Hi everyone! I thought I’d start this thread although it’s early!
I’m not 100% sure if I’m applying, but I’m waiting to get my SAT score back.
Ahhh finally a thread! Hello! I’ll be applying this year. @IndirectProofs I think I recognize you from threads earlier this year? 
Hi all,
I have been mulling over applying to the Eli Whitney Program in the fall of 2020, and have all but decided to do so.
I am somewhat torn over my next steps however. After review of the course catalog offered by my local community college, I am hesitant to enroll as the courses do not reflect the level of academic rigor I would like my application to demonstrate to the admissions committee. Instead, I am considering enrolling in a handful of higher level political science courses through Harvard Extension School (HES).
Would Yale EYP view that decision favorably? I have been unable to find any records of Harvard Extension students being accepted to the Yale EYP, but am also mindful that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
Some numbers and personal/professional background adapted from my personal statement:
Application Composite:
SAT Test Scores (2010): 2210
College GPA (2010-2012): 3.0; 54 credits
(2020): 4.0; 24 credits
I plan to make A’s in all my classes for the next two semesters
Recommendation letters will likely be from Mayor Bottoms, Stacey Abrams and a professor.
Relevant Professional & Volunteer History:
Six years of experience working in political communications
Rich history of public advocacy for LGBT youth in faith communities
Serves as non-profit communications director for Q Christian Fellowship, the world’s largest faith-based LGBT community
Published essayist featured in several anthologies
My undergraduate journey began at Florida A&M University at sixteen years old and while my arrival was met with much fanfare, I’m afraid I never lived up to it academically during my tenure on-campus. Instead during this time, I struggled to reconcile the faith I was raised in with my queer identity. The dissonance between the moral code of my evangelical upbringing and the way I experienced attraction took it’s toll and ultimately resulted in a clinical depression diagnosis and the development of an anxiety disorder during my sophomore year. The following year, unable to return to college due to financial holds and without parental support, I began the arduous but rewarding journey to find some sense of reconciliation between my sexuality and the faith I treasured.
Since then, I’ve done a good deal of hard work and self-examination while leveraging my skillset in various professional capacities including:
- working in the private sector as a software engineer for Lockheed Martin and later Apple.
- In 2013, I founded my own consulting firm providing web development and crisis management services to small businesses and non-profit organizations here in Atlanta.
- Following years of private practice marketing for digital platforms and political engagement as a volunteer organizer, in 2017 I served as the Digital Communications Director for the Keisha Lance Bottoms for Mayor campaign.
- After a whirlwind Mayoral runoff victory for Mayor Bottoms, due to my engagement in her campaign, I was graciously offered and humbly accepted a position with her administration as Press Information Officer for the City of Atlanta.
- During my time at City Hall, I have remained politically engaged developing communications and strategic engagement plans for Democrats across the southeast in the historic 2018 election cycle including Rep. Park Cannon, Rep. Sam Park, and the Dream Defenders.
Representing the interests and communities of Atlanta well has meant the world to me, and the responsibility of public service has been simultaneously the most rewarding and challenging experience of my life. After six years working in politics at this pivotal point in U.S. History, I have found sincere inspiration in the rich legacy of American progress towards a more just and equitable society to meet the challenges facing our nation with the same joy and tenacity. Serving my country as a White House Press Secretary is my greatest ambition, but without completing my undergraduate degree, that idea will amount to little more than a dream.
The funny part is that at this point in my career, everyone assumes initially that I hold an undergraduate degree already, but the truth is, I have discovered that I merely have exceptional instincts for politics and PR. I can only imagine how much I could grow in and contribute to an environment like Yale.
Any advice is appreciated and best of luck, everyone!
Okay, so I’ll admit I’m applying. I’ll give my stats because I know I’m gonna be rejected.
Not really any need to chance me, haha.
Gender: Female
Age: 24
Hooks: First Generation?
High School: Private, Graduated in 2014
Rank: 9/67
GPA: 4.0125
SAT -old (not submitting): 1770
Freshman Year: All A’s, took all Honors.
Sophomore Year: All A’s, took all Honors.
Junior Year: Mostly A’s, Took Honors and 2 AP
Senior Year: Mix of A’s and B’s, all Honors classes
Awards/Organizations: National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society (Portuguese), Society for Women Engineers Math & Science Award.
100+ hours of community service. No sports. Did theatre, art, and chorus sometimes.
10 college credits with a lousy (3.0) GPA
Work experience in the last 6 years: Continued being a volunteer TA at an elementary school (my original CS job from high school), spent a summer as a file clerk, spent a summer as a Walmart greeter, released a single, pubbed 9 short books from senior year to a couple of years ago. Became a professional (paid) stage actor in 2018.
Currently set to study at Harvard Extension School for the Spring semester.
I have Asperger’s syndrome.
@hoothoot5 Thanks for your reply. Thanks everyone for replying to this thread. Yes, I was on previous threads, I applied to the program a few years back and was one of the people who didn’t get an interview. I know I will definitely apply to this program again. Each year I have been improving my application and I’m still not sure if I will apply this time or at a later date. Nevertheless, I like reading your responses and I love the discussion either way.
I did end up getting my SAT back. I took it for the first time and got a 1430. I might take it again.
