<p>Hi everyone-</p>
<p>My name is Andrew, and I am also a Yale EA hopeful. I normally get terribly worked up about waiting for things, so I was really proud of myself a few days ago for not being too anxious. Then, however, I started to realize just how close I am to possibly making it into Yale - something I never would have dreamed of a few years ago - and I'm in a perpetual state of panic. I have been "lurking" around here for a few days now, watching the Dartmouth and Columbia acceptances, deferrals, and rejections roll in, and reading the many "What are my chances?" threads that always make me depressed. Anyway, I thought writing out my story would help a little, so here I am:</p>
<p>I have lived in the same house in the same town in Ohio my whole life. I skipped third grade, so I am still 16, and no, I do not have my driver's license yet - I am too busy (and I scare easily behind the wheel). I go to my local high school, from which my mother, her siblings, my sisters, and my brother-in-law all graduated. Neither of my parents graduated from college, and we certainly are not wealthy. Still, however, I have been brought up with a strong academic foundation - my parents have always encouraged me in school, and I have always loved the challenges presented by history and English (though not math and science...not my favorites).</p>
<p>My school district just came out of state-monitored "academic emergency" - you get the picture. Even in my AP classes (all 3 of them), people are not motivated. Only a few people do much of anything outside of class; even fewer are dedicated to things. My guidance department, with a counselor:student ratio of 1:430, does not meet with students until senior year (they came to our English classes a few weeks ago to tell us to start looking into colleges that might interest us). I, however, have been thinking about college a bit longer, although as a freshman, I (like everyone else) only considered state schools. No one in my school seems to acknowledge the existence of schools that are not public and that are not in Ohio - teachers have embraced the stereotype that students in my district are not "meant for greatness" (my guidance counselor last year told a student trying to get help with applications that he should not even bother trying because "our kids don't go to college"). When I started to think seriously about college my sophomore year, I immediately ruled out large public schools. After reading a book by my favorite architect (Robert A.M. Stern, a Yale School of Architecture who is now Yale's Dean of Architecture), I looked into Yale and fell in love with it. I honestly cannot pinpoint the one thing that made me fall head over heels; everything about it (even its liberal reputation - I am a confirmed conservative) was right.</p>
<p>At any rate, I made sure I kept up my rigorous schedule. I have never had less than an A, I have never taken study halls, and I have filled my schedule with academic courses - even if I am not wholly interested in them - to show my serious, liberal-arts-minded approach to academics. During the school year, I excelled; during the summer, due to finances and scheduling conflicts, I was unable to attend any summer programs (I did, however, teach Bible School and immerse myself in reading). Also, due to the lack of commitment at my school, I am not an extracurricular/awards star (I have four awards; none of them are "spectacular" in comparison to many of Yale's applicants Also, I am student director of my theatre program - this eats up absolutely every minute of my spare time.). Furthermore, because my school's GPA scale is odd to say the least, I am only the salutatorian in my class of 180 (the valedictorian took several study halls to inflate his GPA, does nothing outside of class, and has an SAT score a few hundred points below mine - my guidance counselor's recommendation mentioned this). In May (of this year), I compiled a large packet of college research and gave it to my guidance counselor, informing her I would be applying to Yale EA in the fall so as not to be forgotten come October. Also in May, I took the SAT for the first time - 1530 (800 Verbal, 730 Math). It is probably the highest score my community has ever seen (not to brag - I know there are many people with higher scores...).</p>
<p>This summer, I finally was able to do more. I was selected to participate in the Boys State program (my spot was paid for), I took an accelerated drafting course at my local community college (to demonstrate my firm interest in architecture), and I taught Bible School again. One day, the local newspaper called (partially at the insistence of my mother) to interview me, and the next week's front page said "SAT scores help Andrew set sights on Yale." I hated it. Not only was the article riddled with mistakes and odd misrepresentations of my reasons for wanting to attend Yale (i.e., I picked the best college that my SAT would "buy," in a way), it was publicity, and I hate publicity - especially when it is something that is far from definite. I arrived back at school as "that kid who's going to Harvard" and my friends, a little put off (I guess) by my ambitions, backed away from me. Now everyone knows that I'm supposed to find out on December 16th, and if I don't get in, I might as well crawl under a rock for the rest of the year.</p>
<p>Right now, I'm terrified that I won't be accepted next week - terrified that my stats aren't good enough, terrified that my recommendations will be too stale (even though I'm sure they aren't), terrified that the Admissions people won't understand my situation or my enthusiasm (which tends to brim over all the time). I am not the typical Exonian or other prep school graduate; in my two interviews (on campus this summer and with an alumnus last month), I emphasized that point. Both interviews went exceedingly well, but I'm still shaky - I know that isn't enough. My essays both floored my teachers - my AP English teacher commented that they would "definitely leave an impression" - but I don't know that the Yale people will see them in the same light as teachers who have to teach unmotivated, disoriented students day after day.</p>
<p>Right now, I have the pressure of an entire community behind me - it isn't pleasant and it isn't something I wanted. If I don't get in, not only will my family probably go into debt with the rest of my application fees, I'll be ridiculed at school as the idiot who dared to dream beyond Ohio State. I decided to put this on here because I'm more nervous than I've ever been in my life, and I need someone in a similar situation to help me out a little.</p>
<p>I have less than a week until I see if Yale recognizes that, despite the national awards my school doesn't promote due to lack of interest and the stellar extracurriculars that my school doesn't offer, I have immense potential.</p>
<p>I apologize for being verbose - if anyone has any advice that might preserve my sanity, I would be grateful...</p>
<p>Andrew (Hopeful Yalie '09)</p>