Does my GPA kill my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>I'm so sorry to infiltrate this thread, but I'm a junior and college counseling departments at my school are starting up, & I love Yale and I was just wondering about my chances...</p>

<p>GPA***: ~4.55/4.65 (However, my school only sends out GPA of junior/senior grades and since I'm probably applying early, it'll just be junior year. But they do send out the entire transcript 9-12... and by 4.0 A, 3.0 B unweighted standards I'd have 3.78. My soph year wasn't very good but I have a semi-good reason because I moved here and wasn't ready for the rigor of the programs.)
Rank: Unranked, probably top 15% in class of 120 in a rigorous prep school.
SAT: 2380 (800 Math, 800 Writing-12 essay, 780 Reading; I probably won't retake it.)
SATII: so far I have MathII 800, 800 Bio-E</p>

<p>Teacher/Counselor Recs: By no means top 1%, except in maybe 1-2 categories, but probably top 5-15%. My counselor rec should be good, she loves me.</p>

<p>Essays: I really don't know but they're probably going to be good.</p>

<p>ECs, in order of importance:
Art (recognized in 2 national contests, design sets for school..possibly a supp. rec next year)
Varsity Swimming (9-12, Senior Captain, state qualifier)
Yearbook (hopefully E-in-Chief next year, but only 11-12)
Charity Club (founder, co-Pres. 11-12)
Culture Club (should be pres next year, 10-12)
And member of a few other random clubs...</p>

<p>Awards: Should be NMSF, the art awards mentioned above, a few essay contests 1st place, and a few local math contests but not 1st place, school sports awards.</p>

<p>Hooks: I'll be sending in an art portfolio supplement (It'll be great, if I may say so myself)
Un-Hooks: Asian... lol.</p>

<p>*** We have those graphs that plot GPA/SAT. My GPA/SAT goes along with those accepted, deferred, and even rejected. However it's only my junior year so I'm asking you guys to please consider my 3.78 unweighted (my school don't calculate it like that, but that's to give you guys a picture of my transcript) in context of my other activies.</p>

2

<p>a 3.78 may or may not, depending on your rank... a 3.78 is a good GPA, don't get me wrong, but I'm not exactly sure what the "cut-off" GPA would be (notice the quotes)</p>

3

<p>No, it does not.</p>

4

<p>Are you kidding?</p>

5

<p>You're Asian, so your toast. Unless you hire me as a college consultant.</p>

6

<p>I meant "you're toast".</p>

7

<p>Edit:I don't know how to post stuff. :]</p>

8

<p>So, in case you take the jamescchen thing seriously - I think you have a good chance. You have strong passions that shine through your ECs with notable strength in those passions - national with art, state qualifier and captain of swimming. Your GPA isn't the best, but especially if your counselor mentions in her letter that it was an adjusting period issue, you should be fine. Your scores and recent classes should show that you are prepared for college-level work and your ECs will help you stick out for Yale. Make sure your essays are really good (start early - not now necessarily, but early - they're important) and I'd say you have a fair chance.</p>

9

<p>Of course I was joking--just trying to drum up business. The Swimming EC is a standout, as is the SAT. Where you go to school counts, too. I'm assuming somewhere like Choate or Groton, which is why you're not Top 10%.</p>

<p>Still, you need to focus on the essays. What make you different from the rest?</p>

<p>Chair2, remember what Marilee Jones, ex-AD at MIT once said:</p>

<p>"It's possible that Henry Park looked like a thousand other Korean kids with the exact same profile of grades and activities and temperament. My guess is that he just wasn't involved or interesting enough to surface to the top."</p>

<p>She later said that she could understand why a university would take a celebrity child, legacy, or development admit over "yet another textureless math grind'.</p>