Have a great holiday everyone!
Hi all 
I applied in 2018; I got an interview but was not accepted.
I’m deciding to apply again this year, after taking college classes to get more recent grades.
I wish you all luck! And would be happy to answer any questions about the interviewing process. I’ll do my best to give a helpful response
I was wondering whether you did the ACT/SAT and what exactly you think was lacking that you didn’t get in? Also what was your GPA? I hope you get in this time!
Hi all, I have been reading these posts for a bit and thought I would chip in to liven this page up a bit! 
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Hooks: First Generation, Low-income, used to be a refugee, Served in the Armed Forces (not the US Army).
High School: Public high school in Europe.
Rank: N/A
GPA: Weighted 5.4/6.0 (Foreign grading system). I don’t remember unweighted but definitely lower.
SAT - Taking it in February (wish me good luck!).
College: Top 15 University located on the east coast.
GPA: Hopefully not be dropping below a 3.85
Transfer Credits: I will have approximately 64 credits transferring from a 4-year college.
I wish you all the best of luck.
Hey guys I’m here to go along the process with you. First time applying
Looking forward to the cycle.
So I’m new to this program. I actually had no intention to apply to Yale but they sent me a request to apply for this program. Did anyone else get asked to apply?
I also applied following the inspirational admission of James (Jimmy) Hatch. I did 27 years in the USAF/USAFR and spent most of my life in the public sectors. Went in the service in 1984 and left in 2012. I am from an impoverished area in East Texas and my motivation to attend Yale is more to inspire those from my background and area of the country, the Deep South. Ivy League schools are far beyond reach except for the affluent in the Deep South. My home town is the 5th oldest in Texas and maintains a population of just above 2000 people. Old slaving town before Dallas ever existed. I have been to 37 countries after leaving the farm community and I really do not believe that the East Coast community have a firm picture of what states like Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia is really like as an Afro-American outside of a book and a cultural diversity class. East Texans were slaves until June 19th 1865, 2 years after the Civil War had ended. I go back there to speak and to inspire. Attending Yale let’s that community know that possibilities exist wherever you choose to seek them. I graduated High School in 1984 and most of the classes before and after me were farmers. I chose differently and current/future generations can as well. Wish me luck!!
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Well, I had previously applied for the fall 2020 round and didn’t even make it to interviews. My plans for spring fell through so I have to do the whole transfer app process again I figure I may give the Eli Whitney program a go again. Although, I’m definitely not pinning my hopes on it this for sure.
Hey guys! I’m an EWSP applicant too! You all sound amazing.
Hi there! My name is Raysa and I applied to EWSP! Any other applicants feeling nervous? I submitted application and I haven’t received any emails about my submission, is that normal? Only email I got was confirmation that I paid the fee.
I’m 27, had a 5 year gap in my education since I left college to work full time to help my family.
I’ve been in CC since spring 2019 and will graduate now in May.
GPA: 3.53/4.0
Classes taken: college algebra, pre-calculus, biology 1 with lab, macroeconomics.
Classes currently taking: survey of calculus, chemistry 1 with lab, microeconomics
PTK member
Math Tutor/Math Teaching Assistant at my college.
Have worked full-time as a flight attendant for 6 years now and have total 10 yrs in the hospitality industry as I worked in restaurants before my airline job.
Letters of Rec: Economics professor, my supervisor for my TA job and my Women in Literature Professor.
For the essay I wrote about my educational road, why I left college, what I did during my time out of college and in the workforce, what I learned about my strengths and weaknesses, what I acquired from my work experience, why I decided to go back to school, how EWSP would help me achieve my goals and what courses specifically I want to take while there.
Hi sara8112, so sorry for the terribly late response! I have never taken the SAT/ACT. Part of the EWSP appeal to me was that a score is not a requirement. I figured they are more interested in the big picture of the applicant. I started dual high school/college my junior year and didn’t graduate with the best GPA… maybe a weighted 3.5 if I remember correctly. At first I thought I wasn’t accepted because I hadn’t taken recent college classes. However, I talked to someone who knows a past EWSP interviewer. They said that if you get an interview the admissions officers think you are qualified. So that leaves it to my interviewing skills at the time. There was definitely much to improve on. Hope that helps and again sorry for the late reply.
I recently submitted my application and I am extremly optimisitc about this process. I wonder if the corona virus will affect the application/interview process.
Hi everyone. I was wondering if any of you have filled out the CSS Profile for Yale yet? Is it a requirement to be considered for financial aid? I’m trying to fill it out and there are so many questions that I am not able to answer pertaining to Parent information because 1) I am a 32 year old self-supporting independent student who does not live with nor get any financial support from my mother and 2) I have no information about my father because he abandoned us when I was 2. I feel like the CSS Profile questions seem to be geared more towards high school students or younger students in their teens or early 20s.
Also, glad to finally be done with all my applications as of Sunday. Such a big weight off of my shoulders. Good luck to you all!
@signpainter hi there! I filled out CSS profile and I’m an independent student. If you’re independent student, you fill out the CSS profile information about your parents and just put “0” or N/A for questions about your parents (like their tax and income info). Then just upload your taxes and W2 info on IDOC afterwards. For EWSP you also need to file their finaid form and upload it on their finaid page. Hope that helps!