Chances for Yale

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm currently a sophomore in high school. I know it's really early to be thinking about college, but I just want to know what I need to be improving on and where I stand in conjunction with other students. </p>

<p>SATS (taken fall of sophomore year):
Verbal: 690
Math: 610
GPA: 3.92</p>

<p>8th Grade
Spanish: A,A
Algebra I: A,B</p>

<p>9th Grade
Honors English: A,A
Art: A,A
Honors History: A,A
Geometry: A,A
Honors CATS 9: A,A
Spanish 2: A,A
Gym: A,A</p>

<p>10th Grade
Honors English: A
Honors History: A
Honors Algebra II: A
Advanced Chem.:A
Honors Trig: B
World Area Studies: A
Honors Health: A
Spanish 3: A</p>

<p>11th Grade Schedule
AP English
AP History
AP Chem
AP Bio
Honors Pre-Calc.</p>

<p>I have a very good relationship with most of my teachers, but especially my CATS 9 and soon to be AP Bio Teacher. He has won numerous awards (Harvard Teacher of the Year, or something) and has written recommendations for me before.</p>

<p>Extra-Curricular
-Eagle Scout
-Order of the Arrow
-President’s Volunteer Service Award
-Attended Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference
-Volunteered at a local hospital for the past two summers
-Math Honor Member
-Science Honor Member
-WV West Point Bridge Design State Finalist
-Excellence in Spanish I Award
-National Society of High School Scholars
-Key Club
-Chess Club
-Spanish Club
-Ski Club
-Model UN
-Varsity Lacrosse Team sophomore year
-Freshman Lacrosse Team freshman year
-I am a member on my city's Youth Commission
-I am an active participant in my county's Teen Court program, and volunteer as a jury member and attorney
- Various math and science camps over the summers</p>

<p>Sorry it's so long, I don't know what I should clean out or not, so I listed everything.</p>

<p>Community Service
Traveled to San Lucas, Guatemala this spring break through Rotary and worked in reforestation and construction centers.
Hospital - physical therapy and hospitality cart (summer 2006)
Hospital - sterile processing and hospital gift shop (summer 2005)
Special Olympics West Virginia Summer Games
583 total community service hours (freshman and sophomore years)</p>

<p>This is all the information I can think of, if anything else would be helpful I can post that too. I am also interested in Duke, Columbia, and Stanford, but Yale is my number one dream college. Do you guys think I stand a chance?</p>

2

<p>Yes, you def. stand a chance, but why did you take you SAT already? Anyway, whats your rank? Aim for top 2% Do you have any hooks, like minority status, recruitable athlete, or legacy? Remember that 60% of applicants to top schools are hooked.
If you raise your score up to 2100+ then I think you do. Your ECs seem very strong, esp. the volunteer work. I think you should organize your ECs around that to show that it is your passion. If you get some National level awards that would help.
With all that said, I think you could have a shot at atleast one of those. Keep in mind that they are very hard to predict.</p>

3

<p>Get your scores up a lot and you'll have a chance anywhere.</p>

4

<p>I've been taking the SATs for a couple years. I went to the CTY camp a couple of years ago and never stopped taking them. I've never really taken them seriously until about a month or two after I last took them, so I'm expecting my scores to shoot up by the time I take them next fall. </p>

<p>My grandpa went to Yale, my mom went to Duke, and my great-uncle (does that count?) went to Cornell. Do you have any idea how much that will help me? </p>

<p>Sadly I am a white, Christian male from a middle class family. Not a lot going for me there.</p>

5

<p>Try to find a focus/passion and express it in your ECs/honors/awards. That'll help you most at Yale.</p>

6

<p>Keep doing what you're doing and you'll have a great shot. Bring your SAT scores up, and try to find something you really enjoy and have that reflect in your ECs, as opposed to just padding your resume.</p>

7

<p>Can anybody else give me my chances and things I need to improve on?</p>

8

<p>you need to do much better on your SAT's, then you'll stand a chance of getting into yale</p>

9

<p>Are my SATs really that low for taking them in the fall of sophomore year? I know I need to bring them up, but I didn't realize I was so far behind.</p>

10

<p>For sophomore year, and for trying to get into yale, your verbal isnt that low, but your math is a bit, and it seems math is your trouble spot. you need at least 2100, preferably at least 2250 to be in the running, but 2100 will put you at least into the running. I basically consider all the clubs you are members of throw away ECs. I assume you probably dont really spend much time on them and top colleges kno and will ignore them unless you reallly do spend a lot of time on one of them. focus on your big ECs. schools like commitment, meaning not just years but lots of time. and they like fancy schmancy awards. I didnt get into yale probably because i had good ECS but not fancy awards for anything really. you have to cure cancer to get into yale...or have a hook. but its a crap shoot so, just pray</p>

11

<p>Apart from the school clubs (which I sort of do consider to be throw away clubs, I spend no more than 15 minutes a week during home room for each one), how are my ECs doing?</p>

12

<p>bump bump bump</p>

13

<p>Riot hey I know you from TLF, your profile looks great, but if those clubs are meaningless I would say don't even bother.</p>

14

<p>Is it possible for legacy to hurt you? My mom just told me my grandpa used to be really active with Yale, he was an alumni interviewer and donated a lot of money and stuff. But, when my uncle didn't get in, he made a big deal out of it and quit everything he was doing. Are there any chances that might actually hurt me?</p>

<p>And apparently my great-grandpa went too, but I can't imagine that being much of a plus.</p>

15

<p>I'm no expert, but I'll try...</p>

<p>Yeah, from what I heard the National Society for H.S. Scholars is sort of a rip off, and scam clubs aren't really effective in admissions. Very awesome volunteering, but as for EC's it looks like you're doing too much and too little, if you get what I mean. Admissions are very aware of people who try to throw artificial laundry lists of clubs at them. Just don't spread yourself out too thin over the next years, take passion in several FEW things (such as Debate, if you're interested in law, which takes a lot of time) and you'll do fine. </p>

<p>Btw, taking the SATs more than 3 times looks bad. But other than that, you're really prepped! :D</p>

16

<p>Crap.. I took the SATs 7th grade, 9th grade, and 10th grade...</p>

<p>How bad does it look?</p>

17

<p>SAT scores only count after ninth grade...thats what admissions officers actually see.</p>

18

<p>Alright, thanks. Would it be better to take it spring of junior year, or wait and take it fall of senior year. I'd think junior year, so if I bomb it, I can still retake it if I need to.</p>

<p>And does anybody know about the legacy?</p>

19

<p>Why can't I edit my original post? Anyways, I've decided to change my schedule for 11th grade. From what I've heard, most of the top schools either require or strongly recommend 4 years of a language.</p>

<p>New Schedule:</p>

<p>AP English
AP History
AP European History
Spanish 4
AP Bio
Honors Pre-Calc.</p>

20

<p>I hate to sound mean, but your chances are slim for Yale. Definitely apply, but do not bank on an acceptance. When I applied, I had a 1590 SAT (800M, 790R), was valedictorian of my 400 student elite prep school class, spent a summer working at a leprosy hospital in Ecuador, the highest GPA possible at my school, Varsity Track & XC, president of various clubs, kick-butt recommendations, etc., etc., ...I even had a summer internship doing cancer research...AT YALE!, and I was still rejected. They didn't even waitlist me. When they say winning a Nobel Peace Prize isn't even a guarantee for acceptance, they aren't kidding!</p>

<p>Go to Duke.</p>