Did I get in?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Applied SCEA.</p>

<p>Gender/ethnicity: Male/Hispanic Jew (I have a funny background)
High school: terrible public, has gotten about 3 people into HYPS in the last 5 years
GPA: 4.0 UW/4.5+W
Rank: 11/540 (bad 8th grade and my ECs give unweighted grades)</p>

<p>SAT: Critical Reading 800, Math 740, Writing 800
Subjects: Literature 800, US History 800, Math 2 800
APs: US History (5), Environmental Science (5), taking six this year.</p>

<p>ECs:
Debate 11-12: Varsity Public Forum Captain (12), Treasurer (12), league champion in PF (11).
Academic Decathlon 11-12: 8 medals (11), team captain (12).
Model United Nations 11-12: Treasurer (12).
Vietnamese Culture Club 11-12: VP (12).
Science Fiction Club 9-12: Officer (11), VP/Secretary (12).</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Worked 20 hours/week for one whole summer with my dad completely renovating our other house. I helped with everything from moving the previous tenants out to repairing literally EVERYTHING to repainting, recarpeting, retiling, etc. to interviewing potential new tenants. I put this down because it was a really cool experience and I think I grew a lot.</p>

<p>Awards:
Student of the month, various academic achievement awards at my school, National Merit Semi-Finalist, National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar.</p>

<p>Recs:
One kind of lackluster from my APUSH teacher, I was pretty much a perfect student but he's just not a very good writer. The other one I didn't see, but it came from my English teacher last year, who saved my final essay to read last because he wanted to retire from teaching on a good note and has told me I'm one of the best students he's had, so I'm sure that one was great. Counselor recommendation may not have been very good, since my regular counselor went on maternity leave, but the new one called me in and I think she liked me a lot.</p>

<p>Essays:
Common App essay was about becoming league champion in public forum after basically totally failing earlier in the year (went 1-2 at my first tournament, was generally really disappointed in myself). I think it showed my uncertainty and doubt and that I realized what I could accomplish if I just believed in myself (I had severe self-confidence issues in 9th and 10th grade, which is why I didn't really do anything then). It was a kind of risky essay because I wrote it in an unorthodox style and really revealed a lot of my weaknesses. My supplemental essay was about my quest to watch all of AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies; I think it was very good. My 150-word EC essay pretty much explained why a Mexican Jew would be active in Vietnamese Culture Club; I think it was great, if that matters.</p>

<p>I kind of feel like I'm going to get rejected. What do you guys think?</p>

2

<p>In all honesty, we should all feel like we're going to get rejected.</p>

<p>You have as good a shot as anyone else :D</p>

3

<p>Any tips on how to get 800 CR and 800 lit??</p>

<p>800 CR seems impossible for me. I did practice tests and my score definitely improved but I don't know how much more I can do! Haven't taken Lit yet and I'm not sure I will seeing my low CR score (710).</p>

<p>Your ECs/GPA/Recommendations/SATs seem really spectacular though! Good luck!</p>

4

<p>You don't really have any national honors but you definitely have leadership (I am also involved in debate, public forum, not captain though). Your scores are obviously great but your rank is a bit lackluster but if it is because of your 8th grade year, most colleges ignore that... so I would give you good chances.</p>

5

<p>The Critical Reading section, you really have to be able to think the way Collegeboard wants you to think. Really, once you know what they're looking for, the answers will be pretty easy to figure out for the most part. I think one thing that helps is that I read quite a bit (3-4 books a month) and I read a lot of literary/film analysis, so it comes kind of naturally to me.</p>

<p>Literature is the only SAT I ever prepared for. I read the Kaplan book and did a couple of practice tests. Honestly, I could never tell how I did, but I really loved taking that test. I was actually kind of disappointed when I got an 800 on the first try because I was looking forward to taking it again. Just know your terms and do practice tests and you should be okay.</p>

6

<p>Thank you so much!
I guess I still need to figure out what they're looking for. I just don't always agree with their answers haha.</p>

<p>Did doing practice tests help alot with Literature? Or do you just have to be good at it to start with? How similar was the Kaplan's practice test compared to the actual?</p>

7

<p>What I mean by "looking for" is a lot of the time you can tell the answer without even reading the passage. Like, for instance, if there's a question that says:</p>

<p>According to the author, how would the progress African-Americans have made in America best be characterized?
A. Negligible
B. A result of white benevolence
C. Outstanding considering their situation
D. Dangerous
E. Upsetting</p>

