Chance Me at Stanford, Duke and Yale?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I recently posted in the Harvard thread asking about some chances there, but I have been talking with my family and thinking it over myself a lot and I am really narrowing my choices down to Stanford, Duke and Yale.</p>

<p>I am not a beginner to college app info, so I know that EVERYONE has a slim to none chance at all of these prestigious schools. I would really prefer more advanced feedback than "Chances are low for everyone" and the like.</p>

<p>HOOK (Mostly for Stanford): Both of my parents went to Stanford. My Dad went Undergraduate and Graduate. My mom went Graduate only (undergrad at Cal). My Dad was a med student and currently teaches at Stanford Med School. I think that is a great hook for my #1 choice school</p>

<p>Here is my info, if you could please give me some idea of where I stand?</p>

<p>I go to a competitive Private High School in California Bay Area</p>

<p>GPA: 3.96 UW, 4.0 Weighted (4.0 Scale)
SAT: Composite: 2310 (Math; 780 W: 800 CR; 730)
SAT II: Math II; 780 Biology: 800 Physics; 750 Chemistry; 800
Top 1% class rank
AP Exams: Macroeconomics; 5
Microeconomics; 5
Calculus BC; 5
Chemistry; 4
Physics; 5
Statistics; 5
English Literature; 5
Psychology; 5</p>

<p>These are only from Freshman year through Junior Year. Next year I will be taking AP Human Geography, AP Computer Science, AP Environmental Science, AP US History and AP Government</p>

<p>I plan to get 4's and 5s on all of those
Will have roughly 12 AP's upon Graduation</p>

<p>Academic Awards:</p>

<p>EDIT*- I am currently working on publishing a paper in Economics. Does this influence much of my college app? It is on target to be published before admissions.</p>

<p>Physics Award- Freshman Year
Biology Award- Sophomore Year
Chemistry Award- Junior Year
National Merit Scholar (2280 PSAT composite)
Highest Potential in Science and Mathematics Award- Sophomore and Junior Year
1st Place in the AMC (Math Competition) in Junior Year
Taking the Local Chemistry Olympiad test soon here. I am pretty darn good in Chem
I would love to take the physics Olympiad as well (my best subject) but I am not sure about that info</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>3 Years Varsity Tennis (So far, one more next year)
National Honors Society
Tutoring Local Students
Bridge Program Math Teacher and Science Teacher (Teaching summer school to underprivileged)
Stanford EPGY Student</p>

<p>Founded, Developed and launched a business with a friend of mine for on line video-style tutoring and curriculum creation. Aimed at home schoolers and students in the Bay Area. Its a pretty big deal around here, branching out to East Coast High Schools soon. We did the coding.</p>

<p>Letters of Recommendation:
Will have glowing Rec's from AP Physic Teacher, AP Economics Teacher, AP Calculus Teacher, AP Chemistry Teacher and honors Biology Teacher (Honors is the highest Bio that we have)</p>

<p>Essays will be no problem, I have a knack for writing and have a lot to write about.</p>

<p>I think my main focus for essays will be on building a successful business, and what it is like to mix business and friendship, stuff like that. It will be passionate through. I am very passionate about teaching and education in general.</p>

<p>I have heard that Yale likes CS students. I am great in CS as well, if tha adds anything.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>

doesn’t explain the 4/750 in Chem…</p>

<p>But enough picking on you, you look to be in decent standing for your top choices. Academics are good - decent SAT/SAT IIs, great rank/gpa, and coming from a private school is a good boost. ECs, lacking some of the traditional club leadership positions (see if you can aim for one) but your CS video/tutoring thing looks like a very neat thing (something to really elaborate on in your apps). Also, the econ paper is something to push for, especially if it will be in a renown journal etc. If nothing else, at least you stand out fairly well.</p>

<p>Stanford, good chances given their liking for legacies. You have a very solid shot at Duke and fair chances at Yale (and wouldn’t be surprised if comp sci was a little draw there as it’s under-repped compared to humanities, but this is just speculation).</p>

3

<p>Ok, well I got an 800 on the Chemistry SAT II. You may have confused that score with my Physics SAT II Score. </p>

<p>On the other hand, thanks for the feedback. I am hoping to cultivate the video tutoring. Do you think the E.C’s are lacking otherwise?</p>

4

<p>wow you have a million letters of recommendation…are you really sending 5? that seems like a lot since usually they ask for 2 or 3</p>

5

<p>I am not actually sending all of those…I will be choosing which 2 or 3 will be most beneficial for me soon. I’m guessing Calc, Chem and Physics.</p>

6

<p>I think you’re in a good state for stanford. Maybe your dad can throw your name around (wink, wink.) You seem like you’ve done a lot, and worked hard. Or maybe you’re just a genius :slight_smile: But seriously, I’d be surprised if you didn’t get into at least one of those schools.</p>

7

<p>Don’t send more than two, that’s a waste of their time and they don’t ask for it. Why would you list them all if you know you can’t send them? You can send a third extra curricular letter if your want. </p>

<p>You said you are “darn good” at Chem, but you got a 4 on the AP exam? Ok.</p>

8

<p>I also got an 800 on the SAT II chem and a 98 in the AP chem course. I’d say I’m pretty good at Chem. A 4 is not a bad score on the AP exam.</p>

<p>As for the letters, I listed those as options to see if people had constructive ideas of which to send.</p>

9

<p>Of course a 4 isn’t a bad score, but it doesn’t really demonstrate the mastery necessary for an Olympiad, unless you’ve improved significantly since then (think about the massive curve and the fact that medalling in an Olympiad indicates that you’re among the very top few in the country).The SAT II is easier, and a 98 in a school course doesn’t really mean anything, if your school is that grade inflated that you can get a 98 in a course and not be a shoo in for a 5 on the exam. </p>

<p>You’re going to need to prep a ton, that’s all I’m saying.</p>

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<p>Yea, I agree that I will need to prep. My school actually has severe grade deflation, so it is difficult to earn those marks. However, I am working with my dad every day in prep for the chem Olympiad</p>

11

<p>I don’t believe that your school is “severely” grade deflated if you got a 98 in AP Chem… I don’t think anyone has ever gotten above a 95 in an AP course at my school (except like, Psych and APES lol). </p>

<p>Anyway, best of luck! Definitely do some research on the physics Olympiad if that’s your best subject. It’s probably too late for this year and next year will be after college apps, but maybe I’m wrong so you should at least check.</p>

12

<p>I think some traditional club leadership position like Presidency of a club like NHS or something else could seal the deal a little more as most qualified applicants who apply to such schools have some of these.</p>