Chances! (I know, how annoying)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>I know it's a long shot for someone with my grades but it never hurts to try...</p>

<p>unweighted GPA: 3.7/4.0, 91/100
Rank - 15/118 at a somewhat competitive school in Texas, but people tend to want to go to state schools</p>

<p>Junior APs:
US History
English 3</p>

<p>Senior APs:
Biology
Calculus
Government
Economics
English 4
History of Art</p>

<p>SAT
v - 800
m - 700</p>

<p>National Hispanic Scholar</p>

<p>ACT: 29
m:30
r: 33
e:27
s:24</p>

<p>Will take Biology, Math II, and Literature subject tests</p>

<p>ECs:
-Started environmental club junior year - president both years, It started schoolwide and now we are partnering with the local elem. school to take children who live in poor areas to nature retreats available only to those more affluent
started improv theater group this year
-Senior Class Treasurer
-U.IL. Drama Club
-Health Occupations Students of America - member 4 years, state competitor twice
-Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Internship
-volunteer at local hospital and womens museum regularly and at many other places (like a lot of other places)
(have more, but more likely to just annoy the university, would seem like filler)</p>

<p>average crap:
NHS, Latin Honor Society</p>

<p>Past summers:
Physics Fellowship program for women
Souther methodist university engineering camp for girls
highly selective research program at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas</p>

<p>I guess my hook would be that i'm hispanic, a girl, immigrant parents from mexico and salvador, economic hardship (real economic hardship not just "my parent only make $50,000 a yer"), lived in Compton for 8 years, didn't learn english till 3rd grade because of the crappy school system there, and I want to do a physics major and be pre med, and I'm the first to go to college in my family (even extended family)
So basically I'm a poor latina, who struggled to get where I am</p>

<p>Please, post your opinions!</p>

2

<p>I think your chances are decent, and your minority status will help. It seems that you've done well. Your essays will be crucial; what do you think you will write about? If you've checked out other chances threads, you will have seen a common theme that colleges want to learn about your personality, your passions, and your drive to learn.</p>

<p>Some things to think about:</p>

<p>1) What activity or other experience do you really enjoy? If you have committed to it, how have you contributed? How have you matured due to your experience?</p>

<p>2) How do you think your minority background has affected you? Has it been very difficult to find support and encouragement? Or, have you found inspiration?</p>

3

<p>I really enjoy reading people's stats though.</p>

4

<p>Being "poor latina, who struggled to get where I am" will help you.</p>

<p>800v on SAT is amazing for a non-native speaker. But why don't you have SAT writing score?</p>

<p>I don't think I'd send your current ACT score. On the other hand, if you have time to practice for the science section and retake, you could score much higher. That section does not require any "knowledge", it's just critical thinking, and if you just practice solving those problems, I am sure you'll do much better.</p>

<p>Good luck on STA IIs. Practice for the math test!</p>

5

<p>Being a girl who 1) has done research and 2) is interested in physics I think will help. Stanford doesn't actually have <em>that</em> many female physics majors (about 20% at best). Being a URM who struggled to overcome economic, language, etc. barriers to get to where you are should also help a good deal. Your SAT scores are strong although I think your GPA might be a bit below average for admits, but won't keep you out either. If you have really strong recs and essays I think you might actually have a very good chance of getting in. You sound like a really interesting person and if you get that to come through in the application that will really really help you. </p>

<p>Basically if you would like to go to Stanford you just need to write really strong essays that communicate a lot about who you are as a person. If learning english on your own in 3rd grade and going through economic hardships and overcoming a lot in your life are topics that you feel show a lot about who you are, then it may make sense to add information about that in your application. If you worked to make money for your family make sure to add that in the application do under jobs. It will probably make sense (depending on the essays) to briefly explain you family's background in the additional information sheet, especially if supporting your family prevented you from joining certain clubs or programs or left you with less time to study each day.</p>

6

<p>adding sth like not knowing english till...blah, blah, will help you get iN?</p>

<p>just wondering.. :)</p>

<p>cuz I din't know english till grade 4,</p>