<p>As the title mentions, Princeton and Stanford are both some schools I would love to go to. What do you think my chances are, given the following information?</p>
<p>Weighted GPA: 4.3
Class Rank (school doesn't report): 2/800
School Type: Public
SAT Score: 2200 (retaking in June)
Course-load: As rigorous as I can make it, will finish senior year with 11 AP classes.
Extracurriculars: Class President, Captain of the Debate Team, and involved in NHS + a few other clubs.</p>
<p>Thanks for your opinion!</p>
<p>Edit: I'm a white male who is a citizen, but I was born in another nation. I lifeguard during the summers and teach swim lessons to little kids. I know I'd get good recommendations from my school, as I do a lot of community events through my presidency. Just thought I'd a bit more - thanks.</p>
<p>That’s it for the ECs?.. What else do you do besides school, debate, and community service? Both schools are a huge long-shot with those Extra-Curriculars, schools like Stanford and Princeton want extraordinary people, not just kids who get good grades and spend all their time with their nose in a book. I don’t mean to be harsh, I just don’t want to give you false hope. Your chances are very low despite your good grades and SAT. </p>
<p>You don’t think being class president for 3 years in a school with around 800 kids per class is a “decent EC”? Debate is also pretty rigorous. I mean, I know that I’m not a genius with international recognition, but tell me what would look good for my EC’s then? As president I’ve implemented new policies into our school, added announcement programs, and headed 4 separate service projects. What kind of EC’s are these schools looking for?</p>
<p>I do appreciate the honesty of your opinion, but I’m just a bit curious :)</p>
<p>Oftentimes class presidents don’t do anything. It may be different at your school, but at mine and others, it’s a popularity contest. Ours got impeached for drunkenness this year. </p>
<p>^ That’s actually pretty funny! At my school it’s a bit more serious, and most who run are student leaders which makes it quite competitive. I’m also involved in some other clubs that I didn’t really mention. I do a world affairs club which I am vice president of, and I was involved in a pretty big production at my school. Now I just really don’t know what constitutes good ECs… I thought mine were decent :(</p>
<p>The big colleges want to see passion. What do you like to do? Is debate the only thing that’s fun to you? You didn’t list any awards, so I’m going to assume you don’t have any. Do you not have anything to show for your entire high school career besides your grades and leadership roles? As bodangles said, at many schools the Class President doesn’t do much and NHS doesn’t mean much.</p>
<p>Hmm, I guess I don’t have too many awards. I know my PSAT score qualifies for National Merit Finalist. I also got 1st place in a regional public speaking contest last year, and I won the top critical thinker award within our debate organization (just within the school, not a big deal). A lot of stuff I do has to do with my leadership. I go to other schools in the district and host events where I give speeches, etc. I also co-founded a small tutoring business with my friends that aims to meet the price necessary for each family, so we haven’t profited much but it’s fun and it works well during the summer.</p>
<p>I guess I don’t have too much else. Wouldn’t you say this shows “passion” in being a leader? That’s what I’ve done throughout high school, and what I would hope to carry into college - my capacity for interacting with others and being a leader to promote positive forces in the community :)</p>
<p>@pls2helpme though you show leadership, u dnt shw passion for a particular subject, in my case i have started a math circles in my community and i started a math clinic in my school, thats wat they r looking for, not necessarily out of the world talent, but wat u do with the talent you have</p>