<p>I am no different than every other kid applying to Yale. I am only a sophomore, but I take the most rigorous schedule, 3.98 UW but by senior year it can rise to 3.99, motherload of ECs as well as high officer positions, founded a Junior Statesmen club, will end up varsity lettering on track and tennis, possibly salutatorian if not valedictorian, SATs should be good, yada yada. </p>
<p>^You can just skip that if you've been on CC before. It is a personal goal of mine to get into Yale. It will prove to myself that I'm worth something, etc. But I'm no different! What do I do! I could learn to play the dizi (Japanese flute thing) which I really have a passion for. The dizi could also flow back into my cultural heritage I guess. </p>
<p>I dunno. I can't decide if I should bring up being Asian in order to make the dizi seem more inherited or original, or if I should avoid that since Yale definitely doesn't want more Asians. </p>
<p>What do I do! I guess I'm mainly talking about the essay. What is different? What has never been done before?</p>
<p>Your essay should be reflective of who you are – it’s not a writing exercise per se. The question is: who are you?</p>
<p>Who are the leaders and shape the opinion in your school? Who affects those around them? Why? Do you possess the same characteristics? Be honest – are you influential? As you know, it’s not just academics.</p>
<p>If you are that sort of person and can convey it thru your essays and your teachers concur in their rec letters for you, Yale might take note.</p>
<p>Yale definitely doesn’t want more boring applicants – Asian or not. Certainly there are droves of non-boring Asian applicants and certainly plenty of boring ones.</p>
<p>(I was blessed enuff to be considered a non-boring Asian, I presume)</p>
<p>With all due respect, setting a personal goal of getting into Yale as a way of validating your personal worth is a seriously bad idea. What if you are perfectly qualified, highly desirable, and don’t get in, just because when they were picking among three stellar applicants for the same spot, you lost the coin toss? Then where is your self-worth? You’re far better off figuring out who you are, and being comfortable with that person, than living your life to impress someone else. And truthfully, you have a better shot at impressing Yale if you are being yourself. Figure out what YOU want to do, do it, and when you apply, just let Yale know that you have some good stuff between your ears.</p>
<p>^I was about to write something similar and then scrolled down and saw CIEE83 already wrote what I was going to put down. Remember: no college can validate who you are. Make the most of your college years and any college will provide meaningful experiences. I concur wholeheartedly with CIEE83.</p>
<p>Want to write an essay that stands out? Write about something that you love or really care about and why it has influenced you.
I know that it may sound unhelpful and you may have heard that a million times, but it’s sound advice that really works.
When I went to a local Yale alumni information session (hosted by a regional admissions counselor), the host said that some essays that attempted to be quirky/weird/original fell flat and that some of the best essays that he has read were about generic topics but were very well-written and actually conveyed who the student was.
My Yale supplementary essay, for example, was about how much I loved photography ever since I was about 7 years old, what I have always looked for when taking pictures and how I can relate that to my personal philosophy. I had written it one night when I was suddenly inspired and didn’t think that I would use it. It ended up being one of my 3 favorite personal essays (Harvard and Commonapp were my others) and I feel that it will really show the admissions officers who I really am.</p>
<p>Just my two cents, but I hope that they help you in your endeavors :)</p>
<p>As a sophomore, you should begin the college process by changing your focus and your way of thinking. </p>
<p>Right now, your questions are basically trying to second guess what an Admissions Director is looking for by asking folks on CC “What do I do?” As you don’t know who will read your file and what Yale will be looking for – it’s best to just be YOU! That means study what YOU are interested in, write your essays about what YOU care about, describe what motivates YOU, what YOU dream about. Colleges, especially Yale, are looking for authenticity. They can smell someone who is trying to fit themselves into a prefabricated mold – and they reject those kids by the thousands. </p>
<p>Judging from your username, it might be a little hard to show your passion
In all seriousness though, you really need to find some way to stand out.Think of some experience or event that has uniquely shaped you, that’s what I did for my essay :)</p>
<p>Let’s all step out of the echo chamber. To be blunt, the vast majority of people CANNOT find some way to stand out – by very DEFINITION.</p>
<p>The OP might be one. But statistically, most likely won’t be one . Everyone camping on that phase seems to think it’s something that can just easily be willed into existence – like that tired old trope “if you try hard enough, you’ll see your dreams fulfilled”</p>
<p>It makes the advice given in Gibby’s MIT blog article all the more pertinent.</p>
<p>I agree with Gibby and come at it from a slightly different bent. I was completely unaware of the extremely competitive nature of college admissions. I haven’t been on CC for years and naively told my son, " work hard and you can get into any school you want". My son started his college research after his junior year and did not have the opportunity to visit schools for financial reasons. He does get good grades and had pretty decent test scores. His big plus was that he pursued his passion (music) in multiple disciplines. He is in a traditional public school, but he managed to beinvolved in music in school, out of school and volunteering. Almost all of his musical activities were self-driven. I truly believe that the fact that he pursued his passions contributed greatly to his acceptance at Yale. He does/did these things because he loves them, not to have another thing to put on his resume.</p>
<p>write about whatever you love, no matter how odd it might seem. My friend got into Yale writing his common app about how bonzai gardening changed his life.</p>
<p>If you’re serious, do this: get a sex change. There are very few transgendered applicants. Or you can say you’re inclined to the same gender. Or you can commit armed robbery/murder. That’s never done before. And to top it all of, when you get your interview, you should smack your interviewer and say you’re going to Harvard when you’re not. I’m not advocating this but f you do this you’ll get in. My friend did this and he got a likely letter. </p>
<p>I got a likely letter last night from Yale. I really love math and chased that passion throughout high school. the lady who called me to let me know the official letter was coming commented on how much she loved my essay on math! So do what you love and everything will fall into place. I used to be SUPER worried about colleges but I had it all wrong–things will work out if it’s meant to be.</p>
My son started his college research after his junior year and did not have the opportunity to visit schools for financial reasons. He does get good grades and had pretty decent test scores. His big plus was that he pursued his passion (music) in multiple disciplines. He is in a traditional public school, but he managed to beinvolved in music in school, out of school and volunteering. Almost all of his musical activities were self-driven. I truly believe that the fact that he pursued his passions contributed greatly to his acceptance at Yale. He does/did these things because he loves them, not to have another thing to put on his resume.</p>