Coming from small school. Looking to go to Stanford or UCB.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey everyone. </p>

<p>I have had a few questions that have really been bugging me and I hope to get them answered if possible. I want to apply to Stanford University and UC Berkeley, but I fear there may be too many road blocks. </p>

<p>First off, I come from a small charter school. Now the school has small classes and is designed so the students get more one on one time with the teacher can achieve an overall better understanding of the concepts we cover in class. The courses are supposed to be challenging compared to the regular public schools around us, but they count as regular CP classes. </p>

<p>Since we are a small school, there are no AP classes, no Honors, and a lot less extracurricular activities then the average public school. Stanford and UCB are the closest universities (20 minute drive) and I am really interested in Stanford's pre-med program so it would mean a lot for me to get in. Here is a little bit about me:</p>

<p>Freshman year:
Student Council Treasurer
3.7 GPA</p>

<p>Sophmore:
Student Council Treasurer
3.3 GPA
Debate Team
Soccer Team
Horseback riding/ volunteering at a ranch</p>

<p>Junior:
Student council VP
3.85 GPA
Soccer Team
Horseback riding/ volunteering at a ranch</p>

<p>Senior year (current):
So far so good with grades (looking for a 4.0)
Soccer Team
Basketball team
Ping pong team
Running for Student Council president
Horseback riding/ volunteering at a ranch</p>

<p>Classes (have taken or will complete):</p>

<p>English 4 years</p>

<p>Math 4 years (Geometry, Algebra II, Trig, and now we are taking some algebra intensive thing)</p>

<p>Science 4 years (Earth science, biology, Chem, Physics, and an extra semester of bio to prep for my SAT II)</p>

<p>2 1/2 years of art</p>

<p>1 year of health</p>

<p>1 year of computers</p>

<p>Foreign language: 4 years</p>

<p>SAT</p>

<p>Now there is a big problem here. We did not know much about the SAT until it was too late. I am taking my first SAT in October and an SAT II in biology in November. I have been doing lots of prep and do very well in practice tests. I hope to get over 2000 on the SAT and at least 600 on the SAT II. </p>

<p>What should I do to improve my chances of acceptance, and how does it look for me? </p>

<p>Thanks for any help you guys.</p>

2

<p>You seem a bit below par for stanford–and there’s still the admissions essays–
make sure you blow them away in that–still the colleges are going to say
something like " oh well is this kid not hooked to the internet; why hasn’t he done
research on us…?" Today’s the last day to reg. for the oct. SAT so if you’re planning
on upping you scores or are taking it for the first time, I say you should really do that.
good-luck!</p>

3

<p>Your GPA does seem a tad low. If your class rank is good enough (which I hope you have) then you should be able to make up for it. School difficulty is more important, I think. Nevertheless, study as much and as rigorously as you can.</p>

<p>I’m under the belief that you cannot be blamed for your lack of extracurriculars, I need some enlightenment on this issue, too. It’d perhaps be advantageous to mention this in the application, but I have no idea how.</p>

<p>[Testing</a> Requirements : Stanford University](<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/application/freshman/testing.html]Testing”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/application/freshman/testing.html)</p>

<p>You <em>must</em> take at least 2 SAT subject tests. Technically, you don’t have to, but you’d be significantly increasing your chances. Hopefully, you’ll get over 2250+ on the SAT I.</p>

<p>I wish the best, and I hope I helped.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for your feedback guys. </p>

<p>If I plan to take an SAT II in december, would that be too late? I just found out Berkeley requires you to submit two subject test scores. On a side note, I was thinking of applying to UC Davis as well. I think I would have better chances there. </p>

<p>And one more question:
Are there any Ivy league schools that would look at someone like me?</p>

<p>I appreciate the advice.</p>

5

<p>Again, same page.</p>

<p>*We recommend students make arrangements to take the required tests well in advance of our application deadlines. It is unlikely that scores from tests taken after our deadlines will arrive in our office in time for our review process. We will certainly review any scores we receive (even if they arrive after the deadline) but we cannot promise to delay the review of an application in anticipation of scores that will arrive at a later date. *</p>

<p>It’s up to you to decide whether it’s late or not.</p>

<p>Have some safeties, too, but you shouldn’t give up aspiring for Stanford. The harder you try for Stanford, the more you guarantee a spot at any lesser place.</p>

<p>About Ivies… I don’t know really… my friend got accepted to Brown with almost no extracurriculars whatsoever. You just need to dream. And try. I think it’s almost fair to say that the admission process is random.</p>

