Hello everyone! I received an email today (4/2/18) asking for a mid-term report. I hope to have it sent in by tomorrow afternoon. I like to think this is a good sign but it could also be admissions wanting to see if my current academic performance makes up for my lacking in other areas, guess we’ll see.
I noticed that last year, some people received interview request the first week of April, I imagine this year may be similar. That being said, I wanted to take this opportunity to put out some information about my application so others, present and future, can see how I stood before any possible interview decisions where made.
Freshman at Columbus State University, GA
Current GPA: 4.0 (including current semester)
Major: B.S. Biology (Pre-med)
Minor: Psychology
Credit Hours Completed:16
CH in progress: 16
New SAT Overall: 1340/1600 (94th percentile), (720:620:4,5,6) (Completed 03/10/18)
*On this, I didn’t study at all as much as I wanted to (don’t recommend 
) and didn’t quite understand what was expected on the essay portion (hence the lower essay score). To maintain my GPA, and mostly my community involvements, I had to prioritize my studying and community work.
Lots of volunteer and community service time, active involvement with student government, and President/Founder of an organization. Accepted into the Honors College, a competitive pred-medical studies organization, and a group that represents the school to Alums.
- I didn’t do all these things to impress Yale, there are far more talented people than I already there, and in some ways all of these positions distracted me from making the “perfect” application. I’m just passionate about helping others, and every position I am in allows me to more positively influence those around me on my path to medical school.
I do hope that sharing this does not discourage anyone presently, or in the future, from applying to this amazing program. Many with better “stats” than I have been denied, so by no means do I feel guaranteed even a higher chance for an interview. I try to remember that we are looked at holistically as applicants and I, like the rest, can only hope for the best!
That’s really nice of you to share your stats like that. I’m sure you will get an interview!
I believe the Yale Eli Whitney Students Program focuses more on achievements the applicants have made while they had gaps in their education.
We are all expected to show strong recent academic performance, but I feel like we are also going to demonstrate the amazing things we have done while not being at school. Many of the applicants have done some interesting and unique things without the benefit of a college degree.
What is interesting is that in one statement you seem like you’re worried, and in another statement you said you don’t want your amazing stats to discourage anyone.
I think it’s safe to say that no one is going to be discouraged because we are all individuals and we are all amazing in our own way.
Hi, @Loftboy4U !
Anyone else get a midterm report request?
I couldn’t agree more with your last sentence @IndirectProofs ! My concern over discouragement is for the exact reason mentioned in your last sentence. If you were someone amazing in other areas than academics, who hasn’t applied yet, how would you feel looking at my “amazing” example of academic performance? I fear that without reinforcing Yale’s holistic approach to each candidate (and their observations of your accomplishments in the span of time spent separated from formal education) some may consider it some sort of baseline that if not met, makes you a less likely candidate.
I was that student in high school with a lot of academic potential, exemplified by my current GPA vs my HS GPA which was significantly lower, yet I carried to much self doubt. At the time, I looked at those doing better than me as being better than me and in doing so, underestimated my potential to do well in College. Simply put I didn’t “aim high enough”. “The great danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim to high and falling short; but in our setting our aim to low and achieving our mark” -Michelangelo
I have seen this to be true in my short life and so I am cautious not to discourage others. I do not mean any insult to those applying now if that’s how that comment may have appeared. I firmly believe everyone here has something uniquely valuable and amazing about them to offer Yale, and I wish us all the best in our endevour to matriculate. If successful, I want to be a source of inspiration for others who, like myself, realized later in life that they have even more to offer the world than they believed they did and wish to return to college to gain the tools necessary to achieving it.
I just want to make a side note… I have noticed in the previous years in the Eli Whitney Students threads on CC it was always nice and friendly in the beginning, and as the admission proceeded people started to show jealousy, anger, and all kinds of other negativities. The thing is we have to know we’re not really competing with each other in this thread. Here we have what, like 7 people? We all present our best sides to Yale amongst many other applicants, who we may hardly imagine what their stories are. Some may be smarter and has built a nuclear reaction station in their garage, some may have a horribly sad life and still thrive, some may not even be American, like me, haha, who knows.
Let’s not talk about our stats for now, cuz it’s really meaningless and will definitely stir emotions. None of us here has been admitted yet. None of us knows what ‘‘holistic approach’’ really is to the admission officers. We’ll have time to leave our stats here for the future applicants later when we are indeed Yalies.
