into your overall goals and adds to your packaging of yourself as the complete candidate. Definitely do not hang around New Haven- worst idea of all. ANother thing to think about- are you ready for more studies, or do you really need this year off on another level. Maybe the issue is not just about CMU vs. Yale. Maybe this year off would be good for you.</p>
<p>While we're on the subject, would taking a year to:</p>
<p>-participate in permaculture courses/natural building courses in Brazil
-work on an organic farm
-apprentice as a natural builder specializing in sustainable development
-do habitat for humanities</p>
<p>be a hook for Yale? I feel like it would show my dedication to sustainable building and living a whole lot. :-/ I already have decent numbers (790/780/730/720/700) and a 4.0 unweighted (college classes).</p>
<p>Ya...you guys are all right. I think a gap year would be good, but so would CMU. Another thing is that its already mid/late April and summer is on its way (seems a little later to be making plans for an entire year). In less something really big comes up, I think I'm going to listen to family and friends and go to CMU. My only reservation (however pathetic this may seem) is reading various threads on here (especially 'gap year') and hearing about how successful people were in the gap years and about how everybody told them that it would be the biggest mistake of their lives but that they went for it, had a fantastic time and got in to the college of their choice. Seriously, I don't want to look back and regret it. I also don't want to go to Japan and suddenly realized that I made a mistake. </p>
<p>Is Yale really that great of a school? I know it is an ivy league school and US news ranks it at like 3rd in the country, but can anyone tell me about the top programs they have. I mean outside of its prestige, what makes yale so great? I heard the city was a dump, the social life sucks and that it is truly not that AMAZING. Also, I heard it is full of legacies and filthy rich snobs and children of influential peopel in america who think that they are the center of the universe. I know a bunch of people are going to bite my head off about this but I really say it to tell the original poster that Yale is not that important. You will succeed wherever you go. That is something I had to realize. And, although it is a HIGHLY prestigious school, does it affect you tha much in the long run? Just a thought. I think Yale is overrated personally, but I am keeping an open mind. Someone enlighten me please. I think this whole "ivy league fixation" is ridiculous. People seem to be just going after prestige and not really where can they get the best college experience. Perhaps I am wrong and people have truly plausible reasons for desiring to attend these universities, but all the the people I have met have just the "ivy league fixation"</p>