Should I use my EA on this?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>I'm applying to Yale this fall for '12 admission, however, I'm a bit distraught over which school to use my ED/EA on... I'm also considering Cornell, Columbia, University of Chicago, and Tufts... </p>

<p>GPA: (UW) 3.98 (W) 4.677
Will graduate summa cum laude (with highest honor), top 5% (top 10/450 students), and with a "Laureate Diploma," which is the most rigorous diploma in my school district that requires a 10,000 word thesis (mine will be on either gay rights, bioethics, or censorship in film and literature) & powerpoint, and passing at least 6 AP courses.
AP's: 11 AP's total in just about every subject. I didn't pass one, and it's in a prospective major. :/
Grades: I received two B's... One in 8th grade (as a lazy student) in Spanish, and one in Geometry honors (I had a terrible teacher). And no, this isn't a self-serving bias, it's true.
EC's: president of Drama Club (a bunch of plays, performing arts department award, & various awards at district & state levels as well as eligibility for international competition), president of International Thespian Society sector at my school, president & founder of our Competitive Science Club (under consideration from MIT's prestigious high school science competition), president of the Gay/Straight Alliance (organized a regional dance as a safe haven for teens), historian of the Glee Club (performed at many baseball games, gigs), National Honor Society member, Academic Team competitor, Key Club member, Video Club member, GCHS film festival entry & nominee for best actor, volunteer at the local hospital (countless hours), acting director of a children's performing arts camp (many hours), library volunteer, volunteer for set construction of plays (years), tutor for students in every subject (many hours), and volunteer at fundraisers.
College Essay: I have several I'd like to use, but I wrote one on coming out that seems to be well received so that seems to be my best written one thus far.
Recs: I will have great recs... My teachers are phenomenal, but I'm sure everyone will have them as well.
Classes: took regular courses my freshman year (no choice), but advanced to AP classes/honors the following year -- weakest point
ACT: 29 (will retake for a better superscore)
SAT: taking in June (better at the ACT...)
SAT II: American History and Math I are being taken in about three weeks.
Hook: 1st generation Cuban American in Florida, hard income situation, and I'm gay (the latter shouldn't help, but it explains a lot on my resume haha). </p>

<p>I want to major in biochemistry & drama in order to do my pre med requirements, and I thought I'd have a better chance at Yale because of my theatre background, but who knows... Do I have a chance, if so, what school should I use my EA/ED on? I'm sorry for overwhelming the site. :/</p>

2

<p>I really don’t understand this whole idea of gaming the system when it comes to early admissions. My feeling is that you should use that chip on the school that you most want to go to. Period. If Yale was my first choice, I sure as heck wouldn’t apply ED to a school because my perceived chances of admission was a hair better elsewhere. Columbia, Cornell, and Tufts are all ED…binding decision. If you want to leave options open, or if finances are an issue, I would strongly advise you not to apply ED anywhere. Chicago is EA, but Yale is SCEA - so if you want to apply to Yale early, you cannot apply early anywhere else. Bottom line - I think you need to really spend some time thinking about where you would most want to go and proceed from there. You still have plenty of time.
Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Just so you know, Harvard and Princeton are returning to having an Early Action option for the HS class of 2012.</p>

<p>I don’t exactly know how their EA process works considering it’s their first year after a long time, but I did EA at Yale and it was a waste. They defer everyone.</p>

4

<p>

Obviously, not true. And not even true for those with no hooks…friend’s daughter, no hooks at all, was accepted EA this year. She was a good all-around candidate. No 2400 SATs, no 5.0 WGPA. But excellent student, leader, athlete (not recruited, though) and excellent reference letters and essays. It does happen! :)</p>

5

<p>Apply to where you want to go.</p>

6

<p>Okay, I understand what the point of EA/ED is. I’m not simply picking a school because of my likelihood in getting in, but more so the fact that I like all of those schools, and can’t seem to pick one… Therefore, picking one of my favorite schools because of my chances at it doesn’t really seem wrong.</p>

