<p>**
SCHOOL DOES NOT RANK
GPA: 3.5 unweighted (Huge upward trend: 3.1, 3.5, 3.9, and I assume 4.0 for the 1st semester of senior year)</p>
<p>Since Stanford does not count 9th, I think my GPA will be 3.75?</p>
<p>My GPA probably seems pretty bad to most of you guys. But I'm not sure if it really is. My friend has a 3.78 and was told by his counselor that his GPA was the third highest in his class. Im not sure if anyone actually has straight A's in my class. The school is pretty tough. And many of the B's I got in 10th grade were in AP Classes which I scored a 4 or 5 on. I basically got straight A's in 11th (only 1 b).</p>
<p>EC's:</p>
<p>Captain of Varsity Tennis team
Captain of Academic Decathlon team
President of Independent Political Club
Vice-President of Community Service Club
Member of Debate Team</p>
<p>Lots of volunteering and some work experience.</p>
<p>Essays should be extremely good. Writing has always been strong point for me, and I have already started on the essays, so they should be really good by Jan 1st.</p>
<p>It depends on where your rank is. That is really the most critical part of your GPA. The problem is that high schools weight their GPAs and will have 4.5+. If you are in the top couple of students, then it certainly isn’t bad, just make sure your counselor makes it clear where you stand in your student body.</p>
<p>Although your school does not rank, your GPA will be compared with other students from your school. It doesn’t look like you’re in the top 10% (I’m guessing) but I may be wrong.</p>
<p>Ehhh… I don’t think it’s out of reach, but I do think it is a reach school. If you like Stanford and have the time and money to apply, do it. I hope your essays are as good as you say - they will be very important.</p>
<p>Stanford is always going to be a reach school, some more so than for others, but always nonetheless based on the sheer number of applicants it gets and its selectivity. That being said, I think this application has some strengths that everyone has failed to mention. The first one I see is your AP scores. That you have gotten all 4’s and 5’s is an impressive feat, and one that shows you know your material in those subjects. They could also potentially show that whatever grade you got in one of those classes was not the end all be all of you knowledge in that subject. In other words, your good AP scores could go far in counteracting a bad grade in a specific subject because they show that, based on a national testing standard (one that is easily comparable to other applicants) and not your school’s testing standard, that you know your stuff. </p>
<p>Another strength I see is your EC’s. I think you’ve got about as good of school-related EC’s as anyone could ask for. You have depth (two different Captain’s positions) and bredth, and if you show passion for one of those things then you’ll be golden.</p>
<p>I’m surprised your school hasn’t communicated this to you, but if it’s truly as competitive as you say, they should be more than willing to send Stanford proof of this when they send your transcript, either then or through your counselor’s recommendatin, or both. My high school was very competitive, and they told us over and over again that they would make sure that every college you apply to knows just how tough this school is, what good grades HERE are, and just how ready for college every single one of you are. Every counselor’s rec would reiterate the fact that an average student at my school was an above average student anywhere else, that grades are not all they seem, etc. So talk to your counselor - ask him what your school does to prove that it’s as good as you know it is. At the very least it will help you rest easier at night.</p>
<p>you have amazing credentials. i know many here probably think im crazy for saying that. but as long as you do AMAZING on your essay i think you have a higher chance then most. try to raise the GPA a little if you can. but from what you said about your school i think it wont be too big of a problem. your EC’s are exactly what they want. leadership, founding, breadth, and depth. and it looks genuine.</p>