Unique Applicant? SCEA Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>I'm debating between applying SCEA to Yale or ED to UPenn (legacy status). Chances please?</p>

<p>SAT: 1500/2250 (770r, 730m, 750w)
SAT Subjects: 720 Lit, 720 Bio
AP: 5 Bio
GPA Unweighted: 3.93
Rank: Top 10%
Taking as many APs as school offers (total AP Euro, Bio, AB Calc, Lit, French, Physics). Will be taking 2 courses at Amherst College this year</p>

<p>Awards: Academic Excellence in English (2010), Social Studies (2010), English (2011), Bio (2011), Math (2011). At least getting a National Merit Commendation so far. Wells College 21st Century Leadership Award (for leadership in school and community). </p>

<p>Extracurriculars: Business Manager for school paper (since sophomore year), choreographer and dancer in school musical, co-directed a student written play, acted, <em>will be independently producing a play this spring,</em> Secretary and Board Member in a community coalition that provides youth programs with an arts/social justice focus, choreographed for school's dance ensemble, <em>Executive Producer of 2 youth-produced and independent television shows that air in 11 towns in the surrounding region (one is news focused, the other is a sketch comedy show)</em>, Internship at local radio station and probably one at UMass Psych Dept this year</p>

<p>Summers: Harvard SSP (2010), research at a Harvard Medical School lab (2011)</p>

<p>Will be getting a rec from a Harvard Medical School professor</p>

2

<p>This is a tough one. How strong is your preference for Yale over Penn? You’re a strong candidate, but both of these schools also reject candidates that look a lot like you do. The conventional wisdom is that it’s best to play the legacy card in the early round if you can–but you’d be bound to Penn if you do that and get admitted.</p>

3

<p>Agree with Hunt</p>

4

<p>I suppose at this point if I have a strong enough chance at Yale, I would go for SCEA there. But if my chance is average/minimal, then I would apply ED to UPenn. Thoughts?</p>

5

<p>Here are the scenarios I see:

  1. You apply to Penn ED and get in. Would you torture yourself for not having applied to Yale?
  2. You apply to Penn ED and get rejected, and then get rejected from Yale RD. If this happens, you probably wouldn’t have gotten into Yale SCEA.
  3. You apply to Yale SCEA, get rejected and then get rejected from Penn RD. Will you torture yourself for not using your legacy advantage at Penn better?
  4. You apply to Yale SCEA, get rejected and then get into Penn RD, or get accepted to Yale SCEA–no problem.</p>

<p>Which scenario would drive you more crazy?</p>