Chances, please

<p>Hey guys, I'd appreciate an honest evaluation of my chances at Yale (SCEA), Harvard, Princeton, and Dartmouth [or only Yale, as this is the Yale board].</p>

<p>{N.B, I do realize some people may think some of my scores make me a shoo-in, but I really don't think so}</p>

<p>Since it's so important (curses witheld), I'm white and male, from NC and a +100,000 income bracket.</p>

<p>Academics
-SAT: 2400 (one sitting, not a combination) on the Nov. 4th, ~2250 on Dec. 2005
-SAT II: 800 Math 2, 780 Chemistry, 710 U.S History (Considering I'd just read an entire book on the topic, this was a surprise, but o well)
-ACT: 36 Composite (35E, 35M, 35R, 36S, 31E/W I think my essay was too short)
-Class Rank: 4th or 5th of ~550 At an NC Public School (But still competitive)
-G.P.A: 4.0 Unweighted (Will probably go down after this semester), 5.1 Weighted
-AP Scores: 5 Ap Bio, 5 Apush, 5 Ap Psych, 5 Ap Eng Lang, 4 Ap Physics</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (I swear these suck a lot)
-Piano for about 9 years, A few minor awards and recitals.
-Varsity Cross Country for 10th grade summer, 11th grade + summer, 12th Grade, Personal best for 5k of about 19:30, so definitely not a recruit
-Junior Classical League for three years, twice the Second place state certamen team.
-Vice president of Science Olympiad, a few regional awards
-Lincoln Douglas Debate (1 minor award) I wrote the Common app short essay about this one
-Only about 25 hours of Community service, although I was precinct captain of Kids voting (haha)
-High IQ team (i'm the math, music and history guy)
-No job. $&%!!!</p>

<p>Miscellaneous
ESSAYS: MOST IMPORTANT I THINK. I felt like these were really original, but I seem to sound like a prick when I reread them. Possible but minor grammatical errors. I'd love it if a current Yalie would review these.
RECOMMENDATIONS: One of them was glowing, and another one I didn't see.
Counselor: haha I pretty much talked her through what I wanted to be said.
Could not get an interview.</p>

<p>Only really major academic award was Second in a national Creative Writing Contest, National Merit Semifinalist, and AP Scholar with distinction. Two 1st places on the National Latin Exam, one of them perfect score</p>

<p>Thanks a lot</p>

<p>and you're worried? my god, you seem great! IQ team, XC, Science Olympiad pres, 4/5 out of 550, 5 APs (i guess) junior year, 2400 sats? And glowing reviews? 9 years of piano? calm down. i would put my money on you being accepted. btw, message me with tips on apush and ap psych. i have those next year, and i want to know everything i can about it. thanks! again.. don't worry... i definitely think you will get it. i mean you are phenomenal. two first places on latin exam?? i mean come on, you are thinking pessimistically. if you want tips, get more comm service. lol... thats all.</p>

<p>Yeah i'd agree that you talk yourself down a little more than is deserved. We seem to be pretty similar applicants. Good scores and stats (although you edge me out...) but nothing stellar for ECs... (Plus I've been playing piano for exactly 9 years too... weird). Your right that there is no one thing on there that makes you stand out. Did you express in your application any sort of passion... What will you add to Yale? But yeah, this issue is definitely to a lesser extent than other applicants. Overall you look very accomplished.</p>

<p>I think you have a better chance than I do, and I'm black and applying EA!</p>

<p>Your academics are pitch-perfect. However, I think that you really need to show your individual side if not thru your extracurrics (which I agree a pretty bland), then through your essays. I'm not a current Yalie, but send me those essays if you want some critique.</p>

<p>BTW, your asian aren't you? If you are, then you definitely need to brush up those essays cuz there are many of them out there just like you.</p>

<p>DirectorsCut, he said he's white.</p>

<p>The 2400 is very attractive, but it doesn't make you a shoo-in. The key admissions clich</p>

<p>interesting how some see 2400 SAT, 36 ACT and piano and guess Asian...</p>

<p>^
You're right. It is. It's a stereotype. Excuse me for not reading your post more carefully.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for the quick response (more is always welcome)
[first of all, editing, my reading score on the act should read 36, dunno what happened there, no matter]</p>

<p>bauerja24- thanks for the encouragement, and I'll try to message you a few tips on whatever</p>

<p>potus2- I agree completely, but I do think that at least one, if not both, of my Yale essays showed that I am passionate in different areas (I don't want to give out my topics publicly, so, again, I'd love some comments on both)</p>

<p>olsb25- why is that noteworthy? I took a look at your stats and I think you have an awesome chance </p>

<p>Directorscut- lol i tried to make really clear that I was white (i'd really get the shaft were i another 2400 asian applying), but it's cool</p>

<p>Yaguarre- that's exactly what I think. i really think schools at the highest eschalon love to reject bland 1600s, and I actually know one Harvard rejected.</p>

<p>I'd say more, but I've procrastinated on this english essay enough</p>

<p>More comments welcome</p>

<p>If you want, I'm a current Yalie, I can read your stuff.</p>

<p>Wow I cannot believe someone just said "You're Asian, aren't you." Excuse me while I go be sick</p>

<p>You have a friendly competition: me :)</p>

<p>SAT I: draw (one setting on first try)
SAT II: 800, 800, 790, 750. a draw?
GPA: You beat me (4.00>3.99). If yours goes down, then it is a draw since mine won't.
ACT: you beat me since I did not take it.
Piano: I beat you (11 yrs>9 yrs), and I got honors in state level and had concert.
Leadership: you beat me coz you are a VP, I am only the concertmaster of school orchestra (violin).
Xcountry: you beat me with better time but none of us are recruites.
Volunteers: I beat you with more hours.
Debate: you beat me badly cos my school does not do debate.
APs: you beat me since my school offers none. My school is a college prep school.
Job: draw. I did a little tutoring. Not much.
Recommendation: mine are glowing I am sure coz all my teachers want to write mine. However, I cannot read them. call it a draw.
Apply: you beat me (EA is earlier than RD. I am doing RD).</p>

<p>I never thought I am a shoo-in. Wish both of us good luck! :))</p>

<p>holy geez if you don't get in, than no one will (most of the "draws" are actually your wins; besides, i waste hours a day improvising and composing on my piano)</p>

<p>BTW, I am asian so you beat me if that is true :)</p>

<p>I really doubt that will make a difference for someone with your credent.
and, as it happens, bump. anyone besides ferny reyes want to review my essays?</p>