<p>I wanted to give an objective comment here because your situation is really unique and you’re really getting some undeserved bashing here (CC is like a jungle)</p>
<p>Even with your Ecs (stellar), I dont think a 1760 will cut it. However, I do agree with you a lot; I believe Yale has enough of the 2400’s and want students who stand out and give an actual personality. If you can get it up to 2100 (2000 even, but I’m pretty confident you can get a 2100 if you study; it’s a strategy test) I think you will have a pretty good chance and should apply (I went to a comparably competitive school in MIT for a tour recently and they commented how some have 2100’s there). You mite also want to take some SAT II and make sure you do well on those AP’s. That, combined with your 4.0 gpa, will make Yale understand that you are an intelligent person with just some possible difficulties in a very flawed test. </p>
<p>Notice though, even if you had a 2400, your chances arent high… no one has a high chance to Yale. Also, while I think your EC’s are stellar because of basketball, passion, and internships, I dont think Yale cares that much about your ins and outs of new Haven (the top schools look for diversity from around the world). Those aren’t really hooks too; hooks are really just legacies, direct relations with faculty, and maybe first generation. While you definitely have much better Ec’s than me (out of the park), there will always be a person with even better Ec’s somewhere in the world. Overall, though, you should definitely apply no matter what anybody says… you aren’t deceiving yourself in the slightest. Just hope for the best when applying to a school in the HYPSM like everyone else. </p>
<p>His ECs are far from “stellar” for a Yale applicant.
His main EC is basketball, but I’m assuming he’s not good enough to be an athletic recruit (otherwise we would not be having this discussion). </p>
<p>All this nonsense about letters of recommendation and “New Haven Connections” are just that, nonsense. </p>
<p>You know who might get into Yale with a “New Haven Connection?” The son of a New Haven cop who was injured in the line of duty. Someone like that, which the OP is not.</p>
<p>The letters of reccomendation are NOT HOOKS.
Hooks are URM, athletic recruit, legacy and donors. </p>
<p>Also and I repeat that his is significant: He’s at a new, unproven school and he’s got a very high GPA and very, very low test scores. That’s a giant red flag that his HS program is not rigorous which does not bode well for him.</p>
<p>A recruited athlete with his test scores would even be a longshot.
Sorry, but it’s just not going to happen.</p>
<p>So other than improving (all of) my standardized test scores, what else can I do? And how do my chances look if I were to score 2000-2200 on the SAT?</p>
<p>A competitive score. The strength of your essays combined with competitive scores and the strength of your EC’s will make a competitive application.</p>
<p>Obviously the SAT score will only be a competitive score. However, I can see that the rest of your application is pretty good. Of course, essays, recommendations etc matter a significant amount as well. </p>