Do I have a shot at the Ivies or Stanford?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’ve had my sights set on getting into Stanford since my freshman year, but I’m wondering if that goal seems at all realistic.
I’m rather new to this website, so I’ll just list my stats, I suppose?

ACT: 35 C (E-33, M-36, R-35, S-34)
Plan to take SAT II Chem, Math II, and Spanish
GPA: 4.69 weighted, 3.91 unweighted
Class Rank: 8/290-300 (not sure of the exact number)

Courses taken:
Freshman - English 9 Honors, Honors Geometry, Honors Biology, Spanish II Honors, Honors World History, Orchestra
Sophomore - English 10 Honors, AP US History (scored a 4), Algebra II Honors, Honors Chemistry, Spanish III Honors, Orchestra
Junior - AP Psychology, AP Chemistry, Honors Pre-Calc, AP Language and Composition, AP Government, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, Spanish IV Honors, Chamber Orchestra (still waiting on AP scores, hoping for all 4s and 5s)
Senior - AP Calc BC, AP Biology, AP Spanish, AP Literature, Chamber Orchestra

ECs:
Lacrosse for 3 years (Varsity for 2)
Track and Field for 1 year
Model UN for 3 years (President)
NHS for 2 years (Secretary)
NEHS for 3 years
Spanish Club for 2 years
48 Community Service Hours
Tutor in math, spanish, government, and english.

Awards:
Should qualify for AP Scholar with Distinction after scores come out next month.
Various Model UN awards on debate and decorum, and paper writing.
3rd place at regional science fair.
Numerous academic awards in school.
Etc etc

I haven’t really had any job history (parents refuse to allow me to work outside of home) and I’m wondering if this would end up hurting me in the long run, or if my stats are strong enough to show that I am well qualified regardless?
I intend on entering the medical field and pursuing a degree in Oncology.

I’m applying to Stanford EA, and my essays are pretty strong in my opinion, but I’ll have to get them read by others to verify. I do realize that even for highly qualified students, getting into any of the Ivies or Stanford is pretty unrealistic, but I’m asking whether I should take the time to apply anyways?

Thank you for reading, I really do appreciate any assistance.

2

You are a reasonable candidate for Stanford and the Ivies, but this doesn’t mean you will get in to any of them. You have a very nice ACT score, but your unweighted GPA while obviously very good, is not as good as our ACT score. My daughter’s high school just graduated 15 of 334 with a 4.0 unweighted GPA, and that’s just one high school. The competition to get into Stanford is fierce. Apply to them (you DO have a shot) and then also some match and safety schools. There are some GREAT schools out there other than Stanford and Ivy League schools.

3

Should you take the time to apply? Yes.

Should you apply to Stanford and all 8 Ivies? No.

Those are 9 very different universities. Do your research, visit them, and see if you actually like any of them. Base your college search on more than just prestige.

4

Thank you for the advice. I will surely take that into account when applying to those schools, and attempt to close the gaps with my essays. I do have some other schools picked out that I believe are good matches, and a safety or two. I appreciate your reply. :slight_smile:

5

I wasn’t planning to apply to all 8, I think that would just be far too stressful on my part, not to mention a huge sum to pay. I’ll definitely pick out 1 or 2 though.

6

@ranza123 - Good advice to not just apply to all of them. Brown is MUCH different from Dartmouth for example. So, I agree…the OP should do the research and find the schools that interest them. Tons of great schools outside of the Ivy League and Stanford that might be a better fit.

7

Good test scores but nothing about your ECs particularly stand out. You have a shot at the aforementioned schools. However, you do have a shot at the aforementioned schools. There’s nothing wrong with chasing prestige but don’t apply to all the Ivies. Chance back? : http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1778302-chance-an-asian-yale-duke-williams.html#latest

8

I do not intend on applying to all of the Ivies, nor do I intend on applying to just prestigious schools. Thank you all for your suggestions.

9

You are a solid applicant wherever you end up applying. Thanks for assuring us that you have matches and safeties (as long as your safeties aren’t places like Carnegie Melon or UC Berkeley, lol), and I wish you luck wherever you end up.

10

Thank you! :slight_smile: