<p>ECs/Honors
Mexico Mission 2007 (Build houses in Mex. w/church)
Biology Departmental Award
Competitive Soccer (8-10 hrs. week, 6 years)
Recreational Basketball (4 years) (2 hours/week)
Track and Field (2 years JV (captain) + 2 years varsity)
National Honor Society (NHS) (50 hrs.)
California Scholarship Federation (20 hrs)
National Spanish Honor Society
Red Cross Club (20 hrs.)
Speech and Debate--Foreign Extemp. Speaking
Science Buddies (20 hrs.)</p>
<p>Recommendations
Probably best part -- Good from Span. 3/4 teacher + US History (Cal graduate)
Recommendation from Vice Chancellor @ Cal during Summer</p>
<p>Other
Took Peace & Conflict Studies/ Religious Studies @ Cal
Fluent 3 languages (Eng., Span., German)
Father's childhood friend is Professor @ German Department in Stanford (helps??)</p>
<p>I like what I see, the numbers look good. You've got your foot in the door with the gpa and sat/act (not sure why you took this another 3 times after getting a 35 though). Anyway, what it comes down to now is differentiating yourself from the other people who also have their feet in the door. This is done primarily through the essays. Yes, I know this is generic advice, but many people do not differentiate themselves and end up with a rejection even though their numbers are impeccable. Focus on an aspect of your life that is truly interesting and/or unqiue (preferably both) such as studying abroad in a foreign country, etc. and go from there.</p>
<p>EDIT: I took a closer look at your ec's, and if I were in your shoes, I would fit the Mexico Mission thing into an essay prompt because it is both fairly unique and interesting, and it shows that you have compassion/epathy for those less fortunate. Basically, it's like your normal service activities on steroids. Also, I noticed you come from Germany. When did you emigrate to America? You could write a very good essay about the difficulties of having to do this; colleges often like reading about hardships because it shows you don't come from a priveleged background and yet have still managed to succeed. Just don't dramatize it too much if you choose to do this. Also, I noticed you have a taken a course at Cal, this may work very well for Stanford's prompt about what you find intellectually interesting. A know a friend who did this for that prompt and got accepted. Stay away from talking about the sports; they are too generic. If it was say badmiton or squash or something unsual like that I would say go for it but they're not. I have first hand heard a Stanford admissions officer say she reads around 5 essays about Cross Country a day during the admissions season. Avoid being one of those repeats.</p>
<p>Great stats, of course, but your ECs don't really distinguish you from others. The Mexican mission stuff is good, but if you live in CA, then most people who go to a church do the exact same thing.</p>
<p>The only advice to give w/ those stats is make sure you write those good essays, although I assume that you have already applied. The hardest part, when you don't have an explicit "passion" is presenting one. If you love working with the Red Cross, make sure you make it seem like that in an essay. If there was some life-changing experience that you had in Mexico, write about that. Even if it is cliche--it's not what you write about, it's how you write it. The essays are really the only way you can present yourself, so just make them great! :) Good luck!</p>