SCEA Chance?

Hi guys! I’m from Colorado and plan on applying EA to Yale. Do I have a shot?

-White female
-LGBTQ+
-probably political science/international relations focus

GPA: 4.37 (only one semester B in Calc)

ACT: 35 (first attempt composite)
36 English
34 Math
34 Science

SAT: 1530 (first attempt composite)
800 R/W
730 Math

APs: not the strongest scores…
Freshman- none (none offered at school)
Sophomore- AP World (4)
Junior- Physics, Calc BC (3), APUSH (4), US Gov (4), Lang (5)
Senior-
Lit, Latin, Macro, Euro, Chem (+Calc 3 but not AP)

Subject Tests: also a weaker point
World (680), taking Lit/APUSH/Math 2 in the fall and hoping for some 700+s

Essays: should be strong, topics I have already started are pretty niche, extensive writing experience and strong voice

Recommendations: maybe 8/10? thinking Chem or Lang teacher and latin teacher who was also freshman history teacher and asst principal (very close)

Extracurriculars:
(not political/activism related)
Journalism- Editor in Chief of online and print magazine 2 years, section editor and contributor 4 years
Swimming- 4 years varsity, Captain, club team for 10 years, boys team manager 3 years
Mock Trial- schools highest team, won regionals but state was cancelled due to COVID
Special Olympics Basketball/Flag Football Partner
NHS
New Student Ambassador
Youth Group- Synod Youth Rep (represented youth from over 150 churches in 3 states)
Diversity Action Club
Quiz Bowl + Knowledge Bowl

Political ECs:
State House Campaign Intern- phone bank, donor research, etc

High School Dems- state’s executive communications director… draft all press releases/media advisories/social media

Education Advocacy Fellow @ youth policy think tank

state Youth Advisory Council- draft and propose policy to state legislature… one of my most formative political experiences + running for exec board this year

College Board youth advisor

Developed podcast with state department of education interviewing prominent local legislators about youth financial literacy

Youth leadership team for new crisis hotline with state’s office of behavioral health

6 week virtual training by organization for young women who want to go into electoral politics

Awards:
AP scholar w distinction
National award for commentary writing about the adverse risks of single use plastics
several local journalism and math awards
highest honors 4 years
3 varsity letters swimming, 1 mock trial, 1 special olympics
school character leadership award

Volunteer/Work Experience/Other:
Lifeguard 2 years

60+ hours at local group home/school for children with trauma-based behavioral difficulties

Travelled to Tijuana for journalism trip to interview people at the US-Mexico border and produce a documentary

One of 3 students selected to attend state leadership conference by faculty

Miscellaneous service with church/women’s shelter

Also interning for a PAC + in the gov’s office now if that helps at all

You have as good of a chance as any non-hooked applicant. Make sure you give your LoR writers a summary of your interests and accomplishments. It is important to package yourself in a coherent narrative through your essays, EC’s and LoR’s such that the AO’s have a strong sense of who you are, how Yale will benefit you and just as importantly how you will benefit the Yale community.

Make sure you have some matches and safeties on your list, including applying to some of your state schools with rolling admissions.