<p>female, half pac-islander half white
sat: 2400
gpa: freshman year- 4.5, soph year- 4.3, junior year- 5.6, senior year-
Cum Laude for junior year round
gpa ~4.9 on 6.0 scale but with challenging course load
typical ivy bound student at my school has range of 5.0-5.7</p>
<p>AP Euro, English (Lang and Lit), French (Lang and Lit), Art Hist, USH (senior year)</p>
<p>4s and 5s: National AP Scholar</p>
<p>student at A/E/D (ubertop prep school)</p>
<p>strong passion for writing, several awards
will have excellent essays and recommendations from head of english department</p>
<p>i think i've got some awesome ECs:
service summer in India
service springs in San Francisco and New York
editorial board of prestigious school paper
editor in chief of lit mag
went to worlds debate
many wins at regional debates
vice president of debate society</p>
<p>and i've written a book, in the works with getting it published.</p>
<p>I am going to go to Yale. It is my dream and I will not stop short of it. Any tips on getting in? I mean, if my essays and recs and SAT scores are stellar, and if I have a shot at minority status, AND if I went to A/E/D, will my GPA be forgiven and the gates to my Ivy unlocked?</p>
<p>Criticism, advice, and praise are all equally welcome.</p>
<p>Even the best students based on metrics have only a chance at getting admitted. Every year 100s of very, very qualified students get rejected -- it's just how the numbers line up. That being said, you have lots to be proud of -- it would be hard to imagine your not having a great college career. Your metrics line up with other admitted students.</p>
<p>However, one thing (and it is only an opinion): your enthusiasm/drive to get into Y comes off a little entitled. "I am going to go to Yale. I will not stop short of it".</p>
<p>Given the odds, nobody should hold that mindset -- it's off-putting and if I were a Y adcom, I'd say: "Does she think other schools are trash?"</p>
<p>I agree with T26E4. I hope for your sake that you don't plan on writing your essays with that mindset. While confidence is a good thing, when it exudes a sense of inflated entitlement I think it is a serious turn-off (especially when the top Ivies these days are trying to rid themselves of that elitist, good ol' boys image). That being said... you do have good stats. You have an excellent shot but you're not a shoe-in by any means. I'd say focus on your essays and make sure that they are absolutely killer... I think really that makes or breaks a lot of applicants with your stats (but that's just my opinion). Good luck!</p>
<p>As for the minority status... I don't recall... does Yale consider Pacific Islanders a separate group from Asian when determining minority status? If so that could work to your advantage, as I would definitely consider Pacific Islanders to be under-represented while asians tend to be over-represented. That being said, I don't know if it'll give you that much weight considering you go to an elite prep school... suggesting that your family is loaded.</p>
<p>all: I'm sorry if I sounded entitled, I really don't have that mindset, it's more that I'm really really determined to make it happen, not that I think Yale will just come to me.</p>
<p>mostly its got an existential theme based on the decisions and to what extent our lives are dictated by our actions-- it's loosely based on my life thus far but by no means is it a memoir. or a 'gossip girl' type read. :)</p>
<p>"gpa ~4.9 on 6.0 scale but with challenging course load"</p>
<p>Do you go to a boarding school, perhaps Andover or Exeter? If so, I would take caution when looking at the scattergrams. Tons of kids at the two get accepted to HYP because they are legacy or development candidates (donate tons of money). They would fall in the lower end of the GPA scale, bringing down the overall school average. If you take them out, the avg GPA would shift even higher.</p>
<p>Just to keep in perspective. Otherwise, looks good</p>
<p>yeah, i realize that. thanks laststop. the lower gpa's (please don't yell at me for saying this) come from, by my observation, legacies, URMS, and athletes. so, i've just gotta get a hook of my own, i guess? i mean.. god i want it soo bad. soo soo soooo bad. it's not a blind desire either. i've visited a ton of other schools, liked a few but yale is... yale is where i want to be.</p>
<p>I won't say that you're setting yourself up for failure by wanting it so much, but anyone who applies to Yale NEEDS to have a safety. Also, Pacific Islander = Asian to colleges, so you don't have a hook there, if anything its detrimental. </p>
<p>But other than that, I'd say that you have as good a chance as anyone.</p>
<p>oh no on an online forum its quite appreciated (since a lot of times things can be misinterpreted) but i just sort of pictured someone with your enthusiasm about yale just in all aspects of life. it was sort of wierd. yes apply EA. good luck!</p>
<p>You don't just need backups... You need schools that are a good fit. I think you are under the false pretense that a 2400 and Andover or whatever will get you in. Perhaps they will accept you, but you are very far from a shoo-in. If you come across as entitled you are guaranteed to be rejected. Personally I would say apply ea but I don't see anything unique and hence I don't think they would accept you.</p>