<p>Asian female, from a rural school district
Applying ED</p>
<p>SAT I: Math 780, CR 710, Writing 740
SAT II: Biology M 650, Math I 740, Math II 700</p>
<p>AP Biology: 5 (the only AP course I was allowed to take as a junior)</p>
<p>Class rank: 4th of 170 (unweighted)
GPA: 4.0</p>
<p>Academic achievements:
-National Merit Semifinalist
-Attended the Pennsylvania's Governor School for Health Care (5 week program at UPMC)
-School nominee for various awards (Elmira College Key Award, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference, etc...I won't bore you with these)
-National Junior Honor Society
-National Honor Society</p>
<p>Science Olympiad:
-2 medals at Athens Area High School Invitational
-3 medals at the National Invitational in D.C.
-4 Regional Competition medals
-2 State Competition medals
-Science Olympiad Award of Excellence
-Treasurer and Co-Captain</p>
<p>Band:
-Clarinetist (7 years)
-School Marching Band Drum Major
-County Band
-District Band 2nd chair
-Regional Band 1st Chair
-State Wind Ensemble</p>
<p>Community Service:
-Volunteer at local hospital (approx. 200 hours)
-Managed concession stands for FBLA fundraisers
-National Honor Society annual food drive
-Played piano for local nursing home
-National Chemistry Week chem demos for elementary students (11-12)</p>
<p>you are obviously very accomplished -- what comments do you desire? so many Yalie hopefuls post their info and want to know the chances they have of getting in. Clearly, there isn't a formula to get accepted into Yale. No applicants know exactly what Yale wants, and therefore shouldn't blindly guess at the chances of getting in. If you are seeking reassurance, so is everyone else. Unfortunately, we all have to wait until the 15th.<br>
Good luck with the process!</p>
<p>Since no one else is seeming to, it's time for me to help a Chinese sister out. ^^</p>
<p>You're Sat 1 is ok. Not that great, but not auto-reject either. Sat 2s are pretty poor (my school's average is around 770 for most tests so this might just be me)</p>
<p>Rural school district might be major hook. I'm not sure but that might get you in by itself.</p>
<p>I'm guessing you're Chinese based on your last name so that might work slightly against you.
Nat'l Semfinalist is the only big one you got. The list is a little short. AP List is short but your GPA is fine. Good job at science olympiad. Other stuff seems to be ok. Music + Swimming is ok. </p>
<p>Personally I think you have a pretty big disadvantage because you're not that particularly outstanding other than the Rural Hook. I hate to use this example, but I remember someone talking about how Harvard asked during one of the interviews, "How many books have you written." You should've tried to get a couple more National competitions or something. </p>
<p>In the end though, no one really knows. Perhaps Yale will value geographical diversity more than National Awards this year. Maybe not. You have a pretty good shot so don't stress about it. I hope you wrote a good essay and I hope I'll see you in New Haven next year. </p>
<p>Also, It's SCEA, not ED. You might want to do a bit of researching before you ask things like this.</p>
<p>I'm not even applying to Yale.
My friend had me put this up in HYP "just for kicks =P."
And music is just ok? Maybe it's just me, but the state wind ensemble seems like a decent accomplishment; only the first chair at region goes.
Many hours were put into this..perhaps it takes a musician to understand.</p>
<p>My school does not offer much of anything (only 5 AP courses, few clubs and organizations). I've tried to take advantage of all the resources that have been available to me throughout the years. Perhaps it is not the length of the list that has weight, rather the magnitude of its contents.</p>
<p>I realize that typos may be excusable, but this is a usage error and a silly one at that. Given your harsh evaluation that follows, I found this rather amusing.</p>
<p>1.) 1490/2230 is well within the averages for Yale. Of course it's not "auto-reject."
