<p>I'm a regular decision applicant and I'm so nervous about this process! Just wondering what you thought it was that the adcom thought was special about you (essays, extracurriculars,etc...) and congrats on your admittances I envy you guys!</p>
<p>I’m too afraid to open the email… I can, however, see that I only received one… No second email with student id. Does this mean I didn’t get accepted?</p>
<p>Spend a lot of time working on your essays. Make sure they are a true reflection of who you are (dont hold anything back) – it’s the only part of the application you can really control at this point. Have someone critique them and do as many drafts as possible. </p>
<p>Also, advocate for yourself when it comes to your recommendations-- give the teachers/counselor your resume and explain why you want to go to Stanford.</p>
<p>I’m not sure. Try posting in the early action thread. Best of luck to you. No matter what happens you will end up somewhere amazing whether it be Stanford or some other school.</p>
<p>Thank you vannaj. I went to a Stanford campus tour and the admission officer really seemed to stress essays. I hope mine are sufficient and that I will be joining you at Stanford next year!</p>
<p>My grades and test scores are fine, but I think what got me in was essays too. They were really unique, well-polished, and showed a lot of personality.</p>
<p>Letter of recs</p>
<p>essays and ec’s dude! In your EC’s you have to show that you had an impact and you explain this impact in your essays. I just got in today! So happy!</p>
<p>I think what got me in were my essays and my extracurricular. Two of my essays focused on different aspects of jump rope (my passion!) which I think really helped me out. Jump rope is just so unique, especially for a tall, white male like me, so I think I just stood out among the applicant pool.</p>
<p>I have no doubt that it was my essays that got me in. Make them personal and make them powerful and inspiring. Just look through your experiences and find what has truly jarred and shaped your life. The rest really is easy. Finding a topic is the hardest thing.</p>
<p>Just got in early action… I think it was my essays. Have a ton of people proof read them to get different opinions but in the end just be yourself! I had someone tell me that one of my essays was just weird (the roommate one) and that the other was cheesy (what matters most to you) but apparently the admission officers didn’t think so! I was honest and showed them who I am and what I’m passionate about. I had lots of extracurriculars, service, … but I also had three B’s (not even in AP classes, just honors) so obviously they’re looking for more than just straight A’s.
Good luck!!</p>
<p>it’s hard to say, but probably my essays, which were very polished(by me, not some college counselor of course!) and very me. my ECs were nothing special, and my test scores were great but not exceptional. </p>
<p>ultimately, you can’t really know exactly why you were accepted or rejected. admissions officers are just trying to build a class, so it all depends on how many of X type of students they want, or if something particular in your application catches their eye. </p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>Guys,</p>
<p>I’m part of Stanford 2015, and the news of these decisions is all over campus now.</p>
<p>Just FYI, admissions officers send out personalized letters to each admit, commenting on your application and how it inspired them to let you join the Stanford community. My officer talked about my common app essay in particular. </p>
<p>Just be aware: everyone gets in for a unique reason. Each person is a unique addition to the stanford community. There isn’t really one way to get into Stanford, so be genuine in your application!</p>
<p>I cannot wait to get that letter. How long after does it usually come?</p>
<p>^ same about the letter! for some reason part of me just won’t believe i made it in until i see it on physical paper XD as for what “got me in”, i guess no one ever really knows…but like everyone’s been saying, go 1000% on the essays. write exactly the way you write and feel and think and live, no matter what anyone says. apparently i have a really abstract and poetic way of writing, so virtually everyone i showed my essays to (including my parents and counselor) said i should ease up and stop being so subtle and metaphoric. that’s the person i am, though, so in the end i ignored them XD and i guess i’m sounding like a broken record now, but passion is what really matters. i essentially had only 2 major extracurriculars, scientific research and editorial work, but they’re my whole life and everything i am is rooted in them in some way or another.</p>
<p>also, in your guys’ opinion, how meaningful is the fact that they take almost 20% of applicants with an 800 CR or 800 W on the SAT? i’m thinking it’s not because of that fact in and of itself, but because the type of person who could get that score probably also did something else ridiculous?</p>
<p>Thought acceptance notification was a form letter so reread.
‘You have set yourself apart, and we are impressed and inspired by your passion, determination and accomplishments. We acknowledge and celebrate all you have worked for with the good news this letter brings.’</p>
<p>Took SAT twice in HS and yes writing was 800 each time.</p>
<p>I think I presented a very cohesive application. Not that one particular aspect was outstanding, but the whole application gave them a very clear idea of who I am and what I care about. I didn’t know they sent out personal letters! That’s so exciting!</p>
<p>Congratulations to all of you who have been admitted. My D is a freshman at Stanford this year and truly feels that it is a magical plan. She’s coming home later this week for Christmas break and we can’t wait to hear all of the stories about her first quarter on the Farm.</p>
<p>@toparmen11- word. listen to this guy.
I think my EC’s and essays showed a lot about me. My academics were fine, but I didn’t really have any national awards. I can’t wait to get my letter (I’ll share with you what my officer wrote)! But I did do work with a few Stanford nonprofits, including a Stanford professor, and did lots of research and science stuff, and was very passionate about community service. I also showcased through my essay.
I would also recommend weaving in Stanford for every supplement essay (except for the roommate one).
This sounds super lame, but be yourself. I can’t stress that enough. A lot of people told me not to talk about my mental illness in my essay, but I did. I turned that negative into a positive (i.e. being inspired to fight for mental illness). If you do that, I think they will be wow’ed by that.
Good luck, and PM if you have any questions.</p>