<p>rebecca17, you have made a lot of assumptions about the OP and her family that may or may not be true. She is NOT a private day school student. Her father is evidently a lawyer, and it sounds as if he makes an excellent living, but we have no statement that he is with Winston Strawn or Sidley Austin or the like. (I agree that he is unlikely to be as unsophisticated about college admissions as some would suggest.) Moreover, not only do we know nothing about her course rigor, but she estimates that her class rank is maybe top 15%. Unless she is being unduly modest–and she does sound like a modest person, which is usually NOT what Yale is looking for–she does not have the numbers to be a top candidate for Yale, even with legacy.</p>
<p>Despite your assumptions, I, for one, and well acquainted with Ivy admissions and a firm believer in what they have to offer. I generally think that going to the best school you can get into in order to have the best possible undergraduate educate is the way to go. (Assuming that it is not going to beggar you now and in the future.) I think she should give Yale a shot, and if she is going to do it, she should go SCEA to maximize her chances. (BTW, OP, you should DEFINITELY include an extra recommendation from Erika’s Lighthouse, and one from your employer would be good too. That would give you a total of five: 2 teachers, the GC, work, and volunteering. That’s a fine selection, but don’t go beyond that.)</p>
<p>I agree with others that UW-M is a great place, but it is not going to be a bargain. If the OP wants to stay closer to the midwest, but not too close to Chicago, as she says, she should probably be looking at other schools, too. Wash U is on her list already. How about Cornell, Carleton, U Rochester, Pitt, U Michigan, Michigan State, Macalester, St. Olaf, Vanderbilt, even Rice? (I know some of these aren’t technically in “the midwest,” but they are also perhaps more relaxed than the Yales of this world, which may be what she really wants.)</p>