Anonymous
Post 09/13/2025 13:21     Subject: What does one need to have a better than 5% chance at Yale?

Hard to know. DC has a friend accepted to MIT and Yale but rejected from Princeton. Another friend accepted to MIT but waitlisted at Yale and Princeton. Others accepted to Yale but rejected at MIT, Stanford and Princeton. All very accomplished STEM majors.
Anonymous
Post 09/13/2025 09:21     Subject: What does one need to have a better than 5% chance at Yale?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know a mom whose son sounds like your DD. They have his app reviewed by 5-6 former AOs. IIRC he was waitlisted by Yale then admitted. So application review by former AOs might help.


Where do you find these former AOs? I’m OP, DD doesn’t have an essay coach or private consultant, she wants to do this without hired help. Part of me feels that’s naive and stubborn but she has top grades and 1580 without tutors. Kind of feels like she worked very hard to earn that autonomy and we should give her that trust, even if it means slightly lesser admissions results. That’s why I’m doing research on here and through other sources.


I think someone mentioned this on here a few months ago - I saved it.
https://admissionscheckup.com/our-admissions-officers/


Does anyone have personal reviews for this company?
Need a review of ED application.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 12:25     Subject: What does one need to have a better than 5% chance at Yale?

Anonymous wrote:I know 2 siblings who are there. Unhooked, bright but not curing cancer. In their case probably most importantly, they have unusually magnetic personalities and have been difference makers in their HS communities. I assume they filled the personality and charm quota which is much needed at Ivys these days.


Rather than charm, they need to be recruiting people winning character awards. The number of sociopaths these schools turn out is disturbing.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 12:24     Subject: What does one need to have a better than 5% chance at Yale?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Athletic ability


+1

And it really skewed the data from our high school by lowering the average GPA and test scores. Glad I knew it was an athlete before thinking my non-athlete actually had a shot. I also don't appreciate the multiple mailings that Yale is sending.


These colleges and universities are competing for students, just like the students are competing for spots at colleges and universities. Opt out of the marketing materials or throw them away if you don't like them. I have to do it everyday for everything from credit cards to gutter cleaning.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 12:23     Subject: What does one need to have a better than 5% chance at Yale?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Athletic ability


+1

And it really skewed the data from our high school by lowering the average GPA and test scores. Glad I knew it was an athlete before thinking my non-athlete actually had a shot. I also don't appreciate the multiple mailings that Yale is sending.


Nearly every student from the DMV area accepted to Harvard, Yale, or Princeton in recent years is seriously hooked - whether prominent family, athlete, legacy, or URM. HYP are not accessible for the vast majority of unhooked smart kids from the 'burbs in Virginia or Maryland. Those slots will be taken by smart kids from the more underrepresented states - think Nebraska, Kansas, Alabama, Hawaii and so on.

The DC area is like the Tri-State and Bay areas. Chicago too. There are a gazillion smart and accomplished students from these areas with all the stats. And unless hooked, they don't get into HYP. MIT and Stanford are a little more focused on talent - especially MIT. But it's not worthwhile to fixate on HYP if unhooked, especially from the DMV area. The smart kids here go elsewhere.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 12:22     Subject: What does one need to have a better than 5% chance at Yale?

Be ROTC and at least half URM from a state that doesn’t send many applications. Or an athlete.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 12:00     Subject: What does one need to have a better than 5% chance at Yale?

Anonymous wrote:Athletic ability


+1

And it really skewed the data from our high school by lowering the average GPA and test scores. Glad I knew it was an athlete before thinking my non-athlete actually had a shot. I also don't appreciate the multiple mailings that Yale is sending.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2025 11:49     Subject: What does one need to have a better than 5% chance at Yale?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yale like Harvard is living on its past glory. There are many schools providing better overall experiences. Let's not perpetuate the myth that the only path to success is through 10 schools. We all know that's not true.


So start a thread about it. This poster is just asking about admission to Yale University. Lots of people don't want admission to yale University and that is fine. This thread is not for them.


+1