I wanna go to YALE?

Here's a look at my resume as of Junior year:


GPA - 3.707 (weighted)


SAT (expected score) - 1800-2000


2 or 3 AP courses per year/the rest are advanced classes


E.C.s - Student Council (Representative, Class President, Student Body Secretary), Key Club (3 yrs.), Student Recruiting Club (3 yrs.), Debate (2 yrs.), school Newspaper (Editor) (3 yrs.), Basketball Team (1 yr.), Catholic Teen Retreat (Director) (3 yrs.), Church Youth Group, 200+ service hours and I was an intern for 3 months in the courtroom of a federal judge.





I will be a 1st generation, low-income Black college student. I am very interested in journalism and politics and I am very faith-oriented. I'm very good at history and english/writing but I'm not sure what to major in.





I know that I am not strong academically but I think I show promise. Can you tell me what I need to do (academically, personally, spiritually) so that I have a fighting chance of going there? This is one of my biggest dreams.

I wanna go to YALE?
Hmm. Your extracurriculars look great, and you also have a lot of diversity factors to help you (race, family income, 1st generation college).





Your GPA is somewhat low for Yale. Get it up as high as you can. And start studying for the SAT early, because a high SAT score can sometimes balance out a lower GPA.





You can also send a recommendation from a priest/religious leader if he/she knows you well, in addition to your two teacher recs. But this only helps if your priest/religious leader personally knows you well--a generic letter will not be helpful.





I would say that you should apply to Yale, because you do have a chance, but so far it doesn't look like a great chance--if you have strong recommendations, a high SAT score, and a great essay--your chances will improve.





You should also make sure to apply to not only "safe schools," but also some other top schools that are similar to Yale's level (Princeton, Columbia, etc.), because if you don't get into Yale, you will still have a chance at some similar schools--there's some luck of the draw involved, so you can sometimes get accepted to some schools even though you get rejected at similar schools.
Reply:Actually mine is "light and truth and truth." LOL :) Report It

Reply:A lot of very good universities would love to have you. I think Yale will be tough.





Your GPA is a bit low for Yale. The typical student there will have an unweighted GPA that is higher than yours, and a weighted GPA over 4.0. Most accepted students have more AP classes. About 90% of those accepted have a higher SAT score.





Based on this -- it doesn't look great for Yale. The fact that you are black may help -- especially if you interview well and write a killer admissions essay. You should apply -- because there is a chance.





My adviice to you is to take as many AP classes as you can, try to increase your SAT score -- and have a back-up plan.
Reply:no wonder , she is Chinese!
Reply:Give it a try, you have a good chance. Just apply, and write a good essay and possibly go in for an interview. That's how I got into MIT. However, apply to other colleges as well, don't have this be your one and only. I always say you might as well apply to all the Ivy Leagues if you meet their requirments (which you seem to do). Also try looking outside of the Ivy Leagues, MIT, Northwestern, Berkley, University of Chicago, John Hopkins, Stanford, Duke, etc. In national rankings these schools rank higher than many Ivy Leagues. If you don't ge tinto Yale, just transfer there after going to one these top notch schools. Don't worry, I think you'll make it. And my schedule was strong I had one AP freshman year, 3 sophmore, all AP Junior and Senior year. (Yea high school sucked, buy hey MIT ^_^) Also try taking the SAT II's to show more superior strength in testing and the ACT as well.
Reply:Another factor to consider is the high school you go to. An AP at once school does not carry the same weight as it would at another high school. Also, you need leadership positions for senior year as well as the strongest schedule possible.
Reply:definitely pull up those grades and scores. I'm not saying that you don't have a chance, but if your grades/SAT stay like that, they won't even look at the rest of your application..at least pull the SAT to a 2250 and above..Yale is very very very competitive!! I have a friend who recently got accepted Early Action to Yale. here are her stats:





2400 SAT


800 SAT II Chinese


800 SAT II Math II


800 SAT II Biology





4.0 GPA UNweighted





president/vice president of numerous clubs


founded her own club at the school


varsity tennis (#1 singles)


Homecoming court


Volunteer


Killer killer essay (I mean this when I say it, her essays were amazing!!)


Killer Recommendation!





The list goes on..seriously, she is a stand out candidate!! Good luck!! Your race may help you a lot here, so definitely work hard! I hope that you can make it =)