A Junior's chances at Stanford... Please help

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
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<p>Hey Guys,</p>

<p>I’m new to this forum. I’m a senior in high school finished applying to colleges (I’m hoping on Berkeley). The reason I joined is I have a sister who is a junior in high school that plans on applying EA to Stanford for the Fall of 2006. Nobody from my school has ever attended Stanford before, so we are largely unsure of what her chances are. Since she still has a year and a half of high school left, I wanted to post what she’s done so far and hopefully get feedback about what may be missing and what she can do to increase her chances of acceptance. </p>

<p>We’d really appreciate your feedback.</p>

<hr>

<p>School information: An overcrowded, public high school in a rural area of Northern California. Enrollment is 1,700, although the school was designed for 1,000. Approximately 10% of graduates attend four years colleges (most go to CSUs or UC Davis, with an occasional Berkeley or moderately competitive private school). Limited AP classes are offered.</p>

<p>Family information: Family of four, $40,000 a year combined annual income.</p>

<p>Test Score Information:</p>

<p>PSAT: Index rating of 224. This was one of my primary questions: does anyone know if this is in the range for national merit awards? Again, nobody from my high school has ever gotten this, so we don’t know, and I’ve heard it changes from year to year.</p>

<p>SAT I: 1500 (700 Verbal/ 800 Math)
My sister took the SAT her sophomore year for “fun”, just to see how’d she do, and she ended up getting the first 800 math in “over twenty years” at my school. However, since the SAT is being replaced by the New SAT, she will probably take that, although Stanford has said they will accept the higher scores from each section on each test.</p>

<p>SAT II scores: 780 Writing
760 Math IC
750 Math IIC
Plans to take US History this year after completion of AP course.</p>

<p>AP Scores: None yet, but after this year, she will have scores in Calculus AB, English Language, and US History, most likely fours and fives.</p>

<p>ACT: I told my sister she should probably take this just to offer another score to the colleges. I have confidence she’ll do well.</p>

<p>A perfect score on the high school exit exam, for what it’s worth.</p>

<p>Academic information:
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Weighted: 4.3 (although it will be about 4.4 at the time she applies to Stanford)
Took every AP/Honors course available, A’s in all.</p>

<p>Class rank is 1 of 350, not shared. </p>

<p>Extracuriculars:
Music: Played piano for 11 years, flute for 7, and trombone for 3.
For four years, she has been on the LPO Alliance Marching band, ranked one of the top five bands in Northern California. She has spent one year as a Section Leader, Two years as Assistant Drum Major, and her Senior year, she will lead the 150-member band as Drum Major.</p>

<p>Attended band camps at Sac State and UCLA (and at Stanford next summer). At UCLA, won 12 ribbons and first place award in marching out of 80 competitors. </p>

<p>Vice President of Class Freshmen year.
Class President Sophomore and Junior years.
President of Homecoming Committee, 3 years
President of Prom Committee
Football Homecoming Queen, 2004 (if this is something they’d even want to know).
Has been involved in GATE for four years, CSF, Key Club, Amnesty International, and Drama Club. A Science Bowl participant and Link Crew leader.</p>

<p>Sports:
Volleyball for six years, two in high school, JV Captain.
Softball for eleven years, three in high school. Voted MVP of JV team in 2003. Will be starting varsity pitcher in 2004.</p>

<p>Travels:
New York City: 1992, 2001(six weeks after September 11), 2002, 2004,
Washington DC: 1997, 2002, 2004
Boston: 1992, 2002
Japan: 2002, 2004, 2005
England: 2000, 2003
France: January 2003 & November 2003
Australia: 2004
Singapore: 2004</p>

<p>Volunteer work:
In the process of landing an internship at town newspaper.
Volunteer activities with Key Club.</p>

<hr>

<p>Again, any feedback would be greatly valued.</p>

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<p>Your sister sounds incredible. Given the background and educational environment, her being so accomplished is one in a million. One big thing the adcomm looks for is that given the resources that you're offered (becuase not all schools are equal), how much of those resources do you utilize and take advantage of to further your education, something that your sister has clearly done very well. About PSAT - that's DEFINITELY a qualifier. I got a 218 and I qualified. The SAT score is really excellent, no worries there - breaking 1500 on a first shot is really quite an accomplishmentl, especially at such a young age. The SATIIs all really kick butt too, though I'm confused why she took both IC and IIC because her IIC score is really good, and in my opinion shows her math ability much better than the IC score does, since it's only 100 points higher. The GPA is very strong, and it's great how she took every AP offered - that's something adcomm will really like. ECs - WOW. Lots and LOTS of commitment there, and all the leadership positions (DM [me too!], Sxn Ldr, Class Prez, etc.) will really make her shine. Of course, most other applicants will be very strong in these areas too, but what makes your sister really stand out is the background and limited educational resources. She's an excellent candidate, and if her recs and essays go well, I would be greatly surprised if she did not get accepted. Best of luck to you and your sister!</p>

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<p>She sounds like a very strong candidate, based on her academic accomplishments and leadership (given the limited resources).</p>

<p>How did she get to travel abroad so much?</p>

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<p>Thank you so much for your reply. It was very encouraging to my sister and parents.</p>

<p>My sister has definitely beaten the odds at our school. The counseling department is absolutely no help - their first priority is getting students to graduate from high school, and little attention is given to people like my sister. Thus the reason I joined this website.</p>

<p>Taking Math IC and IIC resulted from an arguement between my mom and I - she thought (and the people at college board said) that since she had not completed a year of calculus, she could be handicapped in taking IIC. But I was convinced from the 800 math on the SAT I that she was strong enough to take the IIC. I guess my hypothesis was right, although my sister was disappointed that 750 on math IIC read at "74% among high school seniors"</p>

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<p>Our family just loves traveling. We don't have a lot of money or anything, we just get good deals and use our frequent flier miles whenever possible. </p>

<p>Although that's not something the colleges ask for, I thought it would set her apart from other applicants. And she'll probably write her essays on one of the travel experiences.</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
My sister took the SAT her sophomore year for “fun”

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Careful, Stanford doesn't like those party animals...</p>

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<p>It is not 74% among high school seniors, it is 74% among high school seniors who take IIC, which is a select group of students who are strong in math, so 800 score puts you at 87% or so.</p>

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<p>" I thought it would set her apart from other applicants. And she'll probably write her essays on one of the travel experiences."</p>

<p>The travel itself will not set her apart. What is different in her situation is that your family does it on 40K annual income. Generally, travel stories are considered a "no-no" for college essays (they are usually boring and corny, showing privileged kids going to exotic places and witnessing the "whole new way of life"). It is probably different in your sister's case, and if she can write well about it, the essay could work.</p>

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<p>Ok, thanks... Most of our trips have been sightseeing (our parents took us to NYC after sept 11 to see the devestation firsthand), not posh excursions or anything like that.</p>

<p>I'm sure her essays will be tastefull and not corny. Thanks for your input.</p>

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<p>good chance I think. I think you could focus on musical ability rather than just travel. music = measured adn she seems to be very talented.... travel = interesting but only useful if it provides a lot of insight into character...</p>