@LilHopefulYalie Dude first off I absolutely love your username it’s so relatable 
Second of all congrats on finishing your common app! I totally understand how you feel too. Even I find it way too surreal to believe that it’s actually our turn to start applying to Yale and other colleges I just can’t wrap my head around it yet.
I hope the best of luck to you too dude! 
Exactly! Sometimes I wonder if I’m this anxious so early in the year, imagine how anxious we’ll be on the day we submit our applications and decisions day. I probably won’t be able to move! Someone will have to open my status update for me ? All the best of luck to everyone!
Hey fellow Yale applicants! The on campus interviews for the summer are available online so check them out!
Also, I got a 1490 on the SAT, and I plan on retaking in August for SCEA, but should I be worried if I don’t improve my score?
@cram545 As we all know, a lot of the best scholars are going to be applying to YALE with us. So my advice to everyone is to just aim for a perfect score to put yourself at the top
@cram545 Hey! Welcome to the Yalie support group chat!!
As for your question, here’s my advice. Though @LilHopefulYalie has a point—we’re competing against the best of the best—I have to disagree.
I mean the average SAT score is around a 1500 so if you do believe you can get up there after some more prep then I encourage you to do it. But in the end if you get a 1490 again it is not the end of the world. Sure it’s below average but you’re still close to their benchmark and if you get rejected it’s most likely not because of your test score.
So many factors weigh into the application, after all it’s holistic admission. In fact, the best of the best won’t have perfect SAT’s themselves.
Test scores and GPA are only a measure to see if you can handle the coursework at Yale and to see if you challenged yourself academically. GPA if anything is more important than test scores since they measure your overall academic performance and improvement over the course of 4 years unlike test scores that measure how well you can adapt to the test taking strategies over the course of 4 hours. Because everyone comes from different school districts and their GPA’s are measured differently, Test scores are mainly a way to standardize academic performance. Test scores matter but not as much as we think they do. They’re only a benchmark measurer and even if you score slightly below your application is still considered.
Long story short, try again if you believe you can improve.
But if you get a 1490 again keep in mind you are very close to the benchmark to a point where if you get rejected it’s not because of your test score.
And to everyone who’s reached a 31+ on their ACT
and a 1490+ on their SAT. It’s not worth stressing yourself out because you’re within their range. Even if it’s at the lower end you’re still—at—their—benchmark and that is literally all the matters. Once you hit that benchmark you’re good and you’ll already have your foot in the door. You don’t need a perfect score. Complete misconception.
What matters most, if anything, is your GPA/Transcript and especially, especially, especially, your passion because your passion is what sets you apart from all the applicants you’re competiting against—including us.
Well said @Lunarlitgend
@cram545 LOL! I’m glad to hear that!! Hopefully that helped!!
Guys do you have any idea when the “Preferred Start Term” option on the Common App will change to Fall 2020. And can you guys give me a little advice on the what inspires you short answer. I removed mine because it lacked passion and that is one of the things the admissions officers are looking for.
@LilHopefulYalie I believe the common app opens up in August.
@LilHopefulYalie I second @cram545
And as for the essays I did plan them a bit but I’m focusing more on my teacher recommendations and resumé right now.
However, if it’ll help, I think I’m going to write about how I’m inspired by the sun/sunny weather. It sounds pretty silly I know. It’s just an idea and it may change but right now it’s an answer I’m really drawn to for representing me as a person.
For what inspires you just jot down a bunch of childhood memories, anecdotes, times you were inspired, etc and see what you can come up with. Whatever you feel like shows who you are as a person then go with it even if it does sound stupid. 
@Lunarlitgend I agree as many said it’s not about if it sounds silly or stupid; but that it should show you as a person and what your like.
@cram545 I researched the opening date and it says that the Common App changes on August 1
Tomorrow I’m going to ask my teachers for a letter of recommendation. . . as a shy, quiet kid, I’m so nervous! i hate asking for favors, and it makes me feel so vulnerable and exposed. aghh, but everyone has to do it, so here goes nothing.
@beautifulchaos I wish you the best of luck! You got this.
Have a nice day.
@beautifulchaos OMG DUDE SERIOUSLY!? WAIT HOW ARE YOU GONNA DO IT!? DO YOU HAVE A RESUME READY!? SPILL THE TEAAAA!!!
I’m going to be asking my teachers next week because I still need to put everything together before I approach them.
@excoverer LOL I think it’s funny how you always end your comments with “have a nice day” it’s so iconic
@excoverer Thank you so much! I’ll think of your words of encouragement when I ask my teachers tomorrow
@Lunarlitgend I’m just going to go up to them and ask, lmao… I’ll probably give them any materials (i.e. a resume/brag sheet) later. My school doesn’t have a formal teacher rec. process, and everyone I’ve talked to has pretty much just gone up and asked their teachers casually. I really just want to get it over with and not have to think about it anymore (some of my friends literally asked in March or April, so late may is actually kind of late at my school…). Also, good luck asking your teachers next week!! I’m sure it will go well for you, since, from what I’ve seen on this forum, you’re so nice, positive, and encouraging!
@beautifulchaos I wish you the best of luck! In fact, when you’re going to hand out your resume and brag sheet you should take the time to have like a 15-20 minute (30 minutes if it goes well) conference with your teacher to talk about your future plans with them, what colleges you plan on applying to and why, your goals and values, the theme for your application, your interests/major and why, and, most importantly, mention some memories/discussions you’ve had with them in the class that show case your best qualities. This could give them some ideas on what to write about you for your Rec. In fact you can even mention “[Insert School here] values ______ so can you emphasize that quality about me in my rec?”
I know you mentioned that you’re shy so you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to especially if it makes you feel uncomfortable. But breaking out of your shell for a little while to have this conference with your teachers will really go a long way. It’ll give them a sense of clarity and better guidance when writing your recommendation in comparison to the vast bundles of recs they already/also have to write for other students. Plus, if it makes you feel more comfortable you can always write it down and hand it over to your teachers with your resumé and brag sheet.
@beautifulchaos Aww thank you!
@beautifulchaos how did it go today? did you get what you needed?
@beautifulchaos Yeah, I hope it went really well! I asked my teachers yesterday and today as well, so I’m in a similar boat as you.
@Lunarlitgend Thanks so much. I really enjoy ending every comment with that message simply because I want to spread those feelings everywhere as much as I can.
Have a nice day.