<p>GPA: 3.97 UW, above 4.0 weighted
ACT: 32
Courseload: Very rigorous, although my rank went down A LOT because I've taken journalism for four years.
AP Language and Comp: 5</p>
<p>Editor in chief of a nationally-award-winning newspaper, it has taken up a HUGE amount of time throughout high school. Won two national journalism awards,been to conventions in lots of different cities, and majored in journalism at Oxford University this summer, where I was the executive editor of their annual summer magazine. I've been published in the Arizona Republic (not simply a letter to the editor).
Also:
VP of French Club
Youth in Government member
Secretary of Film Club
National Merit Semifinalist
Volunteered for years at an organization that helps disadvantaged children learn how to read.
I've played the saxophone for eight years, and my jazz band won a Gold on tour in 2003.
I don't have that many EC's, mainly because my life is spent in the journalism room :-)
Also went through a lot of illness throughout high school, which made everything really difficult - this is explained briefly by my counselor.
Good counselor recs, amazing teacher recs...
However, my rank is 50/650. This is ONLY because I took journalism for four years, and I wasn't going to give it up for an extra math class. It's still in the top ten percent, but it's a bit cringeworthy. </p>
<p>Chances SCEA for Yale? It has an amazing International studies program, which is something that can help people become great journalists.</p>
<p>Isn't it INSANE? It's not exactly grade inflation...if you take ONE elective (such as journalism, drama, etc.) then you're automatically at a terrible rank. Only the kids who take ALL core classes can be in the top few rankings...so basically, if you have a passion for anything, you're screwed.
And, also...I only took one AP TEST. haha.
There were only two AP classes offered for the junior year...and I only took a test on one of them, because my AP US history teacher taught us nothing.</p>
<p>I've taken all honors classes, and all AP when they're offered: AP Biology, AP Human Geography, AP Junior English, AP Senior English, AP Government, AP Economics, AP US History...</p>
<p>lol I know what you must have been thinking...</p>
<p>If you've got 50 kids with over a 3.97, then yes, that's grade inflation.</p>
<p>Your high GPA and low rank don't tell them anything, really. They just know there are dozens and dozens of kids getting straight A grades at your school and you're one of them. So they'll mostly look elsewhere. I understand that a 32 is a decent ACT grade but nothing particularly special.</p>
<p>There's nothing to disqualify you. If you sell the journalism thing well, you have an OK chance.</p>
<p>There's actually a very similar situation in my school with like 40-50 kids having 4.0's due to the fact that our school doesn't weight GPA's or rank at all with courseload considered.</p>
<p>If you go to a good school and have a good college counselor who can explain to Yale why your rank is justifiably low, I'd say you have a seriously good shot at getting accepted.</p>
<p>That's nice of you to say... :) At the same time, being Indian probably won't be much of an advantage...I'm East Indian, which basically means I'm Asian. Rock on, ORM!</p>
<p>I don't know about that, hopeful. I wouldn't get too down on farseer. Demonstrable passion for anything helps, even if the person doesn't max-out in the awards department.</p>
<p>Indian would help you a lot. Asian won't help and might even hurt. As for your stats, everything is in range for Yale...it just depends on what they're looking for. I know that doesn't help, but that's all anybody can really tell you. Just pray that these next 19 days go by really fast and we all have a good outcome at the end!</p>