Need other opinions about Yale SCEA...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi! I'm new here but I was wondering if anybody would mind telling me their opinion about my chances with Yale's SCEA. Well, here goes!</p>

<p>SAT: 2200 (M:780, V:740, W:680)
SAT II: (Just took them this month) Bio (M), Math2c, and Lit.
ACT: 32 (Not taking again...)
AP: US History 3, W. History 4, Eng. Lang/Comp 5
IB: ITGS (SL) 5
GPA: 102.893 weighted/estimated 97-98 unweighted (out of 100)
Class rank: so far 1/492 (hope it stays that way...<em>crosses fingers</em>)
Courses this year: Orchestra IV, IB History of the Americas II (HL), IB English
IV (HL), IB Biology II (HL), IB Japanese IV (SL, ab initio),
IB Math (HL), IB Theory of Knowledge, and Speech.</p>

<p>Essays: I think they're good...I talked about moving many times (former
military kid) and how I don't like that some people just look at your
grades and assume that you're a genius or something...(I know that<br>
the last one sounds arrogant but I made sure that I emphasized my
belief in looking at person holistically rather than emphasizing one
dimension of a person to determine one's character).
Teacher Recs: They're both pretty good...one teacher really emphasized
my "happy" nature (I tend to be very happy and enthusiastic<br>
at school...in fact the teacher used the word "ebullient" to
describe me.)
Counselor Rec: Also pretty good...she emphasized that for the first 2 and a
half years of high school that I had to spend 2 hours on the
bus everyday to go to and from school.
Supplementary Rec: I got one from my church's religious activities<br>
coordinator because of my involvement in the church and
she seems to like and respect me a lot...then again...it
could be because we share the same political outlook
and live in a state that generally has the opposing
outlook. ^_^</p>

<p>Other info: IB Diploma Candidate</p>

<p>Honors stuff: (I'm only putting major stuff)
- People to People Student Ambassador (9th)
- Finalist, Southwest Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (10th)
- 32nd Army Air Missile Defense Center Teen Volunteer Award (10th)
- Fort Bliss Teen Volunteer Award (10th)
- Various National Dance/Drill Association Awards (10th)
- Close-Up Foundation/Presidential Inauguration Program Participant (11th)
- Military Order of the World Wars Youth Leadership Conference Delegate<br>
(11th)
- National Society of High School Scholars (11th)
- National Honor Roll (11th)
- National Honor Society (11-12th)
- AP Scholar (11th)</p>

<p>Extra-Curricular Stuff: (again...major stuff only)
- Church Youth Volunteer (Choir, Youth Group, Children's Church, VBS) (9-
12th)
- High School Orchestra (9-12th)
- All-Region Orchestra (9-12th)
- Sub-Editor/Treasurer, High School Literary Magazine (9-10th)
- Member/Soloist, High School Japanese Language/Choir Club (9-11th)
- Member/Vice-Pres., Fort Bliss US Bowling Congress Youth League (9, 11-
12th)</p>

<p>Oh yeah...by the way, I'm a female Filipino in Texas...</p>

<p>~Sorry this thing is so long...but I want to make sure that I give you all as much data as I can to get a more precise and accurate idea of what to expect! Thanks again, everybody!~</p>

2

<p>yea, its prolly a crapshoot for u and everyone else. hopefully ur good essays will make up the 690 in writing..good luck though, i think u have a decent chance.</p>

3

<p>Well thank you! That makes me feel a bit better...I figured that in the end it would be a sort of "luck of the draw" but eh, at least I tried. Thanks for pointing out my low writing score...<em>is embarrassed by it</em>...I'm hoping that my essays and stuff, as you said, will "make up" for it! By the way, g3ry4r, where are you applying to?</p>

4

<p>The lack of continuity in your ECs might be a problem, but there is no way to even give chances for top schools, since they are so fickle in their admissions process.</p>

5

<p>Umm...Hecatonchires, could you clarify "lack of continuity" in my ECs? The ones I mentioned involved 3-4 years of my high school career...I understood continuity as the duration of your involvement in an organization throughout high school. Maybe I'm wrong, though.</p>

6

<p>okay...I usually don't like doing this...but...bump...</p>

7

<p>okay...again...I don't like doing this...bump</p>

8

<p>bump again</p>

9

<p>no, continuity as in you may be devoted to them, but there isn't exactly a "tie" between your different activity. Like, you show that you like many things, but there isn't a devotion to one main thing that a college like Yale looks for. BUT, I am merely a teenager. MERELY a teenager and not an adcom or anything close to one. So don't take my word for it.</p>

10

<p>Okay, thanks, Neemi! It's too late to try and fix this for Yale...I was hoping I'd appeal in the "breadth and depth" department, but we'll see! <em>crosses fingers for luck</em> I'll keep everybody's advice in mind for my RD colleges!</p>

11

<p>i'm in a similar position as you are. valedictorian of a class of ~700 ppl with high test scores. applying to harvard, yale, mit, princeton, stanford, duke, and rice. i live in houston, so i'm pretty much guaranteed into rice, but yea, luck of the draw..lol i just did my harvard interview, it went really well so i'm crossing my fingers hehe</p>

12

<p>Good luck to you, g3ry4r! I just looked at your stats, and wow! I'm blown away! I live in El Paso and I wish I had your opportunities as well as your drive. You see <em>blushes in embarrasment</em> I'm terribly lazy. Are you applying early to Yale, too?</p>

13

<p>umm...if people don't mind, could anybody else add their two-bits to this? I really would like more opinions...not that the present opinions are bad or anything! ^_^ I just would like other people to put their "say-so" in it. Please? Oh yeah...I'm also thinking of applying to George Washington University, UPenn, Dartmouth, and the University of Washington for regular decision...do you all mind telling me my chances at those schools?</p>

