My Chances...Yale 2015

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Hello everyone,</p>

<p>I am applying to the Yale Class of 2015. The only reason why I'm posting this here is because College Confidential has yet to create a section for Yale 2015. That being said, I would like for everyone to assess my chances of admission to Yale College in the Anthropology and or History of Art Department(s) at the College. In addition, I have been in contact with their rowing team for a little over a year now. I have expressed overwhelming interest in being a coxswain for their team. I have six years of coxing experience on a nationally ranked team. Their coach has said "...you can feel free to join our team at anytime..." dose that mean they're willing to work with admissions in my case. I was told they simply submit the names of the people they want on their team and those students are admitted on lower standards. Is there any connections between athletics and admission to such universities? But I digress, the resume is enclosed below, please take a look and tell me my chances with rowing in mind. </p>

<p>A very rough resume is enclosed below. </p>

<p>Florida State Weighted GPA: 4.04
SAT Scores:
Critical Reading: 710
Mathematics: 650
Writing: 720 </p>

<p>Honors and Advance Placement Courses Taken: Yes</p>

<p>Names of the Advance Placement Courses Taken:</p>

<p>AP English Language & Composition (11th)
AP English Literature & Composition (11th)
AP American Government (11th)
AP Macroeconomics (11th)
AP Environmental Science (11th)
AP Studio Art: 2-D Design (11th)</p>

<p>AP Biology (12th)
AP Music Theory (12th)
AP Psychology (12th)
AP European History (12th)</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:</p>

<p>President (2 years):
National Art Honor Society</p>

<p>President (2 years):
National English Honor Society</p>

<p>President (2 years):
Science National Honor Society</p>

<p>Editor-in-Chief (1 year)
Quill & Scroll Honor Society</p>

<p>President (2 years):
National Forensics League</p>

<p>President (3 years):
Theological Society</p>

<p>Page Editor & Photographer:
Yearbook (3 years)</p>

<p>Athletics:</p>

<p>Rowing (Coxswain)
6 Years</p>

<p>Men's Varsity
Men's Club
Men's Masters</p>

<p>Any Special Adversity?</p>

<p>Yes, I am a gay student to a incredibly religious household, my mother reminds me of my poor "lifestyle choice" on a daily basis. For a time I was not welcome at home (i.e. kicked out) because of this "choice". However, I still maintained my rigor in school and maintained high grades. Admittedly however, I did get 2 C’s on my transcript but I have retaken the class via FLVS to remedy the matter. Will the college understand? </p>

<p>Application Supplements:</p>

<p>Art
Scientific Abstract</p>

<p>Work Experience:</p>

<p>Yes, I have been the owner of my internet company since I was 14. It is a clothing company that has served me well. </p>

<p>Volunteer Hours:</p>

<p>800 hours at last count.</p>

<p>Legacy:</p>

<p>Yes, Grandmother earned her Masters and PhD in French Language and Literature 1974. Donors to the college ever since then.</p>

2

<p>I think your chances are pretty good. The internet clothing company sounds quite cool!</p>

<p>If you get the chance, I’d suggest retaking your SAT’s. I always thought October had nice curves.</p>

3

<p>You have a relatively good chance, I’d say, particularly with the ECs. You’ll want to get your SAT or ACT scores up though. Check the concordance tables for ACT-SAT conversion–numerically equivalent scores will put you higher on the percentiles with the ACT in the Yale applicant pool. For instance, a 2260 and a 34 are the same score numerically, but the 2260 is in the 40th percentile while a 34 is at the 75th, so it may help you to take the ACT.</p>

<p>However, if your school doesn’t rank, or your rank isn’t the best, they’ll turn to test scores (particularly subject tests, APs as well but not quite as much since they’re self-reported) to try to correlate your GPA to actual level of difficulty–SATIIs are a good way to see how much you really learned in obtaining that 4.04 and the rigor of your school, so make sure your test scores are up there.</p>