7

<p>That is exactly the reason for you not to apply ED anywhere. Since you “like all of those schools, and can’t seem to pick one” you should apply EA or RD and invest the considerable time going to admitted students days visits to the few that accept you to make sure you have the right fit.</p>

8

<p>You should ignore all ED schools if you are not absolutely certain that it is the place to go. </p>

<p>Yale listed last year that they admitted 12% first generation students and so apparently that is a major decision factor at Yale. You seem to be doing very well in school which should make their decision easy.</p>

<p>With your URM and first gen and low income status, you should be in at any of the above schools. You should also look into questbridge and Gates Millennium scholarships if you want improve your chances further.</p>

9

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<p>The OP is first gen in the US, but not necessarily first gen to attend college.</p>

<p>Strange how your test scores change between Chances threads.</p>

10

<p>I was reading it as first gen to attend college. Just being first gen in US, it is not worth much. He still has hispanic status though?</p>

11

<p>Correct, still Hispanic, and they may also be first gen in college, but it’s unclear.</p>

12

<p>I don’t think it’s gaming the system to think very seriously about how to use early admissions. ED should only be used (in my opinion) if the school is your first choice AND you will be likely to afford to go there. But for EA, strategy is reasonable.</p>

<p>As for the OP, I’d say the ACT is still too low to use SCEA on HYPS, even for a URM. I’d suggest Chicago and a couple other EA schools.</p>

13

<p>^Agreed. I applied to Chicago, Georgetown, and UNC EA because I didn’t feel particularly confident about Yale. It was a great decision–I could tell myself “worst case scenario: Chicago with 10k/yr” (aka awesomeness) while my friends were panicking about getting in anywhere. It also would have given me the opportunity to restructure my list if I didn’t get in anywhere EA, whereas Yale SCEA is so random (seeming, at least) that I wouldn’t have been able to be sure that a deferral/rejection was a bad sign for the RD round. A Chicago/Georgetown rejection/deferral, however, would have made it more urgent for me to restructure my list. </p>

<p>Basically, if your sanity is important to you :), set your sights lower EA.</p>

14

<p>I know that some schools use Early Decision in their admission,but I don’t know what is the difference between ED and EA?Can anyone tell me about that? And May I apply to some ED/EA schools?or I should apply only to 1 ED/EA school?</p>

15

<p>You have to look at the rules for each school–they differ. Generally, ED (Early Decision) means that if you are accepted, you MUST attend that school (with few exceptions). Some ED schools allow you to apply early elsewhere, but not all. SCEA (single choice early action) means you can only apply early to that school, but you’re not obligated to go there if accepted. EA generally means you can apply to multiple schools early. But there are all sorts of specific rules, such as whether you can apply to a rolling admissions school at the same time. Some schools have two rounds of ED.</p>

16

<p>

I agree with this, but the OP’s listed choices (with one exception) were all either ED or Yale’s SCEA. If s/he were just asking about EA in general, Hunt gave good advice (as usual :slight_smile: )</p>

17

<p>@Hunt Thanks, now I understand what the difference. Ohya,If I’m accepted ED but my application for getting Scholarship is rejected,may I attend to other college?</p>

18

<p>No, EA means early action, not early decision–you are only obligated to attend an early decision school. But I can’t emphasize enough that you need to look at the specific rules of each college, which can generally be found on the admissions webpage.</p>

19

<p>If I’m accepted to the college but my application for getting fin aid/scholarship’s rejected,may I attend to other college?</p>

20

<p>If Yale accepts you SCEA or RD, they will also send you a fin aid package. It is an offer. You are free to accept, negotiate if it’s not to your liking or reject it. </p>

<p>However, know that Yale’s international FinAid is among the most generous. It’s unlikely other schools will surpass it.</p>

<p>Yale doesn’t offer scholarships, by the way.</p>