Sorry to do this...but how are my chances for EA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
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<p>I know you guys must hate these kinds of threads, especially for a first-time poster, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high. Hoping for the best for all of you and hope someone will take some time to think about my chances :).</p>

<p>GPA: 3.9 unweighted, 4.5 weighted.
Class Rank: Although my school doesn't technically use ranks, last time I checked (my counselor did it for me) I believe I was around 10 out of 520...but it's published as just top 5%.
12th course load: AP Calc BC, AP Physics C, AP Comp. Gvt., AP Literature, Band</p>

<p>SATI: 2280 first time (800 W, 760 M, 720 V), 2290 second time (800 W, 780 M, 710 V) so an even 2300 for combined score.
SATII: 780 Biology-M, 750 Math IIC, 740 US History
APs: 5's in AP Biology, AP European History, AP Lang/Comp, AP US History, and AP Environmental Science</p>

<p>Extra-curriculars:
14 years of private violin instruction (looking to pursue in college)
13 years of private piano instruction
Study at one of the most prestigious music schools in Los Angeles
3 years of symphonic orchestra at the above school, another 3 years in a lower all-string ensemble
Perhaps 45-50 hours of Patient Escort community service at UCLA
80 hours of community service at my music school as a camp counselor for under-privileged kids
Job as an usher at the Hollywood Bowl during summer and 1st semester of senior year (still working now...about 6 hours a day, 3-5 days a week)
Fluency in Mandarin Chinese, attended Japanese school for about 5 or 6 years
Tennis for 6-7 years (private instruction)
Attended the Johns Hopkins CTY summer program for 9th and 10th grade
Attended some chamber music programs during the summer in 9th and 10th grade</p>

<p>I don't have many awards...National Merit Semi-finalist (hoping I advance to finalist, but that's after my app so it doesn't really matter), California Scholarship Foundation for 9-11 (won't know about 12th until second semester), Principal's Honor List every year, that kind of stuff...I've taken a piano theory Certificate of Merit exam every year from 9-11 and passed, won some award at a speech contest at my Japanese school.</p>

<p>Had some free tickets to the east coast and headed to Yale for an interview and to seek out the music teacher...don't know if that counts for anything at all.</p>

<p>I'll be sending in a tape of both violin and piano as they're foci of my application.</p>

<p>Now the downsides...I'm Chinese and I'm from California, apparently an over-represented state -_-. I also dropped Spanish for 12th grade (although technically looking on it now it simply doesn't fit in my schedule...).</p>

<p>Well, I think that's about it. I thank anyone who takes the time to read through this for me!</p>

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<p>hey, I was just at the hollywood bowl, were you the lady checking tickets at the side entrance?</p>

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<p>since i'm going through the same crap you're going through, i would say yes, you do. yale is a really sat-oriented school and those scores are amazing also the music thing really works for you.. also don't fret about the california thing its not that much weight especially at yale</p>

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<p>No, I usually work inside at the Hollywood Bowl and I'm a guy :-P.</p>

<p>Thanks for your thoughts christina I really appreciate it.</p>

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<p>uh who says yale is "sat-oriented"</p>

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<p>Can I ask your opinion then?</p>

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<p>Yale scrutinizes SATs quite closely, but 2300 guarantees you nothing. About 50% of perfect scores (1600 on the old) get rejected.</p>

<p>What are some recent works you've played for the piano? As a pianist myself, I'd like an idea of your skill level.</p>

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<p>On the piano? Currently I'm working on Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique as well as Chopin's Nocturnes in Bb minor and Eb Major. My instrument of choice is the violin, but...yeah.</p>

<p>I also have perfect pitch, but I doubt that will help.</p>

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<p>When you say SATs are "scrutinized quite closely", do you mean that they will examine scores from each individual test date with a curious eye? For example, the first time I took my boards I got 2200, the second time I got a 2350 (using top section scores: 2380). Will my first score be taken into account at all? Will they really just 'add up' my scores and consider me with a 2380?</p>

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<p>they should look at your best score only, they should know by now that everyone messes up on their first SAT</p>

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<p>What violin pieces are you sending in?</p>

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<p>That's something I was just wondering. It says to send in contrasting pieces, so I was thinking of sending in a technical violin piece and a more lyrical piano piece. The violin piece would be the first movement of the Bruch Violin Concerto in g minor and the piano piece would be one of the Chopin Nocturnes (probably the bb minor one). You think that's good?</p>

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<p>Yale is not THAT SAT oriented. Yes, it matters, but low (for Yale) scores won't keep you out if the rest of your application is strong and perfect SATs guarantee nothing. The admissions officers base your SAT composite on your high score in each section of the test.</p>

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<p>Yergh, I didn't mean for this to turn into an SAT discussion >_<.</p>

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<p>Up, any chance for a couple more opinions?</p>

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<p>... Well I love the nocturnes you're playing. I'm sending the one in E minor and then a more techincal Debussy. I think you and I have pretty similar chances. Good enough stats to warrant a foot in the door but nothing to solidly reassures us in the extracurriculars (though yours are weightier than mine.) Good luck.</p>

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<p>Same to you potus. You think that my idea of sending in a lyrical, slower piano piece and a technical violin piece is a good one?</p>

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<p>Well for me, most of my concentration has been on musicality rather than technicality. So my greatest strength is in more romantic era nocturnes and whatnot. It all depends on your training. Just because you can bang out thousands of notes per second doesn't mean you have an understanding for melody and beauty, you know? So really, I'd just record whatever you think will present your training the best.</p>

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<p>Oh and one more thing, I'd agree that you should send the bb nocturne just because the Eb is soooo overdone. Every music dept. person will have heard a recording 8 billion times and there's no way you can impress them more than Artur Rubenstein did. So pick a more obscure one. (Not obnscure obscure.. just more obscure. I'd guess that Eb is probably the most famous nocturne of them all.)</p>

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<p>You're an Asian who plays an instrument (excellently I might add.) Your scores definitely put you in the Yale's range. Nevertheless, I don't see anything that stands out from other Yale hopeful. Your strength is in your music, if you are to get into Yale, it will definitely be because of that.</p>