<p>Become an editor at the newspaper.
You do have a chance: great test scores (except for that SAT Writing bit, but nvm), high GPA and rank, accomplished ECs. Good luck!</p>
<p>*He obviously didn't take the hardest classes if his unweighted is 4.0 and he's ranked #5. At least 4 people from HIS school took harder classes to get higher weighted GPA. Are you logically impaired? *</p>
<p>Did you stop to think that they all may be in a tie? At my school the top 4 students are tied for first (including myself). But w/e this other guy posted that he's ranked 1st.</p>
<p>This has to be the most ill-informed comment on CC (sadly, it's very common). No, admissions aren't random. They admit you for a reason. Simply because you don't understand the reason doesn't mean it's random. It could have been the essays. It could have been the interview. It could have been anything.</p>
<p>Random is just a different expression I use instead of writing "crapshoot" all the time. OBVIOUSLY it's not RANDOM. They don't choose the names out of a hat. Stop taking things so literally and think outside the box please.</p>
<p>Do point them out; I'd love to see.</p>
<p>He was one of my friends from SoCal. He got a 2170, 750+ on 3 SAT2's, his ONLY EC was Philosophy Club, but he must've written some amazing essays because he got accepted SCEA. Obviously I have no PROOF of this, but w/e, I don't really care about proving my statements to people I don't care about or will ever meet.</p>
<p>I'd advise that you not tell [more experienced] users not to post. (I recall you having given some bizarre chances yourself.)</p>
<p>Do point them out; I'd love to see.</p>
<p>I agree with llpitch, college admissions are a "crapshoot" for lack of a better term. They aren't random, but they sure as hell aren't that predictable either. The OP has a pretty good chance (relatively, compared to other appplicants) of being admitted to Stanford. And also, Physics, I'm pretty sure the biggest parts of admission to Stanford are SAT scores and GPA. I think what you meant was once you got past that hurdle essays become paramount. (I'm pretty sure recs can only keep you out not put you in)</p>
<p>I also go to school with this kid and if he can't make it into Stanford, there's no hope for the rest of us</p>