Hey I am a sophomore and interested in some advice from Stanford grads and other people.
Both of my uncles and my grandfather are alumni. They said that most of the applications look the same, and to make sure that in the essays you stand out—and to win a national competition.
However, even though I am only a sophomore, I’m pretty unsure about the whole thing.
SAT: 1320 / 1600 (Yeah this is bad)
PSAT : 1380 / 1500
GPA (4.0) : 3.8
Most of the competitions I won were in middle school, one was a state competition. I’m part of a magnet school with a 7% acceptance rate (about 2 from the class of around 60 went to Stanford last year). The magnet school makes you pick a research project you work on for junior and senior year. If its good, you go to INTEL. So I’m really trying to focus on that.
Also applying to Janelia and ASSIP (VA internships) to work on the project during the summer.
Also just started a club. Planning on turning it into a nonprofit by the end of this school year/the summer.
Any essay advice to stand out? Ho Will definitely work on the standardized scores, GPA, and hopefully aim for INTEL.
Any help would be amazing. Thanks.
Work on your sat first. You’re going to want a 1500+ and it’s really hard to raise your score. Your essay should be unique and talk about an experience and really show who you are. It’s a chance to brag about yourself, but no one wants to hear about your charity work or mission trips or whatever. Google cliche college essays and avoid them. Also is 3.8 weighted or unweighted? If it weighted that’s worrisome.
No one is a sure bet for schools like Stanford. There’s a 4-5% acceptance rate, higher for EA; Stanford also makes it a point to say that being a legacy isn’t as big of a factor as it is for other schools. Doing things for the sole purpose of getting into one college can take out the shine factor from your essays. Do it for yourself. In your senior year, you might decide Stanford isn’t even for you. I’m not trying to discourage you, don’t get me wrong. All I’m saying is that you should try some new things, see what sticks, and work hard, because working with one school in mind is limiting and erases a bit of the potential your essay has to make an impact on the person reading it. Work on being the best you can be and finding something you’re truly passionate about.