it seems that the ivies, stanford, and mit are pretty consistent when it comes to acceptances. i know it’s impossible to guarantee whether or not someone will get in to any, but it seems like Yale is considerably harder to predict. does anyone feel the same way? what does yale look for in apps? it’s my top choice right now (as a junior) so i’d love to get some input on this. thanks!!!
Your right. It is hard to say what they are truly looking for and someone else’s route to admission may not be as successful for you or anyone else. Personally, I want to go to Stanford, but usually all the ivies and ivie plus schools look for similar things.
- Yale wants good grades and SAT/ACT scores, im pretty sure you knew that though lol. However, if you didnt get a 4.0+ gpa, don't worry about it as there a plenty more things that go into a college app.
- You'll find that most people at Yale and other Ivies have some sort of talent or passion. Show your talent/passion on your application. You're a junior so there is still time to enter some competitions and what not to showcase it. It could also be shown through your course selection, etc.
- Do great on the essay portion. Start early and have people read over them, but don't let anyone take away your voice in it.
- Don't be afraid to gloat on your application. List all the things you've accomplished, awards given, community service done, etc. This is definitely not the time to be modest or "cute" haha.
Idk what else to add haha. I hope this help provide some information though!! I wish you good luck on getting into Yale 
There’s no one thing that will get you into HYPSM or any other top school (other than maybe a Nobel Prize).
This article is one that I’ve often seen posted here on CC and can give a good explanation of what highly selective schools are looking for. It’s from MIT, but same principles apply.
http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways
Don’t forget one very important “soft” factor – do you play nice? Really. Do you positively influence others and it’s clear by your teacher recs that you’re likable.
One of the best ways to sink your chances at a place like Yale is to come off sounding like a jerk.
@T26E4 Is your prof pic JE’s crest? thanks for your response!
Yes it is. Go Spiders!
Go Spiders indeed!!! JE Class of 82 here. My D is currently in JE too!!
that’s exactly where i want to be!!! i have their crest on the back of my notebook haha.
@T26E4 I know this thread is from a while ago, but how important is the “soft” factor that you mentioned above? is this something that is unique to yale? i have read some articles talking about the idea that the ivies are starting to focus more on kindness, but how true is this? how should applicants communicate it and what are the schools specifically looking for? thanks so much!
People who are incredibly invested in the school read the apps and Yale and others where holistic reading gets deep (I posit that some holistic reading is only shallow – but that’s the subject for another day).
Of course these readers will be influenced by people whom they believe will be positive contributors to the community and life of the university. A rubric I’ve often heard is: “Would you like this kid to be your roommate?”
Kindness, curiosity, influencer, energetic, profound – whatever positive characteristics you can think of.
What to avoid appearing? Bland, entitled, intolerant, robotic, in-authentic, snobbish
And certainly no one claims infallibility in the admissions process. We all knew tossers when we were there. But most of the haughty and self-important folks quickly come down to earth. Due to the sheer numbers of high accomplishing folks, humility comes quickly to everyone. Sometimes it’s self-realized, sometimes it’s imposed.
An anecdote to share with you: Within the first few days of Freshman year, all of us were assigned a faculty member as a freshman advisor. Mine called a meeting at one of the common rooms to introduce himself and for all his advisees to meet one another right before classes began. About a dozen guys gathered together and we sat in a circle on various couches and chairs that we pulled together.
One fellow insisted that we call him “Chateau” (curious as this is French for “house”). Whatever, right? Well as the professor begins his meeting, Chateau gets up from his chair and lies down right in the center of the circle, reclining with his hands behind his head, ostensibly listening to the professor, mostly wanting to draw attn to himself. The advisor noticed this but didn’t say anything. Around the circle, there were rolling eyes and smirks and thoughts of “Who does this guy think he is?”. Later as we were talking one of the other guys said “Hey Big Toe… oops, sorry, Chateau…” That caught us and several of us chuckled as this guy was just knocked down a few pegs. I heard that later on, Chateau reverted back to his given name. The witty guy turned out to be in my residential college and became one of my best friends. He happened to be an Andover alum and could sniff out posers easily. He was very down to earth and a great guy – funny and a super quick wit.
Maybe he meant chapeau, since he was clearly an a__hat.
From the other side of the ledger, DS has many tales of unassuming and humble Yale students. He and his friends don’t wear their accomplishments on their sleeves. Since I’m so quick to brag on him, one can only ascribe that to his mother’s influence
One student he brings up is a fellow RC member, someone he could see was physically “jacked,” but whom he knew for a year with no idea that the guy was the world record holder in some kind of rowing event.