<p>I know that there are probably other people who have asked this same question and you guys are tired of seeing topics like this, but I'm genuinely concerned about getting into college---and I'd really love to go to Yale (or Dartmouth/Brown). </p>
<p>Nearing the end of my Junior year, I feel like I've done okay. My stats right now are as follows: </p>
<p>3.79 Weighted GPA (deplorable, I know...I have no idea what my UW is. It should definitely go up by the end of this year, though.)
1890 SAT I (My first time taking it. I'm going to study over the summer and pray that I can get a 2100 in October)
620 SAT II Literature (I'm retaking it in June, along with Math II--hopefully my score will go up a decent amount.)
Since my sophomore year, I've gotten Straight A's. I did okay my freshman year, mostly B's. At this point, I am unsure of my ranking.
Two years of doing my school's Spring Musical. (Probably three, considering I'm doing it again next year.) I was a principal dancer this year and a part of the crew and chorus last year. (10th, 11th)
Volleyball (11th)
Film Club (9th, 10th)
GSA (11th)
Mock Trial (10th)
A Free Improvisation Class (9th)
I volunteer frequently at a local theater as an usher, all together I probably have about 150 hours of community service with everything that I've done.
I took extra AP classes on Saturdays both this year and last year, and probably again next year if that counts for anything?
I live in Philadelphia, so I'm going to try and participate in the Young Scholars Program and take a class at UPenn next year.
I was one of six finalists in a city-wide essay writing contest. Other than that I don't really have any awards. </p>
<p>...there are also some other little things which I'm still wondering if I should add them to my application or not, but despite my awful SAT scores and lackluster GPA, what do you think? </p>
<p>(I'm also a First Generation College Student, but I doubt that means much...)</p>
<p>I’m thinking that with a 3.79 weighted GPA, 1890 SAT 1, and not a single extra-curricular activity sustained throughout high school to date, Yale is more than a long shot. There are many other fine schools that are better matches and reaches. Seek out the assistance of you guidance counselor and do put your heart into finding safeties and match schools that you love.</p>
<p>Realistically, your stats are not up to par with “usual applicants”. However, if you really love Yale, and can show that passion through your essays, you might have a chance! I always say: if you don’t apply, your chance is zero; but if you do, you have at least a possibility!</p>
<p>Thanks for not explicitly pointing and laughing at me! And yeah, I figured I was not really up to Yale standards, but things should be a little different (at least with my GPA and SAT scores) come next year–but yeah, I do need to find a lot of safeties and better match schools. Thanks for your help, guys!</p>
<p>Best of luck to you Oceanz. But be aware that your GPA can’t climb too much. Assuming you’ve taken 5 semesters to date, and will get straight As this semester and first semester Senior year:</p>
<p>(5 x 3.79) + (2 x 4.0) = 26.95 divided by seven semesters = 3.85</p>
<p>Agree with all of the posters here. Apply to Yale if it is your dream school, but please do have wonderful safeties as well. A relatively low weighted (!) GPA + no real consistency in your ECs + a relatively low SAT score (for Yale standards) make for a pretty tough sell to the three schools you mentioned. However, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of great US schools that would love to have you. Do a search in College Board for colleges that match your current stats and you may be amazed at the selection you will have.</p>
<p>Thanks! And yeah, I’m liking Skidmore more and more every day, haha.</p>
<p>EDIT: Also, my GPA hasn’t been updated since the end of my Sophomore year, I don’t know if this is how it works at other places, but at my school they aren’t updated until the end of the year.</p>