Official Stanford 2010 RD Decisions Thread

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
61

<p>Decision: Rejected</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT: 780 CR, 800 Math, 720 Writing
SAT IIs: 770 US, 750 IIC, 740 Bio
GPA: 3.95uw, 4.75w
Rank: n/a</p>

<p>Subjective:
Essays: pretty good...i thought
Teacher Recs: Didn't read
Counselor Rec: idk
Hook (if any): intel semifinalist, lots of research, no real hook</p>

<p>Location/Person:
State or Country: NY
School Type: pubic
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M
Extracurriculars: research, clubs, few presidencies, lots of community service, job.
Why I think I was accepted/rejected: No ****ing clue.</p>

62

<p>*Decision: ACCEPTED! *</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT: 2240 (710 CR, 770 M, 760 W)
[</em>] SAT IIs: 740 MATH IC, 700 US HISTORY, 670 MATH IIC
[<em>] GPA: 4.0000 UNWEIGHTED
[</em>] Rank: 1 out of 718
[li] Other stats: AP TESTS [5 on World History AP, 4 on History of Art AP, 4 on US History AP, 3 on English Language and Composition][/li][/ul]</p>

<p>Subjective:[ul]
[li] Essays: In my opinion, I wrote a really unique personal essay concerning my name and its cultural significance and symbolism--i.e., what it means to me, how it shaped my past, constructs my future. I talked about how I almost changed my name--pressured by western assimilation, and how realized that it would ultimately be erasing a piece of who I am. Another essay, I wrote about my first ride on a Ferris wheel in a run-down parking-lot carnival. I discussed how my views on the world and human-nature changed within that moment of glittering lights and </p>[/li]
<p>echoing laughter/circus music.
[<em>] Teacher Recs: I had several teacher/community recommendations. One from my History of Art AP teacher, and one from my AP U.S. History. They both discussed my artistic/literary contribution coupled with intellectual discussion vigor. I also got a lot of extracurricular teachers such as my Literary Magazine/Club sponsor and my French teacher to contribute a letter. My employer also wrote one--highlighting my life at home.
[</em>] Counselor Rec: I know my Counselor extensively. She's one of my personal heros; we have long after-school discussions from time to time. I've known her since ninth grade; although, my school has many, many students, I have always made time to talk to her. Her recommendation letter was superb--at least, in my opinion. She really highlighted a lot of my personality and character attributes while mentioning my passions and motivations as well.
[li] Hook (if any): No hook really. I'm not an underrepresented minority race, nor a legacy. I do not have great test scores, just passion, I guess. Passion for the arts and all things related. I'm the first in my family to go to college.[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: Houston, TX (Born in Saigon, Vietnam.)
[</em>] School Type: Public, 3500+, Not competitive
[<em>] Ethnicity: Vietnamese
[</em>] Gender: Male
[/ul]</p>

<p>General Comments: [ul]
[li]I hope that everyone is coping well. I wish everyone else the best of luck with their decision letters. May tomorrow bring you sunshine and warm smiles![/li][/ul]</p>

<p>Other Schools:[ul]
[li]Accepted: HARVARD, PRINCETON, YALE, PENN, STANFORD, COLUMBIA, DARTMOUTH, CORNELL, BROWN, RICE, UT[/li][li]Rejected: --[/li][]Pending:* --[/ul]</p>

63

<p>^ i hate you.</p>

<p>so much.</p>

64

<p>Decision: Rejected</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT: 770 Math, 660 Crit. Reading, 700 Writing
[</em>] SAT IIs: 780 Math IIc, 750 Physics, 660 US History
[<em>] GPA: 3.908 Unweighted, 4.325 Weighted
[</em>] Rank: N/A
[<em>] AP Scores: Computer Science AB - 4; English Lang & Comp - 4; Calculus BC - 5; Physics B - 5
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Essays: So-so. Stanford was one of the earlier applications that I submitted, and my essays got better with the later applications. I really liked the roommate note paragraph, though.
[<em>] Teacher Recs: I didn't see them, but I'm pretty sure they were very good.
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Probably very good. He knows me well.
[<em>] Hook (if any): Erm... I'm a student pilot. I'd imagine this would stand out. I also did some research at a USC/ISI robotics lab and was an Intel STS applicant.
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[</em>] State or Country: Los Angeles, CA
[<em>] School Type: Private, Jewish
[</em>] Ethnicity: Caucasian
[<em>] Gender: Male
[/ul]Other Factors:[ul]
[</em>] Extracurriculars: Student pilot, robotics research, tech club (president),
[<em>] Why I think I was accepted/rejected/waitlisted: My main essay could have been better.
[</em>] Other thoughts: I'm not too disappointed. It would have been nice to get in, but this makes choosing Caltech that much easier. :)
Congrats to everyone who was accepted! [/ul]</p>

