Immigrant Background = Yale Admission???

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I'm going crazy (like everyone else) with apps and wondering if I even have a chance of getting into Yale. </p>

<p>Romanian immigrant female with unique background (came here with political refugee grandfather during 1989 anti-communist revolution, separate from mother until I was ten, grew up in mutlicultural ethnic Chicago neighborhood, etc.)</p>

<p>Stats:
ACT: 32, but retaking it (I could get a 34 or 35) Essay: 12
SAT: 2150 Essay: 12 Math: 660 Reading: 690 Writing: 800</p>

<p>Rank: 1/463 (top .002%)</p>

<p>GPA: 4.773/5.0</p>

<p>EC:
1. National Honor Society
2. Runs Bingo games for retirement center every sunday since 2004
3. President of high school debate society- 2nd place speaker, Best legislation
4. Editor high school newspaper
5. Treasurer key club, this year will organize music competition fundraiser at our high school
6. Bilingual: Romanian and English</p>

<p>APs:
English Lit.
Calculus B/C
Biology (5)
Environmental Science
Psychology
History (5)</p>

<p>Will take A.P. Spanish and A.P. Government tests</p>

<p>I thought of centering my essays on my Romanian background and how it has influenced my personality, about our journey to the United States, etc. My second essay is on my experience with rich old ladies at the nursing home, what lessons they have taught me, and the contrast between my life and theirs, and what has brought us together. Too cheesy?</p>

<p>They say that it is quality not quantity of ECs that counts. Thanks in advance for any input!</p>

2

<p>Raise the test scores and you'll have a decent chance.</p>

3

<p>Don't worry about the test scores; minority status at Yale seems to automatically give you an excellent shot. Check out the Official Yale ED thread. Notice how almost everyone who was accepted was not originally from the U.S. Reverse discrimination is just as unfair as discrimination.</p>

4

<p>Plus, what are you worried about? Your test scores are fine. (they're just used to get you in the door anyway)</p>

5

<p>A 32 is significantly different from a 34 or 35 and could be helpful.</p>

6

<p>a 32 is absolutely fine...the higher the better of course, but a 32 is nothing to worry about. Yale's middle 50% score range for ACT is 31-34. anyway grades matter a LOT more and you are the valedictorian of your class with plenty of APs!
you are certainly an interesting candidate, but your extracurriculars aren't terribly special. i've seen people like you get rejected, and they had higher test scores</p>

7

<p>Thanks a lot for the input. Who knows what a difference three points on the ACT scale will make, so I will retake it. Better safe than sorry. </p>

<p>Yeah, the extracurriculars are not that great; I hope that the grades and test scores and essay will balance it all out.</p>

8

<p>Mastering percentages would not only allow you to report your class rank more accurately, but would also probably aid you in your quest for a higher SAT score.</p>

9

<p>romanian does not = minority status..sorry
other than that, I'm in no position to evaluate your stats.</p>

<p>good luck :)</p>

10

<p>
[QUOTE]
Notice how almost everyone who was accepted was not originally from the U.S

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>I think that's pretty innacurate. Look at Yale's demographics. It's predominantly white, with a large asian contingent as well.</p>

<p>And Romanian doesn't qualify as a minority group.</p>

11

<p>Just a thought about your essays. I think it would be fascinating to hear about your romanian past and how it has affected you: I think that would be a very deep/powerful essay. My only suggestion is not to write two really serious, 'deep' essays: the idea of working with rich old ladies sounds almost comical to me, can you take a lighter spin on that story? That would be your chance to show a sense of humor, and then tie it into a serious note at the end if that is the point you want to get across. I would, however, definitely stick with writing a powerful essay about your heritage. Just a thought, it's not like I know you :)</p>