SCEA chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>I am absolutely IN LOVE with Yale and having a hard time seeing myself anywhere else. I really want to apply SCEA but do I have any chance?</p>

<p>Here are my stats:</p>

<p>Grades/Courses:
9th: Honors Earth Science (B), Honors Geometry (B), English 3 (A), Latin 2 (A), Heritage of Mankind (A-)
10th: Honors Biology (A-), Honors Algebra 2 (A-), Honors English 4 (A-/B+), Latin 3 (A), Modern World Studies (B+), Journalism (A), Intro to Studio Art (A)
11th: AP English 5 (B+/4), Honors Precalculus (B), AP Latin Lit(A-/5), AP US History (A/4), Honors Chemistry (B+), Printmaking 1 (A)
12th: AP BC Calculus, AP Senior Seminar (English course for top 10-15 English students), AP Latin Vergil, AP Political Science, AP Economics (Micro&Macro), Classical Mythology (fall elective)</p>

<p>SAT: 2280 (760 CR, 770 M, 750 W)
SAT 2: Latin (720), US History (740), Math 1 (710)</p>

<p>EC's
Horseback riding (40 hrs/week, ranked 3rd in my state, have been riding since I was 6)
School Newspaper (10 hrs/week, Head News Editor)
Model UN (15 hrs/week Nov.-Jan., Student Head, first person from my school to ever win Best Delegate at YMUN conference)
Senior Advisors (5 hrs/week, select group of 12 students who help 6th graders adjust to life at our school and plan events for them)
I also write a column for my school newspaper that expresses my conservative political views in an extremely liberal school (3 hrs/week)</p>

<p>Awards
1st runner-up in a regional constitutional essay contest
I won a pretty nifty scholarship at my school that only 2 people get
NM Commended (I'm assuming based on years past)
AP Scholar
Honor Roll (yeah, I know, how amazing, right?)</p>

<p>Other
Essays: one about how political labels impede on conversation, the supplemental about everything I have sacrificed for riding but why I don't regret doing so
Teacher Recs: awesome. my APUSH teacher will mention the impact of my newspaper column and the essay that was first runner-up. not to be cocky, but he really adores me as a student. My Latin teacher will mostly attest to my "outstanding Latin abilities" (his words, not mine)
Counselor Rec: she says that my approach to college admissions is "refreshing" and she "loves my sense of humor". So I guess it will be good?
My school doesn't rank or give percentiles (ugh)
I want to be a Classics major
Highly competitive private school in CT (sends 15-20% to top 20 schools)</p>

2

<p>Well, your transcript is going to hurt you, unfortunately. You have some cool subjective qualities--EC's, essays, recs, and intended major--but the question is whether or not they are quite interesting enough to 1) overcome your grades and 2) distinguish you from the rest of an exceedingly well-qualified applicant pool.</p>

<p>The basic problem is, it's a crapshoot--for anyone. That can be a bonus, too. If you love Yale, there's no reason not to apply SCEA! That's what EA is for. You've got a shot, but try to find a back up plan. (That applies to anyone with dreams of Yale or highly selective school).</p>

3

<p>your GPA does look lowish, but competitive/elite prep schools are a different story for admissions. Yale knows how competitive some prep schools are, and how good the quality of education is. I believe there's a separate admissions officer for a number of prep schools. The riding sounds compelling... could you generate interest with the equestrian team? I'd say you have a decent chance... definitely apply early (18% admits v. 6%). I wouldn't be surprised if you got in.</p>

4

<p>You really need to widen your horizons and try to imagine yourself somewhere else. The Ivies are VERY difficult to get into, for anyone. Definitely apply, but don't close any doors. There is no guarantee. My D had very similar stats, and love for Yale, to yours, applied SCEA, was deferred and then denied. But she did get into several of her other top choices, including the Ivy school where she now goes and absolutely adores.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for your replies, everyone. I have done extensive research into the equestrian team, but it is only a club sport which means that it has no influence on admissions decisions (boo). And franglish: I definitely love Yale far more than the other schools on my list (perhaps with the exception of Columbia), but I have a list of ten schools that I really adore, ranging from safety to uber-reach Ivies. Hopefully I'll get lucky with Yale or one of my othe reaches, but if not, I am also in love with my matches...just not as much as I am with Yale.</p>