would a recommendation from an influential board member help me get in? 4 years varsity debate, 2 yr varsity golf, 1 2 years varsity soccer, 1 yr jv volleyball, MUN club VP, Stock club VP, Politics club president… and pretty good community service involving women’s advocacy.
^ how well does influential board member know you? In what context?
ETA: I’ve just looked at some of your other posts. If this is a family friend, please be honorable and don’t impose on him or her to give you a recommendation. Other than your goal to be rich, which Yale could help with, I don’t think it’s a fit.
why not?
If your “why not?” referred to asking for a recommendation:
You should be very careful asking someone for a recommendation, especially a family friend, if you think it’s in any way an imposition. People want to write heartfelt recommendations. If this wouldn’t be one, don’t put them on the spot.
If your “why not?” referred to my suggestion that Yale wasn’t a fit:
Well, I was trying to be kind, but if you really want to know, among other things, Yale expects students to have taken a very rigorous (and usually the most rigorous offered) HS workload. I don’t remember the details, but didn’t you barely eke out a C in a Math course after having a D? Your Science grades were Bs. Your GPA is 3.5. Will your school counselor check the box regarding class rigor?
I can handle your harsh comments and I am listening. I am in 3 AP classes currently and the rest are honors. Yes, I did struggle with math. But I dropped the course and retook it. I finished with an A-. I know I am not Ivy material…but for me, it is worth a shot.
I really don’t like sounding harsh, but I guess you’re open to listening to it. Look at https://oir.yale.edu/sites/default/files/cds2016-2017.pdf and see where you stand. Are you in the top 10% of your class? 94% of Yale students were. Top 25% of your class? 99% of Yale students were. How do your test scores stack up?
I’m not saying that you won’t get accepted, although I tend to doubt it. There’s no law against applying on a wing and a prayer, but it will take time and focus away from a more fruitful application.
Good luck, but my suggestion is to spend your time and energy applying to a school that fits you better.
my school doesnt do ranks
@collegecurious49, many schools don’t do official rankings, but every AO knows how to estimate class rank. Where would you estimate that you rank? You must have some idea.
How are your ACT/SAT?
I think I would be upper middle
I want your advice bob. I will do anything to even slightly increase my chances!!!
Upper middle in your HS puts you in the lowest 1% of Yale students. Quite likely, the bottom 1% of admits have offsetting “virtues,” such as achievements in the arts, sports, etc.
I don’t really have any advice for you in how to get into Yale. My suggestion is to read/think about how to be successful after admission to a school that is right-sized for you.
Since I have nothing to offer you, I will say good-bye now.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Closing thread. Nothing left to say.