Chance. Worth applying? Probably not...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
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<p>Before you tear me apart too viciously: I do recognize that I probably have a minimal to nonexistent chance here. But heck, let's see what you guys think. </p>

<p>I apologize for adding another chance thread to this forum, but I want to emphasize that I write it for the very practical purpose of trying to decide where I should apply Regular Decision and where I might realistically stand a chance of being accepted. So please be honest. </p>

<p>Objective Stats:
Biological: White male
GPA: 96.66, weighted (my school doesn't calculate unweighted averages).
Class Rank: 16/126
Type of school: pretty crappy, relatively uncompetitive public school in upstate New York (just to contextualize my class rank as being even worse than it initially appears).
Course Load: most rigorous in class, including a skipped grade of math and now college math classes at the local LAC.
SAT I: 2370 cum, 800 cr, 800 m, 770 wr
SAT II: 800 math II, 770 ush, 730 lit
ACT: 35 comp
APs: 5s on Euro, US History, Calc AB, Physics B, currently enrolled in AP Eng Lang, Gov, AP French, and AP Chem.</p>

<p>Subjective Info:
Childhood (i guess not entirely subjective but whatever): happy, extremely fortunate, comfortable childhood, no hooks whatsoever.
ECs: Ballet, extensive involvement, have attended 4-week summer intensive for 4 years now. Music, extensive involvement, play cello in several local orchestras, attended 4-week summer intensive this past summer partnered with Philly, compose electronic music. Model UN, vice-president. Lit Mag, staff member. Mathletics, team member. Some community service, I tutor refugees in English at the local refugee center weekly. Finally, I have a music radio show at the local college radio station. I guess it's not an EC in the traditional sense but my love of music in general is such a big part of me in general that I included it in my app.
Honors/Awards: nothing really spectacular, National Merit Semi-finalist, AP Scholar with Honor, NHS.
Recommendations: excellent, i was able to build friendly and intellectually stimulating relationships with both teachers.
Essays: Common App essay is fairly good, details my love of photography and my year spent living abroad, things I didn't include elsewhere on my app. haven't started supplement...nervous laugh. </p>

<p>Sorry if I missed anything, and I genuinely appreciate all of your helpful input, regardless of what it says. Also, sorry for my erratic and inconsistent capitalization.</p>

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<p>You have nothing to lose from applying. Your stats are competitive enough, and I think whether you get in or not is going to come down to how good your essay/supplement is.</p>

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<p>@OP: plz don’t apply to Stanford. thanks.</p>

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<p>Why would you even think you don’t stand a chance? This is almost laughable; look at your test scores and extracurriculars. You know they’re good, you don’t need other people to tell you.</p>

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<p>Class rank is the only problem I see, and even that isn’t bad. I think with your test scores you should be a competitive applicant. Definitely apply if that’s where you want to go. I think you have a decent shot at being accepted.</p>

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<p>littleinjun - i do understand that in some areas i’m a very strong candidate, but my class rank is low, and given that transcript is almost invariably the most important factor in admissions i tend to think that that will kill me. thanks for your encouragement though!</p>

<p>TenaciousE - i applied to Columbia ED, so whether I apply here depends on if i get in. statistically i don’t have a great chance, and if i get rejected as i expect i do plan on applying here, along with a whole mix of other schools. thanks!</p>

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<p>Your rank is the only blemish. Not top 10% in an uncompetitive class doesn’t bode well.</p>

<p>However, the rest of your application is strong, so you should definitely apply.</p>

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<p>well…the school i go to is generally uncompetitive, but compared to typical classes from my school my class is actually relatively competitive (ie. the #10 student in the class of 2012, a class of similar size, has a 95 average). not sure if my guidance counselor would mention this in her recommendation. i do plan on applying now regardless, so thanks for your encouragement.</p>

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<p>ballet and the radio show is the coolest thing you do. The other things are filler like every other applicant to Stanford. Stats are good, but admissions assumes stats are going to be good. They look for something more diverse that you’ll add. Good luck.</p>

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<p>OP is a ■■■■■.</p>

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<p>uhh…how exactly?</p>