<p>I have a 2350 SAT and decent SAT2 scores, but I got a 4.3 w GPA this term (with four APs.)
This may show that I'm lazy, but I'm also an aspiring cellist who's performed nationally/internationally at festivals and competitions. Do I even have a chance with Yale? I know a professor who's very interested in taking me/writing me a rec letter. If you could chance me that'd be great. Thanks
laughalottt is offline </p>
<p>that's 3 B+s this year... i had an a- avg last year and a 3.33 gpa frosh year
i go to an extremely competitive high school (top five according to wallstreet journal)
am i screwed</p>
<p>If a prof goes to bat for you it would be possible to get in. Without that, highly unlikely.</p>
<p>Also, when you attend a top high school your first line of competition is your own classmates and chances are many are also applying. You probably have legacies in your class as well.</p>
<p>With a recommendation, superb test scores, and an ability to play an instrument on an international level, you certainly stand a chance. I disagree with hmom5’s logic; even though you might face lots of competition within your school, the fact is that a high number of your class will go to top schools, and so your rank (which I’m assuming is not in the top 10%) will not hurt you like it does at other schools. Plus, since you go to a school with a high reputation, colleges are much more likely to understand a lower GPA.</p>
<p>Regardless, I do suggest that you also aim for lower colleges. Yale is difficult for everyone except for 1st gen URM recruited athletes with 4.0 GPAs, and 2400 SATs.</p>
<p>Having sat in the adcom chair, I can tell you the first thing any college will do is compare kids from the same school to other applicants from that school. No matter how wonderful the high school is, Yale will only take a few non legacy/non recruited athlete/non minority students from it. This candidate got three B’s junior year, unless he goes to a school with extreme grade deflation, he has classmates that did considerably better. Without serious pull from a prof who is listened to, chances are not good.</p>