YALE: Extremely rare hooks

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey everyone! I have some VERY interesting hooks that I'm not sure will be good or bad. But first you have to read the boring stuff</p>

<p>Some general stats:</p>

<p>Top 10% class - more towards the lower end of that
4.1 gpa
2010 SAT
AP's- Euro, Chem, Lang, Lit, Gov, Econ, Spanish, Calc AB (3's and 4's- nothing special there)</p>

<p>EC's:
Lots of officer positions in student gov- my whole life
volunteer work with the president of a medical NPO
tons of volunteer work with technology
Varsity tennis 4 years- Regional division champion singles
laundry list of key/nhs/mao/etc.</p>

<p>Awards:
national hispanic scholar
volunteer of the year
The most prestigious scholarship in the county for various categories- mine technology
Numerous laundry list awards- science fair firsts, history fair firsts, most improved tennis, most sportsmanship</p>

<p>school: large public in suburban Florida, maybe 1 ivy a year- 3 a really strong class year
Work: Worked for an NPO doing graphic design, also freelance web work, tennis coach</p>

<p>Now for the hooks-
first generation to be raised in the US? Not sure if this is anything
grandparents were US diplomats, parents and their families traveled all over the world. All my aunts, parents, and uncles were born at different embassies around the world.
Grandfather was first diplomatic hostage taken in a certain Latin American Country.
URM
My cousin is the current mayor of a large south american country's capital
My aunt was the first woman to run for president in all of south america
^Her father was president of said major country my cousin is the mayor in
I marked no on financial aid to give me as much of a chance... even if it doesn't help for real. It's a placebo.</p>

<p>Yale is basically my dream. I met with my teachers doing recs, and my counselor. They wrote amazing rec- at least in my opinion- creating the image of a well rounded, athletic, leader. I tried to supplement my average to low academics with a lot of reinforcement on being the "typical Yale candidate"</p>

<p>I want to do political science. My alumni interview isnt till the 13th... 2 days before the deadline.</p>

<p>Please any feedback at all. Not like it matter- we all know chance threads are discussions. I just thought it might be interesting to discuss my hooks.. worried it might be relying on family connections too much?</p>

2

<p>Hello princesa!</p>

<p>I think your SATs could be a little higher (2200+ would be a good goal to aim for), but of course these aren't everything.</p>

<p>ECs without hooks:
Your ECs are pretty standard, and as you put it the basic "laundry list"
Your involvement in student government will definitely augment what you want to do and your surrounding history. Overall though, there really isn't anything in here that would help or hurt you.</p>

<p>Your Hooks:
I'm not going to lie, you have some GREAT surrounding history. It's awesome that your aunt was the first woman to run for president in all of South America. Clearly, you have tons of politically inclined individuals in your family. However, none of these accomplishments are YOURS specifically. I'm thinking that while your hooks would certainly help, they may not help as much as you would count on. Of course, I could be completely wrong because in reality, this is all speculation. I'm just inclined to think that while family history (admittedly, VERY strong history) in politics may help you out, the adcoms would be looking for YOUR specific accomplishments, not just those of your family.</p>

<p>So I would suggest to bolster your strong family history and achieve something unique and extraordinary on your own as well. It will greatly increase your chances for a university such as Yale.</p>

3

<p>Is your aunt's father your grandfather? How recently was he president and what country?</p>

<p>Stats aren't amazing, but if he's famous enough you have the chance of booting out a slightly more deserving applicant.</p>

<p>Otherwise URM helps a bit, but not enough to make you a sure thing at all.</p>

4

<p>bump...</p>

<p>HOOKS ARE SOMETHING YOU ACHIEVE NOT YOUR GREAT GRAND PARENTS OR YOUR COUSIN.</p>

5

<p>You just completely identified yourself...</p>

6

<p>You should never use someone else's accomplishments for your own benefit, as it doesn't prove anything YOU yourself have done. You have a +5% than most applicants due to your ethnicity and EC's, but other than that nothing about you intrigues me.</p>

<p>With a 2010 SAT you do not even make the median which is between 2080-2370.</p>

<p>Also, how does NO in financial aid act as a placebo? Yale accumulates a total gross of $17 B and a lot of money from apps alone. Applying for financial aid would never hinder you. "Yale has a need-blind admissions policy and is committed to meeting 100 per cent of admitted students' demonstrated financial need. "</p>