YALE RD! Do I make the Cut?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>If my early decision school doesn't work out, I am definitely applying RD, so what are my chances, in the running, slightly better than average, or very minimal. Also what should I focus on to improve, any suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks!</p>

<p>After some careful thinking I have decided that I would definitely rather go to Wharton over Yale or any other university, so I am going to apply ED to Wharton. Now with ED status in mind, what do you guys think my chances are? Also suggest any improvements that I could make between now and September/October.</p>

<p>Gender: Male
Race: Indian
GPA: Projected 4.61 W, unweighted 4.0 (end of 1st semester senior year)
Rank: 3 or 4/596
School: Math and Science Magnet Program, one of the best schools in the city, if that means anything.</p>

<p>SAT I: 2270 ( 770 CR, 700 M, 800 W) will take again to get up that math score
SAT II: Predicted Scores (took 6/5) Bio: 750-760, Math IIC: 760-770, US History: 760-800
ACT: Taking on the 12th, hoping for 34+
Courses:
Toughest courses with the following AP's</p>

<p>Sophomore year:
AP Chemistry: 5
AP European History: 5
AP French Language: 3</p>

<p>Junior year:
AP Calculus BC
AP US History
AP Biology
AP English Language and Composition</p>

<p>Senior year:
AP English Lit.
AP Studio Art
AP Psychology
AP US Government
AP Physics C (recently changed to this, how much weight will this class carry, it is the hardest class in my school)
*Second Year Calculus</p>

<p>Research: As part of the Academy I am in I am doing a research project involving the Stock Market, developing a risk minimizing set of equations.</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:</p>

<p>Debate Team (4 years) Captain 2 years, Regional Finalist, 4th place in districts (09), 2nd place districts (10), various top 5 finishes in Local debate league tournaments. </p>

<p>Theater (4 years) Acting and Light Crew (2nd in district, 2nd in region, 8th in state for a one act play)</p>

<p>Scholastic Bowl (3 years) captain 1 year (district and regional champions)</p>

<p>National Honor Society (1 year, only allowed for seniors) President, I plan on coming up with at least one new community service event, possibly designing T-shirts as a fundraiser or something.</p>

<p>Other ECs:</p>

<p>Football JV (2 years)
Varsity Tennis (2 years)
French Honor Society
Operation Smile</p>

<p>Comm. Service:
Volunteer for the summer reading program at library (50 hours)
Volunteering at an aquarium. (50-100 hours)</p>

<p>Work Exp.</p>

<p>Founded a clothing company, design and selling t-shirts, I think it is pretty unique, does not having a license yet make it less worthy, planning on acquiring license when I turn 18 in November.</p>

<p>Worked as a graphic Designer for a local ad company one summer.</p>

<p>Will have an internship at a investment group over the summer</p>

2

<p>Yes, you do.</p>

3

<p>Any more specifics, strengths? weaknesses?, Thanks for any information.</p>

4

<p>Are you eventually going to play Varsity Football?</p>

5

<p>No sadly not, because of time commitments I can no longer play football, and I was never really thaaat good anyways, I still consider it a big deal since for 2 years during the first quarter of school i spent 3 hours a day at practice and in the winter spent 2 hours a day conditioning.</p>

6

<p>How is it that even after getting in prospective candidates make me feel inferior. You look pretty strong from all angles, by the way.</p>

7

<p>haha, thanks bluecoast, I just hope I have the same feeling as you someday. How essential is a good Math IIC score for Yale, I know for MIT and Wharton I need to get it up to 800, but for Yale am I decent?</p>

8

<p>I would think breaking the 750 threshold is good enough, IMO</p>

9

<p>Take the Physics C. All schools of this caliber want to see you take the hardest schedule available to you. If your junior year APs come back as mostly 5’s, I would think you are competitive.</p>

10

<p>@YaleGradanddad, do you think that the outcome of my AP scores will have that much of a weight, would 2 5’s and 2 4’s make me any less competitive. I think I did well enough for all 5’s but who knows.</p>

11

<p>^AP scores almost have zero weight in college admissions process</p>

12

<p>AP test scores themselves do not hold much weight, but they are often helpful in providing meaning to the applicant’s grades. If, for example, a student gets all A’s in AP classes but 3’s on the corresponding tests, the grades will mean very little.</p>

13

<p>Just so you know, scores aren’t everything. So, I wouldn’t worry so much. For example, I got into Yale RD with 710 Math II SAT and a 3 on my AP U.S. History. Also, my SAT Critical Reading was 680. Just focus on making your application unique and your own. Stand out through your voice, not just through your scores.</p>

14

<p>You seem like a better fit for Penn.</p>

15

<p>yeah, Penn is my #1 choice, I am applying there ED for Wharton, but Yale is definitely my second choice.</p>

16

<p>AP scores are helpful for the reasons someone stated above…if you have a B in an AP and then a 5 on the test, they’ll worry less that you took the class not-too-seriously. And an AP score of 2 also helps put a classroom grade of A in a different light.</p>

17

<p>yeah, that makes sense, any other comments? Besides the common app essay, where else on the Yale application do I get to “express” myself as a person?</p>

18

<p>Fresh101:</p>

<p>Why would you say that AP scores are meaningless in the admissions process? A half dozen (or more) 5’s going into your senior year when you apply shows the adcoms that you can master college level work while hopefully doing interesting ECs. High transcript grades with lower AP scores certainly puts those A’s into perspective. SATs may show aptitude but the proof of that is taking the most demanding curriculum offered at your school and getting the top grades in class and on the AP exams.</p>

19

<p>The WikiMan:
2 5’s and 2 4’s wouldn’t stop me from applying. As said elsewhere, the admit rate is 7.5% for applicants and 0% for those that don’t apply. Nevertheless, if you got all 4’s I would think you would need a pretty impressive hook up against the super competitive applicant pool to stand a chance.</p>

20

<p>If UPenn is your first choice, then why are you applying ED to Wharton? Unless I misread your post.</p>