Chances for Yale (and other top Ivies)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m a junior just trying to get a feel for where you guys think I stand.

Intended Major: Political Science / Government

STATS

  • Sex: Male
  • Ethnicity/Race: Hispanic, White
  • Location: SoCal
  • Type of School: private, religious affiliation
  • GPA: Unweighted 3.99, Weighted 4.64
  • Class Rank: 2/177
  • ACT Score: 34C (going to study more over summer and take it a second time)
  • APs: World History (4), taking APUSH, APES, APCSP, and AP Spanish Lang this year
  • Senior Year Courseload: AP Gov, AP Eng Lit, AP Span Lit, AP Physics 1, AP Calc AB, Science Academy, religion class
  • Awards/Honors: National Hispanic Recognition Program, won 2nd place in a regional speech contest

ECs

  • Academic League / Quizbowl: all 3 years so far, team captain this past year
  • Speech & Debate: just started this year, I’m VP of the club
  • College Awareness Club: I founded this club my sophomore year, we’ve had a lot of good schools come speak and inform students (my school never had good schools come to visit)
  • National Ocean Sciences Bowl: did it this past year, I was team B captain
  • Varsity Lacrosse: 9th and 10th grade only
  • Member of NHS
  • Member of California Scholarship Federation

ECs / Internships / Summer Activities

  • Will be interning for a Congressperson in Washington D.C. during this summer
  • Intern for a campaign for Congress: Winter 2018 - Present (campaign goes until November)
  • Intern for a non-profit with the goal of fighting human trafficking in the Americas: over spring break of junior year
  • PR / Outreach Director for a non-profit helping underprivelleged Latino students get prepared for college from a young age and provide after-school tutoring: 10th and 11th grade
  • Volunteer work for an elementary school during the summer before junior year (like 20 hours a week)

Yale has been my dream school for a long time and I will be applying there early action. What do you guys think are my chances for that and the other Ivies RD? I’m not legacy or first-generation.

2

You are a competitive applicant. Your stats and ECs are good. Your URM hook will probably help your profile. Write great essays and you could get accepted to any of these schools

3

Ivies would be a reach, but that’s the case for anyone. The ECs do align with the potential major and the ACT is good.

If possible, take another ACT to get a 35+ composite. A slightly higher test score combined with URM would help your chances immensely.

George Washington University might be a match with your stats and they have a good PoliSci program. Your stats should be in line with UCLA as well-probably a high match there. Given the odd nature of college applications you do need some match/safety.

A low reach school you should consider is Tufts. You’re right at their numbers and the school is well known for political science/foreign relations.