What are my chances? Very different hooks...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Hey everyone! I have some VERY interesting hooks that I'm not sure will be good or bad. But first you have to read the boring stuff :(</p>

<p>Some general stats:</p>

<p>Top 10% class - more towards the lower end of that
4.1 gpa
2010 SAT
AP's- Euro, Chem, Lang, Lit, Gov, Econ, Spanish, Calc AB (3's and 4's- nothing special there)</p>

<p>EC's:
Lots of officer positions in student gov- my whole life
volunteer work with the president of a medical NPO
tons of volunteer work with technology
Varsity tennis 4 years- Regional division champion singles
laundry list of key/nhs/mao/etc.</p>

<p>Awards:
national hispanic scholar
volunteer of the year
The most prestigious scholarship in the county for various categories- mine technology
Numerous laundry list awards- science fair firsts, history fair firsts, most improved tennis, most sportsmanship</p>

<p>school: large public in suburban Florida, maybe 1 ivy a year- 3 a really strong class year
Work: Worked for an NPO doing graphic design, also freelance web work, tennis coach</p>

<p>Now for the hooks-
first generation to be raised in the US? Not sure if this is anything
grandparents were US diplomats, parents and their families traveled all over the world. All my aunts, parents, and uncles were born at different embassies around the world.
Grandfather was first diplomatic hostage taken in a certain Latin American Country.
URM
My cousin is the current mayor of a large south american country's capital
My aunt was the first woman to run for president in all of south america
^Her father was president of said major country my cousin is the mayor in
I marked no on financial aid to give me as much of a chance... even if it doesn't help for real. It's a placebo.</p>

<p>Yale is basically my dream. I met with my teachers doing recs, and my counselor. They wrote amazing rec- at least in my opinion- creating the image of a well rounded, athletic, leader. I tried to supplement my average to low academics with a lot of reinforcement on being the "typical Yale candidate"</p>

<p>I want to do political science. My alumni interview isnt till the 13th... 2 days before the deadline.</p>

<p>Please any feedback at all. Not like it matter- we all know chance threads are discussions. I just thought it might be interesting to discuss my hooks.. worried it might be relying on family connections too much?</p>

2

<p>The only hook I see there is URM. The rest are about your faimly, which wont matter TOO much.</p>

3

<p>I agree ^, They do not want to hear about your family; they only care about what you have to offer. Maybe you can write an essay on how ...(a family member)... influenced you, but other than that, those hooks (besides URM) will not help you. I do not think showing how you are the typical Yale student is a good approach. They want to create a diverse student body with DIVERSE people. They want to know what you can personally add to the college. </p>

<p>For example, some of my close family members are involved with politics in Lebanon. My grandpa is friends with the current president. Both sides of my family know very influential people. My uncle is a major political advisor. Alot of my family members were involved in the Civil War (and battled terrorism/ Islamic fundamentalism). Did any of this appear on my app? NO. </p>

<p>Things I did mention: I was involved with cultural groups in my area. How both English and Lebanese were my first languages (learned them at the same time), how I travel to Leb every year, my essay was about the 2006 Summer war and how I ironically came to appreciate my country/ heritage through such tumultuous event. I might bring up my own personal encounters and opinions toward Lebanese politicians and politics in my Harvard interview. Other than that, I will not highlight my family.</p>

<p>Your URM status is a major hook though; without it, I highly doubt an acceptance to Yale with a 2010 SAT (which is still a very good score just not competitive at Ivies.) </p>

<p>You can get in but you have to:
1. Focus on yourself and not your family
2. Show how you are diverse</p>

4

<p>I do not thinking marking "No Financial Aid" will help your admissions chances at all. Ivies are dying to show how they reach out to underprivileged applicants. In fact, it might give off the idea that you are from a high socioeconomic status, which may be looked down upon by admissions.</p>

5

<p>Agree with what waitn184 says, it's you that they'll be evaluating, not your family and relatives. </p>

<p>Your numbers--class rank, SAT and AP scores--tend to be low for Y, even for a URM. Hard to tell about your gpa since it's weighted. First gen in the US will not matter, neither will FA status.</p>

6

<p>BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA
thats all i have to say. XD</p>

7

<p>waitn184 brings up a lot of good points. All the things you brought up about your family are interesting, but rather insignificant unless you somehow tie them into your own identity and viewpoint.
As far as your chances “Yale is above all an academic institution, and thus academic strength is our first consideration in evaluating any candidate.” As far as the criteria by which to evaluate academic strength, you are toward the lower end of the spectrum.
Good luck! :)</p>

8

<p><em>whistles</em>
■■■■■, ■■■■■, ■■■■■…
we should just let this die.</p>

9

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<p>Then don’t bring up a 10 month old post by a member who has only 3 posts from that time and has never been back.</p>