Do I even have a chance of being accepted?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm applying early decision to Stanford University in November of 2015. I am currently a junior. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>SAT I: Not taken yet, but I'm in SAT Preperation classes with Kaplan (For free, as if I could afford $2,600 pfft ) and Princeton Review ( Paying $400 for 18 hours, 4 tests) for the rest of the year and taking in May and June </p>

<p>PSAT: 174 (first time ever taken during sophomore year) </p>

<p>ACT: Not taking </p>

<p>SAT II: None taken yet </p>

<p>Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 93 average (unweighted), but should go up to a 95 and will weighted will definitely be over a 100 with my APs and honors classes </p>

<p>Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Not available yet. However, definitely Top 5% (Class of 450 people) </p>

<p>AP (place score in parenthesis): APUSH, AP Calculus AB, AP Biology (so far), but I'm taking the rest that my school offers in my senior year which I will list below</p>

<p>IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A </p>

<p>Senior Year Course Load: AP English Literature, AP Spanish, AP US Government, AP Art History, Forensic Science, CTE class</p>

<p>Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc): None :( I only had a poem published in a summer poetry contest and I got awards in school for my services, for being "one of the best students in my school", and for submitting my work in the school newspaper (Gold prize)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Medical Club (Founder and President) Years 11th,12th; Red Cross 10th, 11th, 12th; National Honor Society 11th, 12th; Skills USA 10th, 11th, 12th grade (President), Peer Leader 12th</p>

<p>Job/Work Experience: Library intern, Intership at a Hospital, Kitchen assistant, Read Alliance Tutor, Youth Leadership</p>

<p>Volunteer/Community service: Volunteer work in the aforementioned hospital and as a library intern </p>

<p>Summer Activities: More hospital volunteering, but nothing really because I had to babysit. However, summer of junior year I am praying that I get into one of these programs: (If not, I will volunteer in Africa for a medical program) </p>

<p>Neuroscience program at Rockerfeller
S-prep
BRAINYAC
Stanford Cardiothoracic Program
High School and Pre-Medical Student Summer Internship at Stanford
DNA Learning Harbor Dolan Learning Center Summer Camp
Columbia University Honors Science Program
Hofstra University Science Summer Internship</p>

<p>Essays: I am not really sure on what I am going to write on since there are different topics, however I do feel the need to mention how difficult this all was for me due to my socioeconomic status. </p>

<p>Teacher Recommendation: I am going to ask my AP Biology teacher since she is also my club advisor and I want to major in biology and I'm going to ask my previous trigonometry teacher since we have an amazing relationship and she really knows me on a personal level.</p>

<p>Additional Rec: I am not sure who I will ask yet. </p>

<p>Applying for Financial Aid?: YES!
State (if domestic applicant): NY
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public School (Vocational with about 2000 students)
Ethnicity Hispanic (Ecuadorian and Mexican)
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: $27,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First generation and an URM</p>

<p>Strengths: Hooks and every thing else is terrible :(
Weaknesses: Everything, I had no motivation until sophomore year (grades-wise) and junior year (extracurricular-wise) </p>

<p>I should also mention that I had a REALLY REALLY rough start. I did not have any motivation until sophomore year and therefore did not try. On top of that I had terrible eyesight and my Medicaid privileges were taken away so my mother couldn't afford to take me to get my eyesight taken and get me glasses, therefore I could not see a thing in class. I have 20/200 vision I believe. Now, I have glasses thankfully. </p>

<p>My transcript is terrible, however it does show a significant upwards trend. </p>

<p>7th Grade , 8th Grade ( Took 2 high school courses):</p>

<p>First semester:
Living environment 83 (7th grade)
Algebra 87
Second semester:
Living environment 86
Algebra 87</p>

<p>High School: </p>

<p>9th Grade:</p>

<p>First semester:
English 83
Physical Education 85
Global 98
Earth Science 90
Level 3 Spanish 90
Geometry 86
Fashion 98
Text complexity 95</p>

<p>Second semester:
English 89
Physical Education:87
Global 98
Earth Science 93
Level 3 Spanish 95
Geometry 93
Graphics 95
Text complexity 89</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:</p>

<p>First Semester:
Global: 94
English:97
Chemistry:93
Trig:96
Health:95
Fashion:89</p>

<p>Second Semester:</p>

<p>Global: 100
English: 95
Chemistry: 95
Trig: 92
Physical Education: 90
Fashion: 95</p>

<p>Junior Year (currently):</p>

<p>APUSH: 93
English Honors: 95
Fashion: 93
AP Bio: 95
Physical Education: 100
AP Calculus: 93 </p>

<p>Regents Scores:
Living Environment 88 (8th)
Algebra 90
Geometry 86
Earth Science 91
Spanish proficiency 94
Spanish LOTE 98
Global 95
Trig 84 (Retaking because it is embarrassing and I didn't study)
Chemistry 81 (My teacher was fired and we missed 2 weeks of classes and were not done with the currciculum and didn't study so retaking just in case there's a red flag there) </p>

