Do I have a shot?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
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<p>((EDIT: Sorry for double post, don't know how it happened... Don't respond to this one. Would delete if I could; any admins?))</p>

<p>Hey guys, I know you must be tired of threads like these, but I was wondering if any of you could enlighten me on whether I have a shot at Yale, or any Ivy League for that matter.</p>

<p>I am a junior studying with a scholarship in a small American School in Northeast Brazil.</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>I previously studied in a Brazilian school, where I got passing grades since I didn't apply myself too much, until I had decided on going abroad for college and taking advantage of the opportunities given to me in an American school system. Brazilian high school is basically a three-year SAT-prep class for our national exam, no emphasis at all on extra-curriculars.</p>

<p>I transferred to the American School in 10th grade, kept a 3.8 GPA throughout that year, with distinguishing awards for every discipline. Throughout 11th grade I have achieved and maintained a 4.0 GPA, taking 5 AP courses.</p>

<p>SAT(1st try) Math 780 Writing 700 Critical Reading 760</p>

<p>Planning on taking SAT II English, Physics, and US History in June 5th.
Still going to take TOEFL, but predicting good scores on that.
Just finished taking APs: US History, Calculus AB, Physics B, and English Lit and Comp. Predicting scores of 5, 5, 4, 5 respectively. Planning on taking 6 more APs for Senior year.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>I worked regularly on our school paper in 10th grade(It stopped being published when I went to 11th) and worked on a Homework Help program, tutoring younger kids after class.</p>

<p>In 11th grade I was elected President of the Student Government. With 4 other kids we also formed the school's first Knowledge Bowl team in 20 years, competing with other schools throughout the country. I also began working as a teacher assistant (unpaid) in a nearby ESL school.</p>

<p>Throughout 10th and 11th grade I have also participated extensively on the school's Model United Nations program, which is a really big academic activity here in Brazil. In 10th grade I applied to become a Vice-Chair in this year's Brazilian National simulation, and in 11th grade I was selected to be next year's Secretary General for the national simulation. I have also received awards for Best Delegate in simulations hosted by other schools. In school I also work my best to expand the MUN program, helping out new delegates as a lead delegate and starting internal simulations to help train them.</p>

<p>In between grades I went on a People to People Summer Program on International Diplomacy. I found the program was not as rewarding academically, but I ended up helping the organizers execute their own MUN simulation, since I was more experienced than most of the other students present.</p>

<p>I have a good relationship with my teachers and the faculty, even if most of my studying ends up being independent.</p>

<p>...</p>

<p>That's all I can think of right now.</p>

<p>Yale is a really important university for me, I am completely enamored by the wealth of choices one has when studing at Yale. It seems to me like a really nice place to live in, with happy people; at least that's what I take from those I talk to who went there. I would also really need the financial aid they offer, in order to study abroad. I have a love for politics and debating and public speaking that seems a perfect match for things like the Political Union or the International Relations Association. Plus, they did make this awesome video: YouTube</a> - That's Why I Chose Yale</p>

<p>I was wondering whether there is anything I could do to better my chances moving onto Senior year... I have nothing planned for this summer, and not enough money to go on an academic or a community service program. I am planning on applying for Yale as a SCEA.</p>

<p>Thanks for any of your insights, and for already having given me a place to organize my thoughts regarding my credentials...</p>

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<p>To be bruttaly honest, the answer is no. Even if you are a US citizen attending a school in the US, these qualifications are not sufficient. I am really tied of all the people who try to keep up the hopes and only inflate the number of applicants unrealistically.<br>
There are many excellent schools that you will have more opportunities with your qualifications than Yale. Sometimes it is difficult because international students only know the big name scools, but there are hundrend of schools that would be suitable for you and more nurturing. What are your interests? Have you though of may be Macalester (Kofi Anaan went there), Middlebury? Just some ideas.</p>

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<p>I think you have a shot. Your qualifications are good, especially the MUN stuff, and you seem to know a lot about Yale. Yale is hard for anyone to get into so no one can accurately predict. But I think if you love Yale as much as you say do, then do apply. Be sure to tell a good story in your app. Good luck!</p>

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<p>((This is OP))</p>

<p>Ana1, I really appreciate your honesty, most people just try to lift people’s hopes baselessly. Still, I don’t think my own bid to Yale would be ENTIRELY unfounded.</p>

<p>The last five years have seen two students from my school getting into Ivy League universities; our three profiles are similar, but there are a couple of main differences.</p>

<p>The first one, who got into Harvard, participated in TASP. She was well-rounded in the humanities and sciences, and a MUN Chair.</p>

<p>The second seemed to have been in contact with a Yale admissions officer since 9th grade, when one visited our school. He was good in humanities, not that much in sciences, and a MUN Chair.</p>

<p>There is some similarity between my profile and theirs, which is what keeps my hopes up, but I am worried about being too similar a candidate for them, so I seek to emphasize the science and humanities aspects of my strengths equally. My actual question is if there is anything else I can do at this point in time to improve my chances? I do plan to apply to other colleges of course, but I figure that gearing my credentials to an Ivy League level will in no way hurt my chances with other colleges, so…</p>

