Yale Singly early action or not? Am I even good enough? Be honest. Love all you guys!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
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<p>Hey, so as the title says, I'm really torn whether I should even try to apply to early to Yale or if I shouldn't even bother. So I will leave a brief summary of myself as that is what everyone else is doing So Thanks so much for all your help! </p>

<p>Gender: Male</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Asian-American </p>

<p>School in grand ol' Montana! Born and raised...Not many opportunities or AP classes. No honor classes offered. I tried my best to take as many as I could and utilize what I had!
Goals:Really any Ivy but I am in love with Yale</p>

<p>School: Has about 2000 kids. </p>

<p>GPA Unweighted: 4.0</p>

<p>GPA Weighted: About 4.3</p>

<p>Class rank: I'm 2 or 3 out of about 300</p>

<p>Courses:
Pre-highschool/middle school but highschool credits:
Algebra 1
Geometry
Spanish 1</p>

<p>Freshman:
Spanish 2
Algebra 2
Freshman Science
Advanced Montana/Global Studies
Computer Apps+Keyboarding
Freshman Health
English 1
Freshman Band</p>

<p>Sophomore:
Pre-Calc
Symphony Band (Top Band of 3)
Statistics
Spanish 3
Sophomore health
English 2
AP Biology
AP European History</p>

<p>Junior:
Symphony Band Again
Spanish 4
AP Physics
AP US History Combo/English 3
AP Calculus AB+BC</p>

<p>Senior:
AP Gov
Philosophy
AP Chemistry
AP Psychiatry
AP English
AP Spanish
Symphony Band
Multivariable Calculus at local college. (I skipped 2 years of math and exhausted all math classes at my local high school) </p>

<p>College exam scores:
SAT 1:
Verbal: 660
Math: 780
Writing: 710
Total: 2150-- I know this isn't good and I'm retaking it in 2 months shooting for 2250. </p>

<p>SAT 2:
Math 1: 770
Math 2: 800
Biology: 760
Physics: 750
U.S. History: 790</p>

<p>ACT: NO retake
English 29
Math 36
Science 36
Reading 36
Composite: 34</p>

<p>AP Tests:
Biology-5
Euro-5
U.S History- 5
Physic B-5
Physics C E&M-5
Physics C Mech- 4
Calc BC-4
Calc AB-3 But I had mass allergic reaction this day and hope to make that known. If that makes sense. </p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities! (Yay...)</p>

<p>Band- I've played saxophone for about 7 years now. I've made top band as a sophomore which is rare here and I've made All-State Band for three years. I was 5th and 2nd chair at All state Band. I've done countless concerts, solos, etc. Not much to say. </p>

<p>Soccer: Played since I was very little. Played competitive club team where we won numerous tournies. I played for the high school froshmore team as a freshman and was made captain and MVP of the team. JV for sophomore year. However, I was cut my junior year where soccer ends. But I write about this in my essay and how I change focuses in my life as difficult as it was. Really was. </p>

<p>Student Council:
Just a member. Liked it. Didn't do much. Did this for 3 years now. </p>

<p>National Honors Society:
I did this my junior year and will be in it next year as a senior. At our school, one can only join as a junior where you apply to it and see if you make it!</p>

<p>Youth member:
Church youth member. Just religious. Some community service. </p>

<p>Boys & Girls Club.
I did this since 8th grade. Love it! I've volunteered atleast 300 or 400 hours. I've done the summer program where I mentor children. I got granted the award of "Youth Representative" and I was also the youngest member to be on the Board where I help with the political and economic decisions of the club. I'm getting a scholarship to go to college which is soooo nice. Love this place and all the little rascals I watch over. I just sounded sooo cheesy. </p>

<p>Spanish Club: Since I was a freshman. I am secretary of this club. We did salsa lessons...etc. Stereotypical Spanish club. </p>

<p>Amnesty Club: I joined this junior and will be in it senior year. I just did this because the club needed some diversity because it's a international club. Theres like 10 asians at our school so I promised my friend to do it. It's fun. </p>

<p>Robotics Club: Junior year and Senior year. I would have started earlier but this club was made this year (my junior year). I was stated the president of the First Robotics Club at our school! History. But we did good too! 3rd at regionals in St. Louis and we made it to nationals in Salt Lake! Nerds. Except I didn't do much on the robot. I was the social face of the club. The club was filled with many nerds. I just helped out socially. Yay.</p>

