<p>pkm2232: I would posit that admitted students aren’t the best source of your information. Yes, they can tell you about themselves but you can discover this in the following threads as well.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/894258-official-yale-class-2014-rd-results-thread.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/894258-official-yale-class-2014-rd-results-thread.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/894261-official-yale-class-2014-rd-discussion-thread.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/894261-official-yale-class-2014-rd-discussion-thread.html</a></p>
<p>I’m an alumni volunteer, coming up on my 20th year assisting Yale admissions. Here are constants that I see:</p>
<p>1) academic excellence – goes without question. However, does this mean 2380 has tons of advantages over a 2300? Nope. I see that once a threshold is met, it goes to the intangibles quickly (admissions is an art, not a science)
2) academic intagibles: presented in essays and teacher recs. Are you really and outstanding scholar? How really curious or creative or independent in thinking or collaborative or enthusiastic are you? Really? In the context of the country’s top graduating seniors (not just your HS or even your HS district)? I tell students and families that if you are considered one of the tippy top students in your school by your teachers and administrators (yes, even the pricipal knows the top students): then you’re viable – and only viable. Have you demonstrated that you’re academically hungry?
3) community intangibles (again thru essays and LORs): Yale wants to see how you will fit in to the Yale community at large. How engaged are you with fellow students, teachers and staff? Fellow workers at the job? What have you done with your opportunities at leadership or encouragement of peers? Frankly, do you even care about others and their success? I can tell you that lots of top students don’t and it shows in many ways. I say this both as a warning and an encouragement. Frankly, many of you may be a person who doesn’t care. Well, there’s no changing it now – you’ll have a much harder road to follow in order to get into Yale. For those of you who enjoy collaboration or leading others to success (not just achieving positions for postions’ sake), then take this as an encouragement – it’s recognized and hopefully you’ll be rewarded.
4) Finally, there’s a lot of serendipity involved. You may stand out in one year’s pool or you may be the one of ten seemingly identical athlete/premed wannabee/artist/academics/tennis players/violinist from Virginia next year. I’ve seen Yale pass on seemingly FANTASTIC matches for Yale. I’ve seen Yale admit kids who struck me less so. However, I’m also 100% certain that most every kid who seriously considers applying to Yale is also going to have a very very very successful collegiate career – regardless of who confers a diploma in 4-5 years later.</p>
<p>Good luck to you all.</p>