What have you got to say?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Well... if you thought this will be a neat Thread... I'm sorry to disappoint you... IT's Chance TIME...</p>

<p>I haven;t scheduled an interview yet but I have been in contact with the local interviewer...</p>

<p>Name: =)
Age:17
Houston, Texas
African American Female wanting to go into the sciences...
Live in the third ward... if that means anything
Family income : <$20,000.</p>

<p>Public high school
Rank: 1/870 ( understand that my school isnt the most competitive school out there... just for some more clarification... the next five people in my class had SAT scores and ACT scores of 1750- 1890 and 23-27)
GPA: 4.6ish UW: 3.95 ( two B's only this year ( Calculus AB ( did really bad frist grading period but averaged out with a B by getting a high A the second grading period) and Physics C ( It was just a little too much for me at the begining of the year)
Clases Senior Year
AP Physics C
AP English Lit
AP Government
AP Macroeconomics
AP Calc AB ( self study BC to take test... couldnt take physics and BC)
German 2
(German 3 during summer just for fun)
PE... ugggg... so dreadful</p>

<p>Family: single parent household....
Siblings in college-2 Brother attends another ivy league school
SAT: Yikes.....
ACT: 31... kinda low...( December scores.... 26 English... dont know what happened... Math: 32 Reading 33 Science: 33 )
SAT2's still waiting on score: Biology E : 690
Took Math 1, 2, and Physics</p>

<p>Clubs: President of : German, SNHS, HOPE (service organization)
Sec: Debate, Acadec Dec.</p>

<p>Debate awars: loads... performed for Houston Health and Services Department...
Cardinal Health Inc. in Houston Texas
Horatio Alger State Winner
UIL state participant (5A school) ( Persuasive extemp)
TOC qualifier x2
TFA state qualifier in 6 events
NFL National qualifier in OO and FX and outround participant
Quarterfinalist in Impromptu at Nats
School Acadec Excellence award
National Finalist in speech competion
Questbridge College prep scholarship winner
National Merit Commended
National Achievement Semi Finalist
AP Scholar with Honor</p>

<p>Recent Awards: Academic Decathlon Regional Meet - Honors : Speech, Writing, Essay, and Economics.....
essays: about mom... kinda risky... how her death inspired me to enter the medical field</p>

<p>second optional essay : trip back to Nigeria where family was robbed ...also talked about how it opened my eyes up tot the fact that poverty is running rampant in Nigeria and what I will do to curtail its growth when I "grow up". </p>

<p>Teacher recs: pretty good
Counselor rec: better than average... I think he might add how i have to raise my two cousins as my father works two jobs to put food on the table...</p>

<p>My grades have dropped slightly this year because of the fact that I have to take care of my two cousins, and when I say take care, I mean take care of them.... wake up early in the morning to take them to day care... pick them up... come to my afterschool meetings... go home...help them with homework ... make dinner....do my homework while I wait for my dad.... the whole shabang..... I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses...even though I think I sound like it as I am writing this...</p>

<p>So what do you think... p.s.... I'm not one of those people who believe that they can get into any school because of AA or their URM status... give honest opinions..... because I cant change anything now can I.....</p>

2

<p>Of course, the 3rd Ward is famous!</p>

<p>I think your chances are very good. You will have an interesting essay and great recommendations. Ask your teachers to write specific examples in their recs, since that really helps the adcoms picture things.</p>

<p>Try to get your scores within the "range" of Yale, if you can, since that will help increase your chances.</p>

<p>If you have a good reason to, consider getting a 3rd letter of recommendation from someone who is not a teacher/counselor. Maybe someone in the community who knows you and your work ethic well?</p>

<p>P.S. this was my 2008th post.. pretty cool huh? :)</p>

3

<p>I'm no expert on chances, but just wanted to say you've been pretty amazing maintaining grades and ECs with your situation.
(The word situation really doesn't cover it, I'd say hardship, but looking at your post I know you don't look at it in that way, I'm sorry about your mother. I am in a single parent household as well.... )</p>

<p>I wish you all the best!</p>

4

<p>i've got a lot of respect for you. i hope you get in.</p>

5

<p>I completely agree with PosterX above. Try and get your scores in the Yale range (that will really boost your chances) and also try and get a third recommendation from someone who knows you well and may give further insight into your current situation</p>

6

<p>I'm curious, what is Yale ACT range?</p>

7

<p>the site said 31-34</p>

8

<p>you certainly have a great shot. I was reading over some of the achievements, and some of those things I did that I never really thought about putting down: ap scholar and questbridge college prep scholarship (that was just for the stanford conference). does anyone think this is such a big deal (I did apply through Questbridge originally, and at the time, I didn't think that a one day conference was such a big deal)?</p>