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<p>As for interests… In regards to academia, basically anything. Place me in front of any subject and I will be both interested in it and proficient at it. If there was one academical area to pick as a weakness I’d say the biological and chemical sciences, but my interest in Cognitive Science is enough to override any weakness I might have in memorizing the facts and figures involved. As to talents, exactly, I’d say public speaking definitely, and a tad of writing, even though I can be a tad rambling.</p>

<p>In terms of how that translates to a job skill… I guess my interest in all subjects coupled with my love to teach and write just impels towards being a professor someday; I think I’d enjoy that immensely.</p>

<p>I don’t aim to go to Yale just because it’s Ivy League… There is of course the financial aid aspect but, the main thing, is the people I expect I will find there. PArtially because of it’s selective process and because of its status I can only imagine the kind of community they have built, in terms of mutual intellectual support and of creating a thriving environments for the student’s pursuits.</p>

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<p>Well, if it makes you feel better, OP, then we can exchange stats.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you.</p>

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<p>WAIT @ana1… How are you saying plain out no? While he may not be the most impressive applicant Yale has ever had, there is no way to say that he would not be a competitive applicant. </p>

<p>I personally know a guy who got accepted to Yale SCEA with a 1970 on his SAT, a very small amount of EC’s and a 3.9 unweighted GPA… And youre telling the OP that with their scores and ECs they have no chance? Highly unlikely. </p>

<p>And, being international myself, I slightly resent the comment that “Sometimes it is difficult because international students only know the big name scools, but there are hundrend of schools that would be suitable for you and more nurturing” Im sorry, but that is BS. If the OP addressed this thing saying that he was interested in Yale, is it really your business to assume he is ignorant to all of the other amazing places of higher education, such as UCLA, Bowdoin, Wesleyan, etc?</p>

<p>For the OP, you are in fact the type of person that Yale might be looking for, and you are correct, your application would have a very good base to stand on. While you may not be accepted, it has no bearing on your application competitiveness - Yale, like the other Ivies, are a very massive crapshoot when it comes to admissions.</p>

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<p>I second thatguy100.
OP, no reason to be scared.</p>

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<p>I’m a parent of two kids at Yale and I have to say that you do have a shot. Your scores, activities, and international flavor put you in the ballpark, in my opinion. Your essays, recommendations, summer jobs, current activities are all going to matter. Just give yourself other options. Yale’s admit rate of 7.5% means that many excellent candidates don’t get in. But the admit rate for candidates who don’t apply is 0. So if your scores and GPA are in the Yale zone, why not apply? Give it your best try and stop worrying about it. Just make sure you apply to other schools and know the odds.</p>

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<p>Just out of curiousity: what was his ethnicity?</p>

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<p>I kind of doubt this.</p>

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<p>I do too, but if it was true, I’d bet an arm or a leg that the student was Native American or African American. I’m not going to get into a long protracted argument on whether affirmative action is right or wrong (I personally have no stance), but facts are facts.</p>

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<p>It’s possible that the student won some phenomenal award: I’m sure a Nobel Prize would do the trick ;). Or maybe they had some other great talent? The student could be (inter)nationally famous, a recruited athlete, etc. Back to the original post, I don’t see why you wouldn’t have a shot. Your credentials are very impressive; just keep in mind that the majority of Yale’s applicants probably have equally impressive credentials, and most applicants deserve to get in (Yale simply doesn’t have enough room to accept most qualified applicants). Don’t become too confident, but definitely apply and keep your hopes up. As a student who was deferred and waitlisted before being accepted, I will tell you that anything can happen if you keep at it. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Well, thank you all for the kind words and for the insights. I guess there is nothing else to do but my best in the essays and take advantage of whatever opportunities might arise meanwhile. I wouldn’t want it any other way.</p>

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<p>People need to stop being jealous and insecure on threads like this. People don’t really have that many reasons to lie and say they know people with low stats who were accepted. It happens all the time (no its not the majority or even a large minority, but it is certainly not uncommon). Maybe the person had an amazing life story of overcoming family difficulties. Maybe the person just had an amazing personality that shined in their essays. Who are we to say that such a person is not qualified to be admitted? For all we know, they might be more successful than every other student at a school like Yale. I “highly doubt” that any of us know every admitted student and can make such an assumption.</p>

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<p>@OP Yes you have a chance. That’s all we can definitely say. Every applicant has a chance, some better than others, but you can only find out your decision on D-Day itself (unless of course you get a likely letter :D)</p>

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<p>For everyone who said I was lying, Im not. </p>

<p>He is white, from NY. Hook, he was recruited, sorry, I forgot to mention it. But, thanks NJDS, I have no reason to lie, and its nice that someone had the decency to point that out!</p>

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<p>OH, so AnAsianStudent, Ill have that arm and leg now.</p>

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<p>OP, GO FOR IT! Your credentials are right on the ball park. Admittance to any Ivy is uncertain, regardless of whether you attain a perfect score on SATs, etc. </p>

<p>AnAsianStudent, the credentials of URMs that have been willing to share on CC indicate that they are as highly qualified as other admitted students. As a Yale alumn, I am impressed and wish them the best. By questioning the ethnicity of the admitted student with the 1970 SAT scores, you undermine URMs credentials. For someone who has no opinion on AA, you certainly evidence a bias. If you were to gain admittance to an Ivy, I would hope you will be open minded enough to give URMs a chance to prove you wrong.</p>

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<p>You had a shot, of course! What happened?</p>