Chance me please!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>Stanford is my dream school. I've wanted to go there since I was 6 years old, so any advice on my application would be greatly appreciated (I'm applying EA).</p>

<p>Gender: female
State: Virginia
Race: half Chinese, half Caucasian
Grade: 12</p>

<p>GPA (unweighted): 3.9
GPA (weighted): 4.3
Rank: my school doesn't give rankings or percentiles at all
SAT: reading - 760, writing - 730, math - 720 (total: 2210). I think that the second time around I can get my score up to a 2300.
SAT2: Math 2 - 760, Spanish - 760</p>

<p>AP classes for all 4 years: spanish language (5), US history (4), BC calculus, computer science, english language, US government (classes without scores are the ones I'll be taking senior year)</p>

<p>Honors classes for all 4 years: technology, english (3 years), biology, chemistry, physics, DNA science 1, DNA science 2, world history, geometry, algebra 2, precalculus</p>

<p>Other classes worth mentioning: biochemistry senior research block (At my school everybody is required to perform independent research during their senior year. As of now my experiment is the effect of telomerase inhibition on progerin production in HeLa cells. I'm hoping to incorporate that into my application somehow.)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Band
- I play flute and piccolo
- Always a high chair in concert band (1st chair freshman year in lower band, 3rd chair sophomore and junior year in higher band, anticipating 1st or 2nd for senior year)
- Band librarian (This is a leadership position on the band council that my director made just for me because I'm always helping him organize our incredibly messy music library left over from the previous director)
- District band: freshman - 22nd flute and 6th piccolo; sophomore - 14th flute and 3rd piccolo; junior - 5th flute and 4th piccolo
- Senior Regional Orchestra - 4th flute (junior year)
- All State Band: 19th flute (junior year)
- I voluntarily play with the orchestra in their fall and spring concerts
- Played in "Cats" (musical) pit orchestra (junior year)
- Highest ranking in Solo and Ensemble Festival since 6th grade and a perfect score junior year
- Section leader sophomore, junior, and senior year in marching band
- Nominated for All American Marching Band (a special marching band for the best marchers/players in the country)
- Solo during marching band show junior year (and anticipating another senior year)
- I've lettered in concert and marching band for 3 years</p>

<p>American Sign Language
- Self-taught to a pretty high level of proficiency (I can hold a conversation with a deaf person on the same level as my friend who's taken through ASL 3 at her school)
- Teaching coordinator of ASL club junior year and president senior year
- I attended an ASL immersion program at Gallaudet University this summer, where besides learning a lot, I also helped a deaf girl with her math homework (in ASL)
- I spend a lot of my free time interpreting songs into ASL</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Editor for school scientific journal sophomore through senior years</p></li>
<li><p>Member of the linguistics club junior and senior years (linguistics is my intended major)</p></li>
<li><p>Member of National Honor Society</p></li>
<li><p>Member of Spanish Honor Society</p></li>
<li><p>99th percentile on National Spanish Exam freshman, sophomore, and junior years</p></li>
<li><p>Might be a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist (I got a 219 on the PSAT, which I've been told is right on the edge of qualifying)</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Volunteer work
- Tutoring: I've tutored spanish since sophomore year. This past year I held group tutoring sessions every Thursday morning, where I basically taught a class.
- I've organized a group flute players to play in the hospital every christmas and on and off during the year
- Various things to help with the band (coordinating auditions, setting up dinners, etc.)</p>

<p>Other stuff:
- I'm expecting really good recommendations
- I stutter. It doesn't impede my communication at all, but it's definitely noticeable. Unlike most teens who stutter, though, I haven't let it bring down my self confidence.
- I go to a science/math/tech magnet school (currently ranked #1 in the country), where all of our classes are taught at a higher level than a regular high school. Because of that, I haven't taken the most rigorous course-load that I could (the 6 AP's that I've taken/will take are nothing compared to most of the kids at my school). Will that hurt me? I'm really worried that colleges will think I've been lazy, especially when they look at what the other kids at my school do.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance for your feedback and advice!</p>

2

<p>Wow, okay. If you can write a great essay, then I am sure you have a great chance at being admitted.
Also, going to TJ will probably help. A lot.
Dont worry I am not a stalker, I applied… And got rejected :D</p>

3

<p>none.</p>

<p>10char</p>

4

<p>I applied and was rejected, so here’s my advice. You would have to write an amazing essay or a violin sob story to get in. Your stats are perhaps below average for Stanford (as of now). If you can get all A’s your senior year and raise that SAT then maybe you’ll stand a chance. I know you’ve probably worked hard and I’m sure you’er a great student, but this is stanford, where being a genius is nothing special. Your chances are slim even if you had a 5.0. There’s always that chance though and sometimes a chance is all you need. Good luck!</p>

5

<p>Even having perfect stats does not guarantee entry. I had a lower SAT (2170) and I was fine. Consider taking the ACT (having a science section might help you out and also round out your test scores). </p>

<p>I think things like your research and musical talent will definitely help you. In some ways, showing a high level of commitment to these activities partially makes up for you not being the top in your class. You do have a lot of ECs, so make sure you don’t portray yourself as spreading yourself out amongst a dozen things just to look good on your application. </p>

<p>Other than that, don’t see much else to tell you other than good luck!</p>

6

<p>Considering you are applying EA, I think your chances are good. Just do amazing essays as the other guys have said. (:</p>

7

<p>Honestly, I believe Stanford chooses students that will make their school ‘known’ if you know what I mean. Because I volunteered so much and was officer in several clubs, and I had a 2360 SAT score. Not to mention, I’ve gone through cancer and I explained how it has helped me grown. Unfortunately, I got rejected </p>

<p>BUT, my friend who has an 1810 SAT got in!!! (The lowest I’ve ever seen Stanford accept someone) I know I am surprised too. I had higher test scores and contributed my time more in my community, but she was in a dance group that was supposedly a NATIONAL CHAMPION. So yeah, she had straight A’s like me. So go figure. Sometimes these decisions are arbitrary. </p>

<p>Good luck with your app. I think they like students that do things that not other student can do…so yeah. I guess I was too ‘typical’ student for them. But I’m going to Berkeley and it has ranked 2 in the nation in academics. (1 is Harvard, and 3 is Stanford </p>

<p>GOOD LUCK</p>

8

<p>The fact that you haven’t taken the most rigorous course load will not help, unfortunately, even if you’re high school is difficult. I don’t think Stanford just looks for people that will make it look good. Obviously if someone is a national champion in anything they offer a diversity to the campus no other student can, unlike academics, where tens of thousands of valedictorians can offer great records. Getting 2300+ SATs will help but make sure you have a great essay. Get the best writers you know (probably your teachers) to help you make your essay sound good. Your writing, other than your SAT scores, is the only part of your application that admission officers can compare to fellow applicants, so make it as outstanding as you possibly can.</p>

9

<p>A direct answer: probably around 9-10% chance.</p>