What to Expect from RD Admissions

Hello all,

I’m not really the sort of person to use CC very often, but I thought I might throw this feed out there such that I can perceive what others think of my application and my chances at the schools I applied to.

I’m a high-school senior from an academically rigorous public school in upstate New York. I don’t wish to outline all of my stats on a page like this, but here are a few:

GPA:
weighted: 97
unweighted: 93

ACT:
R-36, W-35, M-30, S-30, Composite 33

SAT IIL
World History: 800
American History: 790

Race: Mixed; White European, Middle Eastern, Indigenous Canadian (First Nations)

Not a first-gen, my parents both come from poor backgrounds and attended state schools near me.

ECs:

-10 hours weekly work as a host at a nearby upscale restaurant
-Content Director of ECOSOC committees for Model UN conference at Syracuse University, hosts about 800 students from around the state annually. Also received ‘best delegate’ award in a committee of about 170 delegates at the largest Model UN conference in the country.
-Communications Director in a non-profit I have been involved in since 10th grade…we bring STEM-based programming to inner-city children
-Eagle Scout
-Weekly Vocal Music Lessons, perfect score on several judged solos. Four years of participation in competitive school musical (two ensemble roles, two large supporting). Tap dance classes
-Played violin for 12 years, attending all-county and area all-state several years.
-Youth Activities at Synagogue
-Placed top 100 in the nation in several History Bee, Geography Olympiad Competition
-Founder & President of School’s Italian Club, raised over $150 in fundraiser for Italian Earthquake Relief Fund

Awards:
Nothing huge, just the best delegate award at Georgetown’s Model UN Conference, scholastic Honorable Mention for beadwork, several small National Latin Exam Awards, member of NHS

Classes & Grades:
-Earlier in high school, grades were a bit rough. Upper 80s, lower 90s in honors classes. Now, taking all AP and honors classes (except regents physics, wasn’t enough room in AP) and doing well, most 10th and 11th grade classes are mid-high 90s except for an 89 in Syracuse University Latin in 11th grade. Senior year grades not as high due to some family circumstances…should I outline this and send it to my schools?

LORs:
-Two very strong, extremely personal Letters of Recommendation; one is decent, outlined me working hard to succeed in a STEM class despite propensity towards the humanities. My Counselor Rec I’m sure is very good, as I’ve been close with my GC since I waltzed into her office to talk on the first day of school freshman year. The other letter is by my AP Comparative Politics Teacher and MUN advisor who I’m extremely close with - I am confident that it is an exceptional LOR.

Personal Statement:
A reflection on my choice to convert to Judaism as a preteen, a journey I am still on. It reflected on my thirst for knowledge and desire for endless learning throughout life. I’d say it was well written.

Supplementals:
They are all pretty decent, as I workshopped them to death with my composition teacher and my GC :slight_smile:

I’ve applied to several schools, and these are the results I’ve heard so far:
SUNY University at Buffalo - Accepted, Honors College, largest merit aid package without separate app.
University of Oklahoma - Accepted, Honors College, Largest Out of State merit aid package
Yale - Deferred, SCEA
Yale NUS - shortlisted for interview (awaiting decision on April 1)
University of Virginia - Rejected, EA
Awaiting more

I don’t know what to think of all this right now. I had interviews recently with some selective schools that went pretty well, in my opinion, especially one of the interviews. I’m just a bit worried as to how the acceptance letter season could go. With the grades, test scores, and ECs here, what do you all think I can realistically expect? I had decent confidence that my chances were as high as any other academic student, but after being rejected by UVA in the EA pool I don’t feel as confident. Any opinions here to help me out? Thank you.

Highly ranked state flagships for out of state applicants are very competitive, so should be considered reaches.

Yale is obviously a high reach for every applicant.

You are fortunate to have two strong acceptances already.

As to what you can realistically expect, it depends on where you applied. If they all have an under 10% acceptance rate in RD, I would say to get excited about one of the schools that has already shown you the love. If you have a mix of true matches, hopefully you’ll get some more acceptances.

Depends on how you are defining “not as high”. If’s only a slight dip, I would say nothing. If it’s more than that, your GC could potentially address it. For sure, you should not yourself.

Thank you. I applied to several reach schools and some targets. I’ve also demonstrated interest at every school I applied to that considers it.

The grades aren’t really that low…talking about a few high 80s grades. They do pale in comparison with the rest of my transcript, but it’s nothing too dramatic.

Glad to hear it! Hopefully you’ll get some further good news soon!

Quick update - was accepted tonight into the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill!! Woohoo!!!

Excellent!