Will I get into Yale?

Question

I am a junior in high school, and I am very interested in attending Yale. I have a 4.3 and an currently ranked second in my class at a rigourous private school. I scored a 34 on the ACT and a 2230 on the SAT. I am an officer of our KEY Club and SAVE. My team was state champions in CC and I have qualified to state in swimming. I am interested in swimming for yale. What are my chances, and what else can I do to make myself a better candidate?

In my first two years of high scool, I served for close to 200 hours. As for clubs, I am in four which is all I have time for between school and swimming.

Thank you for your time and advice.

Answer 1

I'd say you have around a 65% chance. Your academics are impressive, as are your extra currs. However, it is important to remember that Yale, Harvard, Princeton and UPenn are reaches for just about anyone (even the most competitive applicants). It is practically a coin toss with a five-sided coin. All of these colleges have a very difficult time sorting through their applications. Probably the one thing you can do to improve your chances is
1.) Volunteer- (all Ivies as well as any other school love to see that you dedicate yourself to something higher than yourself)
2.) Take a good month to write your essay. It needs to be wel l planned and well thought.
3.) Try becoming the president of at least one club (the more the merrier)
4.) Take an active role in your school. Ivies are looking for leaders, not followers.
5.) Relax!! I have just finished up the college process and have gotten into several fantastic schools. Have fun, enjoy high school! You have done a lot of impressive stuff, now you have to let nature take its course.

Answer 2

Larry G. is absolutely correct. Thousands of people with perfect SAT scores didn't get into the schools of their choice in the Ivy League last year, even though their grades and extracurricular activities were excellent. There is nothing which will guarantee admission. Your chances are better if you live in Montana or Iowa than if you are in New York or L.A., because it provides them with geographic diversity. However, I would say that your best shot is to write a truly great essay. It needs to capture attention and to show that you have something to offer that all the other applicants do not. It has to be authentic, but well-written. Good luck!

Answer 3

Sounds like you're a good candidate. You have proven that you have amazing academics and good extracurricular activities. Just make sure to get those community service hours because colleges like Yale want pretty well-rounded students. Also write a thoughtful, interesting essay because it is one of the main deciding points of whether you get in or not. Other than that, I'm sure you have a good chance. Good Luck!

Answer 4

if you're truly a great swimmer, that might be what gets your foot in the door. i had a friend recruited to yale for swimming whose stats were... not as good as yours, so it does happen. are you planning on talking to coaches? have you been scouted? if so, that could help a fair amount.
if you're not going to pursue the recruitment path (and it's not an easy one, i hear), you still have a reasonable chance of admission just based on your academics. keep up the good work in class and remember to be interesting (read good books, have good conversations, think about what's important to you).
best of luck.

Answer 5

do lots of community service and persuade yale that you are a valuable member in your school and community..lots of clubs, community service, and extracurricular activities..things like that...not having them could mean not getting in