is stanford within reach?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am just wondering if I should even bother applying to Stanford. I noticed (when I was looking at admissions statistics) that they seem to pay a lot of a attention to passion, even if your grades/SAT isn't the best. Anyways, my stats are:
GPA: 4.12 (on 4.0 scale)
11 AP's
10 Honors</p>

<p>SAT: 2120 in one sitting</p>

<p>EC's (i'll just mention the most important): varsity tennis captain and tennis assistant coach for a country club
shadowed a pediatrician in a practice as well as an anesthesiologist in a hospital. Also volunteered at two different hospitals. (these were all separate incidents)
vice-pres of French honor and asked french teacher to write a rec. for me </p>

<p>I have some more ec's of course, but these are the ones that show my passion the most i think. thanks so much for your input.</p>

2

<p>yes .</p>

3

<p>What’s your rank? If you’re top of class I’d say it’s worth a shot. Your scores are below median, so that will unfortunately be a weak point.</p>

4

<p>I’m in the top 10% of my class (school doesn’t rank) out of 500 graduating seniors. Yea, my scores are below average, but again, i heard that stanford cares more about passion, and i hope to convey that i’m passionate about medicine, tennis, and french you know? Plus i forgot to mention i got 3rd place in the state science fair. Thanks so much for responding!</p>

5

<p>also, my gpa saw a dramatic increase between my junior and senior years (4.1 to 4.6) if that means anything?</p>

6

<p>What is your UW GPA? A 4.12/4.0 doesn’t make sense so that is weighted. Stanford does not care more about Passion. Your essay, scores, GPA, ECs and Recs are equally weighted. [Stanford</a> University: Common Data Set 2010-2011](<a href=“http://ucomm.stanford.edu/cds/2010.html#admission]Stanford”>http://ucomm.stanford.edu/cds/2010.html#admission)</p>

7

<p>Keep running, marathonman, till you reach UCLA.</p>

8

<p>

Where did you get this idea from? Just because they are all listed under “very important” considerations does not mean that they are all equally important. </p>

<p>They’re not equally weighted. If Stanford says that it’s not true.</p>

<p>

“More about passion” than other similarly prestigious universities? Maybe, although being a straight A student still goes a long way getting in here. Test scores not so much.</p>

9

<p>In the most selective schools like Stanford, mostly everyone who is serious about applying will definitely demonstrate a great deal of passion. Have you taken any SAT IIs yet because if you haven’t, you will be at a great disadvantage compared to other students.</p>

10

<p>^^ Senior0991, where is your data?<br>

Do you have some window into the Stanford selection process that you can share?</p>

11

<p>u guys r really getting me down. i was gonna go for it just to see if i had any chance at all, but now i see the kind of ppl that apply and it’s really discouraging. i got a 1900 on my SATs for God’s sake, granted i wasn’t really prepared, and i can’t take it again. but i do have passion and i’m in the top 1% of my class, i do a lot of extra curricular stuff. though i am an international student with limited funds. what do u think my chances r. should i just apply and see what happens?</p>

12

<p>runner – go for it. If the average (for Stanford) statted applicant has an 8% chance, even below average still has about 4% chance.</p>

<p>As to what Stanford looks for, I’ve drawn two impressions from following admissions results over the past few years:</p>

<p>1) Stanford cares more about science and engineering than some of its peers… especially national and international recognition
2) Stanford used to be, and I assume it is still somewhat true, the “Student Body Presidents’ school”. So leadership seems to be quite important to them.</p>

<p>Lastly, make sure you separate out the Athletic recruits from whatever stats or admissions results you’re looking at. Of the Top 20 Unis, Stanford has the largest and most successful athletics program in the country. You have to feed that (bigtime) with lower statted applicants. If you remove the 200 or so scholarship athletic recruits from each class, you’d see Stanford’s 25/75 SAT average go up quite a bit.</p>

13

<p>

Yes, actually, but no I can’t share the details with you.</p>

14

<p>thanks for your all your help. I really appreciate it. I decided after all that stanford would probably reject me and its not really worth it to apply there. but seriously thanks though</p>

15

<p>what if you get accepted though? You miss all the shots that you don’t take in life marathonman. You’re a solid candidate and there’s no reason not to apply.</p>

16

<p>You should apply. You gotta remember that above the median makes up 50% of the students, and somebody has to make up the lesser 50%. Why can’t you take that role!?</p>

17

<p>The OP would be near the bottom 25% competing with football players and other athletes.</p>

18

<p>OP, you didn’t mention any adversity/diversity categories… are you 1st Generation? Low income family? Worked significant hours during school week? Single parent home? Racially, are you African American, Hispanic or Native American? Are there any tremendous hurdles you had to overcome to succeed?</p>

<p>Stanford LOVES to participate in a success story.</p>