Do I even have a shot?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>Hey guys, </p>

<pre><code> So I'm thinking of applying to Stanford RD, but I'm not sure if it would just be a waste or not. Yes, I realize that by not applying my chances would be zero, but I only want to apply if I have a legitimate chance at actually getting in. Hopefully you guys can give me a rough idea.
</code></pre>

<p>School: #1 in the state, top 50 in the nation, and top 10 for STEM. </p>

<p>Background: Eastern European, U.S. refugee after escaping from genocide, Bilingual. </p>

<p>Hooks: First-generation, low-income</p>

<p>GPA: 4.1 (out of 4.25) weighted. School doesn't report unweighted, but I'd say its about 3.9.
SAT: 2240 Composite - 1540 CR/M (780 CR, 760 M, 700 Wr)
SAT II: 740 Math 2, 730 Biology (I know Math 2 is weak, but I'm taking it again and hopefully I won't be sick on the day of the test, again)
AP: AP Lang (5), AP Biology (5), Not reporting AP Calc AB or Chem. (Will have taken 10 by the time I graduate).</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:</p>

<p>AP Calc BC
AP Stat
AP Literature
AP Macro and Micro Econ
AP US Gov't
Honors Physics
Honors Spanish IV</p>

<p>I've taken the hardest possible every year.</p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<p>Research - I wouldn't necessarily call this research in the traditional sense. A friend and I, under the supervision of an economic professor at my state flagship, are coming up with an innovative business model for a web-based company. We may end up proposing it to the company itself if we think it turns out good enough.</p>

<p>Writer/blogger - I have had my own technology/culture website for about a year, and I've gotten about 30,000 unique visitors to my site thus far.</p>

<p>Writer for popular tech site - I write articles for a popular tech blog that has about 9 million visitors a month. </p>

<p>Programming - I've taught myself basic programming and I am continuing to learn more advanced languages.</p>

<p>Business Professionals of America - President/Founder</p>

<p>Translator - This would go under Family Responsibilities. My parents speak very little English, so I translate emails, letters, phone calls, meetings, etc. for them. It takes up quite a bit of time.</p>

<p>Those are my main ones, and I have a few other ones such as Model UN, Academic World Quest, Jefferson Awards Council, and other community service. </p>

<p>Awards:</p>

<p>Common Wealth Award Writing Contest - got to meet Madeleine Albright & Wolf Blitzer!
Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award Winner
COMAP Math Modeling - Meritorious Award
M3 Math Modeling - Meritorious Award
4th Place at Personal Finance Challenge</p>

<p>Teacher/Counselor Recs: I'm getting recs from AP Lit teacher and AP Chem. Should be great. Also, my counselor's should be excellent. </p>

<p>Essays: Obviously, this is very subjective, but I think my essays are fairly unique considering my background. Writing is a strong point, so I'm not worried so much about that. I haven't gotten too many people to read/edit it because, frankly, I want my own voice, not what others think it should be like.</p>

<p>I'd really appreciate an honest answer. As a first gen student with parents who know nothing about the college process, I'm really just trying to get more knowledge, and I don't know what type of school I should target. Thank you so much for reading.</p>

2

<p>Of course you have a shot! And your. Math 2 is fine . Just work on your essays and application. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Thank you Renomamma! That’s encouraging!</p>

4

<p>Just remember there isn’t enough room for all the excellent applicants, so apply to several schools, some that are a sure thing, to make sure you have options. At 6% , no one has a great chance, but you look like a strong student with a better than average chance.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the great advice Renomamma! I absolutely agree that I need safety schools, and I’ve found a few that I honestly wouldn’t mind attending, and that I believe my family would be able to afford. I’m surprised that you think I have a better than average chance. Maybe I’m too hard on myself, but I initially thought I was below average, considering all of the amazing applicants I’ve seen on College Confidential. </p>

