<p>My top two schools are Pomona and Stanford and I was wondering what my chances are getting in. Rather than listing everything, i'll just say that I go to a very difficilt, prestigious prep school and am getting a 3.7 gpa, and I recently took the SAT for the first time and got a total score of 2340. Assuming my extra cirriculars are average, my reccomendations are good, and I have pretty good essay, what are my chances? this isn't a lot of info but i dont really feel like going into detail</p>
<p>You won't get into Stanford with average everything and a little higher SAT score. Period.</p>
<p>Don't know about Pomona.</p>
<p>yeah I see what you're saying, but what im wondering more is how does that score compare with other people applying to Stanford. Should I be thinking about raising it more to have a good chance?</p>
<p>For Pomona, your scores are fine...I guess what you need to do now is to make a smashing impression on your interview (very important deciding factor, actually), good teacher recommendations, and good essays on your application...</p>
<p>essays and recommendations are basically set. I haven't thought about the interview though... thats optional right? yet it helps you get in? thats odd</p>
<p>yeah, it's optional but I assure you a great impression helps a lot...think about it this way, the people who apply to Pomona are going to be pretty much on level ground with you academically, it would be helpful to adcoms to get a feel of who you are and even more so if they like you...</p>
<p>Stanford top 25%:</p>
<p>770 CR
780 M</p>
<p>Raising your SAT scores can't do much more for you, they're beyond where they need to be.</p>
<p>Your SAT scores are fine for Stanford, but so are those of the majority of applicants. It's just a lottery so take your ticket but don't count on it. With hod recs and a well written application that shows yo to be interesting, minterested in learning and of good character, you have an excellent shot at Pomona.</p>
<p>I have a 2240, 4.0, excellent extracurriculars and I got rejected. In my case, a better SAT would have helped. In your case, no. But like suze said, it's just a lottery. Take your ticket.</p>
<p>Yeah the chances for anybody are slim no matter what the credentials when applying to such selective schools. I'm definitely going to consider the interview as a possibility</p>
<p>thanks guys</p>
<p>You live in Washington- that might help you at both schools.
Stanford doesn't interview, I don't think, but Pomona expects all SoCal kids to interview. You have an excuse not to, but if you're visiting the school (you must visit!) you might as well interview. I believe Pomona considers the interview as important.
You have plenty of time to turn that "pretty good" essay into an
outstanding one- or two. (you need two) You might also look for someone who has known you, perhaps someone connected to your ECs, who would be willing to write another recommendation.
You also might want to look at everything you have been involved with in high school, and pick something to highlight that had special meaning for you, either in your essay or on the application. It's better generally to be committed to a few things rather than have a laundry list where they all appear equally important to you.</p>
<p>Apply ed to Pomona and show a lot of interest!</p>
<p>yikes! Don't apply ED anywhere if it's not a clear first choice! Even apply ED doesn't do it necessarily at Pomona, as they only took a third of the ED kids this year. Same with Stanford.
It's impossible to tell what your chances are with either school because both are looking for interesting people - and you don't tell us anything interesting about yourself!
SAT scores are great, though, for any school.
You might take a look at USC - did you score equally well on the PSAT? USC gives out a lot of tuition breaks for kids with good scores.</p>
<p>pomona is really tough to get in.... you need a 3.9 GPA</p>
<p>Stanford can be really random w/ its admissions but make sure your essays are really good, I think my essays/recs/extra curriculars helped me get in w/ only a 2090</p>
<p>You need to be top 10% of your prep school and have excellent recommendations.</p>
<p>okay basically my school is really really difficult academically, my gpa is a lot better than one would think really. My school doesn't rank either. I should be getting good recommendations.</p>
<p>If your high school is prestigious, then the colleges will understand.</p>
<p>Pomona and Stanford are really in the same region in terms of selectivity. You are well qualified for both schools but because of the competition, neither is a sure bet. YOu really need to show some interest in both schools and interviews would definitely help.</p>
<p>Yeah im pretty sure by now that I will be doing an interview. I don't feel like that would be a major difficulty for me, especially since I actually have some experience with that - I did interviews for four different prep schools when I was applying for ninth grade, and I'm pretty sure that an interview would only help my chances</p>