What can I do to improve my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Hi, I am a high school junior very interested in Yale and planning to apply EA. I was just wondering if you could evaluate my chances and make suggestions on what I can do to improve my chances. Thanks.</p>

<p>I'll try to keep it brief...</p>

<p>STATS:
SAT: 800 M 770 V 750 W=2320...I'm retaking June for 2400. </p>

<p>SAT II's: 800 Math IIC, 800 Biology M, 800 Physics.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.7 W 3.97 UW</p>

<p>Rank: We don't really do ranking, but I'm probably top 1-2% of 550.</p>

<p>AP's: 5's on AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics. I am planning on taking AP Physics C: E/M, AP English Language and Composition, AP US History, and AP Biology.</p>

<p>I've taken a number of advanced math classes at Stanford (I've earned Stanford credit, but I don't plan to really transfer it to Yale...): Single variable calculus, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. I've earned all A's in those classes as well. </p>

<p>EC's/Awards:
This is probably my weakest area. I've been a member of a hodgepodge assortment of clubs including community service clubs as well as weird clubs like the Food Club (Haha..we just ate food..). </p>

<p>I've been a member of my Math and Science Club for 3 years and I am now the Treasurer. Next year, I plan on becoming the President. I am really passionate about this club and I like to give math lectures. Haha the largest problem with the club is that it's too math-oriented. It's too hard to lecture on science since everyone has a different background in it..ahh oh well... :P</p>

<p>I have participated in a number of math and science competitions, but I haven't done anything extremely nortworthy: AMC 12, AIME, Semifinalist Physics Olympiad, ARML, CAML, National Science Bowl (2nd place at regionals), and other minor math/sci competitions. </p>

<p>Other Stuff/Research:
Last summer, I participated in the most awesome math program ever!!!--PROMYS! I immersed myself in the study of modern math topics while I explored the Mobius transformation in the complex plane and it's applications elsewhere (I looked at it's iterative properities as well). I've written a 10 page research paper on it as well.</p>

<p>This summer, I plan to conduct research at MIT's Francis Bitter Magnet Lab where I hope to investigate superconductors or other magnetism-related subjects. I will be attending the BU physics internship, not RSI (haha...). </p>

<p>I hope to conduct original research so that I may prepare a research paper to submit to Intel STS or Siemmens Westinghouse, but we'll see. </p>

<p>I have also written an odd (lol, that's the only way I can characterize it...) research paper pertaining to numerical methods in evaluating sums whose summand appears in the form </p>

<p>p(x)/a^x where p(x) is some polynomial, a is a real number, and x is being summed over the positive integers. </p>

<p>What's cool is that my work has applications in combinatorics (the so-called "simplex lock problem", which I have yet to expand upon.. but I'll hopefully be able to finish it before EA!</p>

<p>Next Year Classes:
AP Chemistry
AP English
AP Comp Sci
AP French
AP US Government
AP Econ</p>

<p>I'm also planning on taking Real Analysis and Complex Analysis at Stanford, as well as Intermediate Classical Mechanics (I am currently in love with the lagrangian formulation of c.m. and it's applications to quantum field theory...)</p>

<p>Conclusion: </p>

<p>So, as you can see, my interests are mainly math and science oriented. I plan to either major in pure math or physics, or something in the middle. </p>

<p>Oh, and this turned out to be anything but brief. Sorry...</p>

<p>If you could give me any advice on what I can improve on, I'd be very much obliged. Also, if I have left out anything, please ask. Thanks again!!!!! =)</p>

2

<p>
[quote]
SAT: 800 M 770 V 750 W=2320...I'm retaking June for 2400

[/quote]
Whoa, don't do that. 2320 is an amazing score, and there are better ways to spend 4 hours and 50 dollars.</p>

<p>Edit: Well, I understand how you feel if you're ticked off that you didn't get a 2400 when you know you're capable of getting that score. I felt that way last year. It doesn't matter, though, since some people with SAT scores in the 1300s (old SAT) get in, and some with 1600 are rejected.</p>

3

<p>ooo. yeah, I was expecting 2350+. I won't need that much more preparation so I thought that I might just go ahead and retake.</p>

<p>What do you think of my small amount of EC's/Awards? Will it really hurt me..?</p>

4

<p>I wouldn't retake the SAT if I were you. As far as I know, admissions frowns upon people who get a high score but choose to retake the SAT - they appear test-obsessed. However, if it's only your second time, it might not be that bad.</p>

