<p>This last spring, I was award something called the Yale Book Award by the Yale alumni association of my area. Has anyone ever heard of this? It's supposed to be awarded to individuals who would be good candidates for applying to Yale. I would indeed love to go to a school like Yale (I am currently researching schools like Brown, and the like), but I find it hard to believe that I would be considered a good candidate. Tell me what you think based on the following.</p>
<p>GPA: 4.28ish, weighted. 4.0 unweighted
Rank: 2 out of 399
Taking the most academically rigorous courses available; 10 honors/pre-AP courses, 7 AP courses completed by end of senior year
Extracurricular activities - NHS (committee chair), Marching Band (Section leader/rank leader, takes up a HUGE amount of my time when combined with mandatory pep band), Japan Bowl (language competition, got second place in regional comp. this last year), Member of Japanese Language Honor Society</p>
<p>My SAT scores were very disappointing, considering I got a 215 on my PSAT. I scored well below my projected score with a combined score of 2020 (can't remember specific stats at the moment, although I believe I got 740 on writing and got an 11 on my essay).</p>
<p>My ACT score was a little better. I got 30 for english, 33 for math, 29 for reading and science for a composite of 30. I got a 31 for my composite on my english/writing with an 11 on my essay. I will most likely take this one over again.</p>
<p>I will at a bare minimum end up as a Commended Scholar (I don't know if I have a chance for becoming a semifinalist) and I will most likely end up as an AP Scholar once I get my AP scores from this last spring.</p>
<p>I am sure I am missing other information, but that's a start I suppose. Once again, I find it hard to evaluate whether or not my credentials are good enough to be considered a "prospective Yale candidate." Opinions are greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>The Yale Book Award is sponsored by local alumni, but they don't necessarily have a say in who receives it. Most Yale Book Awards are determined by high school guidance counselors. The book award is a recruiting tool to get Yale's name out to top students. It is not a recruiting tool in the same way athletes are recruited. Yale itself has nothing to do with who receives the award. </p>
<p>Your being given the award probably means that your high school counselors think highly of you and that you are one of the top students in your class. There is no reason why you shouldn't apply to Yale, but the book award doesn't give you any special benefits in the admission process.</p>
<p>book awards DO help your app, dont know what fhimas is talking about. it won't give you a special push at yale, and it won't hurt you if you apply to harvard or something, it's just a school award. after all, it is awarded to you by your school (chosen by guidance counselors and teachers too at some schools).</p>
<p>I don't know how many Yale gives out, but local Harvard Clubs give out nearly 2,000 Harvard Book Awards every year. </p>
<p>Obviously, all the winners aren't going to apply, let alone be admitted, but I don't see how winning one of these awards can possibly hurt your application. After all, your alumni interview will probably be with somebody from the same group that awarded you the prize only a few months earlier!</p>
<p>jimbob1225 - book awards are just another way of saying you have a great transcript. They DON'T (at least from my experience at my school) recognize number of extra courses taken, ECs/involvement (total). They're awards for the little things you have done INSIDE of your school. Of course, they're really nice to get - but ultimately that kind of recognition will be for your college adcoms and teachers writing recs to decide. Ours seemed COMPLETELY based on transcript and hardcore involvement in large departments of our school - which lead to more faculty advocating for a particular student.</p>
<p>well the book awards at our school are not based on transcript. several teachers have told me that they are based on how nice you are i.e. whether you're likeable. the criteria in the book award read like "leadership, respect for others" and other fluff like that</p>
<p>I can only speculate as to how I actually got the book. I have a hard time saying an extraordinary amount of good things about myself, but I am a particularly hard worker...perhaps my integrity has given me the extra boost.</p>
<p>I read the book, and I thought it was interesting. Another student at my school got the Harvard Book Award, and he is ranked first in my class. The correlation between rank and getting the award nonetheless makes me a little suspicious...</p>
<p>I personally would be thrilled to attend a school like Yale, but I am well aware that my credentials are not extraordinarily impressive. I did leave out other information regarding my musical background (awards, competitions, etc.) and work experience, and hobbies, but overall I feel like I would have the capacity to succeed in a Yale environment. Like I said before, I have worked extraordinarily hard for where I am today, and I almost feel like if I had great recommendations (which I would probably be able to obtain) and an outstanding essay (I have been told by many teachers that I have a noticeably outstanding ability to write), I could have...an odd chance. Any opinions on this idea? I feel like I have worked too hard thus far to not go somewhere great, and I am going to do everything possible to make sure that I do indeed go somewhere great.</p>
<p>Look into it. Other than slightly low test scores, you have a good chance. Research Yale and if it's a school you would like, apply! The book award might impress other schools more than Yale itself...but I really don't know whether it would or not...</p>