Yale was my dream since 5th Grade

<p>So the long short of my questions is that I raised me and my brother on my own at 14, got my GED right away and enlisted in the army.</p>

<pre><code> When I was discharged (honorable) I came home and got a job working my way to managing a market of retail stores. When the economy collapsed and I realized that I wasn't going to reach my potential until I returned to school, I found a new passion in life. I returned to a local college and here I am two years later wondering If I could get admitted to the school I been dreaming about since I was just a kid.
</code></pre>

<p>I'm one semester away from my AA and I've worked hard since I started. Never took elective classes (only classes I thought I could actually use like managerial accounting or chemistry etc.) and currently have a GPA of 3.81 (Should be 3.86 by the time I graduate, I only have two decently hard classes and two LIT classes that will be an easy A)</p>

<p>My extra-curricular are:</p>

<p>Phi Theta Kappa
College honor society, weekly meetings and national conventions. I volunteer to help new members transition on campus and into our organization.<br>
SA (Budget) Student Chair
-- A school's budget committee consisting of half administrators and half students. Our college's class fee's are distributed to student clubs and we distribute 2 million dollars a year. Voting and club creation as well as adjustment to existing budgets.</p>

<p>Model UN -Assistant Director
Invited (and accepted) to be an assistant director for 2011 Model U.N. Conference In Atlanta, GA. for World Health Organization Committee. I attended this year and won an award for outstanding delegate (3 of 94 in our group got this)</p>

<p>Student Chair - SFTF
Student chair for the Smoke-Free Task Force. Our college is transitioning into a smoke-free campus and I designed the enforcement policy for the campus.</p>

<p>Student Government - President
Current S.G.A. President (previously vice president). Created a popular class that rewards students for outstanding community service. </p>

<p>I Also work full time (still in retail) am engaged (to a brilliant lady who is also applying but had a 4.31 in high school with 4 AP classes, and a 4.0 in college).</p>

<p>I volunteered over 1000 hours before I was 17, and was in the paper a few times, I also taught MH students as a teacher's student assistant voluntarily for two years when I was in 8th/9th grade.</p>

<p>Obviously I want to know how I look as a candidate given the good and bad listed above. I've taken a lot of business and science classes too as I am working toward a dual-masters MPH/Law from John Hopkins.</p>

<p>Any advise would be great.</p>

<p>lastly, I am a horrible writer, in my essay I prepared I talked alot about growing up and how it defined me, as well as how focused I am given what I've gone through to change the health care system in America. I know its probably only a personal grip but It always feels whiny to talk about my childhood, and things I've overcome. Should I focus more on my future plans in my essay?'</p>

<p>Thanks a bunch!</p>

<p>What you accomplished sounds great, just apply and you’ll see!!! Don’t focus on your future plans on your essay… But if I were you, I’d submit an additional essay on your childhood. And you have GOT to write an essay about your time in the army! I’d say you have as good a chance as anyone, especially due to your special situation. But be aware that only 1% get accepted as transfer students, so don’t feel bad if you don’t get in ok??! Best of luck!</p>

<p>You should definitely apply; you have an amazing story to tell. Best of luck to you!</p>

<p>Definitely apply to a bunch of Ivies to increase your chances, I hope you get in :D.</p>

<p>Definitely apply. Also consider the Eli-Whitney Program if you haven’t already done so.
[Eli</a> Whitney Students Program ? A Program for Non-Traditional Students | Yale College Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.yale.edu/eli-whitney]Eli”>Eli Whitney Students Program | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions)
It sounds like it may be what you’re looking for.</p>

<p>You should look over at the transfer students’ forum, if you haven’t done so already. I think there are probably quite a few fine schools that will take you as a transfer–don’t get too fixated on any specific one, including Yale.</p>

<p>Thank you all for the supportive replies!
Yeah I been reading a lot of the CC boards and it seems that applying to several Ivy schools seems to be the best shot for getting in, I think right now for the MPH field Brown/Yale/Berkeley/Northwestern all seem to be my best shot, anyone else know of a great PH undergrad school?</p>

<p>Is money a concern? Are you a CA resident? </p>

<p>Just asking because you can’t expect any FA as an OOS student at the UCs; and B is need aware for transfer applicants. There is a thread on the Transfer Students forum with some data on FA & decisions from students who applied to B last year.</p>