65

<p>*Decision: Rejected *</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] Fee Waiver Used?: No
[</em>] SAT I (by section): 2390 (800 M 790 V 800 W)
[<em>] SAT IIs: MathII:790 Phys: 790 Bio: 790
[</em>] ACT:
[<em>] APs: Stats, English Lit, Bio, Euro, US History all 5s
[</em>] IBs:
[<em>] GPA, Weighted and Unweighted: W 4.52 UW ~3.9
[</em>] Rank: 4/700ish
[<em>] Senior Yr Courseload:Hardest
[</em>] Number of Apps from Your School: 3 maybe?
[<em>] Other stats: National merit, USABO finalist (top 20 in Nation)
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] ECs listed on app: Varsity cross country, all state violinist, lots of Science Olympiad stuff
[<em>] Job/Work Experience:
[</em>] Essays (subject and responses): Good
[<em>] Teacher Recs: Good
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Good
[<em>] Interview (feel and general location):
[</em>] Hook (if any): USA Biology olympiad national finalist maybe (although it obviously didnt work out that way)
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: Ohio
[</em>] School Type, Average Stats of School (if available): Public
[<em>] Ethnicity: Chinese
[</em>] Income Bracket: 100 000 ish
[<em>] Gender:male
[</em>] Hooks:
[<em>] Strengths/Weaknesses:
[</em>] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: Not sure, but apparently stanford, harvard, princeton and MIT all had good reasons.
[/ul]
Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations,etc: C'est la vie</p>

66

<p>tchiem, that makes me a bit sick... where are you gonna go?</p>

67

<p>*Decision: Accepted! *</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I: 760V 740M 630W
[</em>] SAT IIs: 730Lit 730USHist 670IC
[<em>] ACT: 33
[</em>] GPA: 4.23
[<em>] Rank: 1/165
[</em>] Other stats: Student Delegate to Board of Education, District Advisory Council Cabinet Member, Consultant to Asian Heritage Street Festival (50,000 estimated attendees), Mock Trial President (San Francisco Champions), State Assembly Certificate of Recognition for community service, San Francisco City Certificate of Honor, $10,000 Margaret O'Donnet top S.F. student leader award, School JSA Founder/President, JSA Norcal Speaker Pro-tempore, school Populist Party founder/president/editor, California Scholarship Federation President, DonorsChoose student board member, Lifetime California State Arts Scholar for Theater Arts, Tutor, School Site Council Secretary, Parent Teacher Student Association Executive Board Member, Student Admissions Officer for School, Williams College Book Award, Coca Cola Scholar, California-Hawaii Elks Most Valuable Student National Competition Nominee, numerous other awards and events attended. One random one is Prom Prince.
[<em>] # of apps from your school: 4, I think
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Essays: okay
[<em>] Teacher Recs: amazing
[</em>] Counselor Rec: "NEVER have I had a student..."
[<em>] Community Recs: San Francisco Superintendent, Board of Education Commissioner, Partner at a law firm, and one from the principal
[</em>] Hook (if any): educational policy + arts + academics + politics/leadership ?
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: California
[</em>] School Type: Arts Public Magnet School
[<em>] Ethnicity: Chinese
[</em>] Gender: Male
[li] Perceived Strengths/Weaknesses: Student Leadership and community service, interest in the arts, WELL-ROUNDED![/li][/ul]Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations,etc: Congratulations to everyone who made it. I hope we become fast friends. I understand how it's like to be really disappointed. I'm so sorry for those that didn't make it, i know many of you are more deserving than me. I hope you got into somewhere equally amazing. Best of luck.</p>