Yale, especially Eli Whitney Program, isn’t going to save anyone from their suffering, or reward anyone because they’re simply doing good in school, I think. Getting admitted to Yale won’t be the single most important thing in my life, and if you have amazing things you’ve built in your life it’s probably the same to you, too. There is no winning or losing, no winner or loser.
Out of hundreds of other applicants, it’s great to have this ‘‘waiting room’’ with you all. Some of us might be classmates this fall, or we might all go on with our own lives after this June. Can we just try our best to ease some nerves for those who are on this journey together here?
Like every other year, it’s not surprising some world-class athletes get admitted. https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2018/04/03/figure-skater-nathan-chen-touts-yale-acceptance-on-instagram/
The pdf I posted earlier (and @butfirstcoffee’s)show a range of ACT and SAT scores of the incoming class. Notice there’s 1.1% extremely low scores that are admitted. That’s about 20 something students! I find it fascinating and I can’t stop imagining what stories they bring. To me those are not unqualified students who just got lucky. Personally I would really love to meet them in person and hear their stories. They are probably most amazing students out there.
I just got a full ride to my safety school. I’m in a way better place emotionally right now, haha! No reason to be jealous if Yale doesn’t want me because at least I get to go SOMEWHERE, ha! Sorry for not sharing stats or details; I’m very superstitious and won’t share all that until I get all of my decisions back. But right now I’m 2 for 2. Haven’t gotten any rejections yet. This process is becoming way more fun and way less scary!
Anyone have a backup school yet? Are you getting excited about your upcoming change of school or starting school for the first time?
@butfirstcoffee That is such great news! I am so happy for you! That must be a really good feeling, and I am glad the process is becoming less scary.
I’ve been off and on with being nervous. I think I am starting to feel more at peace.
I have a back up school, but as strange as this sounds, I’m not sure I actually want to go there if the other schools reject me. The main reason why is because they didn’t read any of my essays or LOR. I put in a lot of effort into them so I’m kind of sore at them for not reading them. (By the way, they didn’t require them which is why they probably didn’t read them, but still).
Same same. I’ve decided to take the housing offer for the summer at my safety school, since my current lease is ending. I feel grateful for such good offers on housing and scholarships from my safety school, but honestly I’m not exciting thinking about going there. It’s a pretty good school and I believe it will provide decent education. It’s just not that exciting. I spent like 15 minutes on the application and when I went to the transfer students welcome event I didn’t even remember which exact majors I put in my application. I knew I would be accepted. Somehow I look for more challenges and struggles. lol.
Yeah, congratulations, @butfirstcoffee ! ( I can understand being nervous about sharing stats; personally, it’s like sharing your salary at your place of employment. )
@realcheese , I appreciate your intent in which I believe is to not turn this thread into a competition. However, because we don’t know that we are not being interviewed, we all should probably assume we are and prepare as such.
That being said, I would like to be more constructive than previous years threads and begin a conversation about how we intend to best prepare for interviews. If any of you drastically oppose this move, please–and I will not be offended-- let me know. I will simply open the door to anyone wishing to PM me to discuss a similar topic.
May have wrote that twice…
@IndirectProofs That’s awful! How do you know they didn’t read them?! And thank you!
@realcheese I’m sorry you’re not excited about it! 
Have you tried to get emotionally invested? Follow them on social media, talk to current students, look into their scheduled events for visitors/workshops?
@Loftboy4U I love your positive energy. I’d feel very prepared for an interview after all the essays and applications I’ve filled out, ha! I feel like an expert in the application process by now and I know so much about the school and the programs I’m interested in. I think the best way to prepare is to know what you want out of your experience.
@Loftboy4U That’s true we need to get ready for the interview.
I wonder if they do in person interviews if there’s somebody in your area, or only Skype interviews. I would prefer an in-person one.
I feel like I am ready for my interview. Since getting back into school is something I have been working towards for so long, I have so much to say.
Anybody received an interview email yet?
@PhillipPullman Nope! No contact from them at all
I know of one person who is a vet who is doing a skype interview today (from another thread). So I think they are calling vets right now.
What I mean is that they are contacting vets for interviews and doing them this week. I think next week they will call the non vets.
Oh ok, do you mind sharing that thread? Is it about Eli Whitney applicants too?