<p>Male, White, Jewish North Jersey Public HS, Class of 2008.
GPA-3.8
Courseload-All honors except science after 10th grade and math. All As w. a smattering of Bs and a C for the year in Chem Honors, 10th grade. APs: US History (11), English Language and Composition (11), World History (12), English Literature (12), Spanish Language (12)
SATs-2230 (800 CR, 760 W, 670 M)
SAT IIs-800 (US History)
800 (Literature)
ACTs-32 (36 R, 35 E, 29 S, 29 M)
ECs: National Honors Society
National Hispanic Honors Society
Literary Magazine Co-EIC 11-12 and staff 10. I've been published in it since 2002, in 7th grade, which is the first time that's ever happened at my school.
Volunteer work TAing at a preschool in Paterson that's primarily Spanish-language speaking.
Gay-Straight Alliance Founder.
Drama Club 9-12; so far over 6 productions, including writing a monologue in 9th grade.
Spanish Club.
Newspaper, Editor 10-12, diverse experience with staff writing.
Awards: National Merit Commendation 11
Fairfield University Book Award 11</p>
<p>I'm a second generation legacy at Yale; my grandfather was class of '46 and my father was class of '75, and still goes back there to officiate in conferences and round table discussions. I'm aware it's a reach, but what are my chances, realistically, with the legacy?</p>
<p>"I'm aware it's a reach, but what are my chances, realistically, with the legacy?"</p>
<ul>
<li>think about what you just said. realistically, you're a reach as will any other applicant who applies to hypms. </li>
</ul>
<p>still your legacy helps a bit, and it's clear your niche is with the humanities. the legacy might give u that nudge u need than the other humanities kids. or it might not. 3.8 is reasonable- rank?</p>
<p>Don't mention about being published in the 7th grade in your app. They only care about your high school years.</p>
<p>You have a great profile, but the strongest applicants for Yale have distinguished themselves outside of their schools and shown more focused and far-reaching leadership.</p>
<p>Agree with stupak that your 3.8 needs to be considered within the context of your school. If there is strong grade deflation and you have a high class rank, your 3.8 is different than if it puts you in the top 15%, but not 10% of your class, for instance.</p>
<p>We have no class rank, as I'm graduating with a class of 110. I live in a very small town. I'm not even sure if it's going to be a 3.9 at the end of this year; I have not yet received in the mail my final transcript. I plan to apply RD, anyway, so my first semester senior grades will be part of my application. </p>
<p>The other kids who have been admitted to HYPS from my school have both been more well-rounded and have had more wide-ranging leadership activities than I have had in my years at high school. Conversely, though, I think my test scores are comparable with theirs, and I can pull just as excellent an interview, as well as essays and recommendations, as they did. </p>
<p>I'm not obsessed with going to Yale, though I'm sure I would have a wonderful academic experience there. University of Chicago is where I'm applying EA and a more realistic match.</p>
<p>There's a theory that if you're a legacy you should apply EA or not at all. If I remember correctly, Penn has been straightforward in saying that legacy counts AGAINST you if you apply RD instead of ED. While Yale has made no statement to that effect, I bet they have a similar attitude--legacies know what Yale's all about and if you don't apply EA then you lose any legacy boost because it doesn't appear that it's your first choice. I have no special insider info on this, but it's my hunch. </p>
<p>Good luck with the Chicago EA app. It's a fabulous school.</p>