How much do essays count?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Yale University
1

I’ve just applied RD to Yale, and I just wanted some input.

Personal situation:
I’m academically qualified (35 ACT, likely val or at least sal or class depending on how senior year plays out), as are most of the applicants, but my greatest weakness to my application is certainly ECs. On this site I’ve read applicants’ questions lamenting their chances; questioning whether their 12 years volunteering at a fish hatchery or working part time as a sherpa will garner them a spot at the school of their choice. I live in a very rural section of Ohio, and thus there’s no physical (or at least cost-efficient) way that I could partake in anything that a rural town wouldn’t offer. I’ve had numerous tour guides from “small towns” (in fact, one from a town of 600), yet my hometown has a population of about 40K. My parents are adamant that what I lack in ECs will not be held against me, but I don’t think I’ll be given any treatment due to my predicament. I understand that universities review applicants in context of their own communities, but do I realistically have a chance at any top-tier school if I lack ECs? I have participated in research (university I drove to was 45 minutes away…), as well as working at a local safety camp for children that I attended as a kid. And then of course there’s varsity sports and school clubs but nothing that would stand out.

Question:
So, in context of all that was above, can favourable essays make up for lack of ECs? I wrote non-stop for about two weeks, and am just reflecting now. I’m an editor at heart, and I believe my essays are well-written as well as generally intriguing (even if I do sometimes use hyphens and em dashes to dance around word limits). Yet, here I come back to my original problem. My essays are about what I know and what I’ve done, but since my ECs are limited, I couldn’t talk about internships, international travels, etc. Will strong essays compensate for weaker ECs (if weak ECs are due to circumstance and not choice)?

Just fishing for opinions about what I should expect come April.

2

With an acceptance rate of under 7% Yale is a reach for everyone. You have made the decision to apply and hopefully your application is focused on what you have done rather than what you haven’t done.

It is virtually impossible to chance/give opinions for a school like Yale that turns down so many exemplary applicants. You just have to wait it out like everyone else and hope that something in your application will strike a chord with the admissions staff.

As I’d tell everyone, be sure to have a solid application list that includes reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable and that you would be happy to attend.

3

I understand. I come from a similarly sized town with a lower level of opportunities. My application reflected this, and I was sure to pour my heart and soul into my essays. Everything is holistic. Don’t worry about what the outcome will be just yet - simply focus on making your essays unique and as good a representation of yourself you can.

4

Thanks to both of you.

@h0kulani
How small is the town you’re from? And you don’t happen to be in North/South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, do you? What were your most notable ECs? My most notable are research and helping at a local camp, as I said earlier, among things like Spanish Club, NHS, etc.

5

I’m not in that area (although your area would likely give you more benefit than mine, as the West tends to have a lower amount of applicants, as far as I know). My town is about half as big as yours. I mainly did a lot of academic teams (scholar bowl, math team, etc) and actually had a historical research EC. I think those were my "coolest’ ECs. At this point, the last thing in your control for applications is probably the essay - so try and make it as unique and good as possible.

Hope to see you at Bulldog Days!

6

Thank you for all your help.

I hope to see you there as well!