Chance Me Please (RD)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>African-American Male, Stanford(RD)</p>

<p>GPA UW:3.9 something(only one B in all HS)
some of my classes: AP World History(3), AP Chem(4), AP English(2..ugh I know), AP Psych(didn't take test), AP Spanish(3)</p>

<p>Class Rank:4/550(Predicted Salutatorian, three kids are tied for 1st spot)</p>

<p>SAT(took once):sub 1800;However, I have been preparing unceasingly so far this summer and have scored above 2100 on three practice tests. </p>

<p>Scored 31 on ACT practice test, should I take it?</p>

<p>Haven't taken subject tests, assume they are all above 700(Math level 2, Chem, Spanish)</p>

<p>EC's
Robotics: Vice-pres; member since sophomore year; my team won the world championship this year; may be the subject for my long essay...i.e. the impact on my life(opinions?)
Tennis:Varsity since sophomore year, number one singles for two years now, qualified for team regionals and individual regionals, made it to second round regionals in both
Track:Varsity freshman and junior year(didn't run sophomore year), qualified for individual regionals, team regional champions
Varsity quiz:undefeated in zone, lost in regionals
Participated in county wide math competition for two years(had to be top 3 in school to qualify)</p>

<p>Volunteer work: probably around 30 hours of random stuff</p>

<p>Job experience: electronic database coordinator at a construction company</p>

<p>Did a summer engineering program at Purdue, don't know if this will help</p>

<p>Want to be a mechanical engineering major</p>

2

<p>SAT score is poor, AP scores are worse.</p>

<p>On the up side, the fact that you're a varsity athlete in two sports will likely help you, and the Robotics thing sounds pretty legit, so I think you're good when it comes to EC's.</p>

<p>If you can raise your SAT score, I would not take the ACT for real, a 31 will not help your chances, and will not compensate for a bad SAT score. I don't know off the top of my head what Stanford does with AP's, it's been a while, but I can't see those scores helping your chances of admission.</p>

3

<p>Yes, I know my SAT scores are bad. I don't intend on getting in with those scores, thats why I'm studying and taking the SAT two more times. Any other chancers: assume my SAT's are 2000+, which I'm positive I can do(I'm aiming for 2150-2250). Also, will my AP scores really hurt? I don't think they would see my 3's and a 2 and spit on my application if the rest is good.</p>

4

<p>Being Black helps a TON. Get that 2000+ and you'll get accepted.</p>

5

<p>^^ er, no it doesn't. It helps some, but not a ton. I've seen plenty of very well-qualified black students get rejected. Stanford isn't like many top colleges in AA.</p>

<p>To the OP: you have a very good shot, if you get your SAT score up. Good GPA, average ECs, great awards (world championship and whatnot). Make sure to highlight a passion of yours in your essays -- robotics, perhaps, as you seem most distinguished there.</p>

6

<p>Thanks. Hmmm... I thought my E.C.'s were a little on the weaker side just because of number, but I do spend 230+ hours building a robot every year.... Any more opinions?</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
^^ er, no it doesn't. It helps some, but not a ton. I've seen plenty of very well-qualified black students get rejected. Stanford isn't like many top colleges in AA.

[/quote]

I have a friend who is black and got into Stanford last year without even being in the top 20 students of the graduating class (out of 577)</p>

8

<p>You're basing your judgment on... one case?</p>

9

<p>I'm just giving an example. There aren't too many blacks at my school.</p>

10

<p>so.... he was still top 10%, thats not a point at all, you ASIAN NERD! (note it was a pun on his name, not an attack)</p>