<p>I am a high school student in Ireland with hopes of applying to Yale at the end of high school. I have currently just completed my Junior Certificate which is the equivalent to 9th Grade in the United States. I was hoping someone could offer me some guidance on what I should be doing for the next three years to ensure I'll be a suitable candidate for 2016 (or is it 2020, I honestly don't really get how all this stuff works) entry. I understand that I need to sit the SAT and two SAT Subject tests. I also understand I need to complete the Common Application when it's time to apply. My main questions are in term of the comparison to the Irish education system to the American one. </p>
<p>Our high school consists of 6 years whereas the American one is 4 years long. Would the courses I take over the six years be considered the same as those taken over the 4 years in America? For example, I've taken French for the past three years but won't be taking it for the next three. Can I still say I've taken three years of French on the Common Application? The same applies to Geography. Also, I take all my courses at Higher Level in Ireland. This is the highest level I can take the courses in Ireland, is this same as a honors course in America. We don't have the option of taking classes any more advanced than higher level. Will this affect me when I'm applying for Yale against American students who have taken several AP classes? </p>
<p>At present, does Yale have many Irish undergraduate students and do they accept many students from Ireland? Is there a quota figure or maximum amount of students the college can accept from Ireland? Do they send out any representatives to Ireland to meet prospective students? Finally, does my Leaving Certificate (the examination used in Ireland to determine college entry) have any relevance to my application to Yale?</p>
<p>That's all the questions I have at the moment. I'm sorry to be taking up your time, but my school counselor didn't have any experience with the American college application process. I deeply appreciate any help you can offer. Thanks! :)</p>
<p>“Would the courses I take over six years be considered…?”</p>
<p>Most likely not. Adcoms recognize AP courses immediately and can analyze the rigor and merit of each one. If you’ve taken French for 3 years, then you will need to see whether 3 years of French in the Irish pedagogical system gives you proficiency in French or not. Ask your guidance counselor and be honest with yourself when choosing courses. Ask yourself whether your courseload challenges you or not. If you can take a foreign language for 6 years, then you should do so as the international competition is already cut-throat.</p>
<p>“Will this affect me when I’m applying…”</p>
<p>Absolutely not. If you’ve taken the highest level of courses offered in Ireland, they don’t expect you to have taken AP courses, especially if it’s not offered. Many students here in America go to private schools that don’t offer AP and still get into top schools because they make the most of their resources.</p>
<p>“Is there a quota figure…”</p>
<p>No. If a hundred Irish students in the international pool are all very distinguished and extremely talented (and highly desirable), then they will try to admit every one. Adcoms try to sculpt a diverse and well-rounded (over all well rounded not individually well rounded) class but oftentimes this diversity goes beyond race and pertains to experiences, talents, and perspectives. If you offer something new to Yale, then don’t worry about other Irish yale applicants.</p>
<p>I’ll leave your other questions for others to answer, as I have no background knowledge of the yale student body or the leaving certificate.</p>
<p>To be considered you will need good to stellar grades, standardized test scores that are within the same grade range and you should have taken the most rigorous classes (available at your school) within your area(s) of interest. This puts you on par with the rest of the applicant pool.</p>
<p>In addition I suggest pursuing two tracks of activities. One track should be a general, community service, school leadership track (again, most of the applicants will have that on their resume) and the other should be an specific academic interest track with very active participation and hopefully some awards or prizes achieved in that activity. Examples of the second track for U.S. students would be academic teams such as maths or science or possibly an interest you passionately pursue outside of the school context. It is important to do both these “tracks” consistently for the last 3-4 years of high school.</p>
<p>In addition, keep in mind that the Letter of Recommendation (required by Yale) from a teacher will have a very significant impact on your chances. You should nurture a positive and honest relationship with a teacher who will be your instructor during the last or second to last year of high school.</p>
<p>Good luck and kudos to you for trying to plan your success!</p>
<p>That’s fair enough. What I meant in terms of the French, is for example I know UCLA requires students to have done at least 2 years of a language and also 3 years of a social studies subject. I have taken Geography and French for the past three years. I can no longer do so due to timetable restrictions and Irish requirements (Irish universities are always going to be my back-up so I need to be careful). Will my three years cover these requirements? I will be doing Economics and Irish (it’s an actual subject course here in Ireland) for the next three year so I’m actually thinking I should be okay, but just in case? </p>
<p>Thank you! I understand that all students are in competition against each other essentially, I was just wondering if there was say only one place could be offered to Irish applicants or something like that! Thanks anyways! :D</p>
<p>My grades for this year have been mediocre (good but not Yale material) however, from September forward this will all change and I’ll be putting 100% effort in to my grades. I’m hoping to start SAT Practice this year and possibly (depending on my progress) sit the test at the end of this year to see how I get on. All going well I’ll try taking three SAT IIs at the end of the following year. All my classes are being taken at the highest possible level. I haven’t nor hope to take any class at an easier level. I have a keen interest in Science so I will be taking three years of Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Applied Maths at the highest possible level in Ireland. Would this dedication to Science be an advantage to me? I’m hoping to pursue Science in some form in university anyways?</p>
<p>In Ireland 4th Year (10th grade in American terms) is a year set aside extra curriculars so I hope to attain a large resume of ECs next year. I’ll be doing work experience, a Young Social Innovator Project, the Gaisce (Irish President’s Award) and many other activities. I’ve already been the Team Captain of the Irish Robotics team who won the National Finals and competed in the World Championships in LA last April. I hope to do a lot of activities over the next three years so I hope ECs won’t be a problem to my application.</p>
<p>I have wonderful relationships with many of my teachers. I honestly don’t think getting two killer letters should be an issue. </p>
<p>Hey, I applied from Northern Ireland this year and was waitlisted. There was definitely one girl from Ireland who was accepted but she’s going on a rowing scholarship. </p>
<p>In terms of what exams they’ll take into consideration for you… They have admission counsellors who know all about different education systems so they will have someone who knows about junior cert and leaving cert and will be able to understand those grades in comparison to APs. Your junior cert is fairly similar to my GCSEs and they took those for me into account. </p>
<p>The mos important things will be your SAT scores and your extra currciulars/community service. </p>
Just to clarify–Yale does not offer any athletic scholarships. It does recruit athletes, and someone may gain admission because of athletic ability (as long as they also have sufficient academic ability), but they will not get a scholarship, beyond the need-based aid available to everybody.</p>
<p>They do, but not beyond half the amount of tuition as was agreed by all Ivy League members. It’s maybe just not referred to as a ‘scholarship’. </p>
<p>But anyway, that has nothing to do with the original post to no new to pick at small details! I know that girl plus a school friend who is going to Princeton this year to row and i’m pretty certain she received money based on her rowing ability.</p>
<p>All Ivies only offer finaid on need basis. So getting recruited for a sport to Yale allow you to have access to the unparalleled pool of finaid money, but it’s your parents’ income and your stats (independent/depenent) is all that matter in the amount of aid you get.</p>