Chance me for Stanford!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I've literally had to work almost 24/7 (don't worry, I still have a life) to do as well as some of my other genius friends; I've been diagnosed with mild dyslexia. I'm genuinely unsure about my chances, since dyslexics who are doing (relatively?) well are pretty unprecedented--I couldn't quite find anything on the net. From all of the articles and things I've read, most dyslexics use their LD as an excuse for their bad performances, which most colleges admit, is beneficial to disclose for the admissions process. In my case, I use it as something I've "overcome", so it'll help for sure, but I'm just confused as to how much it'd help, and if it'd be enough to get into something as prestigious as Stanford. That's where I need your guy's help! Haha my stats aren't that spectacular...don't laugh too hard!</p>

<p>GPA: 4.119 weighted, top 10%, 56/600 (a very competitive school, second best in Oregon)</p>

<p>SAT1: 770 math, 620 reading, 720 writing = 2100 (in one sitting)</p>

<p>SAT2: 680 Math2, 730 Chem, 670 Bio</p>

<p>APs taken: AP lang, AP bio, AP gov, AP calc, AP psych, AP econ, AP chem, AP lit, AP euro, AP stats, AP enviro and AP physics</p>

<p>Weighted classes: Survey lit, Writing composition</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: (all of these things are long-term, so 3-4 years)
*Varsity tennis (played singles 4/doubles 1, ranked as high as #2 on the team)
*National Honor Society board member (tutor coordinator)
*Oregon Food Bank (I've hosted an OFB food run at my school and raised 600 lbs of donations, volunteer 2 hours a week)
*News editor and Editorials section editor of high school paper
*Key Club honorary member and volunteer
*AAYLC ambassador
*Tennis ball-boy for prestigious nike-sponsored tournament
*Tutoring somali youth
*Volunteer at local library
And lots of others, but those aren't that worth mentioning</p>

<p>Honors:
*AP Scholar with Distinction
*Tennis Metro League Districts quarter-finalist
*Oregon Food Bank volunteer recognition
*USTA Tennis singles finalist
*USTA Tennis doubles finalist
*Tennis Varsity letters all 4 years of high school</p>

<p>Essays:
Counselor recommendation: she said she'd make it perfect, and how she'd absolutely love writing about me! (a relief, haha)
Teacher recommendations: Excellent. They both said they wrote great things about me. They're literally the best teachers I've ever had!</p>

<p>CommonApp personal statement: Excellent. I poured my heart into them. I wrote about my dyslexia and how I dealt with it--my learning disability is suppose to be the star of my application. All of my other essays were fantastic as well--I spent a lot of time writing them, and double that time editing them (I gave my essays to so many teachers and peers). 10/10!</p>

<p>State: Oregon
Ethnicity: Asian
Income: parents' gross income = 120k
Hooks: LD, first-generation college student</p>

<p>According to colleges, dyslexia is considered a huge "diversity" factor, so that'll definitely help. And I hope it pays off too...Well, I guess I should expand more on my LD: it's hard for me to not only read, but to also understand what I'm reading about. I could read something over and over again, for like 3 times, and still not understand what the heck it means. So yeah, it's difficult conceptualizing stuff--it affects pretty much everything too..math, science.</p>

<p>So, what are my chances? :)!</p>

2

<p>Stanford is a reach for you, as it is for anyone, frankly. You definitely have a chance, but apply to several matches and safeties too. Please chance back <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1440723-chance-russian-student-columbia-brown-princeton-yale.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1440723-chance-russian-student-columbia-brown-princeton-yale.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Quite a reach, but anything is possible!</p>

4

<p>I’m applying to Stanford currently, I guess the answer I keep seeing in these “chances posts” are just to keep your heads up. Everyone has a low chance, schools like Stanford looks for students with passion and determination.</p>

5

<p>It’s a reach for you. Keep in mind your test scores are also on the low side.</p>

6

<p>It’s a reach. They’ll take into consideration you have a disability, but I think you’re relying too heavily on this fact and they won’t excuse your low test score because of it.</p>

7

<p>I applied to Stanford REA (with a 2390 and <em>very</em> similar resume) and was deferred. Best of luck, but don’t get your hopes up… I wouldn’t play up the LD because it can be seen as an excuse for your 620 CR…
Then again, I’m 17, so take what I say with a grain of salt.</p>

8

<p>To be quite frank you have a low SAT, low rank (and nobody cares about weighted), and you probably have a somewhat low uwGPA considering all of your AP’s which are good. I like your EC but you have to market them well, because you could definitely do a lot better than what you wrote here, especially for that Food Bank chapter-thing you host. You are undeniably good at tennis, although I wouldn’t mention being #2 on your team as that seems like you are fishing for accolades that aren’t there. Instead mention that you are the second court when playing other schools (that’s what they call them, right?). </p>

<p>LD will help you but as other said don’t overplay it. Maybe you can write an essay about it but don’t make your entire application about it. You don’t want admissions to refer to your app as “that dyslexic kid.” Be that tennis kid who volunteers a bunch and has dyslexia instead.</p>

9

<p>Every school loves a good story of overcoming odds, and you have definitely done that. But, to be honest, unless you are a good enough tennis player to be recruited, Stanford is quite a reach. I would recommend some selective LACs or possibly some of the public ivies, especially the UC schools.</p>

10

<p>Thanks everyone for your replies–they’ve really helped! Yeah, I applied to other colleges as well, so if I get rejected from Stanford, I’ll hopefully still have options available. If you’re curious, I also applied to:
OSU
University of Washington
University of Portland
UC Berkeley
UC LA
USC
Harvey Mudd
Pomona
Dartmouth</p>

<p>I DID emphasize my LD a lot on here…probably it was a bit misleading. On my actual application, I wrote about it on my essay, but that was pretty much it. I also never had any sort of accommodations for anything (extra time on SAT, AP exams, etc), but I don’t think colleges will know either way.</p>

<p>I am, though, somewhat relying on it. Ahh, I just don’t know. I literally studied like 4 months straight, night and day, for the stupid SAT1 and the highest score I got was 2100–careless mistakes are like inevitable. Idk how I could possibly get a higher score. I mean it IS hard, and I guess I hope colleges realize that but yeah, I shouldn’t bank 100% on it.</p>

<p>And I’ve heard that Stanford’s decisions are kind of a crapshoot–you may get lucky, or you may not. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but whatever. I’d be just as happy if I get into any of my other schools!</p>

11

<p>Your right about admissions at those higher level schools being a crapshoot, as well as sometimes even those smaller super selective LACs (Pomona). I think you are in great shape for some of those state schools and I wish you luck with the more competitive ones!</p>

<p>P.S. If you get into Pomona, go. I almost applied, it sounds like an amazing school.</p>