Yale SCEA, Am I shooting way too high?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I feel like an idiot doing this, but I have a haunting feeling that for once in my life I'm being overly optimistic. I am strong academically, but I know that that is not enough. Besides student council, which I hate, my school has crappy ECs. Not that that is an excuse, but it does semi-explain why.... yea I'll just let you see for yourself. Thank you so much for doing this!</p>

<p>Class of 2012
Indian (Asian) Female
Rank: 1 of 150
GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.6 W
Potential Chem Major</p>

<p>Scores:
SAT: 2290 (800 M, 740 V, 750 W)
SAT II: 790 Chem, 800 Math II, 700 Spanish, taking Bio in October
ACT: 34
AP: 4 US History, 4 Spanish Language, 5 Chem, 5 Calc AB, 5 Phys B</p>

<p>ECs:
Piano- 11 Years- Modern, which explains why I don't compete, etc. I do it for myself, not the prestige
Hospital Gift Shop Volunteering- 3 Years- 200+ Hours
JV Tennis Team- 4 Years- First Singles, Captain, MVP
Summer Tennis Clinic- 12 Hours/Week, Every Summer
Sewing, Knitting- 3 Years. I know this just qualifies as a silly hobby, but I spend a lot of my time on this.
Temple Youth Group- Monthly Community Service, 2 Years
Latin Club- 3 Years- will run for office this year</p>

<p>Awards:
National Merit Semifinalist
AP Scholar with Distinction
First Honors every semester
US National Chemistry Olympiad- National Finalist
National Latin Examination Honorable Merit- Maxima Cum Laude (Silver Medal)
Bausch & Lomb Honorary Award in Science (1/school)
Cornell University Summer College Director's Honors List</p>

<p>My teachers really like me, and I believe I will be able to write essays that accurately reflect my personality. Also, if it matters, I am lucky enough to not need financial aid, so my "only problem" is getting in.</p>

<p>& Here's my college list. I am aware that it is very long, but I am willing to put the effort in. I want to go to an intellectual school where I can explore subjects beyond just science. I would appreciate it if you could give me chances for individual schools, even if only for a couple. I have my own opinions on which are realistic options, but I'd like to get some input. Thanks!</p>

<p>Yale SCEA</p>

<p>Brown
Carnegie Mellon
Cornell
Dartmouth
Duke
Harvard
Northeastern
Northwestern
Princeton
Stanford
UChicago
UMich- Ann Arbor
UPenn
URochester
WashU</p>

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<p>...please??? haha Im so pathetic...</p>

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<p>i really don't know about your chances b/c i think that most of the people on this forum are crazy and ridiculous when it comes to college and chances and tend to have somewhat pessimistic views, but you certainly have a chance by the looks of it. </p>

<p>btw nice list of colleges.</p>

<p>but there you go, i just BUMPed your forum maybe?</p>

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<p>my school is kind of like that too, crappy extra curriculars, but whatevs you can only make the best out of crappy situations.</p>

<p>but there is another BUMP</p>

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<p>haha thanks moodathis. I know that this site is pessimistic, so I'm expecting negative responses. I'm prepared, lol.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Yale SCEA</p>

<p>Brown
Carnegie Mellon
Cornell
Dartmouth
Duke
Harvard
Northeastern
Northwestern
Princeton
Stanford
UChicago
UMich- Ann Arbor
UPenn
URochester
WashU

[/quote]
</p>

<p>What happened here? Did you just go on USNews and pick ever decent top 30 college? 7 out of 8 Ivies? All of these are really different from each other. There is no way you could really like all of them. I think you're just picking schools for their rankings, not because you like them.</p>

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<p>I'm sorry if it seems that way, but I really did do research every school on my list. I've visited every one except Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, and WashU. I also visited many other colleges that I took off of my list. Admittedly, Harvard is on there for the name (my brother and sister really want me to apply to see if by some fluke I'll get in, and I'm willingly humoring them even though I know Harvard is no longer the penultimate school). You probably won't read this, but I'll go through the ivy league schools on my list and tell you why I like them:</p>

<p>Yale I basically fell in love with. Like just about everybody else, I am amazed at their residential college system. Its completely unique and makes the school seem smaller. The architecture is beautiful and the atmosphere is idyllic.</p>

<p>Brown I like because of their open curriculum. As I said before, I want to take a variety of classes. Also, Brown is near RISDE, where I could pursue my interest in sewing and fashion design.</p>

<p>I went to Cornell's Summer College last summer and I really enjoyed it. The campus is beautiful, even though it is very isolated. & Although taking a class at cornell by no means guarantees me admission at the school, I think it does give me a slight boost.</p>

<p>I liked Dartmouth because of the D-Plan and because the campus looks like a postcard. I love the snow, and you really can't get much more snowy than Dartmouth.</p>

<p>I dont know how to explain why I liked Princeton. I guess I dont have a definitive reason for this one, except that I liked the campus and their focus on independent papers.</p>

<p>UPenn had a very practical feel to it. Since it is known for business and it is located in a city, it seemed like a grounded school (these same features attracted me to northeastern, btw).</p>

<p>Some of these reasons might seem silly to you, but would you suggest that I only apply to 3 reach schools? practically guaranteeing that I won't get into any of them? the reason that I'm applying to such good schools isnt because of the ranking. its because of the kind of people they attract. I like to be around people that want to learn and be in an environment that encourages independent thought. You just don't get that at a mediocre school. I've spent months coming up with this list, so I don't understand when people accuse me of selecting schools solely on prestige.</p>

