After looking at other threads i feel totally discouraged... But chance me anyway?

<p>Class of 2013
SAT CR 700-800: 61%
SAT MA 700-800: 67%
You guys know statistics; of the 67% who got 700-800 on MA, a chunk may have fared less well on the CR. Etc.<br>
IMO, here’s what they’ll notice best, beyond stats issues:
300 hrs hospital; shift leader; shadowing; cancer vp
peer tutor/levels you tutor at; Synopses (find a way to get the whole name in)
speech/debate 4 years; tournament; chair
Sch Fed 4 years; AP Bio 5, Sat2 Bio 800
music; Accent EC
and so on.
Persian may be URM- but how do you fill this out on app? I haven’t heard the term used in decades. My error?</p>

<p>Nat Youth Ldrship won’t weigh in much- it’s pay to play, right?
Dropping French Club and VB- doubt they’ll care; you’re a sci guy w/ECs to prove it
IMO, knowing French well eno to tutor and having played VB will just round out their pictre of you as more than a scientist.
Write a great essay, frame your ECs well, as noted above.
Just know that even valedictorians with perfect scores get rejected.</p>

<p>ps. Of the 30k who apply, easily 15k are elim in the 1st round. Another 7500 are easily set aside in R2, Your competition is the remaining 7500, for 2200 slots. Ah, the beauty in statistics.</p>

<p>I don’t think “Persian” (Iranian?) would be considered URM in the sense of being an affirmative-action hook. It’s possible that it could be a slight tip for purposes of enhancing geographical diversity in the student body, but that would depend on the current makeup of the student body.</p>

<p>

For class of 2014, there were 215 students cross-admitted by both Stanford and MIT, and 129 chose Stanford and 86 chose MIT. Dad2, did you mean that those 86 students who went to MIT are all “crazy geniuses” and those 129 students who chose Stanford are not? Stanford won 60% of the cross-admits over MIT.</p>

<p>Thank you so much everyone for your insightful responses. I just have another quick question. Do you think that applying Early Action will will be to my benefit or will it actually be to my detriment? Because I hear that the EA pool of applicants is VERY competitive so will my app seem inferior to the others? Would mine stand out more if I was too apply regular? Thank you again so much for your help!!!</p>

<p>If Stanford is your #1 choice- and you’re not skipping the chance to apply ED to another dream school- why not just pay the cost and try? Is finaid is a consideration? You haven’t mentioned this.<br>
Your application pkg must shine- as ^ show your passions. Make yourself interesting, alert, alive- and committed to S. It all has to come together. Write a great essay.
Too many kids focus on the numbers- many above have told you: it’s about YOU fitting them and them fitting you. Etc. Show it.</p>

<p>thanks so much lookingforward, you have great advice. And yes Stanford is my #1 choice and I am hoping for some financial aid. Will that hurt my chances?</p>

<p>Needing finaid won’t hurt your chances.</p>