URM HYS applicants 2011 Forum

[Raramuri415]

Applied early Nov, still have not heard back. 3.4/170. What are other people's experiences?

[Stickupyoura$$much]

My next door neighbor got in, I'll edit in his numbers gimme a sec.

3.8 / 173 - feel free to PM him UN: MikeNorec | He's peurto rican btw.

[TatNurner]

OP, what sort of URM are you?

[Knock]

Applied Mid-Oct to HS, working on my 250 atm. JR1-less and S-less.

[AztecaRex]

In at Harvard. Waiting to hear from Yale and Stanford, but I applied relatively recently, so no worries yet, jaja.

[Knock]

In at Harvard. Waiting to hear from Yale and Stanford, but I applied relatively recently, so no worries yet, jaja.

How was writing your 250?

[AztecaRex]

In at Harvard. Waiting to hear from Yale and Stanford, but I applied relatively recently, so no worries yet, jaja.

How was writing your 250?

Well, to be honest, I think I spent more time agonizing over what would be "appropriate" to write about than I did actually writing the thing. I had originally intended on going with a scholarly sort of look at an international legal topic I've had personal work experience with, but I ultimately went with a much more lighthearted, humorous topic (PM me if you want specifics). I'm a bit nervous about how it will go over given Yale's unique review process, but I used a similar tone in my diversity statements and I haven't been rejected anywhere yet (plus I think I remember reading a 250 about pinche Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so it can't all be monocles and brandy in the Yale reading room ). How's yours going, Knock?

[Knock]

In at Harvard. Waiting to hear from Yale and Stanford, but I applied relatively recently, so no worries yet, jaja.

How was writing your 250?

Well, to be honest, I think I spent more time agonizing over what would be "appropriate" to write about than I did actually writing the thing. I had originally intended on going with a scholarly sort of look at an international legal topic I've had personal work experience with, but I ultimately went with a much more lighthearted, humorous topic (PM me if you want specifics). I'm a bit nervous about how it will go over given Yale's unique review process, but I used a similar tone in my diversity statements and I haven't been rejected anywhere yet (plus I think I remember reading a 250 about pinche Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so it can't all be monocles and brandy in the Yale reading room ). How's yours going, Knock?

Haha, i'm still stuck on the figuring out what exactly what to write about. I have an idea but I'm not sure how adcomms would perceive it. Basically just using my major to my advantage to analyze something that I think is interesting.

[Shloime]

Checking in. Applied to HS, and working on my 250 (and getting a second professor letter) for Y. Is DS not recommended for Yale? Dean Asha did mention (I think on her blog) that if you have something to add than you may, but considering that 3 anonymous professors will be reviewing my app, I don't want to overburden them with an extra essay that nobody else is writing. If I don't write a DS, is it important to bring up diversity in PS/250? To clarify, I'm of Colombian background, and my DS doesn't include "overcoming adversity", it just stresses the point that I have a unique background and what it means to me. Any thoughts?

[AztecaRex]

Checking in. Applied to HS, and working on my 250 (and getting a second professor letter) for Y. Is DS not recommended for Yale? Dean Asha did mention (I think on her blog) that if you have something to add than you may, but considering that 3 anonymous professors will be reviewing my app, I don't want to overburden them with an extra essay that nobody else is writing. If I don't write a DS, is it important to bring up diversity in PS/250? To clarify, I'm of Colombian background, and my DS doesn't include "overcoming adversity", it just stresses the point that I have a unique background and what it means to me. Any thoughts?

Well, I didn't do a DS for Yale, but that's only because Yale's application didn't mention the option of sending one. If Asha said something different in her blog, then by all means send one. As far as mentioning your diverse background elsewhere if you don't do a DS, the easy answer is--it depends. How connected are you to your Colombian roots? Were you actually born there? Grew up there? Were you a part of a Colombian Student Association or a Latino Student Union at your undergrade? It also depends on where your PS and 250 stand alone--if you've got some amazing story for the PS unrelated to your background, it's just going to seem tacked on if you mention your heritage (i.e. "I'm from Bogata and we use the word "marica" like it's going out of style" ). On the other hand, if there's some experience connected with your culture, or you did some great work or volunteering in Colombia, then by all means go for it tigre.

Buena suerte!

[almightypush]

in at Harvard. waiting to hear from Yale (went complete on 12/17).

