Just a general idea for a junior...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>I'm a junior and I started the college research process a few months ago. Right now, I have an idea of what schools I really love (because of community, academic offerings, location, etc), but it's still sort of tough for me to figure out what schools are real reaches. However, I'm going to have to figure that out because I can't afford to take the time/travel to visit places that just aren't reaches/fits for me. So, here are some basic facts about me. Hopefully your opinions will help me along.</p>

<p>White Female.
Private Catholic School in Pennsylvania.
No Rank.
General 3.5~3.7 GPA (I really don't like my school, just as an aside. Low grades are mainly due to a lack of interest/homework/participation, not testing)
PSAT score of a 210, due to a low math score. (I'm taking a class and it will definitely improve)
I take the hardest classes my school offers, but it's small, and we really don't have many APs available.
Band/Strings/Guitar
Book Club/Reading Olympics
Forensics (like Speech/Debate)
I've been playing piano for eight years, and I have several state awards.
I've been studying Japanese since I was little, and though I'm not completely fluent, I'm almost positive I'll get a near perfect score on the Subject Test.
I've been taking college classes at local junior colleges since this past summer. So far I've taken: Arabic, Intro to Psych, Intro to Soc, Ancient History, English I, Intro to Anthro, Philosophy in Film, Developmental Psych, Sociology of Families, and Poetry and I've gotten As in all of them.
Also, I'm pretty sure it's irrelevant in the college application process, but I'll just have turned 16 when I graduate, if that effects anything.</p>

<p>I'm always wary when researching Ivies or other top schools because of the extremely selective admissions. However, I really have a passion to learn, and I want to try to do so at a good college. I understand if I'm really not the kind of student that should be looking at a place like Yale, but please don't rip me to shreds, just tell me the simple truth.
Thanks for your help.</p>

2

<p>I hate to be the one who says this, but you explaining that you have the intellectual potential but that you didn’t really put in the effort (homework) and wasn’t interested/motivated enough to do well, does NOT excuse your GPA. I won’t call your GPA too low, mine was probably around there, but this coupled with your age may make them question your maturity…and Ivies tend to not like students who skipped too many grades(ie, won’t turn 18 at some point of freshmen year), that aside, I hope you lack of effort in these classes won’t effect your rec letters.
Give it a shot, try to improve you GPA, try to raise the test score, try to knock them out w/ the essay, it’s a potential choice, but I think not a high one. :(</p>

3

<p>Thanks for your reply :)</p>

<p>I totally understand that that’s not really the best attitude to have toward schoolwork, and I’m not necessarily trying to justify my GPA. It’s just hard for me to really enjoy/excel in classes in which the teachers have no interest in what they’re teaching, or the students they’re teaching. I only wanted to point out that the lack of a high GPA wasn’t the result of lack of intelligence… Not that Ivies will necessarily know or acknowledge that. I’m hoping, though, that my perfect junior college GPA will make up for the mediocre high school GPA, though I have feelings it really won’t.</p>

<p>I’ve never really thought of the age situation that way. People I know naturally assume it’s a boost, but I’ve always assumed that colleges barely took age into consideration. </p>

<p>I thought Yale was a long shot, and I’m grateful at least that you were truthful in that confirmation.</p>

4

<p>I believe you have a chance but unfortunately I don’t think it is very high. As you already know, your GPA is slightly lower than colleges like Yale would like so you should work on improving that along with your test scores. Write a fantastic essay and get good reccomendations and I’m sure you’ll end up going to a good university even if it isn’t an ivy.</p>