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<p>Also, I'm not trying to imply that all non-ivy schools are "mediocre". I have many non-ivy schools on my list that I would pick over an ivy. but I think that I've considered every good (and not too small) school in the geographic areas that I'm interested in, and if its not on my list I found some personal fault in it, whether it didn't have a defined campus (bu, nyu, etc.), it was too liberal for my tastes (vassar, kenyon), or it was too one-dimensional (JHU, case).</p>

<p>(Sorry to keep posting. it won't let me edit my previous post.)</p>

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<p>i think you have a good shot despite being asian. An asian girl from my school with similar credentials recently matriculated to Yale (and RD at that).</p>

<p>The only thing is, she really stood out with her essays and teachers loved her so much. So make sure you got that and I think you've got a chance :)</p>

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<p>I'm sure that there is at least some influence from the prestige of Ivy Leagues that goes into consideration. When one begins to create a college list, one first thinks of colleges with a strong name recognition. HYP: Harvard Yale Princeton. This recognition comes from rankings and it attracts people to apply and attend there. Plenty of schools exist which "encourage independent thought."
You are willing to apply to Harvard for fun, but why not UC Merced? You apply because it's prestigious and worth getting into, even if you don't want to attend. </p>

<p>Have you decided what major you are pursuing or at least what you do/ don't want to do? By now you should know if you like humanities or the sciences, two broad based directions. Not all those schools are strong in every field.</p>

<p>Applying to so many reaches don't guarantee acceptance either. If things don't go your way (possible but unlikely), you won't be going to any Ivy Leagues.</p>

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<p>I think you have a good shot at the schools on your list (not that I think I know much about college admissions today - it seems to have gotten so much harder). It's funny you fell in love with Yale - It was my least favorite when I was applying. My dad made me apply. I fell in love with MIT, a school he dod not want me to go to (but he came around eventually). I took a couple of graduate-level night courses at Northeastern when I was working in the Boston area - I didn't think it had much af a campus feel (but it was practical, I agree with you there). And I love Boston. I'm hoping one of my kids will go to college in MA, so I will have an excuse to visit frequently. As for your school having lousy ECs - why don't you start one?</p>

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<p>You ended up attending MIT?</p>

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<p>Gaffe- as I said in my original post, I am probably going to be a chem major. I am, as of now, thinking about pursuing dentistry. however, I don't want to go to a school that is only strong in the sciences, such as MIT. I want to get a well-rounded education in undergrad before focusing in entirely on science and I want to be around people with a variety of interests. I think it makes discussions more interesting. & about UC Merced (I know you were just giving an example, but I'll respond anyways), my parents would never let me move all the way out to California unless it was for a school like stanford. they think that if I'm not going to go to a well-known school I should at least stay close to home (I live in the midwest). I also know that I am not guaranteed acceptance, and I am definitely not set on the ivy league. Trust me, I'm prepared for rejection. but I only get to do this once and I don't want to look back later and wonder "what if...". so, in the meantime, I would like to know where I stand (more at my "match-ish" schools than the ivies, which I know are a longshot) so that I can be sure I am safe.</p>

<p>eg1- about the ECs, strategically speaking, I should have started one. We have so many inactive clubs that the administration is reluctant to let students start any more, but I probably could have if I tried hard enough. however, if I had it would have been solely for college purposes (because there really isn't a club that I would have liked to start), and I've never really done anything just for that. So I recognize that my school's lack of ECs isnt an excuse.</p>

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<p>Asian with good grades and high SAT scores + large amounts of AP's and piano</p>

<p>seems pretty generic to me (no offense, because i'm Asian as well!). You need to really really stand out with a good essay because i wouldn't be surprised if the majority of applicants have the exact same stats plus more (like international science competitions and athletics. )</p>

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<p>The stereotypical Asian kid. What's gonna make the adcoms remember you?</p>

<p>Your essay. That is what will get you in, if you do get in.</p>

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<p>knickknackpatty & tetrisfan- yea, I've just begun to realize that over the last couple of months. before I started to explain myself on paper, I never thought of myself as a "stereotypical asian kid". I am confident that in person I am unique, so I have to find a way to convey that through my essays. Also, I'm going to try to schedule interviews with every school I can and I think that the teachers I've picked for my recs will comment on my individuality.</p>

<p>I think I may have titled this wrong- I know that Yale is a toss-up leaning more against me. I'm more worried that my list is so reach-heavy that I haven't picked enough realistic options. Do you have any opinions on which schools from my list I actually have a good/ almost sure chance at?</p>

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<p>I missed your major in your original post...my fault.</p>

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<p>dream4591, you have great credentials and you have done your homework w.r.t the colleges. don't let anyone discourage you. </p>

<p>Some questions to think about- why chemistry at yale and why dental school? Dentistry has a very non-intellectual and unexciting reputation. I don't know if Yale would value that as a mission in life. Don't get me wrong- nothing wrong in actually becoming a dentist, but if that is your dream, you better have a good spin on what is fascinating about that profession.</p>

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<p>Wow you typed your list of schools in alphabetical order =)</p>

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<p>vicariousparent- thank you. I do agree with you a bit on the dentistry issue. however, luckily for me because right now I am unsure, most schools ask me about why I chose chemistry and not why I chose dentistry. Now, if an interviewer asks me about dentistry, I may have a problem... not that I do not like dentistry, I just don't quite know how to explain why I want to pursue it. Also, I am choosing schools more based on their quality of overall education while paying attention to their chemistry department strength instead of the other way around.</p>

<p>sup- haha yea... thats pretty dorky isnt it... but after creating charts, etc. thats just the order in which I remember them.</p>