Hi, I was wondering if someone could give me a glimpse into my chances at Yale. Thanks.
GPA: 3.65 (extremely cutthroat/well-known public high school in Los Angeles)
SAT: 1600; 800 Bio-M, 800 Math II
ACT: 32
-Chemistry Club Vice President
Friday Prayer Group Leader
Self-made sneaker business
News Broadcasting/journalism editor, anchor, producer, story writer
-HIV Research at USC (going back in May to work on a new project involving MicroRNA)
-ICU/Nursing floors hospital volunteer
-Pre-Med club member
-Speech and Debate (10th grade)
-In my school Senior Leadership group composed of 25 men and 25 women
-CPR certified
-chosen to discuss the topic of education with the founder of a major science YouTuber
If that SAT is the real SAT I composed of math and english not from the subject tests, then you are an extremely competitive applicant. ACT is otherwise kinda low. EC’s are good. Coming from LA might make it harder and the GPA is low but if your weighted GPA is above 4 and if you have a good class rank I would say it’s alright. In any regard it will probably be the essays that are the make or break. Good luck!
Here’s the deal: Many high schools – probably yours included – do not supply ranking to colleges. However, that does not preclude a college from placing ALL APPLICATIONS FROM A SPECIFIC HIGH SCHOOL in GPA order and comparing course rigor to understand the pecking-order at your high school.
So, your first hurdle: how do you stand out from the crowd at your high school? Are you the #1 student at your HS with a 3.65 GPA? If so, you’re good to go. However, if 10, 50, or 100 other students are ranked higher than you at your high school AND are applying to Yale, Admissions is going to notice that you were not as competitive as your peers. And that could tank your application. Do you know your internal ranking? If so, what is it?