Chances, but Specific Situation/Problem

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Yale has always been a dream school to me, but due to a deleterious sophomore year, I put it out of the question as I was uninformed about college admissions at the time and thought there would be no way I would be able to get in. However, reading about different students' situations and also reading more about Yale, I've put it back on my list recently as my top choice and dream school. I plan to apply EA next year.</p>

<p>I have a 4.0 GPA out of a 5.6 scale at a public school and am currently in my junior year. I will end with 4.1 this year, or a 3.5 unweighted, and be in the top 20%.</p>

<p>Freshman year - all regular courses, straight As.</p>

<p>Sophomore year - all honors courses, however I fell ill early in the year, and by the end of the year, I had assembled over forty absences. I ended up with four Bs and two Cs.</p>

<p>Junior year - mix of honors (2), regular (3), and one AP, going to be straight As.</p>

<p>Senior year - will be taking four APs, two honors, and an elective (three total sciences) and I project and am confident in straight As.</p>

<p>I got a 2110 on my SAT.
780 Writing
680 Critical Reading
650 Math</p>

<p>I'm going to be retaking it next Saturday, confident I'll get 700+ in both CR and M. I'm aware of the mistakes I had made on the May test and have studied through my weaknesses.</p>

<p>As far as ECs go, I'm fairly weak in terms of in-school activities. I'm a member of the Computer Club & the Key Club, with fifty hours of community service. Out of school, I created a successful technology-related news website (want to keep myself anonymous), at which I ran a staff and created a PR network for myself. It ran for a year before I left it (and it died) due to school and wanting to repair the damage my illness reaped. I believe I can turn this into a very impressive EC.</p>

<p>This summer, I plan to take two or three online courses both to add to my AP list as well as to skip pre-calculus and take calculus next year. I also plan to add fifty hours of community service to my list.</p>

<p>I know one of my recommendations will be amazing, the other will be strong from a teacher I've taken four courses with. My GC said she will try her best to explain my illness, but I think my overall recommendation with her will be weak. She doesn't know me well and we've had a few skirmishes in the past over issues relating to my absences.</p>

<p>I can safely say my essay will be spectacular if my English teachers over the years have been right about me and the essays I've assembled in my head come out how I want them to. I believe it will the strongest part of my application.</p>

<p>I have a true passion for education and intellectual pursuits. I hope to major in computer science, political science, or biology - whichever way, I want to pursue dental school afterwards. The course catalog has all my desires. The residential college system sounds fantastic. The student body at Yale, from what I've heard, is a perfect fit for me; intelligent yet not cutthroat. In addition, my cousin went to Yale many years ago and his ramblings have created an even larger passion for my acceptance. The history, programs, residential system, courses, and reputation all draw me towards the school.</p>

<p>I'd prefer that only those with actual admissions experience or current college students/parents of college students respond - I know many of you, like me, are eager to immediately chance our peers, but the reality is we're all equally informed, hopeful, jittery, and biased by the amazing performances of those perfect students here on CC.</p>

<p>My ultimate question is, how damaging will my GPA be if I explain it appropriately in my application? Overall, how do my chances look in the grand scheme of things? I know it's a reach for everyone, I'm not looking for a general statement, but more of an affirmation that I have as decent a chance as the next student in light of the weakest part of my application. If anyone could also point out others with similar situations or similarly weak GPAs who have gotten accepted, that would be appreciated as well.</p>

<p>[And yes, I know, I'll get into a fine institution and so on and so forth no matter what, regardless of if I'm rejected from Yale, I am not concerned about that, but I do want to know where I stand.]</p>

<p>Thanks to all for their assistance, suggestions, advice, and time.</p>

2

<p>SATs, GPA, ECs and rank all seem too low. People will say oh, well one of them can be low and people still get in, but the other 2 would have to back up the weaker one. For example, yes people get in that aren't top 10% of their class, but they have high SATs. And people do get in with 600s on SATs, but they are very accomplished and have good high school records. I would say its a far reach.</p>

3

<p>Chicagoboy's trying to discourage you because he has personal issues with yale. Don't be discouraged.</p>

4

<p>no not really. he is not top 10% of his class, has a 3.5 gpa, below average SAT (for Yale), lack of ECs (stated by himself), and a website that he dropped and let die. you wouldnt call it a far reach?</p>

5

<p>I would NOT call it a far reach. I was accepted EA this year with about the same level of ECs as the OP. I did, however, have a better Gpa and a higher SAT, but you will probably get better on the sat and the gpa issue seems like you can explain it away if you do it well. I wouldn't say that you have an excellent chance, but always remember that the admissions offficers (especially at Yale) are real people and can understand a lot of stuff if you manage to impress them in one area or another. Put your heart in your app and Good luck! I am rooting for you!</p>

<p>Ps applying EA is a good decision. I don't see why anyone wouldn't!</p>