Stanford is my dream school and obviously I would do anything to go there. I am currently a junior so if anyone has any advice on how to improve my application it would be much appreciated. An input on if I even have a chance at Stanford would be appreciated as well
GPA (weighted):
freshman/sophomore GPA : 4.1 but am taking 4 AP’s junior year
ACT: 35 (35R, 35M, 34R, 34S)
Extracurriculars:
-Vice President of Key Club
-Go to a performing arts high school in the trumpet conservatory
-in a prestigious outside audition-only wind ensemble
-teach private and group trumpet lessons to underprivileged elementary kids
-competitive dancer
teacher/mentor in a special needs dance program
-counselor at a special needs summer camp
Awards:
presidential volunteer service award
national honor society
california scholarship federation (CSF)
distinguished scholar (4.5+ GPA)
summer:
attended stanford’s sport medicine camp
*planning on attending USC premed program as well
notes: I feel like my application is very generic and will be easily skipped over. My extracurriculars are basic, I have no academic extracurriculars, and my grades/test scores aren’t standouts.
Any advice on how to improve my application? I really want to go to Stanford. Thanks!
Sure, apply to Stanford and give it your all. But, I’d recommend that you give up the idea of a dream school and focus your time and energy on creating a solid college list that includes reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable (find out your parents’ budget and run the net price calculator for each school) and that you would be excited to attend. The people I see who get hurt by the college admission process are the ones who focus on one or two hyper-competitive schools and then don’t get in.
Many people don’t spend nearly enough time seeking out those great match/safety schools (and they are out there). Cast a wide net and recognize that (assuming no major hook) Stanford, with an acceptance rate of under 5%, is a major reach for pretty much everyone. Recognize that there are many wonderful schools out there where you can have a great 4 year experience and get where you want to go in life.
Two words: music supp. It’s no grand push, but if admissions likes your app enough to pass the supp to the dept- and if the dept feels they want to work with you- it can help a little bit. The rest depends on what you’ve actually done, the choices you did make, how you present yourself in the app and supp, and institutional needs.
Your scores are strong. But seniors should realize tippy tops look at grades on your transcript, unweighted. And that they want to see activities related to your major. It’s part of the attributes they want to see, that awareness and involvement. So what’s the possible major?
The presidential service award is based on hours, not the challenge of your work and any impact. Camps and pay programs aren’t tips. It’s what you actually do, your choices, in hs and the local area, etc.
Biggest advice: ditch the dream ideas and learn all you can about what Stanford looks for. Do some “self matching,” because decisions aren’t based on how much you love them, but how much they feel you can be a success there, academically and socially.