<p>Internships: Sophomore summer I did a Biology internship where I did PCR, gel electrophorisis, etc under a researcher at our local college. This summer, I got asked to do a Physics lab where I learned about solid oxide fuel cells (Yay for alternative energy) and did many labs and calculations like stoichiometry in the real world and making super conductors etc. </p>

<p>Peer Tutoring: I don't know if this counts. But hey why not? I peer tutored alot of kids in math because I'm good at math. Its my strongest field of academics except on that one ap test...sadly. </p>

<p>Korea: I worked in Seoul, Korea (I'm Korean) in a hospital to learn korean, but to volunteer and see health care in a different country/system of health care. This was over the summer. </p>

<p>Basically. I'm curious if I'm good enough to make Single early action to Yale? I also want to go to Columbia or Brown. If you guys could guess percentages? Or any advice? That would be fantastic!! </p>

<p>Here's a list of my college: Its not set in stone.
• Yale
• Harvard
• Princeton
• Brown
• UPEN
• Columbia
• Dartmouth
• Stanford
• Cornell
• St. Louis
• Harvey Mudd
• Caltech
• Georgetown
• MIT
• Northwestern</p>

<p>But of these. Yale is obviously my number 1 choice followed by Columbia. </p>

<p>THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU GUYS WHO HELP ME OUT!!!</p>

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<p>no one can tell you if you can make it in SCEA or even regular. I am certain your verbal score will block you from getting in though.</p>

<p>SAT Critical Reading
700 25th percentile
800 75th percentile
SAT Math
700
780
SAT Writing
700
790</p>

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<p>I don’t chance, but assuming you’re referring to WUSTL rather than SLU, your list is scary. It has nothing but reach schools on it. You’re a fine candidate, but every school on that list (except maybe NU) has an admissions rate of 20% or less, I believe. That means they all deny at least 80% of the kids who apply. Please do some research and add some match and especially, safety schools – schools you like and to which you’re virtually sure to be admitted based on the numbers.</p>

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<p>

Actually, NU was just over 18% this past year so you need to include them in the group.;)</p>

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<p>About 70% of the list are actually under 10%. And yes, NU is closer to 17% than 18%</p>

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<p>^Curious about where you got 17-18% for NU. According to their 2009-10 CDS, the overall admission rate was 26%. [Northwestern</a> University Admissions Information - CollegeData College Profile](<a href=“http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1803]Northwestern”>http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1803)</p>

<p>I can’t find 2010-11 numbers. Is that where the 17-18% comes from?</p>

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<p>

Yes, those are the 2011 admission stats. See below:</p>

<p>[What</a> a Class! : Northwestern University Newscenter](<a href=“http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2011/06/class-of-2015.html]What”>What a Class!: Northwestern University News)</p>

<p>This link also includes the stats for NU.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.hernandezcollegeconsulting.com/ivy-league-admissions-statistics/[/url]”>http://www.hernandezcollegeconsulting.com/ivy-league-admissions-statistics/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Wow, that’s quite a leap. Thanks, kdog.</p>

<p>You listening, OP? ;)</p>

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<p>Also I’m new to this? But could someone chance me to these schools? I guess thats what its called? :slight_smile: Thanks again.</p>

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<p>Yeah I was hoping to get atleast 750 on the retake of the SAT. Oh and don’t worry :slight_smile: those are just my first choice schools. I have another list of about 10 schools of back up schools that are so high up. I just didn’t wanna put every single school I’m interested in. Are there any schools you guys recommend?</p>

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<p>HanMeister:</p>

<p>Since you are looking for frank opinion, to my eye your credentials, while competitive, will not be especially appealing at any of the schools you have listed. This shouldn’t dissuade you from applying but should also be cautionary.</p>

<p>I am glad to hear you have alternative schools. Please don’t make the mistake of thinking that this is like a color-matching-socks-in-the dark probability problem. The odds of admissions at each of 15 highly selective schools are not independent and the odds of getting shut out at all 15 are much higher than is commonly perceived.</p>

<p>If Yale stays on your list, I suggest you not apply SCEA:</p>

<p>– SCEA will limit you to one early try across all these schools. Alternatively you could apply EA to multiple other schools on your list with EA programs. If there is one special school on your list with an ED program you could also apply to that one, too (but only if your sure you want to commit to that school!)</p>

<p>– It is not at all clear that SCEA at Yale increases admissions odds. The admission rate for the pool is higher but the quality of the pool is deeper. On the other hand early programs at some other schools might really have a boosting effect. Thus using these programs at other schools might be better strategy.</p>