14

<p>hmmm it sounds like ur a very interesting person :)
haha we took the same SAT IIs at the same time...
yea i think you have a chance GL!</p>

15

<p>Thanks, xegurl424, however, what does "GL" mean? ^_^</p>

16

<p>You will easily get into your safeties, but I think your list is a bit slim on Match Schools, and you don't need but one safety really. Rice is a superb place to go to college. Your chances at the highly selectives listed are the same as everyone's pretty much...so somewhere between 10-20%. That can mean you are in or out and you have to prepare for number 2. Don't dwell on your writing score..instead dwell on writing great essays. Read a lot of essays, read Harry Bauld's book. Study up on each college and show where you will contribute to each community and what kind of energy you bring. Don't spread your Reach applications too thinly..focus on two or three is my advice, although some people differ. It really helps if you only apply to schools you would attend and be very thrilled about about including matches. I am also a lifer Military Brat, so congrats on getting some continuity in your ECs and on your fine record. However, your ECs need some form that Adcoms can grasp quickly. Put your Major ECs forward and make sure to communicate something about why you loved doing them so they can see what drives you. Write short pithy statements next to each one in an Activity Chart or Brag Chart. Orchestra and Church service work and Writing for a publication seem to stand out. We occasionally hear about great students with great scores not getting into schools with less than 20% admission rates. Only a segment of valedictorians get into these schools although sometimes being top 5% seems to be an advantage for all. It is hard to believe single digit admission rates but you must believe them..they leave out many wonderful students annually. Have you considered William and Mary..their students are similar to Rice's but it is a change of scene. Just a thought. Pomona, Middlebury...Vanderbilt. ideas for you. Although my own S is totally "undecided" now at college, if you have a goal, let it lead you to studying up on each college's ability to provide a course of study that suits your dreams for your future. I think you need to get more focused on which colleges suit your personality and cultural preferences and then laser focus on your best Reach application and your best Match schools. Don't underestimate the beauty of Match schools for a student they would be thrilled to get. Sometimes a Match school will lead you to a great grad school path. good luck and happy outcomes</p>

17

<p>Faline2, thank you so much for your considerate and thoughtful reply. You seem to know me better than I would think (especially considering you're just reading my posts). Indeed...I'm having trouble thinking of match schools. I thought about Middlebury, but I heard that my chances at Middlebury weren't too hot. I was considering one of the Claremont colleges (Scripps), but I'm not too sure about the idea of a women's college. I mean, it's good to go to an unisex college for the experience and unique viewpoints but I still prefer the coed environment. Eh, maybe I'd benefit from that type of environment...after all, every educational institution that I've studied at were coed. Speaking of ECs, I was always told that you should try to make a balance between breadth and depth...and about the "pithy statements", I'll do that for my regular decision colleges! Again, thank you so much for the advice! By the way, I have another request. Looking at my stats, can anybody recommend a coed college that's on either US coast and is a reasonable match for me? And Faline2, thanks for suggesting Rice...truly it's a great school but I realized that I really want to get out of Texas as much as possible. I need to go to a place where there's water. I live in El Paso, and being a kid who was born in Germany, raised in Washington State, and lived in Alaska, I think I need to get out of the desert!</p>

18

<p>I guess Colby is out for you then! But it is a great college. You are right that Middlebury is not a Match..although you would be seriously considered--and have a shot. That is your problem on you list so far...you would be in the Considered pile everywhere and you need two great Matches that are highly likely to admit you. And you don't sound ready to live in a small town in Vermont. Please remember that your test scores, while exciting, are not the number one thing for adcoms or for you...you need to be very happy with each college's vibe and community.
For my S, finding schools which drew kids from all over the US was important, but smaller schools with national draws were viewed as also providing this expansive experience..he focused on schools from 2000 to 6000 in size.<br>
You might be happy in DC because of your varied background..I know I am happy there..it is quite a melting pot. But I don't think GWU has a great sense of cohesion in student body. I think you need a Match School you love and I don't see it yet on your list. Remember we have "counseled" and fretted over a couple National Merit Scholars who simply did not have any safeties and got in no place on these boards.<br>
I personally prefer LACs or colleges that have a pretty tight scene for undergrads, as I think access to teachers and centering from ages 18-22 on a smaller campus via friends and faculty has its place. I truly think graduate school options after LACs can often be better and more succussfully handled but that is my personal preference. The bigger city/huge college scene will be there for grad school.
I have to promote Vanderbilt as a new scene for you in a 3rd Coast setting...vibrant town and massive resources, yet still has a tight undergrad scene and warm access to profs. Atlanta is sort of like your bigger towns in Texas, but Emory is a fine place..although the city seems to put students in a trance and cuts down a bit on campus cohesion for upperclassmen. I also have to promote UVa..which is twice as big but a very happy place. One third OOS, One third DC area (people like you..transients), One third from gentler Virginia in the mountains etc. There are other ways to be with the DC kids which I agree would suit your background than living in DC. They are also at Unversity of Richmond and William and Mary for instance and the DC corridor is open to these colleges for many purposes. Schools that intensely support their graduates are many...I know it is hard to focus when you had a transient lifestyle. Don't forget that Rice, while too familiar, is going to be "different" and exciting when the kids from all over the states show up, so be appreciative of that option as you venture out. Colgate is doing a great job in the classrooms..rigorous...and I would consider it to be a Match for you where you could also excel, be challenged, meet a lot of new people and be happy.</p>

19

<p>GL=good luck!</p>

20

<p>You already turned in the app right? So who cares what anyone thinks? You already applied - wait a few weeks for the results...</p>