6

<p>Unfortunately, with below a 2200 and a 3.3 soph year, I don’t think you’re looking at Stanford or ivies. UC Davis looks more appropriate. Check stats for colleges on College Board. Unless your stats are at least in the middle of the 50% range, they will be huge reaches. The median SAT scores at a mid level ivy are about 2200.</p>

7

<p>OP- You can take more than one SAT II subject test on the same day. Today 9/9/9 is the last day to register for the SAT Oct test date, for you, the SAT I. Then take the SAT II subject tests in November.</p>

8

<p>no, if you’re planning on doing the Reg. decision,then you’re fine–still have time,
but for SCEA, you need to take the oct SAT.</p>

9

<p>Currently your GPA is 3.6 with a projected 2000 on your SATs, that profile will make it extremely difficult (impossible) to get into Stanford. Your SATs would be average for Berkeley but your GPA would be low. Here’s a chart of the UC Admissions stats for 2008, this should help.</p>

<p>[UC</a> Admissions Statistics](<a href=“http://www.ophs.opusd.k12.ca.us/uc_admissions_statistics.htm]UC”>http://www.ophs.opusd.k12.ca.us/uc_admissions_statistics.htm)</p>

10

<p>Thanks for the advice everyone. Has any one heard of UCB accepting more minorities now? And about Stanford taking charter school students in as part of a study?</p>

11

<p>You didn’t mention being a minority in the first post. That helps a lot. Not at UCs that are not allowed to consider race, but if you are black, Hispanic or Native American, you can have lower stats at private colleges. Depending on rank, I still don’t think you are looking at Stanford or ivies, but there are many good private schools you will be able to get into.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>You can not depend on schools to teach you about college and what you need to do to get in. You need to do a lot of research. If you have specific questions, post them on the parent’s board here.</p>

12

<p>Practically no chance.
Get a completely jaw-dropping essay or a super hook and maybe.</p>

<p>Academics/ECs/everything is terrible.</p>

13

<p>Thanks for the responses. I keep learning new things. </p>

<p>I am of middle eastern decent, and the reason I am interested in becoming a doctor is because I was inspired to help people when my uncle went overseas and helped poor and underprivileged families have their babies safely delivered on his own time (hes an obstetrician). </p>

<p>I know a professor at UCB very very well, does that help at all? My understanding is that they dont take letters of recommendations. </p>

<p>Thanks for the all the help, I really really appreciate it.</p>

<p>Oh and uh, do suspensions hurt you? Just curious…</p>

14

<p>You will not be considered a minority unfortunately. URM status is just for the 3 races I listed earlier. A prof is unlikely to help. And yes, suspensions complicate things and generally hurt, especially if they are for academic dishonesty. Any suspension reported by your school will have to be explained.</p>

<p>You need to get a good college guide (I like Fiske), and choose schools where your stats fall at least at the middle of the 50th percentile to have match schools and above the 75th percentile to have safety schools. If you need financial aid, you also need to pay attention to choose schools that offer it.</p>

15

<p>"I am of middle eastern decent, and the reason I am interested in becoming a doctor is because I was inspired to help people when my uncle went overseas and helped poor and underprivileged families have their babies safely delivered on his own time (hes an obstetrician). "</p>

<p>FYI, not that good of an idea writing an essay about that unless you went <em>WITH</em> him and saw that firsthand. It’s not about why your UNCLE wants to be a doctor, it’s about why YOU want to be a doctor. </p>

<p>I’m going to be totally frank and honest with you - chances are extremely low. Originally you might have had a shot if it wasn’t for your 3.3 sophomore year since currently you have an upward trend. I’d expect almost all admits (with a couple of exceptions, I will get to that in a sec) to have 750+ SAT IIs and 2250+ SAT Is coupled with a killer AP/IB schedule. I think a previous poster is right and the lack of ECs wont hurt you AS MUCH as you come from a smaller school, but there are plenty of ways to find ECs on your own. </p>

<p>There are pretty much three ways you can get admitted (and this is ALL of your options)
a) Do something hush-hush and under the table; such as and/or not limited to giving significant amounts of money to the school under the guise of a donation
b) Get recruited for a sport (kind of unlikely as the recruiting process starts earlier; someone from my school was recruited at the end of their junior year for volleyball and she has a full ride to Stanford now)
c) Write totally, totally KILLER essays.</p>

<p>UCLA, UCD, and UCSD are probably better matches if you want to stay in-state.</p>