Chances, But Not Really!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>I APOLOGIZE FOR THE VERBAL DIARRHEA IN ADVANCE! =)</p>

<p>All right, now you could call this a chances thread, but I'm sure some people will tell me that it will be better to wait until I have a couple of more stats. However, I'm a junior and the pressure of college admissions being a mere 10-11 months away is starting to get to me, and it doesn't help coming to CC and seeing all the amazing applicants with 2400 and 4.0's.
Well, here it goes; a chances, thread, but not really (hence the title).
Now, please be honest, should I even apply? Is Yale, and Ivy Leagues in general right, for the type of student or person I am?</p>

<p>Location: Michigan
Ethnicity: Hispanic immigrant (Cuban)
Sex: Female
First generation college student, and I will be needing financial aid since my parents cannot afford to help me pay for college.</p>

<p>GPA (UW): 4.0 (This will, unfortunately, change to a 3.9, since FST is kicking my butt. I will keep it at a 3.9, though.)
GPA (W): 4.056
Rank: 1/491</p>

<p>I've taken the hardest courses available at my school, which by the way is very urban and inner city-like. We are considered by Johns Hopkins to be a drop out factory, which pretty much says it all. Because of this, I haven't had the best academic leadership in terms of counselors or teachers.</p>

<p>I'm registered to take the SAT and SAT II's in US History, World History, and Literature in 2008. ****** Now this is the root of my worries. I am feeling utterly hopeless about the SAT's. I've been taking practice tests, but my Verbal section is always less than stellar for Yale's taste and let's not even talk about Math. Will this keep me out of Yale? BTW, I know I can get 750 and more on the Subject Tests, but I'm not sure if my SAT I will even reach the 2000 mark. Also, I can't afford a tutor, so I'm basically slef-studying the SAT's.******</p>

<p>APs:
10th
AP US History (5)</p>

<p>11th
AP Biology
AP American Gov.
AP Spanish (Self-study)
AP Psychology (Self-study)</p>

<p>12th
AP Stats
AP Environmental Science
AP Statistics
AP English
AP European History
AP Comparative Gov. (Self-study)</p>

<p>ECs:
Editor-in-Chief of high school newspaper
Academic Decathlon
Student Council (Will be in a leadership senior year)
Excellers (In the process of organizing a large event for diversity in our school, which will include a concert.)
- President
County Youth Commission
-Secretary
- Co-Chair of the Community Service Committee
- Chair of the Government Education Committee
NHS (Expecting a leadership position next year.)
4-H Peer Mentoring Program
-Mentor a youth one hour a week.
****** Right now, I'm in the process of starting a peer education program for middle schoolers and high schoolers with Michigan's 4-H. I'm also hoping to organize a book fair for my local city in order to raise money fro youth groups and youth charities. I'm still waiting for my proposition to get approved.
Now, I think that my "passion" is education and, in the future, I want to blend that with the arts and television. I've recently become interested in dancing and performing arts in general. I will be starting dance classes in the summer.</p>

<p>Community Service
192+ volunteer hours</p>

<ul>
<li>Volunteer at a local library
(May 2006 - December 2006)</li>
</ul>

<p>Work Experience:
Library Page at a local library; 10 hours/week.</p>

<p>Awards:
Honor Roll
Ventures Scholar
Sophomore of the Year (School Award)
Academic Decathlon 3rd place in Speech
Academic Decathlon 3rd place in Interview
Academic Decathlon Highest Team Scorer</p>

<p>Well... chance away!</p>

2

<p>Looks very ambitious. I'd say you have a chance.</p>

<p>Just a few tips:
1)I HIGHLY RECOMMEND QUESTBRIDGE. As an URM, first-gen, and needing financial aid, you are a good candidate for QuestBridge. QuestBridge offers a full scholarship to many good schools, but it is definitely INTENSE during the application process.
2) Get good teacher Recs. As a general rule make friends with teachers, and find those teachers whom you deeply respect and can write well.
3) Write a good personal statement. Rather than pay for college counselors or essay editing services, BUY "50 Harvard Essays" (second edition) to get the gist of what winning essays looks like. It's less than 20 bucks.
4) Start taking SATs. It's okay to take it more than once, but as a general rule don't take one subject too many times. I took the SAT1 three times (beginning of junior, end of junior, and beginning of senior), and I hear that most good privates superscore (combine the highest score in each category), so it won't hurt you here. It certainly didn't hurt me :)
I took SAT1 3 times. Highest in one take was 2270. Superscore was 2370. I think you should've taken the USH one, especially since you received a 5 on it. </p>

<p>And... enjoy high school as well. Once you get in, you'll realize all the things you've done for the silly rat race that is high school.</p>

<p>If you have any other questions, I am happy to help.</p>

3

<p>Halcykon, are you a student at Yale? Yes, I am definitely going to apply to QuestBridge, I'm just waiting until Feb. when applications come out. Now, I am scheduled to take the SAT I January 26, but I don't feel I'm adequately prepared for it, should I still take it? If I bomb it colleges will see it and I'm a little scared about that. Yes, I am going to take the USH one which, because of my 5 in the AP class, will actually be fun to take.
I don't know if anyone saw a previous thread of mine talking about my deficiency in Math. I will be lucky if I score in the 500 range on the SAT, that's how much of a struggle Math is for me. Will Yale hold this against me?</p>