68

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>I still can't even beleive it.....</p>

69

<p>Decision: Rejected</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] Fee Waiver Used?: Yes
[</em>] SAT: 2120
[<em>] SAT IIs: 760/660/640
[</em>] GPA: 4.714 w
[<em>] Rank: 9/426
[</em>] Other stats: QuestBridge Finalist, National Merit Commended, AP Scholar, Harvard Lowell Scholar
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] Essays: Great
[</em>] Teacher Recs: Glowing
[<em>] Counselor Rec: Strong
[</em>] Hook (if any): None!
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: Virginia
[</em>] School Type: Public
[<em>] Ethnicity: English/Irish/German = White!
[</em>] Gender: Female
[/ul]Other Factors:[ul]
[<em>] Extracurriculars: Theatre (Director, Designer, Stage Manager, Drama Club Historian), Film Society (President, Founder), Varsity Crew for 4 years (Crew Club Vice President), Figure Skating for 7 years, Violin for 13 years, Successful Web Developer/Designer for 6 years
[</em>] Why I think I was accepted/deferred/denied: Low scores
[/ul]
Other Factors: QuestBridge Finalist, really poor
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations,etc: It's okay, Stanford wasn't my top choice, and it's been my only rejection. Funny because my friend and I are always joking about how my life is <em>exactly</em> like Sean Brumner's in the movie ORANGE COUNTY... so this tops it off! :)</p>

<p>I'm happy - I got into my top choices:
HARVARD (full ride) and NYU Tisch (as a Tisch University Scholar)!!</p>

<p>Congrats to all accepted and good luck at Stanford!</p>

70

<p>I am wondering how all of you listed all of your achievements in the limited spaces available on the Stanford app. Also, some of you mentioned extra recommendations--is submitting extra recommendations standard practice? Should students ignore the directions to submit only the material requested? Do applicants usually submit some kind of a lengthier resume of their accomplishments, in addition to the application itself? If they don't submit extra resumes and recommendations, how would the school be aware of all their accomplishments? And if most applicants do submit extra materials, doesn't that put the students who only submit the requested materials at a disadvantage? I noticed on the Stanford app that there wasn't even room to list what a student did every summer. Also, it seemed that the space available for the essays online turned out to be much longer than the space available for the essays in the printed app? Feedback appreciated.</p>

71

<p>"i thought all my work throughout high school was useless because i would end up at a state college with other people who put forth MUCH less effort to get to the same place i would be in." (quote from the recently accepted) </p>

<p>A little humility is in order if you are accepted to Stanford or any other highly selective college. Many students, including my offspring, worked their ----- off throughout high school, many parents did everything they could do to support their kids' efforts, academically, extra-curricular-wise, emotionally and financially, and many of those kids, including mine, were not accepted to Stanford, and like my child, will be going to fine colleges like UC Berkeley, where they will continue to work their ----- off. Anyone who thinks the college admissions process rewards all hard work needs to get a reality check, this is an arbitrary, often unfair process, and those who are not accepted are often no less qualified or hard-working than those who are accepted.</p>

72

<p>Decision: ACCEPTED!</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<pre><code>* ACT: 33
* GPA: 4.0/4.0 UW; 5.86/6.0 W
* Rank: 2/500
* Other stats: 5 on AP Bio Test, 4 on AP US
</code></pre>

<p>Subjective:
* Essays: Probably what got me in
* Teacher Recs: Great, I asked my bio teacher to be "quirky"
* Counselor Rec: Good
* Hook (if any): Nothing exact...just swimming all my life, but not recruited; I'm well rounded and my personality really showed in my essays. </p>

<p>Location/Person:
* State or Country: IL
* School Type: Public
* Ethnicity: Chinese
* Gender: Male</p>

<p>Other Factors:
*Extracurriculars: Hold a few positions in clubs; captain of club and hs swim team, pres of beta club and others. Placed 11th in State Swimming finals and a bunch of swimming honors; scholastic all-american swimmer. Placed 9th in State Voice of Dem Speech Contest</p>

