<p>Your profile sounds almost EXACTLY the same as my friend, only she's a female attending a Catholic school in Utah. </p>
<p>Otherwise, she has very similar curriculars and the same SAT score +/- 50 points. However, she was deferred ED at Brown so it doesn't look like you will have a great shot at getting into Stanford. I'd still suggest that you'd apply, especially if you know that you have some great recommendations and essays. For the picture essay at Stanford, you'll really need to focus on making it unique. I wrote this essay this summer and getting past the generic emotional stuff can be quite difficult. </p>
<p>I'd say that Stanford is a big reach for you but if you present yourself correctly, you can have a decent shot at getting in. Your GPA looks awesome but your test score and AP scores are a little low, especially for taking the SAT the third time.</p>
<p>Do you have any other awards that you're forgettting? The top student awards are great but they don't tell the college admissions guys much. Same thing goes for the "Always Smile" award. Actually, now that I think of it, the National Student Leadership seminar will almost count for nothing. I got one of those in the mail a few months ago and looked over the packet. If it's really an honor, the cost of attendance should be free or at least close to free. You really need to find some awards that are given in a very competitive environment, e.g. State Tennis or State Math competition.</p>
<p>OMG i just checked my status for Stanford. I GOT DEFERED!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy right now, but I don't know if I should be lol!!! What does this mean?!! What should I do now?!</p>
<p>o yeah, and for karot, I completely agree with almost everything you said. The only thing is that for the National Student Leadership Conference, I took a college class there and got an A-, so that will count for something. Also, I thought that the fact that I attended a conference during the summer shows that I did at least something during the summer, as opposed to nothing. I sent an email to Stanford on Monday, Dec. 11, telling them that the USTA Tennis Team to which I belong was league champion and placed second in Southern California sectionals on the 10th of Dec. Stanford emailed me back on Tuesday, confirming that they received it. However, I'm not sure that it played a factor in admissions, because it was so late. I'm probably going to put that in the Update form, so hopefully that will help my chances. Now that the season is over, I'm going to be playing in a LOT of USTA tournaments now, so hopefully I will do well in those. Also, does anybody know what I should put on the Optional Update form? It asks:</p>
<ol>
<li>Please list and elaborate upon any major awards or honors for academic or nonacademic achievement you have received since submitting your
application.
<ol>
<li>Please indicate any new areas of interest. What new senior activities (in or outside of school), jobs or hobbies have you been involved in, and what
have you learned from your participation?</li>
<li>Are there unusual circumstances or is there other pertinent information that you think we should be aware of in evaluating your application for
admission?</li>
<li>What special attraction does Stanford hold for you?</li>
</ol></li>
</ol>
<p>I know I don't want to be generic and say "I really really want to go to Stanford" or something along those lines lol. I guess I'll have to try to think of something unique to say and just have to cross my fingers one more time!</p>
<p>. Please list and elaborate upon any major awards or honors for academic or nonacademic achievement you have received since submitting your
application.</p>
<p>If you won a great award but it doesn't look like much on paper (or tell them more about the USTA tennis team). Explain what your role was on the team and how you helped them achieve such great success. Only don't say it like I did. Try and make it unique with CONCRETE DETAILS.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Please indicate any new areas of interest. What new senior activities (in or outside of school), jobs or hobbies have you been involved in, and what
have you learned from your participation?
What are you passions and how have the affected you? </p></li>
<li><p>Are there unusual circumstances or is there other pertinent information that you think we should be aware of in evaluating your application for
admission?
Usually can just be left blank unless you're like a refugee from a wartorn country or something that makes your situation all the more difficult for you to do well.</p></li>
<li><p>What special attraction does Stanford hold for you?
You can answer this by researching the school. Does Stanford have a major that you absolutely love? Do they have a kick arse tennis team? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>These forms are a chance for you to tell Stanford something about yourself that they didn't ask on the basic application. It might help if you can include a photograph of yourself playing tennis (won't really help but it's nice to tie a face into a paper application). </p>
<p>omg I am SUCH an idiot. I forgot to include on my application that I started our school's first boy's tennis team this year. At least it will help on my update form!</p>
<p>Oohhh, that's a great hook. And if that team did some amazing things like winning competitions, then it'll get even better. You can also mention the size of the team, e.g. I started this team from just me to the over x number of people who are on the team today.</p>
<p>the team is actually in preseason right now (the regular season starts up in Feb/Marchish) However, we have more than enough players for a full varsity team (which I believe will comprise of 12 players) I also started a team fundraiser that just ended in which we made $800 (I know it's not a LOT but we're at a small school and we did our best)</p>
<p>I would predict your chances as not great RD. What I've seen is that many connected, whose parents suddenly give major gifts, come out of the deferred pile to get in RD. So for the deferred pool as as whole, 5% is optimistic if unhooked.</p>
<p>actually, we raised $2835, but we only keep $735 after the company we fundraised with takes everything else. but I'll only tell Stanford the $2835 ;)</p>