I don't know whether to apply EA or RD >.<

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>I've heard conflicting things regarding one's chances when they apply EA or wait for RD. Some say that EA will help increase your chances generally, but I've heard other's counter saying that I'll be competing among the best applicants, so I would actually have less of a shot. I'm confused and would like some help.... =p</p>

<p>Stats:
Male, Midwest, Caucasian, No hooks</p>

<p>Academia:
GPA: 3.994UW
Rank: 6/557
SAT: 2300 (800 M, 720 CR, 780W) Single Sitting, 2350 (800M, 750 CR, 800 W) Superscore
SAT II: 800 US History, 800 Chem (retook from 740), 800 Math 2
AP Tests: APUSH (5), Euro (5), Calc BC (5), Lang/Comp (5), Stats (5)
Senior Year Courseload: Multivariable Calc., AP Econ, AP Comp Sci, AP Lit., CIS Comp, CIS Spanish 5, AP Physics, AP Chem.
Major Awards: National Forensic League Degree of Honorx2, Degree of Excellencex2, ExCEL Nominee, 2 time Tri-Athlete Award, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, National Merit Commended </p>

<p>I go to one of the top ranked schools in the nation if that affects anything...</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Cross Country (4 years): Captain, All Conference, Section Champs while captain, Section Medalist, State Qualifier, Academic State Award Winner, Academic State Gold, Academic State Silver, 2 time Scholar Athlete of the Year, 3 time section qualifier, three varsity letters, Nike Footlocker Regionals/National Qualifiers Participant</p>

<p>Swimming (4 years): Captain, 2 time Academic State Silver, 3 varsity letters, most improved, 3 time section qualifier, True team section runners up, 3 time true team section qualifier, True team State Qualifier, </p>

<p>Girls Swim Team Manager for 1 year.</p>

<p>Track and Field (4 Years): Captain, 3 Time True Team Sectional Qualifier, 2 Time Sectional Qualifier, Most Improved, Scholar Athlete of the Year, 2 Time Varsity Letter Award Winner, Honor Roll Time in 2 Mile-9:56 and 1 mile - 4:33, Sectional Medalist, two time Sectional runner ups (in the hardest one in the state I may add)</p>

<p>Debate (3 Years): 3 Time State Qualifier, Novice Classic Debate State Quarter Finalist,
JV Classic Debate State Quarter Finalist, National Forensic League Member, NFL Degree of Honor, Degree of Excellence, 2 time Letter Award Winner </p>

<p>Student Council (3 Years): Officer, Organized various things, including running a school wide Community Cup that includes a $1000 prize and a choice of charity, and also ran initiative for healthier district school lunches, 2 letter awards</p>

<p>National Spanish Honor Society (2 Years)</p>

<p>National Honor Society (2 Years): , Service Committee, Dialogues committee, Dodgeball Committee (ran a local dodgeball tourney where all proceeds go to JDRF, lots of money raised)</p>

<p>LINC: LINC 101 - Leadership Class, get school credit on my transcript
LINC Leadership, Leadership, do large scale leadership with Freshmen and newbies at school
LINC 301: Captains training
Other misc. Leadership conferences</p>

<p>Summer Activities:</p>

<p>Work Experience: Lifeguard/WSI Instructor</p>

<p>Volunteer Work: 200+ total - Help run a space camp for kids</p>

<p>Running Camp: (3years) (400 Mile Club)</p>

<p>Swimming Camp: (4years)</p>

<p>Star Wars Collectable Card Game Club: I played competitive star wars collectable card game. I went to states and regionals (4 years)</p>

<p>Triathlons: I independently train and compete in triathlons </p>

<p>I think my strengths lie in my GPA, my rank in very competitve school, my scores, my EC's (especially captain of three varsity sports) my rigor of schedule (my counselor said she has never seen a harder one), but my weaknesses are not many prestigous awards, no hooks, and no significant recognition beyond the state (I don't know about this one). I think I can get good recs since I know who I'm going to ask extremely well (one is my dad's best friend and he has known me since I was a baby). Any advice on what to do? I deeply appreciate the advice of anyone who spends the time to read this obnoxiously long post. Yale is probably my top choice.</p>

2

<p>Personally, I think you may come across as obsessive which may hurt your chances. Why anyone with a 2300 SAT and subject level exams in the 700’s would retake them is beyond me. I wouldn’t get too enamored with any school with less than 7% acceptance rates and concentrate on creating well rounded essays. You obviously have the scores to get in a good school, it just might not be Yale.</p>

<p>P.S. Yale is not looking for the perfect student. They are looking for the student that will thrive in it’s socially diverse environment. In looking at your resume, it looks more suited for MIT or Harvard.</p>

3

<p>I think Yale’s advice to students is very good. Harvard and Princeton basically say the same thing on their websites: [Frequently</a> Asked Questions - Single-Choice Early Action | Yale College Admissions](<a href=“Single-Choice Early Action | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions”>Single-Choice Early Action | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions)</p>

<p>Is there an advantage to applying Single-Choice Early Action to Yale?
“Applying Single-Choice Early Action does not increase the likelihood of being admitted to Yale. Historically, the rate of admission among early applicants has been higher than the overall admission rate because many of our strongest candidates, from a wide range of backgrounds and interests, apply early. We therefore offer this advice: Apply for Single-Choice Early Action if you want to receive a decision in mid-December and you are confident of the credentials you will be presenting to the admissions committee early in your senior year. An Early Action applicant must meet the same criteria for admission as an applicant in the regular pool. A thoughtful college search and a careful assessment of your readiness to present a strong application as early as November 1, are key. Candidates who need more time, for whatever reason, will be better served by our Regular Decision process.”</p>

4

<p>In support of gibby’s information, more from Brenzel on applicants accepted EA:</p>

<p>[Early</a> admit rate rises slightly | Yale Daily News](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2009/dec/15/early-admit-rate-rises-slightly/]Early”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2009/dec/15/early-admit-rate-rises-slightly/)</p>

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5

<p>You clearly have the numbers to be competitive in the early round which should be no easier or harder for you than RD. In that the odds are still stacked against you, you’ll have to decide whether applying to a few less selective EA schools will give you a better position come January than a single SCEA application (with some in-state exceptions).</p>

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<p>I have no idea why Kdog would say this. With state level debate awards, you might like to see how the Yale Debate Association club trounces Harvard since they sure haven’t been doing that recently on the football field.</p>

<p>[APDA</a> Web - Home of the American Parliamentary Debate Association | American College Debate Association - Standings](<a href=“http://www.apdaweb.org/standings]APDA”>http://www.apdaweb.org/standings)</p>

6

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Because those two schools seem to like the perfect stat students (i.e. 800 subject level exams and 2400 SAT scores)Yale seems more interested in passionate students in areas outside of academics.</p>

7

<p>One consideration for applying RD is for students who expect another stellar academic performance their 1st semester of Senior year – if this boosts the transcript/GPA.</p>

<p>I got straight As in a schedule crammed with six APs my senior year. I’m sure it made my file readers more confident of my academic chops as I was carrying a 3.85 GPA culm as a Junior prior to that semester.</p>

<p>RD is perfectly viable if you want/need the extra time. EA is good for Yale in that it can spread its workload and good for admitted/rejected students who get early notification – this is the mutual benefit of EA. But EA is not a necessity.</p>