How do I improve my chances of getting into a Top School (Ivies incldued)?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi,

I’m a sophomore, Asian, who is currently attending a very competitive public high school next to Stanford University (my dream school).

Freshman courses: Geometry Honors, Biology Honors, French 2, Wld History, Art Spectrum, PE, English 9A
Sophomore courses: Algebra 2/Trig Honors, Chemistry Honors, French 3Honors, Painting & Drawing 1, English 10A

My school does not allow students to take AP’s their sophomore year unless it’s a language.

Junior expected courses: Analysis Honors, AP Biology, APUSH, Physics Honors, Painting & Drawing 2, AP French, English 11 Honors

GPA Freshman Year: 3.83 UW

No SAT/ACT scores yet.

EC’s (as of now)

Best ones (to me):

  1. Founder and President of A4A, a non-profit organization (deals with art).
  2. Founder and President of our school’s Medical Society
  3. Long-term intern at Nirmidas Biotechnology (Plasmonic Gold Platform, CRISPR, VR)
  4. Sous Chef at a fine-dining restaurant
  5. Longtime volunteer at a homeless shelter (300+ hours)
  6. Tutor for a program that involves underprivileged kids (80 hours)

Sports:

  1. 2 years Varsity Badminton
  2. 2 years club volleyball, 3 years school team
  3. 4 years competitive figure skating

Music:

  1. 10 years classical piano
  2. 3 years violin
  3. 3 years vocalist

Clubs:
President of History Bowl Club
Science Olympiad Team
SciBowl Team
Model UN

Misc:
I write novels.

Awards:
Various Art Awards
4th place in Experimental Design at Science Olympiad Regionals
1st place Regionals at Science Olympiad
President’s Service Award (Gold)
2nd place Woodruff Ballroom Dancing
Middle School Science Award
Medal for California Institute of the Arts, Art Scholar

Basically, what can I do more or do better to up my chances of getting into a top school? Also, when should I aim to take the SAT/ACT’s? And also, what schools do I have chances of getting into? If it helps, I want to be a doctor/surgeon in the future.

Thank you so much! If you couldn’t already tell, I’m sort of clueless and in need of a lot guidance. :slight_smile:

2

Bring your GPA up. Good luck lol cuz bay area kids have minimal chance

3

by ‘next to Stanford,’ do you (by chance) mean Palo Alto High?
if that’s the case then yeah, you’re doing fine

otherwise, you can get to medschool from just about any well-respected university. Do good in school and take advantage of the (excellent) UC system.

4

@Oberyn. - Could you pl throw more light on the bay area kid’s chances ? Someone I know is looking for some answers related to this topic.

5

@Mantras While there are concentrations of high achieving students across the US like in the New Jersey, New England boarding schools, etc, the Bay Area has an extra high concentration so it is difficult to stand out in a sea of ultra-competitive high achieving students. It’s especially hard to get into Stanford from the Bay Area as a result bc you have to have a super-compelling profile given the talent pool. In addition, geographical diversity, legacy status, athletic recruitment, and faculty relationships also come into play. Stanford doesn’t need so many Bay Area kids, especially when the quota can be filled by qualified legacies / children of faculty / other students from the Bay with compelling hooks. The college admissions process magnify these effects which negatively impact Bay Area admission chances.