<p>You kind of sound like a d-bag. That's probably the best explanation for why you didn't get in... Yale cares about stuff like that. Try Harvard.</p>
<p>of course hes gonna feel entitled. This guy is clearly a genius. If i didnt get in with his stats id be <em>ed off too. Stop givng him sh</em>. Dude, dont worry about it; with your stats some other top tier school is bound to except you.</p>
<p>im frustrated at my deferement too....but nothing else we can do but wait. (while u wait, in order to have a chance come RD, why not spend ur time reasearching a cure for AIDs or discovering the unified field theory like all the other people who got accepted) </p>
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<p>I posted a version of this earlier today in another thread. Having now gone through the process as a parent three times (including Med School applications) and pouring over these boards just a few years ago, I thought I'd share a few thoughts that might be helpful for those who were deferred or rejected today.</p>
<p>My son was accepted to Yale in 2004 the first year of SCEA which is still known as "the bloodbath." If you take the time to go back and look through CC archives you will see plenty of 4.0/1600 (old score) applicants that were rejected just as you see them now on the threads for Penn and other schools that have already released their ED decisions.</p>
<p>When he was applying we tried to steel ourselves and his contain his single mindedness about Yale by telling him that if he was rejected that they didn't deserve him.</p>
<p>It is important to keep one thing in mind, and I really do know that this is difficult to do, but admissions to Yale (or any other highly selective school) really is a crap shoot at best. At one Yale info session we attended (we went to four in two years) we were told that over 95 % of all applicants are truly qualified for admission to Yale. When you consider that the admit rate is somewhere around 7-8% historically that means that 92 to 93 % of the 95% of qualified applicants do not get accepted. In reality, Yale (and most other Ivies) could fill their incoming class several times over with nothing but applicants with 4.0s and 2400s but in their words that "would be a very boring class." One thing that they stressed over and over was that they strive to admit a class that is "interesting".....again their words not mine.</p>
<p>I have gotten to know a former Ivy admission rep very well in the years since my son applied to Yale. He has told me that the process is far more difficult than one would imagine because on paper there are so many candidates that are truly indistinguishable from each other. Couple that with what can be almost stereotypical ECs for certain groups (he cited the example of Asians who have played piano or violin since age 4, play chess, tennis or are fencers, have virtually all their APs in math and science and who write essays that extol why they are the best of the best) and it truly becomes mind numbing. This becomes even more difficult for that particular subset because of the sheer number of Asians who apply and compete with each other for a limited number of spots.</p>
<p>In EA or ED they are looking for people who truly stand out, not just in raw numbers because virtually every app they look at has numbers worthy of admission. They read every application a minimum of two times and rate them on a 1-10 scale. 9s and 10s are admits without question...they don't require committee review, 7s and 8s will sometimes go to another reading before the committee and and 6s are automatically going to another reading before the committee. Anything below a 6 must have a compelling reason to go before the committee for review. Essays are very important because they are the ONLY way that an ADCOM has to humanize the person behind the numbers. </p>
<p>When you think about the sheer enormity of the process, 5500 plus SCEA apps to be read and processed by December 15th by a group of about 11 or 12 admissions reps. Each essay is read at least twice so the number is now 11,000 essays at a minimum. That represents almost 1000 apps per committee member. I was told that they all start to look very much alike and almost formulaic. The essays that really stand out, that make the admissions rep want to meet that person are the ones that go to the top of the pile and help them sift through the maze of look alike applications. These are the ones that are accepted; the next best are deferred and the ones that just don't find a way to separate themselves from the rest of look-a-likes are rejected. On top of all of this, because it is an EA decision and is not binding they have to think about yield, about over-filling the class etc since they still have another 15,000 plus applicants to review for RD and are still limited to a class size of about 1300 incoming students. With Harvard doing away with all early programs they also know that some are using EA to "game" the Harvard process. </p>
<p>I wil leave you with our story.</p>
<p>My son attended a private school with 82 grads in the class. Yale had been his dream school since the eighth grade and when he was accepted SCEA it was the happiest day of his life. He was one of three in his class admitted SCEA, one (a legacy) was deferred. Ultimately seven students (including the legacy) in his class were accepted to Yale but he is the only one who chose not to attend. He instead opted to accept a Morehead Scholarship at UNC. Sometime during his sophomore year at UNC he told us that despite his long time Yale dream he honestly couldn't see himself at Yale any longer and was so very happy with his decision to attend UNC instead.</p>
<p>He never regretted his decision, had an incredible undergrad experience which took him to many parts of the world, from French West Africa to much of western Europe and 3 months in Paris as part of the scholarship and today he is an MS-1 (first year Med student) at a top ten Med School.</p>
