<p>I'm only a Sophomore in high school, but I want to know if you think I have good chances of getting into Yale. It's my dream school and I would like to know if it's a bit too unrealistic. I have not formally taken an ACT test, although my scores from practice tests range from 32-34. With ample studying, I'm sure I can get an ACT of 34-36 by the spring of next year when I will be taking the test. With the SAT, I haven't been so successful on practice tests. I usually get 1850-2050, so I suppose I'm just not an SAT kind of guy. I plan to submit only my ACT scores. Anyways, I know my test scores are not the issue. The issue is that my grades have not been too great so far. Last year, I had one B at the end of the first semester and all A's by the end of the year. This year, I had two B's at the end of the first semester and I am yet to see my final semester grades. To be honest, I couldn't even predict them, seeing as I can get anything from a D to an A in my english class. In addition, I'm thinking I might get a B in history, but I'm not sure; it depends on how I do on my final. I'm taking a very rigorous course and I hope to get all A's for the rest of high school. If I manage to do that, do you think it could hide the lesser grades of my first two years of high school? </p>
<p>Additional information:
-I've worked for about a year now in a restaurant.
-I was in the fall play this year and I plan to be in it for the rest of high school.
-I run cross country in the fall and play volleyball in the spring (both years now, I may drop cross country in order to manage the girl's volleyball team; I'm not sure yet).
-My high school is number 1 in the state.
-I recently applied for a leadership role in student council, but I wont know if I was accepted for a few more days.
-I also applied for leadership in my school's gay-straight alliance club, after being a member for two years. Unfortunately, I doubt that I will get the position, but it's worth a shot, right?
-Next year I will apply for the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society and I highly believe that I will get in.
-In 8th grade, I wont some certificate for citizenship or something, I don't really remember but it was a legit award that only one other girl in my graduating class got.
-I'm doing a pre-calc program over the summer hopefully and I plan to do something related to acting in my summers to come (or something productive at least).
-I can't really think of anything else, besides community service projects since I need 40 hours to graduate.</p>
<p>So do you think I have a solid chance of getting into Yale? Would a few B's get in the way? Realistically, I may get a B or two next year as well, so I don't know how much that will affect my application. I am taking multiple AP's, though. Do you guys have any suggestions for what I should be doing that could better my chances of getting in? I would be the first to attend college in my family and I come from a low-income family, if that matters. I just want a real answer that doesn't say "Well Yale is very competitive, so only the top 36's get in" or "It's a bit of a stretch, but maybe!" Thanks so much! c:</p>
<p>Can somebody please respond? I’m very anxious about all of this, especially my lack luster english grade. I’ll chance back?</p>
<p>Well, as you do not have an official SAT or ACT score, there is no way to accurately predict. But, I can give advice.</p>
<p>It is imperative that you get all A’s your junior year. The few B’s that you have will do damage, but not too much. I also need to know the level of your classes. If you are taking all reg level, that doesn’t look good at all. You want to be in honors and AP classes. </p>
<p>Your extracurriculars are okay. When I look at them, I don’t see you being in any leadership positions, and the ones that you are trying for, you have either been denied to, or are unsure of. Try your hardest to get into leadership positions. Be really dedicated to something. Do get into NHS; it is almost expected for most top colleges. </p>
<p>It is too early to say, but do as well as possible on the ACT. Make sure to have straight A’s your Junior and Senior years. Improve the quality of your extracurriculars (maybe be dedicated to theater?), and you may have a shot.</p>
<p>My classes are all honors, with one being an AP. Next year I’ll take 4 AP’s, and senior year I’ll take 2-3 (I’m giving up an AP to take Drama, but that’s really what I love, so…) Thanks so much!</p>
<p>bump… more thoughts??</p>
<p>??? bumpity bump bump please help a guy out!!</p>
<p>The B’s will hurt for sure, but you can make up with straight A’s junior year. You’ll need 5’s on your AP exams seeing as how you’re not taking that many. Definetely don’t quit Cross Country. Managing girl’s volleyball will be seen as a soft option. Have you won any prizes for your theater work?</p>
<p>Nope… only done school theatre. I’m going to try for a theatre competition this summer, but I doubt anything will result. I’m confident that I can get 5’s on my ap’s and I was thinking about taking the stats, micro, chem, and bio exams and just study on my own since my school wont allow for that many ap’s. thanks for your consideration!</p>
<p>bump… somebody please who will take time to answer this thoughtfully. I’m really nervous and I just want to get in so badly. I need to know what i can do from this point on. Thanks…</p>
