<p>What was your "hook" do you think? Recruited athlete? URM? Ultra-high SAT score? Other?</p>
<p>Byerly, do you really think that a high SAT score could be a hook? Aren't there always 1600's who are rejected?</p>
<p>i was wondering the exact same thing......there's a butt load of people who score extremely high on the SAT.</p>
<p>I'm a URM (african american female)</p>
<p>wait but what exactly does the likely letter mean?</p>
<p>it means that you're in....well, barring any unexpected circumstances (i.e. you fail out of high school, you're caught cheating on some important test, your EC's are proven to be non-existant, etc...)</p>
<p>It means you're in unless you screw up real bad.</p>
<p>i think i'd kill for a likely letter....but that will probably have it revoked...hehe....i dont think yale will give me classes in a state prison.</p>
<p>"I'm sorry Professor but the vertical bars are blocking my line of vision!"</p>
<p>Sure there are a lot of high SAT scorers who are rejected, but the fact remains that high SAT scorers (ie top students academically - not always the same thing, but usually) are admitted at far, far above the median rate.</p>
<p>Top students are a main target, and "likely letters" are now becoming a leading way to go after them. Remember, top scorers are more likely (there's that word!) to have multiple elite admissions to choose from.</p>
<p>Schools that want a decent share from this pool know they have to get after them early, before "the opposition" sews them up. The "opposition" may not only be another Ivy, but a state flagship throwing around "merit money" to "stop the brain drain." </p>
<p>Suddenly, it pays to be smart!!</p>
<p>then where do all us "decent" scorers with good grades come in? have we suddenly become undesirable even though we have 4.0+ GPAs and 1400+/700+/700+/700+??? anyone under 1550 is given the shaft??? this is bull....</p>
<p>looks like you have to kick some Yalie Admissions Director ass :D</p>
<p>You're plenty desirable. We're a long way from filling the whole class with EA/ED admits and recruited "likelies" - even if these folks DO now constitute a majority at most addresses.</p>
<p>i dont see how we're desirable....ok, lets break it down</p>
<ol>
<li>approx. 19,500 ppl applied to Yale this year</li>
<li>~700 were accepted EA and will attend</li>
<li>Assuming Yale accepts around 2000 ppl total, with a generous 68% yield, that means that there's an anticipated freshman class of 1360. </li>
<li>1360-700= 660 applicants that decide to attend</li>
<li>Likely letters go to approx. 100 URMs, athletes, and high scorers</li>
<li>68 of the 100 applicants who get likely letters decide to matriculate</li>
<li>660-68= 592</li>
<li>Assuming that half of the 19,500 applicants are actual VIABLE candidates that stand a chance, that means that 9750 ppl are competing for 592 spots. </li>
<li>Giving us a grand total of a 6% acceptance rate</li>
</ol>
<p>I feel so wanted :(</p>
<p>Hey, its better than your chances of winning the lottery, and the grand prize is very nice!</p>
<p>it just blows that being in the top 1% of your graduating class, top 2% of your state, and the top 95% of all SAT test takers isnt enough to earn yourself a spot in a crummy school....jeez, what more do they want???</p>
<p>and they have the audacity to think we're not SMART enough??? i'd like to hear someone say that to my face...beechbum's suggestion sounds really attractive right about now</p>
<p>i'll join you....i just love kicking people's asses!</p>
<p>hehe, brass knuckles anyone?</p>
<p>so if I got a likely letter I can assume im in?</p>
<p>yessssssss</p>
<p>wow! happy days! thanks :)</p>