chance an international student, pls

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>Hi, I am a junior from Taiwan. I intend to apply Stanford under SCEA. My educational background might be a little different from most of you( never under American educational system), so any help will be super appreciated! </p>

<p>Stat:
SAT 1: 2080( M: 800; CR: 610; W: 670) will retake in Oct
SAT 2: Math 2: 800; Chem: 800; Phy:770
TOEFL: 100 …considering retake it
GPA: 89
Rank: top5%
( We cannot design our class schedules…)</p>

<p>ECs:
English Study Club( Captain teaching assistant) 5 hrs/wk
Tutor 2 kids in our neighborhood( charges are all donated to help the need) 5 hrs/wk
Volunteer in City Art Museum 100hrs+
Science Fair( I have two research projects) 500 hrs+</p>

<p>Summer/winter experience:
Go to New Zealand with my friend
Go to Italy with my sister
Take courses in UC Berkeley and get straight As
Take care of patients/elders in Asha Daan, Mumbai, India
Earth Science lessons at school for future regional competition</p>

<p>Awards:
Science Fair- school; also won 500 USD support from city government
English Writing- school
Art- school
Math- school
Harvard Book Prize Award</p>

<p>School: Big, public, one of the best in the capital; most kids go to local U; around 10 kids apply American U each year( 2 go to MIT and 1 goes to Caltech this year)</p>

<p>Essays: Haven’t started writing. I want to write about one of my science project, in
which I spend my break/lunch time testing the amount of electroradiation in my school, in order to make a solid proof that a weather radar nearby should be turned off</p>

<p>Hook: I am tested(60 out of 1000) into the science prodigy class in our school</p>

<p>I know I have neither great scores nor outstanding ECs, but I am improving my SAT 1 and possibly I could have 2200 above. As for my ECs, I think I do my best. I have school from 7:30 to 5:10 and my school is very competitive in academics. I hope U could take this into consideration, but who knows?</p>

<p>Also, I need aids, I know this is gonna hurt me.</p>

<p>It’s a really long thread. Thank you who read it all… I really need some advice, thank you!</p>

2

<p>Sorry to have to say this, but I think your chances aren’t that great. But hey, it’s Stanford, no one’s chances are great. Here’s some suggestions for you:</p>

<p>1) Don’t apply SCEA. The applicant pool is self-selective and it will be harder for you than regular decision.
2) Find something (EC, your science projects) that will distinguish you and package yourself around that.
3) Try to raise your GPA above 90%.
4) Write some killer essays.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>thanks for your honest reply.</p>

<p>My school gives low GPA( the girl goes to MIT this year has a lower GPA than me), so hopefully it won’t hurt me much. But I will work hard next year. Thanks!</p>

4

<p>SCEA is extremely tough, SCEA has some of the most impressive applications ever. And a lot of them get rejected. I know somebody who was rejected at Stanford SCEA and accepted at Yale RD. It just shows you that students who are extremely good both academically and in extracurricular activities get rejected, even if they are qualified. RD I wouldn’t say is any easier.</p>

5

<p>But hey, you never know if you are going to get in unless you try</p>

6

<p>Hahaha I got the Harvard Book Prize. I don’t think it means much… unless if you apply to Harvard? (Which I didn’t). </p>

<p>I honestly don’t kno what to tell you, i am awful at chancing. All I can say is gl and really write killer essays. i think that’s what tipped the scale in my favor… my essays were really quirky. :)</p>

7

<p>haha you’re from taipei first girls’ high right? retake your sat1 and toefl, write killer essays and you will have a great shot for stanford!</p>