<p>The answer is obviously going to be C. Collegeboard gets so many accusations of racism that they'll never have a passage criticizing African-Americans. You can generally find similar rules across a lot of different types of questions. If it helps, try underlining phrases that seem important. I generally read the passage first, read the questions, then go back and read the passage again more carefully, looking for important things.</p>

<p>On Literature, Kaplan was pretty accurate. If I recall correctly, I got a 650 on the diagnostic test, 720 on the first practice test, and 750 on the second, so it was pretty good overall. I think the practice tests definitely help because when you read the answer explanations, it helps you understand the way you should approach questions and how to think things through.</p>

8

<p>Does that always work??
Wow I had no idea. This helps a BUNCH. I'll totally try that next time!
I always mess up on mood/tone/intepretation type of questions.
Yeah, I tried underlining things and I think that's what helped me get 710. Without doing that I probably would've gotten lower. It really helped me.</p>

<p>Hmm alright! I might just give Literature a try. Except I think I'll just retake the SAT. WIth your advice and some more practice, I think i can really raise my CR score. and my math score as well.</p>

<p>Thanks so much!!</p>

9

<p>No problem, PM me if you want any more tips.</p>

<p>So anyone else want to partake in some pointless speculation about my future?</p>

10

<p>Wow... I'm also a male Hispanic Jew who goes to a crappy public school and does public forum debate.</p>

11

<p>Ahahah, I would KILLLL for your app qualifications!</p>

<p>(Well, I mean....I'd probably just hurt people for them).</p>

<p>1.Your heritage puts you in URM
2.Yale won't care about 8th grade, you're in the top percentage of your HS class.
3.Your Standardized testing looks near perfect.
4.Your EC aren't especially long standing, but they are broad (Hispanic Jew in a Vietnamese culture club? And you enjoy science fiction and debate as well?)
5.Your work experience isn't conventional, but then again, it makes you more interesting.</p>

<p>Your Recs: That a teacher who is retiring decided yours would be the last paper he read is astounding. I have a feeling that something of that magnitude is probably going to hold much more weight than the other letters, (which don't sound as though they'll be bad in the first place)</p>

<p>Your Essays: I can't say much for the AFI one, but talking about how you identified and overcame weaknesses sounds like it can only be a plus, and explaining how a Hispanic Jew comes to be involved in a Vietnamese culture club (want to send me that, actually? lol), will probably show them just how aware you are of, well, other cultures.</p>

<p>Your app makes me look pathetic; good luck!</p>

12

<p>haha I know multiple Hispanic Jews actually, but maybe my school is just super diverse. :)</p>

<p>I don't chance people, but I will say good luck!</p>

13

<p>I don't chance either, but if your voice comes through in your essays the way it does in your posts, your chances are pretty darned good. This, on top of your spectacular stats and EC's, of course. Best of luck. And I'm not playing favorites. Lots of you current applicants look good to me. How do you guys do it all??!!</p>

14

<p>^ Haha I was wondering the same thing!</p>

15

<p>I know my ECs pretty much all started in junior year... it kind of ties back into the idea of being fearful and doubtful. I was really, really afraid of meeting new people, taking risks, and failing at things prior to that point. I'm glad to say I got over that and I'm really enjoying my life right now.</p>

<p>I know two other Hispanic Jews: my sister and one other who was in debate with me last year, haha. Thanks for all the positive replies, guys, it's really making me feel less pessimistic.</p>

<p>Oh, and I'll PM that little essay to you, collegehopefull.</p>

16

<p>riverruner... could it be that you actually as much of a nerd as i am...finnigan's wake.</p>

17

<p>Ooh, sorry that wasn't addressed to me, but...</p>

<p>"riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs."</p>

<p>Sorry if that was a bit off, it's from memory.</p>

18

<p>TheWerg, perfectly quoted. Double meaning:</p>

<p>Yes I'm a nerd, and I do attempt Joyce, and I also run along the river next to my house.</p>

<p>My D is a freshman at Yale. Your voice and story make me think you would be at home there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. :)</p>

19

<p>Haha I'm interested in that essay and the AFI one too.. Could you pm/email me those if its not too much trouble :) ?</p>

20

<p>Do you mean the VCC one or the debate one by "that essay"? I'll just PM you the AFI one for now.</p>