<p>What are my chances of getting into Stanford with this app? This is just general things not including essay/teacher recommendations/etc. I am a junior currently so along with classes taken I've included my planned classes too because I'm assuming I'll pass them. I may take the SAT again senior year just in case I can score higher. </p>
<p>GPA unweighted: 3.94
GPA weighted: 4.5</p>
<p>SAT: 770/790/780
ACT: 35</p>
<p>AP:
Social Studies: 8 classes
Science: 7 classes
Math: 3 classes
English: 2 classes
+AP Capstone in the upcoming year</p>
<p>Dual Enrollment:
Science: 2 classes (at local 4 year university)</p>
<p>Extracurricular Stuff:
-JV + Varsity Cheerleading (2 years)
-Guard (2 years)
-National Science Honors Society (2 years)
-Academic Team (2 years)
-Ballet (age 9-14 and age 16-currently, had to take one year off in between for medical problems)
-Violin (privately, age 13-currently)</p>
<p>Volunteer Work:
-Science center tour guide (weekend volunteer program)
-Middle School aid
-Elementary School tutor
-Hospital volunteer (summer program)
-Church involvement (don't know if this counts as volunteer work because no one signed a paper for it?)</p>
<p>Work Experience:
-Summer job at Italian ice place</p>
<p>What I want to do for a career (probably would go in a personal statement/essay/interview?):
Want to double major in physics & planetary science to work as an astronomer for NASA</p>
<p>With this basic app what are my chances and how much will a good essay and teacher recommendations help? Thanks! </p>
<p>All anyone can ever say for a Stanford app is reach. There is no such this as a Stanford match because Stanford turns away 95% of its (mostly highly qualified) applicants. A good essay and good teacher recommendations will obviously help quite a lot, but everything put on paper will only help so much. A lot of the admissions process, especially at such a highly selective school, is very subjective as admissions officers try to shape a well-rounded and engaged class. They look for students they can connect to, who they think will fit well with the university, and who they think can make important contributions to campus.</p>
<p>Wow! What an amazing resume. Most Stanford applicants have a 5.6% chance. My best guess in that you have a 20% chance - maybe better. Best of luck.</p>
<p>@glido don’t be mistaken, all Stanford applicants have a 5.1% chance of admission. Stanford rejects thousands of highly qualified applicants each year some of which have better stats and ECs than the OP. This doesn’t mean that OP doesn’t have a shot, but her chances are still 1/20. This is true for a lot of the top 20 schools. With the introduction of the Common App and increase in applications admissions are getting a lot harder than they have been in the past. All she can do now is write the best essays possible and keep her fingers crossed for a favorable decision.
@vsangel You may also want to consider applying REA to boost your chances a bit, but please don’t be to set on Stanford. Which other schools are you considering applying to?</p>
<p>@vsangel I think you have a great shot! Start working on those essays and SAT II’s (if you haven’t already). Also, apply REA if you REALLY want Stanford.</p>
<p>@saif235 Although it is true that mathematically, everyone has a 1/20 chance of getting in, there are some applicants who when you look at their stats/EC’s/everything else etc… they stand out very well and definitely have higher than a 5% chance. I think her chances are better than 1/20 but then obviously they are still low because it’s Stanford.</p>
<p>Sorry for this, but I think the first step is to take a hard look at what Stanford says it likes and looks for, the sorts of its students it touts. Other than 20 AP, they’re going to look for what you did do, whether you really stretched yourself and how. And how you started to prep yourself for the challenges and unique mindset needed for those majors. Any competitive math-sci activities other than academic team? Any hands-on outside experience where you did some of the work or experienced the challenges? Also matters what the classes were, that you got less than A in. </p>
<p>Yes, church counts- but depends on what you did. No one has to sign anything. </p>
<p>Your academics are superb…but the posters here who are saying “high reach” are likely on target,simply because the 5% who do get in, have your stats and then surprising/astonishing ECs. </p>
<p>Precisely. They have stats similar to or better than the vsangel’s and have stellar extracurricular activities which distinguish them for the other applicants - something which vsangel unfortunately does not have. However, the vsangel does have a decent chance of being accepted. </p>
<p>@vsangel. You have gotten some good advice overall…but let me make one point very clear. You have the academic credentials to be a very competitive applicant…but it isn’t simply the numbers that Stanford looks at…it isn’t even the ungodly achievements or extracurricular activities many students have…but it comes down to the INTANGIBLES they are looking for in each individual applicant that makes who they are noteworthy to the committee…</p>
<p>…I have seen plenty of Intel/Siemens finalists, top musicians, top science/math Olympiad winners, top writers, top so-called leaders, and even top student-athletes get rejected because it isn’t just about credentials or achievements or leadership positions…it’s about the GENUINE YOU…</p>
<p>…don’t worry about this coming summer too much…do what you LOVE…and start working on your essays…and as @lookingforward has noted…really READ what Stanford Admissions has written for what they are looking for…</p>
<p>…and whether you get into Stanford or not is not important…YOU will make your life and future what you want it to be…</p>
<p>First of all, there is no ED but only SCEA at Stanford.
Second, no one would have over 50% chance at Stanford even with perfect stat.
Third, EC is very important as I can testify that may top students with higher GPA and scores than OP got rejected at SCEA.</p>
<p>My friend’s niece got into Stanford with a 3.5 GPA and 1 activity. She is from a wealthy family that contributes money to Stanford. The students in her dorm are also from wealthy families. </p>