<p>Also, while Yale is admittedly the gay Ivy, it’s always possible the adcom reading your file isn’t the friendliest when it comes to gays. Even though they make it clear in their policies they don’t discriminate on the basis of orientation, it’s something I think could hurt more than it could help, even if it’s on a subconscious level. As a gay kid applying to Yale this year too, I know at Yale the chance the adcoms would be sympathetic to my plight is higher than almost anywhere else, but I’m still not risking it and putting it anywhere in my file.</p>

4

<p>I wrote my Common App essay about being gay and the personal struggles I face(d), and I’m pretty sure it’s what got me in. During Bulldog Days I talked to my admissions officer and a member of the admissions committee who read my file and they both said how much they (and the committee) loved my essay. Kind of surprising considering my supplement essay was pretty mediocre…</p>

5

<p>First: That you’re applying for Anthro or History of Art doesn’t make much of a difference, because it’s pretty much expected that what you think you’re going to major in during your senior year of high school is not what you’ll receive a degree in four years later.</p>

<p>Second: Take the SATs again. Study your ass off and get that Math score to a 700 and the CR to a 750.</p>

<p>Third: Your sexual orientation has had a marked effect on your life and your academics. You’d be an idiot not to write at least an explanatory note about it. Mine only caused me an existential crisis and I wrote an essay and a half about it. I’m convinced it’s what got me into H and Y. As a general rule, good essays are honest essays. Write the most honest essay you’ve ever written in your life.</p>

<p>(Sorry if I sound a little harsh; you sound like an applicant I’d like to have as a classmate, so I’m telling it like it is.)</p>

6

<p>Thanks everyone for all of your help. Do you think the rowing coach has any sway in admission?</p>

7

<p>I just got my class rank today. I’m in the top 10% (I’m ranked at the 8% mark.)</p>

8

<p>“Their coach has said “…you can feel free to join our team at anytime…” dose that mean they’re willing to work with admissions in my case. I was told they simply submit the names of the people they want on their team and those students are admitted on lower standards. Is there any connections between athletics and admission to such universities?”</p>

<p>This does not sound to me like the coach is supporting your application. It sounds to me that the coach is saying if you get in the school on your own, you are welcome to join the team as a walk-on. I could be wrong though. Have you been invited for an official visit? Have you done academic early reads? Coaches definitely can have an affect on admissions for athletes they are willing to seek a Likely Letter for. I suggest you ask this over on the recruited athletes forum. You will get a lot of information there.</p>

9

<p>Yes, I was invited for an official visit to the Yale Boathouse. What dose this mean? Upon my visit in October, would you recommend getting a letter of intent from the coaches?</p>

10

<p>Yes, if Yale is your first choice school and the coach has offered you a spot on the roster, then I would ask for a Likely Letter(the Ivy League document that serves the purpose of a Letter of Intent, since they don’t give athletic scholarships).</p>

<p>Best of luck to you in October!!!</p>

<p>ps. my daughter is a senior rower from Florida and also being recruited by Ivy League schools</p>

11

<p>connor: You can’t ask the coach for a likely letter. He doesn’t issue them. If the coach wants you on the team and you fulfill requirements, you will receive a Likely Letter.</p>

<p>I would advise you go over to the recruited athletes forum and read of instances where coaches were committing to applicants or just putting their best foot forward and being a good salesman for the college. The difference between the to is extraordinary but the misreading of what the coaches’ intentions could be very damaging for your expectations.</p>

<p>Yale does recruit and depending on the team and the position, qualified applicants can and often do receive full backing from the coaches. If this happens to you, then the coach will let Admissions know and you’ll receive a Likely Letter. The LL is not ambiguous – it’s Yale’s commitment to athletes and others whom they want badly.</p>

<p>Good luck to you.</p>

<p>(BTW: Anderson Cooper of CNN was a lightweight Coxswain for Yale)</p>

12

<p>Competion, I like it.</p>