Chances at Stanford?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>White male, Oregon
Public high school, ~1400 students
GPA 4.0 unweighted
Rank 1/350 (but everyone w/4.0 is 1)</p>

<p>SAT: 2300 (740 math, 760 cr, 800 writing (11 essay))
SAT2: MathIIC - 750, US History - 760, Bio - 780
ACT: 35
AP: Calc A/B - 5, US History - 5, Bio - 5</p>

<p>Current year courses:
- Honors Gov.
- Computer Projects
- AP Physics
- AP French
- Economics
- AP English
- Vector Calc (at Oregon State U.)</p>

<p>EC:
- Robotics (10,11,12) - President, head of fundraising and electronics, team finished 5th nationwide in 2005
- Varsity Bowling (11,12) - Varsity letter, co-captain
- JV Tennis (10)
- NHS (10,11,12)
- French Film Club (9,10,12)
- Volunteered for Parks & Recreation (9,10,11) and school library (9,10)
Not too impressive, I know, but robotics is a major activity (3 hrs/week all year and 40 hrs/week during 6-week season)</p>

<p>Awards:
- AP Scholar
- Oregon Invitational Mathematics Tournament
- National Merit Semifinalist</p>

<p>Work:
- Dishwasher at country club (summer 2005)
- Hewlett-Packard internship - nanotechnology (summer 2006)</p>

<p>Essays are about robotics, internship, etc.</p>

<p>Not sure if it helps, but I got an optional letter of rec from my HP mentor, who got a PhD at Stanford.</p>

<p>I'm also looking at Harvey Mudd, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell (for engineering/comp sci). Chances for these, or other recommendations?</p>

<p>Let me know... Thanks!</p>

2

<p>20-50% i think</p>

3

<p>hmc = match</p>

4

<p>Really? Why?
That's discouraging. I did so much lower on my SATs [I'm a straight A student, I just didn't test well on the math, so my score was lowered to a little above an 1800] and I'm trying for Stanford. :&lt;/p>

5

<p>Your stats are great but your chances at Stanford are rather low. Everyone who applies there has great stats, but they are looking for a hook. What makes you exceptional? What do you have that no one else does...</p>

<p>Example:</p>

<p>A friend of mine applied to Stanford last year and was rejected with these stats
SAT: 1570
9 or 10 APs I think with 5s on all
Perfect GPA with only one grade below an A+ in all of h.s.
Played violin at near professional level
National Merit Scholarship Recipient
Tons of ECs
I'm sure the rest of his app was just as stellar...</p>

<p>This kid got in with lots of financial aid (even though he didn't qualify):
ACT: 30
7-8 APs with half and half 5s and 4s
GPA approx. 3.7-3.85
National Merit Commended
All he had was unique service awards (Prudential Medal, Boys Club, and just a plethora of service stuff)</p>

<p>Stanford is a crapshoot...thats all there is too it</p>

<p>Carnegie-Mellon: match
Cornell: match-slight reach</p>

6

<p>Yeah, I tried to emphasize my participation on the Robotics team (pretty unique) and the fact that we were 5th nationwide. I also focused on my internship at HP. The intended effect was that I'm pursuing my interests outside of school; not totally unique, but hopefully it will serve as the "hook" I keep hearing about. Thanks for the comments; I would appreciate some more.</p>

7

<p>It is really a crap shoot. Stanford is also my personal favorite. There is no such thing as a 'hook' so don't let that get to your head. Loosely translated, a hook is something that the vast majority of people cannot do or have not done. Most people accepted do not have anything spectacular on their records and are just hard working people in general. I believe that you have fair chances of getting accepted.</p>

8

<p>Wow gchris, I don't know how your first friend didn't get in while the second did. I guess the essays/rec matter, and we don't see that here. I don't really do chances posts, but I think the OP's chances are better than average. But keep in mind that average at Stanford is like 13%.</p>

9

<p>Bump...any more comments/suggestions?</p>

10

<p>I think your good :). sure there are those weird things taht standford do....but you definately stand a VERY good chance. ! 35/36 on ACT is nearly perfect !</p>

11

<p>nice post gchris.</p>