<p>Stanford is my dream school and I just really want to know if I even stand a chance. Please tell me what you think. I'm going to major in Biology and do Pre-med since I want to go to medical school.</p>

2

<p>I think your resume is amazing, and you definitely have a good shot! However, keep in mind that almost everyone applying to Stanford is a strong applicant, so though I think you do have a good chance, keep it in mind that a school like Stanford is a reach for everyone.<br>
I really do think you have a good shot, though, and I wish you the best of luck with your applications next year!! </p>

3

<p>Thank you and I apologize that my post was really lengthy aha :slight_smile: </p>

4

<p>urm will help for sure. alot of the ec’s you have reflect positively on how you take advantage of resources (a huge plus).</p>

5

<p>Thank you :smiley: </p>

6

<p>Can’t really chance you yet, bud. Aim for a 2250+ SAT score, take the Biology SAT II,
Good luck getting into one of those programs, it would definitely be a big plus to your app!
Remember to start writing your essays during the summer. </p>

<p>Check out my chance post if you’d like, I’m applying to Stanford REA this year!!!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1672761-chance-me-for-stanford-university.html”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1672761-chance-me-for-stanford-university.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Good luck! </p>

7

<p>Thank you and I did :slight_smile: </p>

8

<p>Wow a junior going to Stanford? Good luck! If you get that SAT score very high it’ll somewhat neutralize your lack of extra awards. Just remember that even though these stats are absolutely amazing, Stanford’s pool is SUPER competitive.</p>

9

<p>any chance you can chance me back? thanks!</p>

10

<p>Hello - here are my impressions</p>

<ul>
<li>You are of latin american origin and taking Spanish class in high school? This will not look good. You should have taken another language instead of one that you should already know. Please explain</li>
<li>Grades: show a strong upward trend, which is good</li>
<li>Standardized test scores: this will bear a large impact on whether or not you are accepted. For stanford shoot for >720 in each subsection of SAT, or ACT > 34 total.</li>
<li>First generation and URM status will definitely get you noticed (as long as your standardized scores are sufficiently high)</li>
<li>Mention your eyesight issues somewhere in the essay so that readers will understand the struggles you faced in Grade 9</li>
<li>Columbia SHP is kind of a big deal to get into. Suggest you ask one of the teachers in this program to write you a letter</li>
</ul>

11

<p>@sgopal2‌ thank you for your input :slight_smile: and they don’t offer any other languages at my school unfortunately :frowning: I think that I can definitely get a 2100+ on the SATs because I have like every book out there that is considered useful (Direct Hits, blue book, etc) as well as a lot of prep. I think that I’m going to write an essay on an object that defines who I am and then make it about my glasses. And I will if I get into Columbia SHP. I’m going to start filling out my application as soon as it comes out as make sure everyone is to the best of my abilities. The summer programs are programs that I said that I will try to get into, not that I got into. Any thoughts on my ECs? Are they weak and do they show that I have an interest in the medical field or are they all over the place? </p>

12

<p>@idkman I’m not applying this year haha. These are just my stats so far. I’m applying ED as a senior. And I will chance you back right now :slight_smile: thanks for your input.</p>

13

<p>Get a real score before asking for chance. Stanford is always a reach anyway. Most applicants have near perfect GPA and test scores and they still only accept 5% of them. Try to find something to make you standing out from the crowd.</p>

14

<p>@billcsho How can I ? I apply in like a year and two months. The only thing that I have going for me is if I nail the SATs and AP courses, give my financial circumstances (>$27,000 for a family of 3 with a single mother) and being an URM and first generation student. :(</p>

15

<p>Good luck for getting in. Yes, you have a chance, and that chance is low. Here are my recommendations:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Mention how income level DOES NOT reflect who you are, i.e. how you manage to get equal opportunities through being hardworking etc. Try to show that being a first gen student and having low/mid income does not stop you from breaking the barriers.</p></li>
<li><p>Do not blame anything on poor eyesight. 20/200 is severe, yes, but try not to make it sound like you didn’t push for the best because you have poor eyesight. I know this is not the case, but be careful when writing your essays, as one wrong word may convey another shade of meaning.</p></li>
<li><p>The higher your SATs, the better your chances. Aim for 2300+.</p></li>
</ol>

16

<p>Being URM and first generation student are a plus but low income is more or less neutral although they are need blind. Just try your best and see what happens.</p>

17

<p>@skyrior Thank you for the critical feedback :slight_smile: and good advice! I will definitely try my best on the SATs. @billcsho‌ Thank you once again :smiley: </p>

18

<p>I agree with TheBayou. I think you certainly have a chance!</p>

19

<p>Right now I see a junior with only a mediocre PSAT and a 93 average. These are not Stanford standards. Get back to us next year when you have some real information like your SAT or ACT scores along with your subject test scores.</p>

<p>Any speculation on your Stanford chances at this point is absurd.</p>

20

<p>@artisticnative‌ Thank you :slight_smile: @mnm111‌ thank you for your honesty :slight_smile: By the end of senior year I should have a 95-96 unweighted if I continue to get As in them. What should be an ideal SAT score that’ll put me in the competition? </p>