<p>Any more replies??</p>

4

<p>Take the SAT, most people take them twice or even three times, so don't worry, but you should also try the ACT. I took the SAT once and hated the format. I didn't get that bad of a score but i took the ACT and loved it. And dude seriously a 500 in math? Come on its not even that hard lol. Just study, learn the material, and the strategy and pull it up to at least 650. If you really bomb the math at the end of this month than sign up for the june test or the october test and you'll have months to prepare.</p>

5

<p>akybaky is right. I also tried the ACT and I preferred it over the SAT. However, I had been studying for the SAT all my life so I actually scored slightly lower on the ACT (based on a comparison chart).
And take the SAT. Also take any SAT IIs that correspond with your AP classes.
I don't think Yale will hold any particular subject against you, but scoring 500 on any subject looks bad for any good college. SAT1 math isn't too tough.. you should really study for that, as the curve for it is really high. In my three math scores for SAT1, I missed 2 on the first one and got a 730, 0 on the second one and got 800 (of course), and 1 on the third one and got 780.</p>

<p>I was accepted to Yale through Questbridge this year (woot!). By the way, the February application is for the summer school program. The College Match begins in August. From there you'll also have chances to apply to P and S as well.</p>

6

<p>How many questions wrong can you get on the Math SAT and get at least a 590? Well, it may be easy for you guys, but I'm really humanities and social sciences-based. Math has always been a struggle. Yes, I am also going to take the ACT in March. What does the summer school entail? Would I have a good chance at QuestBridge? I'm definitely going to apply anyhow, but what does the applicant pool looks like?</p>

7

<p>Bumping! BTW, are the SAT prep books that College Board officially makes any good? Also, what is this Blue Book I've been hearing about?</p>

8

<p>Dude seriously as long as your thinking like that you'll never get a decent score on the test. I don't get it, if Yale is where you want to go and you know what score you need wouldn't that make you kind of study harder to get that score instead of trying to get around and justifying it by trying to score high in other sections. I'm far from an humanities person but Harvard required 3 SAT IIs and i already took math and science. I hate history but i wanted to give myself at least a fighting chance in the crazy admissions game. So i studied hard for US history and got a 740. Will that happen to you, maybe or maybe not. My point is, stop making excuses. Put in the effort and get the score you want, ITS NOT HARD to get 650 at least.Given you're probably right. Ok so your not a math person, neither are thousands of the other applicants but that didn't stop them from getting the score they wanted. Look strive to get in their middle 50%, that way if (for whatever reason) you don't get a 700 then you'll get a 650 which is decent. But trying to get a 590 (and honestly i don't know why 590 and not 600) is not the way to go. I'm sorry if i was a little insensitive but come on you gotta get a positive outlook.</p>

<p>About the college board stuff: The blue book is the college board's official book and it is a really good book. Try barons too, its good for math.</p>

9

<p>For an ambitious person, you really are setting your sights low for math. Really the section is very easy; given your scores in other classes, I'm sure you have the determination and intellectual capability for at least hitting a 700.
590, even low 600s don't look good. Stop putting yourself down here; if you can get straight A's, I'm sure you have the competent work ethic to increase your math skills. And really, the math skills required for SAT1 is fundamental to many other applications other than just the test.</p>

<p>I didn't do the summer school, so I don't know how that is. The applicant pool is fairly to somewhat competitive, but nothing impossible.
There's no one great book for SAT1. For subject tests I prefer CliffNotes. But research online to find the book that suits you (I recommend Amazon reviews).
Barrons is overkill for me, but the harder-working personalities may prefer it.
CliffNotes is great for me, as it is very concise and gets the point across easily.</p>

10

<p>All right, I'll try to get the Blue Book. Also, I've been studying hard every day for 2-3 hours, so obviously I'm trying to be as prepared as I can. It's just that on past tests, like the PLAN and the PSAT, I've gotten 430 and 440 in Math, so forgive me if I'm not feeling as confident as you think I should be feeling. Well, I'll still try to get it somewhere in the 600s.</p>

11

<p>Good luck!
PM me when you get into Yale next year. ;)</p>

12

<p>Stop spazzing. You are a JUNIOR. By stressing out, you're taking away that concentration that is oh-so-required to keep your junior year on track. Enjoy high school! Yale wants people who are smart AND know how to have fun. Hang in there :)</p>

13

<p>Hey Olive Tree,
I'm a junior too and I'm in the same boat as you. I want to apply to Ivy League schools but my Math Score sucks. Its about the same range as you. I just freeze when it comes to math. Sorry I can't help you in that department. All I can say is really just drill on the Math section and don't give up! Take it as many times as you need! Also, some schools or libraries offer practice SAT that are life saviors because they tell you what you will score w/o it going on your records (that is how I found out about my lovely math troubles). As some other people said, try the ACT (only 1/4 Math instead of 1/3) :)
However, being a hispanic is wonderful. I'm a hispanic "first generation" student too and I know it will do nothing but good for you. Keep working your butt off and Don't give up on those SATs, I know how horrible they are! You sound like an dedicated, hardworking student and you'll do wonderful. Good Luck!</p>

14

<p>As a current senior who just finished applying to college--</p>

<p>Don't stress out yet! I too made the error or worrying about college starting basically when I entered high school. I really don't think it's worth it. Yes, you should work your hardest in your junior classes and keep those ECs going, but you don't need to be worried to the point of posting chances threads yet (I'm personally against any chances threads--anyone can compare their stats to those on pton review or CB stuff, and at the ivy level admission is way too hard to predict). Anyway, don't stress yet--I'd say start worrying about it during the summer before senior year at earliest.</p>

15

<p>seriously...you'll get in basically everywhere on this planet..</p>