What do i need?

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm a White Male Freshman at a tough TOUGH public highschool on the west coast.
I'm on the honors track, taking
Spanish 2
Biology
World History
Geometry Honors
English
PE
this year, but i have only have about a 3.4 GPA for the first semester (i'm hoping Finals next week will bring this up, i slacked off for the first month or so and it really hurt me)
i've taken Piano for 5 years
Before you think that i have no chance of going anywhere, i test VERY well, i've already started studying for the SATs and i'm an excellent essay writer, so i'm confident that i'll have a good SAT score to show off.
here's how my next years are shaping up to look like
SOPHOMORE-
Spanish 3
Chemistry
Algebra 2 Trig Honors
AP Euro History
English 2
PE</p>

<p>Junior-
Spanish 4 Honors
Physics (maybe AP or honors, i'm fearful of it being too difficult when combined with my other hard classes)
AP Statistics
English 3 Honors
US History
PE</p>

<p>Senior-
Spanish 5 AP
AP Econ
AP Chemistry (?)
AP Calc
Archietecture and Design</p>

<p>i'll have done about 110 hours of Community service over this time, as my school requires it.</p>

<p>The one thing that worries me is the amount of competition at my school may cause me to have a lower class rank than i would otherwise like... </p>

<p>My goal is Yale, what do you think? Can i achieve Yale like this? Do i need to do more? Any input is awesome, ty.</p>

<p><em>Edit</em> oh also, i'm an American citizen, and i don't need any financial aid.</p>

2

<p>I think you are on track to go to Yale. Don't slack off anymore. Good luck.<br>
By the way I have applied to Yale, waiting for the decision. I don't think asking for financial aid hurts there, they have a lot of money. Also, knowing a few people doesn't help unless those people are Dean of Admissions, Yale President, trustees, etc. Further, if one of your parents becomes US President, you are 100% certain to get in even if you slack off!</p>

3

<p>yes I know, grades start to matter and I let them slip...
anyway, we know someone who knows someone who knows the Dean of Admissions, so it's kind of a long shot.
Also, I have some good contacts for a letter of recommendation, 1 counselor, 1 teacher, and my piano teacher have expressed their willingness to write me "glowing" letters.
ty for the quick response</p>

4

<p>A 3.4 overall probably won't cut it no matter how high your SAT's are. Try to get it up to 3.6, at the very least. 3.8 is even better. :2cents:</p>

5

<p>well i hope to definately raise it up as much as i can... we'll see what happens though.
Thanks for another post.</p>

<p>BTW does anyone know of anything else i should be doing? besides getting the GPA up?</p>

6

<p>You haven't mentioned too many of your ECs. You'll definitely need some well FOCUSED and OUTSTANDING ECs to make your application shine. Keep in mind that almost EVERYONE who applies to yale already have high GPAs and high SAT/ACT scores so it comes down to everything else you have to offer.</p>

7

<p>GPA/Transcript are most important, aim for all As in hard classes</p>

8

<p>I was afraid i didn't have enough ECs, which is why i posted here for input.... should i just do more community service? found a club? I've never been good at sports so those are kinda out... i'm guessing Piano isn't enough though :/ lol
thanks for the input</p>

9

<p>also, i've heard that Yale looks very favorable on prosepctive students raising money for it? Has anyone heard anything similair?</p>

10

<p>Just a note on teacher recs - it might be a bit too early to be thinking about them now, because colleges really want them from teachers who taught you in your junior year. If you know that you will have that teacher for another class later, that's good, but I'd really wait until you have a better feel for your relationships in your junior year.</p>

<p>Also, I saw that you are thinking of taking Physics AP junior year - that might be difficult without calculus under your belt.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

11

<p>
[quote]
also, i've heard that Yale looks very favorable on prosepctive students raising money for it?

[/quote]

I have heard of students being admitted to Harvard after their parents donated half a million bucks to the school... If you could raise that much money the adcom would certainly look at your application quite favorably.</p>

12

<p>^ right, I think that students are only marked by development if it looks like the family will donate in the hundred thousands. Big stuff.</p>

13

<p>bleh, i was thinking i could raise a few thousand, but 100s are out of my reach...
ALSO, thanks for the input on AP physics, and teacher recs, hadn't thought about either of those.</p>

14

<p>If you think you can raise a few thousand $, why not use that money to do something more extraordinary that might really help your application?</p>

15

<p>such as...?</p>

<p>I like where it's going though</p>

16

<p>A big community service project maybe?
Spending a summer volunteering in a developemental country seems to be quite helpful, especially if you raise the money necesarry yourself and not just get it from your parents or an outside organization.</p>

<p>Is there something your community lacks? Like ....., regular entertainment for people in nursing homes? A wide-spread recycling program? Sidewalks? (I'm trying to be creative, but I'm not good at it I guess)</p>

<p>EDIT: Sorry, didn't notice you're only a freshman ;)</p>

17

<p>no no, it's a good idea... i'll see where i can go with this... thanks alot!</p>