Desperate need for advice!! Should I still do SCEA???

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>Ok I know I just posted athread in regards to submitting my application for SCEA but I just saw another thread about "low" SAT scores for Stanford SCEA.</p>

<p>I am not sure about waht to do... the biggest thing that is killing me for my application is my SAT score (1700). I just took my ACT this past Saturday but won't know those scores until another three weeks.</p>

<p>What do you think, should I still apply SCEA or wait until RD. (By the way, do I have a chance for either????)</p>

<p>Here are the rest of my stats:</p>

<p>School: Public (in CA) Hardly ever sends out kids to great schools
GPA: 3.923 (THIS IS A WEIGHTED GPA, OUR VALEDICTORIAN HAS A 4.22)
Class Rank: 7/351 (Top 2%)
Ethnicity: Mexican American (Chicano)
Gender: Male</p>

<p>SAT I: 1700 (very poor i know!!!) I have already registered to take them again in Dec.</p>

<p>SAT II: Spanish 690 (very poor as well, but I am fluent, just a horrible test taker)</p>

<p>AP Courses offered at our high school: Spanish, French, Calculus AB, Eng. Language, Eng. Literature, and Biology.</p>

<p>AP Courses that I have taken/will take:
11th: English Literature, Biology
12th: French, English Literature</p>

<p>***I will be the only student in my class to take all of the AP tests offered at our school.</p>

<p>College Credit Classes taken/taking at community college so far:
Gen. Psychology: grade~ A
Trigonometry: grade~ A
Intro to Sociology: grade ~ A
Calculus: grade ~ in progress
American Minority Groups: grade ~ in progress</p>

<p>EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
AVID 9th, 10th, 11th1 12th
-2004-05 Freshman President
-2005-06 Executive Council Member
-2006 Delegate at Regional Leadership Conference
-2006 Student Spirit Award
-2006-07 President
-2007 Student Inspiration Award
-2007 AVID Student of the Year Award
-2007 Overnight Trip Committee Chair</p>

<p>STUDENTS FOR CULTURAL ENRICHMENT 10th, 11th
-2006-07 President</p>

<p>A.C.C.E.P.T. (Academic, Community, & Cultural Enrichment Program for Triumph) 11th, 12th
-Founder/Creator
-2007-08 Chairperson</p>

<p>KEY CLUB 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
-Over 250 Hours of Community Service in just Key Club alone.</p>

<p>ASB 11th , 12th
-2007-08 Student Rep. to the School Board
-Master of Ceremonies at 2007 Youth Night in the Park
-CADA Leadership Conference</p>

<p>CALIFORNIA SCHOLARSHIP FEDERATION 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
-Life Member
-2005-06 Vice-President</p>

<p>Mu Alpha THeta 11th, 12th
-Member
-2006-07 President</p>

<p>M.E.Ch.A. 11th, 12th
-2006 Delegate at UC Davis Chicano Youth State Conference
-2007 Delegate at Cal Poly Chicano Youth State Conference
-2007 Delegate at BizTalk with ex-Presidente Vicente Fox of Mexico</p>

<p>CAMP ROYAL Summer 2007
-One of two delegates from Dinuba High School</p>

<p>LINK CREW 11th, 12th
-Link Crew Leader for Freshmen Students</p>

<p>HISPANIC YOUTH SYMPOSIUM Summer 2007
-Delegate from Dinuba High School
-Youth Venture Issues to Action Finalist
-Earned one college unit</p>

<p>CHURCH ALTAR SERVER AND LECTOR 9th, 10th, 11th
-2004-06 Group Captain
-2005 Diocese of Fresno's Serra Club Award
-Youngest and only teen Church Lector</p>

<p>WORK EXPERIENCE:
Tutor for Third Grader
-September 2006 ~ June 2007
-8 hours/week</p>

