Legacy chances at Yale

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi everyone,

Could you please chance me for Yale University? Thanks!

GPA unweighted: 3.9 in extremely rigorous MA private school (4.0 for sophomore and junior years), somewhere in top 1-2% of class. I’m female, by the way.

SAT I: 2380 (CR: 800, M: 780, W: 800) single sitting

SAT I: Math II (800), English Literature (800), World History (720)-- probably not sending

APs (all 5s): AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP U.S. History, AP World History, AP English Language, AP Computer Science, AP French, AP Macroeconomics

Senior year courses: AP English Literature, Honors Multivariable Calculus, AP Government and Politics, AP European History, Post-ap French elective, Post-ap computer science elective

Some extracurriculars:

Co-Editor-in-Chief of School Newspaper
Editor-in-Chief of Literary Magazine
Co-President of programming club
Varsity tennis captain (4 years)
Varsity basketball (2 years)
Junior varsity lacrosse (1 year)
Involved in a few clubs, don’t know if I’ll list them on my application
Extensive community service
Summer internships

I have not won any major awards-- just a few regional awards in Scholastic for writing and my newspaper’s won a few national awards. Community service presidential award. Two leaderships awards from school as well. National honor society

Hooks: my dad and paternal grandfather both attended so I’m a legacy (I don’t know how active they have been as alumni in recent years, but I’ll find out), i’m wasian (probably not a hook, but idk)

I think that I’m a fairly strong applicant, so Yale might be a low-medium reach, but honestly college admissions seems like a crapshoot these days.

Oh! And I want to double major in political science and computer science and work towards a minor in philosophy (if it’s possible to minor along with a double major) Thanks in advance! :slight_smile:

2

Full disclosure: There are a couple of other Yale legacies in my grade at school, but my stats are likely stronger.

3

My own disclosure: I’m also a senior hoping to get into Yale. So don’t swear by my words, lol.
I think you have a really good chance, especially with your legacy status. You don’t need me here to tell you that your scores and academics are stellar.

Your choice in majors is really interesting. I know Yale asks about that on their supplement, so take advantage! But have you pursued these interests deeply, past the high school and club settings?
You also listed your sports. Are you being recruited?

4

I think you have a strong chance. I think I read somewhere that the legacy admit rate at Yale is about double the non-legacy rate. This would put your chances at about 10-15% To increase it even higher apply EA.

5

I think you look like a pretty strong applicant. But please note that admit rate is not at all the same thing as chances. This is not a lottery.

6

@gentleindifference Thank you for your response! Regarding my interests-- Unfortunately, I have not pursued political science outside of the high school setting. I have, however, pursued my interest in computer science through summer internships. I’m not being recruited (I don’t play club sports and I only played in high school because my friends urged me to) and am not planning to walk-on in college. Since I enjoyed editing the school newspaper in high school, I’d definitely join Yale Daily News, though I guess that won’t impact my admissions decision. Good luck to you in the college admissions process!

@sgopal2 @mathyone Thank you for the advice! I have heard that legacy status is only considered in early admissions, so I will likely end up applying early.