<p>Also, insight from others would be greatly appreciated!</p>

6

<p>No. No Possible hope. Your classes were too easy and your sat needs to be at least 2400 or you will be automatically rejected. Also, if you’re going to bother doing anything in the web space, 30,000 unique visitors looks weak, you need at least 30,000,000,000 or you will also be automatically rejected. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but in times like these suicide is probably the best option.</p>

<p>But seriously, your biggest weakness is your insecurity.</p>

<p>[Urban</a> Dictionary: College Confidential](<a href=“http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=College%20Confidential]Urban”>Urban Dictionary: College Confidential)</p>

7

<p>@haginrainbow - I apologize. I didn’t mean to come off that way. I am usually confident in myself, but considering that no one in my family has ever gone to college, the college process brings out some anxiety from within me. Again, I apologize if I came off as being overly insecure. I’m generally not like that.</p>

8

<p>^lololol at both of the last two posts</p>

9

<p>Bump 10char. If you agree with Renomamma, could anyone give their opinion on my chances, and what my strengths/weaknesses are?</p>

10

<p>I appreciate the politeness, but I think you know that you definitely have an above average shot! I can see it happening, especially with your background– Stanford’s huge on diversity, and I can see how you’d add to their freshman year class.</p>

11

<p>@bluenotebook2 - Thanks a lot for the insight. I’ve worked hard throughout high school, so I know I can apply to some good colleges, but I just wasn’t sure if I should be aiming as high as Stanford.</p>

12

<p>Sorry to be so critical, I look forward to working with you at Stanford!</p>

<p>Based on you’re SAT’s, I’d think you’d have the intelligence to match your SAT scores (and other stats) against the admitted applicants to Stanford. If you did that, you would clearly see that your right in the middle of the student body, meaning you have the objective stats to get in. So, it’ll come down to your demographics, extra curriculars, essays, etc.</p>

<p>Based on what you’ve put here, I’d say you have a very good shot of getting in, and I would actually be surprised if you were rejected (assuming everything above is actually true). </p>

<p>That being said, you are coming across as either an extremely insecure or arrogant individual in this thread. I’m hoping that it’s insecurity and not arrogance, but neither quality is particularly good. Rather than bumping this thread and trying to get more reassurance, you should be curing cancer or something. Now I’m going to go cure AIDS, so sorry if I don’t have the opportunity to respond again.</p>

13

<p>@haginrainbow - I see what you mean. I guess I was trying not to sound arrogant like some other threads I’ve seen on CC, and in doing so, I came off as insecure. I’m not like that, though. Thanks a lot for your input! Hopefully I’ll see ya at Stanford :smiley: (oh, and you better have cured AIDS by then)!</p>

14

<p>I think you definitely have a shot
your SAT is average/slightly above average
your SAT 2 is slightly below average
GPA is slightly above average
schedule is great
EC’s are great</p>

<p>it’s worth a shot! just got to hope for the best, you never know with stanford</p>

15

<p>Any other opinions?</p>

16

<p>You would seem like a very good candidate. Stanford loves creativity and entrepreneurship. I would recommend capitalizing on things that you have created and started on your own. Stanford loves kids who do things that no one else has done. They take great pride in listing the accomplished students they accept every year. So definitely emphasize your research, blogging and Businses Professionals of America aspects of your resume. If anything is going to get you accepted it will be those three things. So thats where you will want to shine. (Remember this: your GPA, test scores, courseload, and clubs are all stellar. However, basically everyone who is applying to Stanford or any school of its caliber will also have equally stellar dynamics. So how do you set yourself apart from everyone else…by the things you have created, founded, started etc etc etc. Those are the things that are exclusive to you. That will set you apart from the other 35K applicants. </p>

<p>Good luck and let us know how things go!!!</p>

17

<p>You’re getting in.</p>

18

<p>you definetely have a shot! I cant say you are guaranteed a spot into Stanford but you do have a chance… I like ur schedule, ur gpa and sats are fine, and ur ec’s are awesome! However, this is one of the most selective schools in the nation!
GOOD LUCK THOUGH!</p>