As the title suggests, I wanted to know whether being World Youth Champion/World No. 1 (U-18) at a popular indoor sport/game such as Chess could help give me an edge over most of the applicant pool, provided I am competitive academically(scores >75th percentile of accepted undergrads) and have a fair few other ECs with participation up to intervaristy/national level and decent to good essays/recs? Just curious what some of you may think, (especially current Stanford undergrads, though I’m not sure if there’s many of them on here haha).
World champion title in almost anything may help. My guess is a very high chess rating in itself might not make much difference. I had a high chess rating. In the handwritten letter I got from the admissions officer nothing was mentioned about chess. I got the feeling the chess rating had no impact but who knows what the admissions people are thinking?
@googledrone It isn’t about the rating itself, because in the game that I’m talking about, virtually every youth player is massively underrated, myself included. I am talking about winning the World Youth Champs, the biggest/most prestigious youth only accolade/tournament possible in that game. Also placed top 10 at these Champs for 4 years consecutively(no one has ever placed top 10 for 4 years before, let alone consecutively), along with having won another major international tournament. I have also helped promote the game within my school as well as country (it’s a small country , more like a huge city), through founding clubs and organising workshops and tournaments. It’s one of those things I’ve dedicated more than 1/3rd of my life to haha
Stanford will expect to see more than a world championship.
@lookingforward In terms of being academically competitive or giving back to the community in my own way(through this game)? Or are you talking with regards to essays and recommendations? Or all of the above? 
May depend on the secret game you are describing.
Stanford may be interests if you are “Tiger Wood” of that sport.
@4kidsdad Well, I’ve been one of the most consistent youth players around “ever”(?) (since this tournament was initiated a fair few years ago) as far as results go. Oh well, can’t really improve on this situation now, I’ll just focus on trying to deliver good essays and do well on my upcoming French and Physics SAT 2s, and just hope for a miracle from thereon in.