<p>Also - you have a very strong interest in math and science. Are you sure you wouldn't rather apply to MIT or Caltech early? I applied (and was accepted) to both Yale and MIT and I ended up choosing Yale (although it was a very tough choice!) because, despite my interest in the sciences, I am also well-rounded and enjoy humanities. However, most of your ECs are in the area of math/science, which makes me think you would be better suited for a school like MIT (it also just received U.S. News ranking of #1). If you plan to major in math or hard sciences, Yale is not bad, but MIT is undoubtedly the best and employers in the field recognize that immediately. However, you might have very good reasons for preferring Yale. </p>

<p>In any case, your application looks strong to me. I did not have very many ECs either (or leadership positions) but I managed to improve my application by stressing areas of involvement. You should separate your ECs into categories with common themes (i.e. math/science, singing, community service, athletics ,etc.) so that there is some consistency in your application, rather than just citing unrelated ones. Also, don't underestimate the importance of the personal statement.</p>

<p>Good luck with Yale. Maybe I'll see you there next year.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the advice conwoman.</p>

<p>Hm..I never knew admissions officers could be that picky about your SAT scores. I always assumed they'd like that you went the extra mile to pull up your scores. Oh well...it's just my second time...but I see what you're saying. </p>

<p>One of the main reasons why I like Yale so much is because I also have interests that schools like MIT do not nurture as well as Yale does. Even though my EC's and my involvement outside of school do not exactly reflect it, I am deeply interested in abundance of subjects. Although I plan to major in math/science, I do want to pursue these interests to some extent during my undergrad career. Aside from harboring a love for math/sci, I also am interested in literature--mainly poetry, art, architecture, and photography. I may very likely end up going elsewhere after my undergraduate years, but I'll see. Plus, you can't beat Yale's campus or atmosphere!</p>

<p>I do recognize the importance of my personal statement. That's why I'm already drafting my essays now :P</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
Aside from harboring a love for math/sci, I also am interested in literature--mainly poetry, art, architecture, and photography.

[/quote]

You can't beat Yale architecture. :p <em>beams</em>

[quote]
Plus, you can't beat Yale's campus or atmosphere!

[/quote]
</p>

<h2>Well said. :)</h2>

<p>As far as chances go, I'd say they're good. Don't be too concerned with coming off too polished - I think your candor would be much appreciated at the Admissions Office (as was mine this year, I believe).</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

7

<p>I don't see too much of a point in retaking the SAT again, since as suburbian mentioned, some people with 1300s get in, and some with 1600s get rejected. I got a 1470 on my SAT and got in (although my ACT score was higher, 35); that was my second time taking the SAT, and it turned out to be a waste of time and money, since on my first try, I got a 1440, and a 30 point difference really doesn't mean much.</p>

<p>Your ECs really don't show any sort of interest at all for non-math/physics subjects, so I would focus on humanities and literature for the essays if you want to show them that you enjoy things other than math and science. I would also agree with you that your ECs are definitely your weak point. Personally, I think that once a person has reached a certain level of academic strength (e.g., a 3.8 GPA and a 1450 on the old SAT), the focus shifts away from the numbers and to the intangibles, like the ECs and the essays. It's a bit too late now to make much of a change with your ECs, so I would definitely concentrate on the essays and interview. (As a side note, I was not offered an interview because my school was "not covered by an alumni association.")</p>

8

<p>Hi, thanks for the input. I was wondering what you thought about "hooks."</p>

<p>In your post replying to my thread, you stated that I should probably discuss a more "humanities" facet of my academic interest in my essays for Yale. Is this because you believe that an applicant needs to be well-rounded? Or are you suggesting this based on my post stating that I would like to pursue both math/sci and humanities?</p>

<p>See, I thought I should emphasize my passion for math/science in my essays, since all my EC's point in that direction. And therefore, my "hook" would be math/science. </p>

<p>Is this the way to go, or did you have something else in mind when you said "so I would focus on humanities and literature for the essays if you want to show them that you enjoy things other than math and science"? </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

9

<p>I wouldn't try to expand yourself into anything that doesn't show how you truly are. Do what you love doing and you will be in love with whatever college you land in, as it will be a better match for you. I think admissions officers can tell when people might try to "extend their breadth" because you are obviously very math and science-oriented and it would be very hard to show that same interest in other areas -- at best it'd be denoted as "dabble" in the other realms.</p>

10

<p>My thoughts exactly Legendofmax. Thanks.</p>

11

<p>No problem. Despite being math and science-heavy, you have very impressive stats. Just take a look at tsunashima... he was very math-oriented like you are and he did just fine in the admissions process :) I myself am also very similar to you in terms of interests -- I also did well in admissions. Just be yourself and you'll do just fine... you're on a great track.</p>

12

<p>cool. congrats :)</p>