<p>If you are seeking additional choices for your list I suggest you post to CC’s College Search and Selection forum, taking care to describe what you are seeking in a school. Providing additional suggestions here would be off-topic for the Yale forum. I also suggest, when you think about what you are looking for in a school, you use the criteria you develop to help filter the list of schools that you have shared with us. I think you will find applying to 15 highly competitive schools (and more besides) will be time, energy, and money consuming.</p>

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<p>You have a strong chance. Your 34 stacks up just fine. Go for it if you love Yale, retake the SAT in October, and hoep for the best. I expect a deferral at worst.</p>

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<p>Thank You Decillion. I hope to atleast go to a college I love. </p>

<p>Descartesz:
Thank you for the very sincere and candid response to my question. It has actually helped my decision and I think you’re right! I don’t think I will do SCEA to Yale and I won’t apply to all those schools (I actually never intended to do it, just a big list my friends and family made), but I will apply to six or seven of them and hope for the best! I will look around some more and I think there actually is a school I might do ED for but we will see! Thank you so much :slight_smile: I had known I was especially standing out but I hope I can maybe make a borderline student! Anyways, thank you for the sincerity! :)</p>

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<p>

I hope you aren’t basing that on the 34. Of the 2015 decision thread posters who reported ACT scores, here is the breakdown of the ones who had a 34. Of the 9 people, 5 were rejected, 2 were wait listed, 1 was deferred and then rejected and 1 was deferred and accepted. Even those with 35’s weren’t much better. Of the 11 people that reported, 7 were rejected, 2 were deferred and then rejected, 1 was deferred and then accepted and one was wait listed and then accepted.</p>

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<p>Yeah that sound right. Although college say ACT and SAT are equal. I’m positive the SAT has a much greater weight in college admissions. But it seems like even perfect score folk get rejected. I feel like at this caliber of college sometimes its just luck :slight_smile: atleast that’s what gives me a little hope. Hopefully…</p>

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<p>

I, on the other hand, have found no reason to doubt what the colleges say. The “secret preference for the SAT” is something of an urban myth on CC. Kdog044’s post does not support your claim, either. SAT scores that are equivalent probably fair about as well when all other factors are equal. </p>

<p>Admissions committees will not just look at your composite or summary scores–they will consider it more closely. A weaker component of your test score can affect the evaluation of your application. As you have already deduced, increasing the verbal/English score on either test would enhance your chances.</p>

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<p>Also, do not discount the importance of the essays as that is what separates the candidates since most have similar stats. My son was the one with the 35 who was called off the wait list and is attending this fall. My original point is don’t assume a high ACT will give you a good shot as many others with as high or higher scores are rejected. With less than 8% acceptance rates you have to stand out among your peers. If you have any negatives (lower 30’s ACT or sub 700 SAT subject scores or < 4.0 UW GPA) your chances become slimmer still.</p>

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<p>OP, look, for those kinds of schools your stats are in line with 2 groups of applicants
1- those that are accepted
2- those that are rejected</p>

<p>What I mean is that 80-90 % of applicants with your sorts of statistics get a “no” from these schools.</p>

<p>Example data from Brown:
% of Valedictorians rejected- 79%
% of applicants with an 800 on the SAT Math rejected - 82%
% of applicants with an 800 SAT CR rejected - 78%
% of those with a 33-35 on the ACT rejected - 88%
% of those with a 36 on the ACT rejected - 68%
First Message: “Go For It” if you want, but know that there are many many many applicants of your caliber out there, so many that these schools can say “no” to the vast majority of those like you.</p>

<p>Other Message: what are your Safety Schools?</p>

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<p>I’m still figuring out my safety schools. But I’ve already been accepted to a State school which I really don’t want to attend because I just want out of Montana!! But I have a few in mind, I just have not put enough thought into them as my primary schools yet and I want to make sure I like my safety schools alot in the chance I don’t make my primary choices!</p>

<p>Kdog: So I am retaking the SAT to get a verbal score higher than 700 obviously. But I was curious about my ACT score then. So I got three perfect scores and one score under 30 which is why I got a 34 rather then a 35. But say another student got a composite of 34 as well, but had 34’s straight across. Would he/she have a better chance than me? On the flip side. If I happen to do really good on the sat Writing portion, can that compensate any way for my poor writing on the ACT? Oh. And I got a 10 on the Essay for the ACT, and 9 for the SAT. Not that great.</p>

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<p>I agree with the statement that on CC, many people believe that there is a bias towards the SAT, solely for the fact that it is “harder” than the ACT, but in fact, both are weighted equally.</p>

<p>Of course if you have a 700/720/700 as opposed to a 36/32/28/35, the SAT would look better. It’s more balanced.</p>