Chance me for Stanford?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

Hey everyone, a junior here looking to see where he stands in terms of stanford (for ChemE)
Race: White
Gender: Male
I attend the North Carolina School of Science and Math
GPA: 4.0 unweighted/5.5 weighted
Haven’t taken the new SAT yet (taking in May), but PSAT 740/750 and ACT 35 composite, 34 E 35 M 36 R 36 S (one sitting), haven’t gotten writing back yet
Taking Math IIc, Chem, and Bio M subject tests in June

Courses taken of significance/ rigor/ planning to take:
American Studies (honors level class incorporating US literature and history- taking APUSH and AP Lang exams this spring)
*British Literature (college level)
*Southern Literature (college level)
AP Statistics (4)
Pre-calculus with Advanced Topics (intermediate b/w honors & college level)
*AP Calculus BC with Advanced Topics
*Advanced Probability Models or Differential Equations (college-level)
AP Chemistry with Advanced Topics
AP Biology
*AP Environmental Science
*Physics with Advanced Topics
*Fluids, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, and Optics (college-level)
*Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry (college-level)
AP US Government and Politics (3)
AP Human Geography (5)
AP European History (4)
Advanced Spanish (again intermediate honors/college level)
*AP Microeconomics
*AP Macroeconomics
*Web Development (another intermediate)
*planning to take senior year

ECs
-Boy Scouts/ Order of the Arrow: earned Eagle at the age of 13 but continued to serve in positions such as ASPL in my troop and further pursued leadership in the OA- serving as treasurer and VC activities. Participated in several leadership development programs including National Youth Leadership Training. Serving on camp staff. (there’s a lot of involvement that i have with the BSA i’m not gonna subject y’all to reading)- my responsibilities as VC activities total to roughly 60 hours a month. Also I have the camping/conservation parts of the National Outdoor Badge that i found out about like a few weeks ago lel
-Swimming: swimming in summer league since the age of 5 and varsity swim at my school sophomore and junior year, almost made regionals this year- coach at least acts like I’m his favorite so i’ll probably get captain next year. usually this took up about 12 hours of my time every week
SciOly- participated in middle school, won first place in meteorology 6th and 8th grade, (2nd 7th), placed in several other events, placed at states twice; in high school, placed third in anatphys regionally. Served as my school’s captain in 10th grade.
Other clubs/ECs- help lead the school hiking club, leading a WWII history seminar next trimester, most likely serving as a biology TA next year or a residential assistant.
Served as a House Page in the NC General Assembly between sophomore and junior years
Played the piano for the last 10 years
Math Club 10th grade- competitions like TrigStar
took the AMC 12 this year we’ll see where that goes
through BSA/ NCSSMs summer service requirement I have several hundred hours of service at or related to a local food pantry
Through my work-service requirement at NCSSM I have like 30 hours of setting up physics labs if that’s useful at all

My worry is that coming from NCSSM without research will hurt- i applied to the mentorship program but didn’t get in; though kids with worse grades/ academic rigor did which was annoying.
I know stanford is a crapshoot for anyone really but just wanna know if I’ve got a shot

2

My DS has very similar stats and ECs as you do…and it is crickets. I think you need to press for some sort of program to boost your resume this summer. That is only a guess…but I have been watching the accepted thread and that seems to set people apart. Good luck!

3

@phxcactus I would but I’m already working summer camp staff for my local BSA council & serving as the senior patrol leader for my council’s Jamboree contingent. Oh well. If I don’t get into Stanford it is what it is. Thanks for the feedback though!

4

i always forget stuff… i did both civil and mechanical engineering camps at UNCW the summer between my 9th and 10th grade year

5

I would add that in for sure. Good you are starting this all now. :slight_smile: I hope you and my son both end up being accepted! He is also very active in Scouts so I get the time commitment with it. From reading the accepted students threads, I really think they like the research. Even with that said, honestly I am not sure it would have changed my DS’s summer plans…

6

You have very strong academics and extracurriculars! Unfortunately, Stanford is a gamble for anyone who applies, but you definitely deserve to get in! :slight_smile: I would say you have a 50% chance. I think research would definitely help- try looking into colleges/universities near you and see what research the professors are doing and email them to ask if you can do research in their lab over the summer or something!

7

D was accepted this year with way less then what you have done but she has higher test scores and her essays to Stanford were her personality shining through. They seem to like people who are smart but unique and would bring a twist to campus. She also attends a top 5 HS in California. When 80% of the applicants are above 4.0 (D included) you have to make yourself stand out with a spike or great essay writing.

Read the article by Richard Shaw, Dean of Admissions in a LA Times article. http://articles.latimes.com/2007/mar/30/opinion/oe-shaw30