<p>...what would you ask him? I'm a Stanford freshman and Dean Richard Shaw is coming to speak in my dorm's lounge tomorrow night. I don't have anything specific in mind but I thought maybe CCers would have some good ideas.</p>
<p>How does Stanford manage to pick such a great group of students? Stanford students seem to be happy, social, friendly, and laid back. Stanford's a great school and obviously it compares with Harvard, Princeton, etc. but the students are just not the same--they're better!</p>
<p>MallomarCookie, I think that's a great question. I too wonder what tangibles or intangibles they look for that allow them to get this great crew.</p>
<p>I would like to know...</p>
<p>Does it matter where your school is located (small, big, in the middle of nowhere, big city, private school)?
Does it matter if kids have gotten into Stanford from your school before or not? (i.e. if no one ever has, are you at a disadvantage?)
Is there some sort of quota from each high school? (i.e. there are 5 great candidates from X high school but you only want to take 3 max)
What is your opinion on Early versus Regular? Why should someone apply early, and why should someone apply regular? Why should someone NOT apply early, and why should someone NOT apply regular? (i.e. what are some good and bad reasons)</p>
<p>Sorry that was so convoluted... I just woke up... come up and bug me if you need me to clarify. I can't make it tonight - </p>
<p>Oh wait, I can. I just can't stay the whole time. Bwah, my schedule confuses me =/</p>
<p>What % of SCEA are rejected, deferred, accepted? Why does Stanford have such a high rejection SCEA rate?
Stanford accepted 44% Californians last year, will admissions keep the same % for Californians in the future?
How much does legacy help?
Does Stanford admit a certain % of science/engineering/music/humanities student?</p>
<p>Why does Stanford not give money to internationals ???!!!</p>
<p>Damn.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Does Stanford admit a certain % of science/engineering/music/humanities student?
[/quote]
I believe the prospective major you put on your application has no bearing, as Stanford is very flexible about allowing students to shop around and not declare a major until junior year. Even so, I will check to see if they actually care what you put on the application.</p>
<p>Ah, I just realized that I have class tonight when Dean Shaw is supposed to speak. I'm kinda bummed out. After all, it's every CCer's dream to be able to learn the secrets of the Dean of Admissions. </p>
<p>Stupid IHUM, it ruins everything...</p>
<p>I suppose if you have any burning questions to ask of the admissions office, you could always email them and ask straight up. I've heard that they're pretty good about getting back to you (although it might take a while).</p>
<p>Or tell me ASAP because I'll be there. Presentation is in 45 minutes =D</p>
<p>Wow thanks celestial :) CCers always save the day</p>
<p>answers ???</p>
<p>Lol melbusefi, you posted at like, 1:20am Stanford time...give em a rest? :)</p>
<p>LoL, thank you MallomarCookie - Wednesday nights are super busy for me!</p>
<p>I had to leave the presentation early, so unfortunately I didn't get to ask all the questions. Here's what I found out:</p>
<p>--You should not try to strategize when trying to figure out if you should apply Early or Regular. He stresses that there is no statistical advantage to applying Early. Students are self-selecting, so the slightly higher acceptance rate during the early round reflects the confidence of the students who apply early. So, why should you even apply early? He says they keep the plan around for students whose hearts are set on Stanford - if it's your first choice and you want to know earlier, then go for it. If you get in early and still want to check out financial packages from other schools, great, apply elsewhere also. He says that applicants should "do what feels right."</p>
<p>--They do look at what possible major(s) you put on the application, but it's definitely not of high importance. The dean said that he expects most people to change their mind when they are exposed to more fields in college and that students certainly aren't done growing when they're a senior in high school. However, if you put engineering as your prospective major, you'd better have some calculus in your background (or something to support the notion that you want to do engineering). Thus, there is by no means a quota of "too many bio majors" or something like that. The primary function is to let the adcoms know more about you.</p>
<p>--Context is extremely important. For example, someone who took 3/3 possible APs at their high school probably looks better than someone who took 4/15 offered APs. The dean knows that students come from very different backgrounds and have very different experiences.</p>
<p>--There are no quotas for what high school you came from. Each student is evaluated independently. If, in the past, just 1 or 2 students have gotten in from your school, but this year there are 4 super qualified applicants, it's possible that all 4 will get in. There is no "precedent" that only 1 or 2 can get in from your school.</p>
<p>--Along the same vein, there are no "feeder schools", though some schools may prepare their students better than others. In the past (decades ago), certain high schools were preferred and would send like 80 students to Stanford each year, but this no longer occurs.</p>
<p>--The dean is very much aware of CC and it is often a topic of conversation with him and the committee, but he says he doesn't read it himself. Some of the committee members do, but they never make posts. The dean is dismayed by a lot of the misinformation going around... for example, things about finances and need-based aid.</p>
<p>--Don't try extravagant things to get the Dean's attention. One student sent a beautiful, humongous, kayak that he/she had designed and built. The adcoms were walking around it and over it for weeks. While these people who go to extreme lengths may get the dean to open their file, it's still what's in the file that matters. This person did not get in, and the dean had to mail the kayak back.</p>
<p>*Disclaimer: What I've typed here is from memory from the presentation last night. It is possible, though not likely, that I have misremembered some of what was said. I am not a member of the admissions committee, so please do not take what I have said as "official". If something that I've addressed is very important to you, perhaps you should call/email the admissions office to confirm the details.</p>
<p>One more thing - Dean Shaw feels that in the past, Stanford hasn't reached out to enough prospective students. He has increased this ten-fold through events such as college fairs. Stanford now travels the nation with other universities like Harvard and Penn to visit high schools.</p>
<p>Sigh, I guess I'll have to wait until next year to talk to Dean Shaw. Maybe he'll give me his autograph.</p>
<p>thank you celestial, your post is very helpful.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Why does Stanford not give money to internationals ???!!!</p>
<p>Damn.
[/quote]
Stanford does actually provide financial aid to international students; however, they're not need-blind.</p>
<p>A quote from <a href="http://admission.stanford.edu/applying/1_4b_financialaid.html%5B/url%5D">http://admission.stanford.edu/applying/1_4b_financialaid.html</a> says:
[quote]
Stanford has a limited amount of financial aid for international students, and, in most cases, the need for aid will be a factor in the admission decision.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah, right - not need-blind and a factor in admission decision. It sucks. Period.</p>
<p>If I'm not mistaken, aren't most competitive colleges not need-blind for internationals and consider need in admission?</p>
<p>You're not mistaken. =(</p>
<p>Most, yes. However, MIT, Harvard and Princeton, for example, all offer need-blind financial aid. Harvard and Princeton even claim not to consider one's nationality.</p>