2.) While national award winners do make up a certain percentage of every incoming class at an Ivy League school, the majority (50-65%) is composed of students who are not those winners. </p>
<p>If you are expecting everyone at Yale to be 2300+, national award winners, you may be sorely disappointed. </p>
<p>OP: You have the stats to be competitive in the EA applicant pool and are certainly not at a major disadvantage.</p>
<p>agreed with post above. Everyone tends to overrate what the SAT's are indicative of. The correlation between academic success in IVY's and SAT I scores are not strong enough to predict academic success (can't imply causation of course).</p>
<p>^^ And you would know this how? 50-65% seems like a pretty precise amount to me. Criticizing arguments on grammar and not logic is quite logical, eh? Not to mention that, how many out of the <em>assumed</em> 50-65% have hooks like URM, Low SES, Recruited Athlete, etc?</p>
<p>2230 isn't out of the park, but she's from a Rural school which I bet Yale has barely ever heard of. Thus, I'm pretty sure something like SAT would count for more than at for example, Exeter, because Yale knows all about Exeter. </p>
<p>OP: Yes, I'm a musician too. >8 years in State honors band and whatnot. Youth symphonies galore. It honestly isn't that hard to get into.</p>
<p>I think most people would agree with me that while you are a competitive candidate, your numbers are a little lacking. Make sure you have some safeties, but you aren't down or out yet. Try for it!</p>
<p>I actually recalled that statistic wrong. It's really 65 to 75 percent.</p>
<p>From Chuck Hughes, Former Senior Admissions Officer, Harvard College:</p>
<p>On academics:</p>
<p>"The 1400 Club.</p>
<p>Those admitted from this group represent the largest percentage of the student body at the most selective institutions, comprising 65 to 75 percent of the admitted population. These students are strong academic talents across the board, close to national scholars, though they may not have been the recipients of national academic acclaim.</p>
<p>...These students rank in the top 5 to 10 percent of the high school graduating class.</p>
<p>...Their SAT I scores are typically in the 1400 to 1550 range and higher."</p>
<p>On EC's:</p>
<p>"A Solid Extracurricular Hook: Strong Regional and Local Candidates.</p>
<p>This is the largest group of admitted candidates to highly selective schools, representing the majority of admitted students.</p>
<p>They do many things well, are leaders in a number of areas within their community, and are exceptional in one or two areas -- though their skills at not recognized at the national level."</p>
<p>I realize that Yale isn't Harvard, so I hope you can excuse that incredibly poor logic.</p>
<p>OneKingOneLife: You're right, it may not be difficult to get into State honors band, which I am sure is an accomplishment nonetheless. However, it would have been best if you knew what you were talking about before you replied. I am quite positive that the All-State Wind Ensemble is not equivalent to a State honors band (the names are not the same, if you noticed?), therefore you cannot make any assumptions about the difficulty of making it in. Mine is the nationwide high school cycle for both instrumental and vocal, (district, region, state, all-eastern every other year). Auditions are open to only sophomores and up. Therefore it truly vexes me how you have >8 years of it. Time warp, maybe?</p>
<p>I worked hard for a 2230. I'm sure others with similar scores can relate. We are not all from competitive high schools that prepare us sufficiently for the SAT and other standardized tests. With a curriculum that is almost a year behind other schools, I did my best on my own.</p>
<p>yeah pchen09, i'm in a similar situation as yours</p>
<p>i got a 2200 on my SAT, the highest score in my school (the average is around 1480)
it's not very competitive and does not send students to ivies very often (i think the last ivy admit was 3 or 4 years ago to cornell)...my school does not offer many AP's and i was only able to take 2 junior year and i also don't have many awards and stuff .... but i'm still applying, lol</p>
<p>Hmm I have been in an All-State Orchestra the past couple of years. I don't know if it's anything close to what you're talking about but I definitely think it's an accomplishment. Although it hasn't been extremely difficult for me to get in because I take private lessons whereas most of the other kids are just in school orchestras, I do understand that it takes time and dedication. It may be easy but it still took practice!</p>
<p>I think you'll be a very competitive candidate with your good scores and ECs. Nothing extraordinary but definitely not bad! I'm from a small school..in Arkansas..haha enough said. We have quite a bit of APs but nothing much to prepare for SATs/ACTs..at least nothing rigorous. If you got 2000+ people would probably give you funny looks if you think you ask for help improving your score. I got a 2230 also but with different M and WR scores (730 M and 790 W) and I know that I put a lot of effort preparing for it! It's not easy preparing by yourself when nobody around you knows much about it. (Some people haven't even heard of the SAT..most take the ACT.. Oct of senior year. hahaha) So I definitely understand your situation.</p>
<p>Thanks =)
Yeah our school averages at about 1200-1300? (yes, that is all 3 sections and no, I am not exaggerating.)
And yeah, we have concert band, choir, wind ensemble, and orchestra all in one at the All-state music festivals! </p>
<p>Oh and hoby is Hugh O'Brian Youth leadership conference</p>
<p>Don't say that. Many "shoo ins" get rejected from ivy leagues who simply already have enough strong candidates similar to his/her stats. I say you have a good chance of getting accepted but Yale is still a reach for everybody regardless.</p>