Do I really have any chance? Low GPA/High SAT

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>I have a very erratic application. Wonderful scores/ECs, pretty good service, semi-hook, poor GPA. This is gonna make for some interesting college app decisions...but do I really have any shot at Stanford? I'm not really expecting much.</p>

<p>I don't want to waste anyone's time with a 7 page long list of achievements or something. But here are the most important parts of my App. I left out a lot of less important stuff where I didn't have leadership positions and whatnot.</p>

<p>My application is based a lot around my interest/activities in the environment, my scores, and my achievements outside of school in various activities. </p>

<p>Everything I XX is stuff I will particularly try to highlight somewhere in my app.</p>

<p>XX SAT: 800M, 800CR, 750W
SAT IIs: 740 Math I, 720 Math II, 750 Literature, 700 biology</p>

<p>GPA: 3.48 Unweighted/4.17 Weighted (Top 8% in class) In magnet school. But yes my GPA is bad for top schools.
But my first senior semester GPA was a 3.85 </p>

<p>Leadership:
XX Tennis team captain/3 year MVP (Top rank of 17th individual in my State)</p>

<p>XX Environmental Action Team President/founder</p>

<p>Founder of Ultimate Frisbee Club at School</p>

<p>XXX Leader of several service projects at school including one called Food Wars, which won a National award for creativity and success. Other projects included sending hundreds of letters overseas for troops, collecting books for soldiers, and planning/doing special olympics.</p>

<p>XX Youth Activities Organizer in my Apartment Complex (plan festivals, fairs, etc.)</p>

<p>Head Tutor at where I tutor (1st-8th grade students)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars</p>

<p>XX Tennis Team (Captain)</p>

<p>Ultimate Team (Co-captain)</p>

<p>Math Team (State Champion team)</p>

<p>XX Environmental Action Team (President)</p>

<p>Envirothon team (7th place at State competition)</p>

<p>XX Top 10 ranked high school chess player in my state, top 100 player among all players in my state.</p>

<p>Academic Achievement</p>

<p>XXX Winner of State Spelling Bee in 2008, Attended Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.c., PLaced 60th out of 273.</p>

<p>XX Accepted to Keystone National Youth Policy Summit, debated/drafted Environmental policy there. Chosen as one of 6 students to propose final policies to local officials.</p>

<p>AP Scholar with Distinction (Becoming National AP scholar this year) Average of 4.2 on exams.</p>

<p>National Merit Commended Student</p>

<p>1st Place at Regional Science Fair and other county awards</p>

<p>Winner of Presentation contest for Research Symposium</p>

<p>School-wide Essay contest winner "Why 9/11 should be remembered"</p>

<p>Mu Alpha Theta/National Honor Society (Not really important)</p>

<p>Community Service</p>

<p>XX Community Tennis Coach for underprivileged (60 hours)
Community Tutor (40 hrs.)
XX Youth Activities Organizer (40 hrs.)
XX Goodwill Emporium volunteer (25 hrs.)
Elementary School Fundraiser volunteer (20 hrs.)
adopt-a highway participant (20 hrs.)</p>

<p>And a bunch of other smaller stuff. About 250 hrs. total.</p>

<p>My essays are great. And my recommendations were very nice.</p>

<p>So what do you guys think? How far of a reach?</p>

2

<p>As you know, Stanford is extremely selective. That said, you do have some unusual gifts/hooks. So you’ll just have to wait and see. Sorry I can’t be more helpful!</p>

3

<p>Better chance than most, but don’t get your hopes up. Everyone should expect a rejection.</p>

4

<p>You know that Stanford doesn’t include your freshman grades in their GPA calculation, right? Does that help?</p>

5

<p>Honestly, all I can say is that you will never know until you apply! I remember recalling a person on here you got into Stanford with a 3.5/6 gpa because of her essays and ECs. Do not be afraid of rejection. If you do not get accepted, it is because it was never meant to be. I recommend try to distinguish yourself from others. Try to prove to admission officers why they should pick you over someone who has a 3.9 or 4.0. It is not the end of the world if you do not get in. Just keep your head up! Good Luck!</p>

6

<p>Low Subject Tests + Low GPA + poor Class rank = rejection </p>

<p>Honestly a high SAT reasoning doesn’t count for much on its own.</p>

7

<p>High test scores and a low GPA is usually read as “this person is smart but extremely lazy.” not a winning combination – unless you can show that there is some underlying issue, like a learning disability, that explains why you underperformed throughout high school relative to your peers.</p>

8

<p>In my opinion, you have a decent shot, since your ECs are pretty darn amazing…and it never hurts to apply!</p>

<p>You went to the 2008 National Spelling Bee? I was there too! :P</p>

9

<p>Are my SAT IIs really poor? Like I know they aren’t good but I never thought they were straight bad.</p>

10

<p>And nice Cocytus :smiley: How did you do?</p>

11

<p>Your SAT II tests are fine.</p>

12

<p>Hi, I’m an international student and I intend to enroll in a US college next year. I really want to get into Stanford…but I think my chances are slim because of my low grades and low SAT score (3.6 unweighted GPA…1750 SAT)…however throughout my high school life I’ve been involved in countless clubs, been the President of a few and founded 2…I’ve also been involved in research, currently working (since the summer), and now own a business…what are my chances really?</p>