<p>Hi everybody. Yale is definitely a reach for me, but I'm still planning on applying. You never know if you never try, right? Anyway, here is my information so far (I'm finishing up Junior year):</p>
<p>3.5 GPA (barring a huge increase/decrease in my 4th marking period).
1930 SATs (I might retake them)
31 ACTs (definitely retaking them, I hope to score more of a 34 or 35-ish grade this time, of course you can't predict those things)
High grades in English and History classes, decent grades in Science classes, and low grades in Math.</p>
<p>My current schedule is:
AP US History
Regents Algebra 2/Trigonometry
AP European History
Regents Chemistry
French 3R
AP English Language
And last semester I took Turbulent '60s (history of the 1960s).</p>
<p>Next year's schedule:
AP US Government
AP Macroeconomics
AP Psychology
AP English Literature
Advanced Human Anatomy
Health
Regents Pre-Calculus
Genocide and Human Rights
Finance
Media Literacy</p>
<p>I also have a wide range of extracurricular activities and have been a long term member of all clubs listed:
Political Forum
Literary Digest
Newspaper (National news editor)
Science Club
Bioethics Forum
Film Making Club
Model UN
Film Appreciation Club (president and co-founder)
Young Democrats (vice president and co-founder)
GOYA member (Greek Orthodox Youth of America)
I intend to begin helping at my church's soup kitchen.</p>
<p>I have written scholarship papers for:
The Profiles in Courage Contest (didn't win)
The Foreign Service Essay Contest (no word on that one yet)
The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Contest (won my local contest and am going on to regionals)</p>
<p>I am certain that I will be able to get glowing letters of recommendation (not to sound arrogant).
I consider myself politically active (I want to major in Political Science) and my work with the Young Democrats will put a lot of events such as voter registration and rallies on my resume. I will soon begin working for a campaign for the NYS Assembly in a volunteer capacity.</p>
<p>I know that considering my grades, Yale is a bit of a reach, but I am very good in certain subjects and I think I will have good final exams (including APs). Yale is obviously not the only school I'm thinking about, but I think i should at least apply. Do you guys think it's worth the effort? Thanks.</p>
<p>I hate to break it to you, but you probably have little to no chance of getting into Yale, unless you raise that ACT/SAT up considerably. And even then, your GPA is going to prevent your application from being looked at seriously. </p>
<p>Haha I was kind of expecting that. Thank you for your input though. Any chance you could rank the rest of my choices (these are all subject to change as I am early on in my college process)?</p>
<p>REACH:
Yale (obviously)
Georgetown
U of Michigan</p>
<p>MIDS:
Boston University
Fordham University
American University
Rutgers</p>
<p>SAFETY:
U of Buffalo
SUNY Geneseo
SUNY Binghampton</p>
<p>Yeah, don’t worry yourself about it! 99% of high schoolers can’t get into yale. </p>
<p>The schools you listed look pretty good. I would include a few more reasonable reaches though - the sort of schools that you might have a shot at, but aren’t quite as selective as the ones you listed. I’m thinking schools like NYU and U rochester. Do you have any idea what you want to study in college? </p>
<p>Especially for your safeties, you need to know that you can afford them. Have you talked to your parents about what they will contribute and run net price calculators on all of your schools’ web sites?</p>
<p>I plan on studying Political Science or History and going on to law school or graduate work. Money is not a huge issue (my parents won’t pay for all of it but they also want me to have the best education possible).</p>
<p>I think Yale and Gtown are pretty much out of your range (but it is fine to apply if you want to expend the time and effort), UM is a reach, your mid level schools are fine but I would put SUNY Binghamton and SUNY Geneseo as mid levels not safety schools. You need another one or two safety schools. </p>
<p>Unless you play extraordinary football, or there are buildings named after your father at Yale, I’d say your outlook is pretty bleak. I’d consider Georgetown an extreme reach - George Washington and American University might be more promising options. Even if you raise your SATs, you still don’t have the profile that the most selective schools seek. There are lots of great colleges out there. Check out some colleges with non-binding Early Notification (Tulane is one, and I think Fordham might also be . . . maybe Boston College), that would be decent “matches.” If you’re willing to travel further, Willamette in Oregon is strong in Pre-Law/Poli. Sci./Government, with excellent internship opportunities at the State Capitol (right across the street). </p>