<p>In short what I am trying to say is that if indeed you were denied admission to Yale today (whether rejected or deferred) it does not make you a lesser person in any way or any less smart or talented. It is NOT the end of the world and I promise you that you will find a place that will welcome you and at which you will thrive and be extremely happy.</p>
<p>Please accept my thoughts and best wishes to all and may you have much success at whatever school you choose to attend.</p>
<p>You're boring. Now if you were a competitive male-cheerleader, THAT would make you turn heads in the admissions office.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You are international. This reason sucks, I know, but such is life.</p></li>
<li><p>Although you seem like a phenom in each of your activities, you seem too spread out - where is the passion? I think this might be why you got deferred. You're clearly excellent, but that excellence doesn't seem to be concentrated.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>to be honest, you do seem a bit prickish, and im not the only one who noticed that</p>
<p>just thought id mention</p>
<p>Hey- It could be worse. I was rejected. Do I have any idea why? No. Did I think I was a competitive applicant? Yeah. In fact, I thought I had as great a shot as one can expect to have at getting into a school like Yale. You still have a chance (albeit a small one). I don't. Don't get too upset. At least Yale didn't tell you you were actually a subpar applicant they absolutely did not want as they did me (since only 40% were rejected)</p>
<p>You were deferred. I wish I could put this more eloquently, but: SHUT UP!</p>
<p>To me it's unmistakable that your "angry" response belies a sense of entitlement. I'm sorry for yours (and others) disappointment but I have no sympathy for any "anger" you may feel.</p>
<p>I think people who live outside the U.S., and even people in the U.S. who come from another system, are particularly shocked when high scores and grades do not necessarily bring the best results. This makes the system look unfair to them, and their anger and bitterness can be forgiven.</p>
<p>many ED students because most would do fine at their schools, the ED list would explode the following years if it appears many get in.</p>
<p>"I think people who live outside the U.S., and even people in the U.S. who come from another system, are particularly shocked when high scores and grades do not necessarily bring the best results. This makes the system look unfair to them, and their anger and bitterness can be forgiven."</p>
<p>That's true, but I still think this system is for the best. If I get to go to a top-tier college, I don't want it to be boring; the people shouldn't all be exactly the same, and they shouldn't be spending everyday studying. To be honest, I've known many people with straight A's that were completely dull; they didn't have any conversation topics except school. In comparison, I've known many athletes that get involved and are incredibly intelligent. If I were an admissions officer, I would totally want the well rounded person.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>I never said or even suggested that I was entitled to a spot.<<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>You heavily suggested it right in the thread title. If you didn't feel like you were denied something you were entitled to, why are you "so angry?"</p>
<p>I understand the OP--he's undeniably worked hard for his grades and scores, and I would probably feel the same way. </p>
<p>If you want an honest reason for being deferred, I think it's just because of the combination of being an international/Asian/not quite that unique. I attend a selective magnet high school, and I know a few kids with stats like yours. Several applied to Yale this year--all were deferred or rejected. </p>
<p>I wouldn't worry, though--the overwhelming majority (we're talking 99.9%) of institutes in the United States would be scrambling to get you. Just keep applying, don't let Yale's snub bother you--you'll end up somewhere amazing.</p>
<p>Your hurt is understandable, but your comments do make you sound arrogant. There is no "reason" anyone will give you. Admissions is an art, and admissions committees have a very good feel for who will "fit." You might want to consider airing your disappointment in a less public forum.</p>
<p>MagiTF said it all in post #11:</p>
<p>
[quote]
1) You're international</p>
<p>2) Arrogance and entitlement seep through both your comments on this thread and in the 2013 SCEA link... these adcoms are quite adept at picking up on that.</p>
<p>3) None of us know the answer. The adcoms have their own methodology for picking early admissions candidates. Perhaps you'll be exactly what they're looking for in the regular admissions pool. Frankly I didn't see anything that made you stand out enough.
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<p>let me start off by saying, ur application is amazing... much respect deserved!</p>
<p>HOWEVER, i think being Asian and international might have gotten you deferred...I am so sorry!!! U are an extremely good candidate, and if i was dean, i would have accepted you ;)</p>
<p>This is just a guess on my part but the overall "theme" of your application is confusing. You state your major as Environ Engr but then don't list any EC's related to that. You say your passion is music but then it is unclear if you intend to pursue that as a major or profession. I think you just need to decide on a theme or focus and then make sure everything in your application points to that focus.</p>
<p>I don't think his "theme" is an issue. The adcoms expect all freshmen to change majors (they told me themselves). They don't expect you to know what you want to do with your life, or even what you really want to major in.</p>