[pennyloafer17]

In at HYS. You can PM me for numbers

[Kabuo]

In at HYS. You can PM me for numbers

Grats. Love the avatar.

[pennyloafer17]

In at HYS. You can PM me for numbers

Grats. Love the avatar.

Thanks I like yours too!

[booby87]

.

[AztecaRex]

Checking in. Applied to HS, and working on my 250 (and getting a second professor letter) for Y. Is DS not recommended for Yale? Dean Asha did mention (I think on her blog) that if you have something to add than you may, but considering that 3 anonymous professors will be reviewing my app, I don't want to overburden them with an extra essay that nobody else is writing. If I don't write a DS, is it important to bring up diversity in PS/250? To clarify, I'm of Colombian background, and my DS doesn't include "overcoming adversity", it just stresses the point that I have a unique background and what it means to me. Any thoughts?

Well, I didn't do a DS for Yale, but that's only because Yale's application didn't mention the option of sending one. If Asha said something different in her blog, then by all means send one. As far as mentioning your diverse background elsewhere if you don't do a DS, the easy answer is--it depends. How connected are you to your Colombian roots? Were you actually born there? Grew up there? Were you a part of a Colombian Student Association or a Latino Student Union at your undergrade? It also depends on where your PS and 250 stand alone--if you've got some amazing story for the PS unrelated to your background, it's just going to seem tacked on if you mention your heritage (i.e. "I'm from Bogata and we use the word "marica" like it's going out of style" ). On the other hand, if there's some experience connected with your culture, or you did some great work or volunteering in Colombia, then by all means go for it tigre.

Buena suerte!

To add a different perspective to your question Shloime, I did submit a DS when I applied last year (to every school, not just Yale). I had a pretty successful cycle (LSN in profile) and I think my DS really did help distinguish me. Of course I may be wrong - it is possible I was admitted in spite of the DS, but I don't think this is the case.

I wrote about what my background means to me, as you're thinking about doing. I also wasn't a part of any student associations or anything, so I'll have to disagree with Azteca and encourage you to write one if you have something to say. It doesn't necessarily have to be about some huge experience, I think I just wrote about my perspective on the wold and how my background influenced it. I think a good DS can be game changing for a URM, so I just wanted to share my two cents.

Sorry if you've already applied, I know you asked a couple of weeks ago...perhaps this will be helpful to other URMs as well.

Oh, I wasn't trying to imply that the OP needed to be a part of a student organization to write a DS--I was merely listing things that might imply a connection to his Colombian heritage. If the OP has something to say about his background, then by all means he should go for it.

[booby87]

.

[Fresh]

AA Male -
Same LSAT
In @ H.
Not happy w/ my Y250, but my fingers are crossed.
No clue what will happen with S.

[booby87]

.

[s0ph1e2007]

Applied Mid-Oct to HS, working on my 250 atm. JR1-less and S-less.

+1
except early November

[rundoxierun]

Ehh I guess I'll join this party. In at H. Waiting on S. LSN in profile.

[AztecaRex]

Oh, I wasn't trying to imply that the OP needed to be a part of a student organization to write a DS--I was merely listing things that might imply a connection to his Colombian heritage. If the OP has something to say about his background, then by all means he should go for it.

Ah, sorry for the misread. I see now you're talking about adding the diversity into the PS, and I agree that would probably be awkward if a sentence was thrown in as an afterthought. I just didn't want anyone to feel like they shouldn't write a DS because they weren't involved enough (and you by no means said that, my bad).

Have you heard from any of YHS yet? Anyways, best of luck to everyone in this thread! Come to Yale

No worries, you were just trying to help the OP out . Anyway, in at Harvard, still waiting on Yale and Stanford. If I may ask, what made Yale the #1 choice for you?

[timmna]

Applied early Nov, still have not heard back. 3.4/170. What are other people's experiences?

Similar numbers (in profile). Applied to H in early Nov. and S in Dec. No news as of yet.

[Fresh]

congrats on Harvard! What's your top choice between YHS?

Thanks

That's a tough one.
Probably 50% Y, 49%H, 1% S lol. It's weird because S was for if I couldn't get H, and Y was because I got H. After I got into H, I started looking at Y and liked what I saw

[DukeCornell]

I wasn't going to apply to HYS because I'm pretty much sold on Columbia, NYU, and Duke. But, WTF... add me to the HYS waiting thread, minus the Y. (Still waiting for my December LSAT)