Yale SCEA Class of 2021 Discussion Thread

@ragsmyselfandI Yeah, while I was honest, I think I might cut down on some of the hours for my later apps just to be a little safer. Like I said earlier I didn’t even realize it was a lot till after I hit submit! Either way I’m trying not to stress about it right now, as I doubt they’ll even do much of a double take seeing as sports, work, etc. obviously take up a lot of time and my other ECs never extend greater than ~5 hours a week, so nothing looks too out of the ordinary I think.

@CT1417 Yes, but there isn’t an option to list something like “30 hrs/week summer, 8 hrs/week school” which leads to a need to average it together and just list something like “15 hrs/week all year” unfortunately.

I’m just annoyed because I reduced the hours for 2 or 3 activities last minute, because I got scared that the colleges would think I’m exaggerating. I put 2 hours a week for MUN when really it was 5 or 6 hours, since I was organizing conferences and chairing committees and general assemblies with 100s of delegates!! ARGHHHH what do I do!! I didn’t fully realize the extent to which I’d decreased the number of hours… Will it look stupid on the activities section?

@HenryFeddersen I wouldn’t overthink it. This is pure speculation/partly to make myself feel better too, but I doubt much thought is given towards the amount of hours one puts down, they just wanna get an estimate and see that you’re spending some time involved. Remember they only have 10-12 minutes to read your entire application, I doubt they waste that time adding up all the hours and coming up with some formula. I think 2 hours would be more than fine.

I think they care less about the number of hours you put into something (unless its work or volunteering) and more about the activity/description but then again i have no idea…

@berkdork @technogirl21 let’s hope! At least there’s room for improvement in the RD applications…

Should I get my counselor to write an email to the admissions office about the activities and tell them that the hours are way too low for what I actually accomplished?

Does anyone know what happens if you withdraw EA? Can you change the information and essays for RD?

Hey guys, hope you are doing well.

Naviance wasn’t working for Yale, but worked for all of my other schools (story of my life…) and I had to have my recommenders send letters of Rec to Yale directly. They both emailed them in on the same day with my identifying info (full name and DoB). The portal has one teacher as being received and one as not, and I don’t know which is which since the portal doesn’t specify which teachers send in emailed recs. It has been 12 days since they were submitted, and nothing. Is a call to the admissions office in order?

@legaleagle1 On my portal, I can see the last names of the teachers and counselor whose letters have been received. It’s below the checklist. Can you see it too?

@y90y90

“Please note: If we have not received the teacher’s recommendation yet, or if the teacher did not submit the letter of recommendation electronically, their name will not display below.”

My teachers emailed. They didn’t use Naviance or the Common App due to a technical difficulty.

Guys, i’m slightly freaking out. I was looking back over the copy of the information I sent to Yale when I applied SCEA and I realized that the activities section of my common app never saved and instead it was just two randomly filled in slots that I had done when I first created my common app (meaning, in essence, that Yale will see that I have no activities when in actuality I do). So in the application update box on our Yale portal should I explain what happened and give them a list of my activities there or should I upload my resume as a doc?? I’m planning on calling Yale tomorrow but I want to get you guys’ input.

(51 hours on this end, but spread out over only a few weeks each)
I think you can withdraw SCEA, though you’ll probably have to pay to apply again RD.
@aimsop I would contact them ASAP and ask if you can submit your ECs retroactively or not. I don’t feel qualified to direct you further. Just stay calm and trust this can be fixed one way or another.

@legaleagle1 oh okay i see. I thought that since the portal showed the letter as received, it would also list the name. My additional recommendation (which was sent in through email) is not even listed in the portal checklist.

I would also suggest that students answer unfamiliar phone calls or that they at least check their voicemail. Sometimes it is just quicker for me to call to schedule than to email, especially if I open up the referral on my phone. I have a 20 year old so I know you guys don’t answer calls you don’t recognize generally.

@Tperry1982 If someone doesn’t answer a call, will you usually end up sending them an email? I fit in the category that generally doesn’t answer unfamiliar phone calls, but I’ll definitely try and work on that for this next ~month.

@berkdork, and remember to “try and work on that” also during internship interview time next year, and then, when you get a job, … :). It’s part of what the kids call “adulting.”

We will leave a voicemail. You would be wise to check voicemails from here on out in a timely manner.

And clean out the voice mail box! (As I have just reminded my son…)

Sometimes. I’m now retired so I may do the extra. But you must remember that most interviewers work and have kids. They may not have the time to keep doubling back. If you see an unfamiliar number, just listen to the voicemail as soon as you can. Most interviewers will do their best to get in contact with you. Remember we do this because we love doing it so we try our best to get them done as soon as possible so we can get our reports into Yale and they can be considered as part of the review. Good luck to you!!