<p>just gonna casually bump some more…</p>
<p>At this point, it doesn’t look too good. It’s not because of your Bs that I say this, but because the frame of mind with which your are approaching ECs is low-key. A high GPA, like a high ACT score, just gets your foot in the door. Everything you do beyond that defines your ability to successfully compete in hyperelite college admissions.</p>
<p>And even then, it’s not about you participating in a lot of different organizations, but you pursuing and excelling in domains that you are passionate about in a way that you can later package in a distinctive way for an admissions office down the line.</p>
<p>By no means is it too late or impossible for you to, say improve your grades while finding ways to consecrate your devotion to drama, but at this point in my opinion the path you’re taking could be recalibrated. :S</p>
<p>Sadly, your odds are slim, though being the first in your family to attend college could be your one “hook”. Know you didn’t want the boilerplate answer, but no one is going to tell you want you want to hear. To get into Yale, you need extraordinary ec’s/ leadership/talent as well as grades/ scores. Nothing in your profile conveys this, sorry to say.</p>
<p>On a lark, I looked at the matriculation lists of the top 50 most expensive private/ prep schools in the country and was maybe not so shocked to see the numbers of students who are attending HPY, et al. in double figures from individual classes. I guess I had assumed that Ivies and such were on an egalitarian kick, but maybe it’s not to the extent one would wish. Private school really is the only sure edge to getting into these schools (and others that were favored by those $ private schools, all in NY, MA, VA, and NJ, including Georgetown, UND, and, interestingly, Colgate). Our top public high school valedictorian and salutatorian, both hugely qualified, were denied admission this year to the Ivies of their choice. Both, however, are attending fantastic schools.</p>
<p>You really should avail yourself of the vast wealth of remarkable colleges out there that could be a fit for you. You never stated your reason for wanting to attend Yale so much. Is it prestige/ name? Don’t do yourself a disservice by focusing all your efforts on one hyper-selective university. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Of course I have other options, but Yale is my dream. No, it’s not b/c it’s a top college (although that does draw some attention), but more b/c the environment there just sounds so fitting. I have a real passion to learn and yale just seems like I would belong there. Do you think if I buffer up my ec’s and leadership roles I’ll have a better chance? I know my test scores will be up there, I’m working on ec’s and leadership, and my grades haven’t been perfect for a few reasons. It’s no excuse, but the transition to hs threw me off first semester of freshman year and this year I had the previous APUSH teacher for honors us history (yet she treated us as APUSH kids) and just barely missed it by an 89. The reason I didn’t take APUSH was because history is my worst subject, but it ended up not mattering. (I was actually .08% from an A :c). The other B was in my first AP course, arguably the hardest one (Physics B) with the worst teacher (the majority fo the class had low C’s actually, even at a top school). I have worked on raising both of those grades though and have A’s in both for the time being. This year has been a rough one and I’m going through a lot and it’s hard to keep your grades up in one of the best high schools in the nation.</p>
<p>You wanted more opinions so here it goes. I get what you’re feeling, Yale is my dream too. At the tour, they gave a lot of information about what they look for in an applicant. They said that yes grades are important, but the applicant’s character and personality is almost equally important. I’m not saying forget about your grades, but do take a step back and in your next couple years at high school make yourself the best well rounded person you can be. It seems that you are off to a good start!</p>
<p>I’d say that you really need to focus on your acting ECs. Like on television. Anyone being featured on TV looks fantastic on a resume. And like everyone says A’s junior year would also help.</p>
<p>Have you thought about doing some volunteering trip to make your application stand out? There are some really good organisations out there and I think taking part in a program like that is respected by colleges. I did some through Quest Overseas who offer summer trips (and longer ones) to South America and Africa. It was great: I learned a lot and it looks good on applications.</p>
<p>As a parent, I stay away from the chance me threads but stumbled into this one.</p>
<p>Yale, like many top schools, is a lottery school – about 93 out of 100 well-qualified kids are rejected. No one can say who has a shot at that gold ticket (Charlie and the Choc Factory reference . . . .) </p>
<p>Work on your academics and on developing a strong story of who you are, what you love to do, and why. That will make you a strong applicant at many schools that are “learning for the sake of learning” which is what you say you like about Yale.</p>