Wishing for Yale (et al.)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Do I have any hope for Yale (EA?), Duke, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Wash U, Princeton, and Harvard? </p>

<p>I am a rising senior at a very rigorous math+science boarding academy in the Midwest.</p>

<p>SAT I: 2300 (CR=720, M=800, W=780)
SAT IIs: plan to take Chemistry, French with Listening, and Math II in October; all should be 700+</p>

<p>GPA: 3.850
Rank: N/A</p>

<p>AIME Qualifier (took AMC 12B)
National French Honor Society Laureate </p>

<p>Grades: (all classes are the most difficult offered/honors)
skipped ninth grade
tenth grade: 1 B- and 2 B+; 1 B+
eleventh grade: all A's</p>

<p>ECs:
Varsity Scholastic Bowl
Math Team
Chief editor of school math and science magazine
Chief editor of literary magazine
President of school Music Council
Studied piano and violin for avg of 8 years (and oboe for 4 years)</p>

<p>Piano:
- Performed concerto 3 times with local symphony at Civic Center (praised by local newspaper as one of the Performances of the Year, along with Yo-Yo Ma)
- Solo Piano Recital at university hall at age 11
- Performed on nationally syndicated radio program at age 8
-winner of local symphony orchestra's Young Artist’s Concerto Competition
-countless other piano competition awards and master classes with acclaimed professionals</p>

<p>Violin:
- concertmaster for school orchestra since the third grade
- principal second violinist for youth symphony
- concertmaster for various honors orchestra festivals </p>

<p>Race: Korean-American</p>

<p>I am a pretty good writer and am sure that I can let my personality shine through in my essays. The teacher recs should be stunning. I am hoping that my consistent grade improvement will be a bonus. The other colleges I plan to apply to are U of Chicago and Northwestern, btw.</p>

2

<p>you're way too asian and need to play some sports. who cares if you get into yale if your life is boring and sucks. i think what you need is some weed.</p>

3

<p>He's right about the azn thing. I know about 15 people who are you, and i don't know that many people</p>

4

<p>An Asian that's good at science and math and plays a classical instrument? GASPS! NO offense or anything.</p>

5

<p>stay away from that weed. it's a gateway drug. it'll mess your life up real bad.</p>

<p>but on the flip side
colleges <3 potheads</p>

6

<p>You can't take French with Listening in October.</p>

7

<p>great ECs, stereotypical but good nonetheless. </p>

<p>good SAT</p>

<p>bad GPA</p>

<p>i say 40% chance EA.</p>

8

<p>Weird responses here--and none serious except the last two above. I guess it's because of the upcoming holiday weekend.</p>

<p>As far as your real chances--your AI is 210 to 220 (hard to say without actual test scores and estimated rank--you didn't even give your class size).</p>

<p>Presuming you are around a 218 AI, that means that around 40% of those that apply to Yale will have better grades and test scores than you. Yale only accepted 8% of applicants this past year, and only 6% of regular decision applicants. Your ECs are great, your musical ability is quite phenomenal--but as other posters have noted--this is kind of common for Asians. Still, this boosts your chances--but probably not enough given no hooks and the level of the competition. I give you roughly a 35% to 45% chance of acceptance at Yale taking everything into account. Your odds at Harvard and Princeton will be similar. You will have a better chance at MIT and Duke (around 50-50)</p>

<p>P.S. I think you would have better than a 50% shot at Chicago and Northwestern--neither of which rate much lower than Yale in terms of quality. And I consider you about a 80% shot at WUSL. You also need to add a safety school, since none of the ones you mention are in the least bit considered safeties. Best of luck.</p>

9

<p>To those who responded seriously--sincere thanks. Btw, I have volunteered at a hospital for 100+ hours (yes, typical) but also enjoy playing the piano and violin for all the patients--and they love it. This hobby is really meaningful for me. Also, there are around 200 people in my class.</p>

10

<p>I'll leave you at 30-40. Sorry, you are fighting too many Asians that have those EC's, those stats...</p>

<p>You better write a really good essay.</p>

11

<p>Midwest</p>

<p>Would that be IMSA?</p>

<p>I know of very few High Schools were you can skip 9th grade other than IMSA.</p>

12

<p>You seem very accomplished in piano. I wish I were as good as you. :P</p>

13

<p>I live in KS.</p>

14

<p>If Yale is your first choice you should add Rice to your list. It is more like Yale than any of the others on your list for about 10k per year less. Rice also offers Interim Decision that is non-binding.</p>