<p>Hello, I'm a sophomore, and my dream school is Yale....DREAM
My freshmen year was pretty rocky. I attend an academic magnet high school, and it was so difficult to adjust to in the beginning that I got my very first C the first quarter. i was very discouraged, because second quarter I got yet another C, BUT second semester...I BROUGHT UP MY GAME. I made all A's and B's, and finally I got straight A's last quarter of the second semester.
I'd like to think I'm very involved. I've been to Mexico for mission trips twice. I volunteer at the same place, help build houses, attend programs..blah, blah, blah...the list goes on
I started studying for ACTs and SATs my freshmen year, and I'm taking one AP this year...I don'd know what other information there is to know, but I really hope my door to enter Yale or any Ivy League..or any top school (like Northwestern or UChicago) isn't completely sealed.
Please let me know if there is still a slight possibility and any advice that can improve my work!!</p>
<p>There’s a phrase describing ultra-expensive items: “If you have to ask how much it costs, then you can’t afford it”.</p>
<p>The same w/schools like Yale. Frankly, take your mind off of “names”. It foolishly removes excellent options later. And, you’ll seem like a rather narrow and limited person. The quote above describes my classmates and kids I’ve interviewed who got accepted. Frankly I doubt many of them obsessed at going to a school like Yale. They were focused on being excellent – and schools like Yale was just the natural result – not a goal. They were men and women who frankly were on a trajectory that didn’t even require Yale. Unless you’ve met them, you won’t know what I mean. </p>
<p>For you, don’t focus on Yale, NU or Chicago. Find inspirational students, become a hungry scholar, affect your fellow students and community. Then see what schools want you in a few years.</p>
<p>Admission to Yale, and to its peers institutions, is tremendously competitive and subjective. Students with straight ‘A’s’ and 2400 SAT’s are rejected every year, while student’s with less than perfect scores are admitted. </p>
<p>When we toured Yale about 5 years ago, we were told this story from a Yale student leading the tour. I have no idea if the story is true, but here it is: </p>
<p>We were standing alongside the Women’s Table ([Public</a> art at Yale - The Women’s Table](<a href=“http://www.yale.edu/publicart/lin.html]Public”>http://www.yale.edu/publicart/lin.html)). The student brought up the fact that Maya Lin, who designed the table, submitted her design for the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. as a class project and received a B minus from her professor, even though her design is now ranked tenth on the “List of America’s Favorite Architecture.”</p>
<p>“My gosh,” said one parent, “What do ‘C’ student’s do?” </p>
<p>Without missing a beat, the student replied “They become the 43rd President of the United States.” </p>
<p>“Which reminds me,” said the student. “In honor of George W. Bush, Yale reserves at least one slot in Admissions for a ‘C’ student, because you never know who will become the next US President.”</p>
<p>Work hard, do your best, and the rest will follow! Best of luck to you in your sophomore year.</p>
<p>@T26E4 I’ve always known that deep down, but just kept on losing sight of it. Thank you for reminding me!</p>
<p>T26E4-</p>
<p>Great response above worth reading over and over.</p>
<p>T26E4 - Definitely agree, but some students are goal-oriented and setting that goal does get them in. Just a different type of student, but just as successful</p>