<p>Tutor for Fourth Grader
-June 2007 ~ August 2007
-4 hours/week</p>

<p>Tutor for Fifth Grader
-June 2007 ~ August 2007
-4 hours/week</p>

<p>DISTINCTIONS/HONORS: (not anything too special)
-2005 Academic Letter
-2005 Green Chevron
-2007 Top Ten Class Rank Award
-2006, 2006, 2007, 2007, 4.0 GPA White Chevrons
-2007-08 Student Council Letter
-DAR (Daughters of American Revolution) Dinuba High School Nominee</p>

<p>MOST OF MY ESSAYS AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITES ARE GROUNDED ON MY PASSION TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO OTHERS. COMMUNITY SERVICE IS EXTREMELY VITAL TO ME.</p>

<p>I AM VERY FOND OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES AND WOULD LIKE TO MAJOR IN THEM. I COME FROM A PREDOMINATELY LATINO COMMUNITY IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY WHERE MOST OF THE STUDENTS DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND DO NOT ATTEND A FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY. MY FUTURE ASPIRATION IS TO TARGET COMMUNITIES SUCH AS MINE, AND HELP MORE AND MORE STUDENTS BE AWARE OF COLLEGE AND THE BENEFITS OF LEARNING etc...</p>

<p>The reason why I am doing SCEA to Stanford is not because I think there is an advantage of getting in, however because Stanford has been my dream school ever since I can remember. I know I can do soooo much at Stanford if given the privillege to take advantage of what is offered on "the farm"</p>

<p>No one from my high school has ever gotten in, (one of our valedictorians was waitlisted, thats the closest anyone has ever gotten). Think about how many kids from my community I could inspire.</p>

<p>So what do you think??? Should I stick to SCEA or wait till RD. By the way, people have told me that applying as a URM may increase my chances for SCEA given that not many URMs apply early is that true???</p>

2

<p>hey i am in the exact same boat as you bro. I have no clue what to do either, so if your question gets answered so does mine...</p>

3

<p>dude, this is crazy.... but hey u have a better SAT score than I do, so it sucks to be me right now, really bad. hopefully though, other people can help us out with what to do.</p>

4

<p>My opinion (but it's only that) is that you should wait, because going early with a very low SAT is not an advantage.</p>

<p>Also, colleges like Stanford don't add up the SAT scores - they look at the 3 separately, so it's much more useful to post the 3 scores separately when asking for input. However, with a 1700 total, even without the breakdown, it would be hard to think it's a good idea to apply early rather than work on improving your scores for the Dec test.</p>

5

<p>lol, i didnt post my individual section scores becuase I'm embarrassed when compared to other applicants. but here they are... 520 CR, 580 Math, 600 Writing</p>

<p>By the way, last year, when I first took my SATs in Nov. I received a 1540, so I improved a little this year. But I am sure that I for sure get my Dec. score up to at least 1850.</p>

6

<p>I thought Stanford superscores . . .</p>

7

<p>You should wait for RD. SCEA give you no advantage on chances at Stanford at all. I was (relatively) happy with my SAT score when I submited SCEA.</p>

8

<p>hey googol123, did u apply last year? Did you get in? And what was your sat score if you don't mind me asking?</p>

9

<p>yeah, googol123 what was your sat score when you got in????</p>

10

<p>If you think you can get up to 1850 or so in Dec, and since you have taken the ACT (many students do better in the ACT than the SAT) I do think it's worth waiting. But you should follow your heart.
Your drive does come through, and I am sure you will have a good outcome at a good college, stanford or otherwise. Make sure you apply to a good mix of schools, and let your passion and drive come through. There are many good choices apart from Stanford, so pick a good set to apply to. I wish you well, good luck to you!</p>

11

<p>If you look at past year stats the threshold
on acceptance and deffered seems a bit higher in past years for
SCEA?</p>

<p>You might want to consider RD
:)</p>

12

<p>In your particular case, I think RD is a better choice, as there is certainly a good chance you can raise your scores. Take a bunch of practice tests and rock that December test, then apply RD--hopefully with a lighter heart! Good luck!</p>