<pre><code>*Why you think accepted/deferred: It had to be my essays; my three short essays were amazing(and I'm usually quite modest), while my long essay got me into dartmouth and here.
</code></pre>

73

<p>oceanview...I was worried about the same thing as well. I submitted Resumes to all my other schools..but not for Stanford. I submitted one extra recommendation and only the required materials... But I also submitted a CD of some of my piano and violin recordings instead of listing all my music accomplishments. If you're good enough..the CD will work to your advantage. I also got into contact with a prof and sent him some protein research that I done the previous summer...I also enclosed some letter of recs from the profs I worked with along with an abstract...etc. Chances are...if the prof likes your work he'll forward everything to the admissions office.
The essays also have to be a certain word limit or they won't fit...as you've probably already noticed. I had to actually cut out several sentences from my essays in order to get in within the word limit....if you have less, you're in perfect shape.</p>

74

<p>Decision: Rejected. Rejected. Rejected. :(</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>*SAT: 800 CR, 730 M, 720 W (1530/2250)
* GPA: 97.7 unweighted, 99.5 weighted
* Rank: 6/330
*SAT II: 750 World History, 740 Math IC
* Other stats: AP Stat-5, AP US History-5, AP World History-5, AP English Language and Comp-5, taking AP Calc AB, Physics B, Spanish Language, American Gov, and English Literature and Comp this year </p>

<p>Subjective:
* Essays: I thought they were pretty good
* Teacher Recs: Probably very good
* Counselor Rec: Excellent
* Hook (if any): Clearly none.</p>

<p>Location/Person:
* State or Country: NY
* School Type: Public, really competitive
* Ethnicity: White
* Gender: Male</p>

<p>Other Factors:
*Extracurriculars: Heavily involved in math club all 4 yrs, varsity tennis 3 yrs, Future Business Leaders of America, Model United Nations, Volunteered for a local Senator this yr, worked at a local tennis club for 2 yrs</p>

<p>*Why you think accepted/deferred/REJECTED: Maybe a Stanford adcom could tell me?!?!
I'm really bitter; I also got rejected from Harvard and UPenn, waitlisted at Cornell. I'm also sad. A lot of people in my grade got into top Ivies, Stanford, etc. And I didn't. Well, life goes on. Good luck to all those admitted, waitlisted, and rejected.</p>

75

<p>Oceanview, if your kid had gotten in, I doubt you'd be blasting the process as unfair. And the admissions process should look at a whole lot more than who works the hardest.</p>

76

<p>*Decision: Rejected *</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT: 2020
[</em>] SAT IIs: 710 Lit, 710 Math II, 650 US History
[<em>] GPA: 4.18 W, 3.57 UW
[</em>] Rank: 16/539
[<em>] Other stats: N/A
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Essays: Okay
[<em>] Teacher Recs: I didn’t get to read them.
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Didn’t read.
[<em>] Hook (if any):
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[</em>] State or Country: CA
[<em>] School Type: Big Public
[</em>] Ethnicity: Vietnamese/Chinese
[<em>] Gender: Female
[/ul]Other Factors:[ul]
[</em>] Extracurriculars: Academic Decathlon, Red Cross, French, Tennis, Badminton, Piano, City Youth Committee
[<em>] Why I think I was accepted/rejected: It was a long shot when I applied, but one can dream, right?<br>
[</em>] Other thoughts: Off to LA, I go! Congrats to those who go in! =] [/ul]</p>

77

<p>Decision: Accepted (early admit)</p>

<p>STATS:
SAT: 2200....maybe? Don't remember.
SAT 2: Literature, 800. US History, 680.
GPA: 4.2, weighted, 3.76 unweighted (I think)
Rank: 6/180 something.</p>

<p>SUBECTIVE:
Essays: Good. I slaaaaaaved over them.
Teacher Recs: I think good. Didn't read.
Counselor Rec: She was new, so she plagiarized my extra teacher recs.</p>

<p>...What's a hook?</p>

<p>LOCATION/PERSON:
State: IN
School type: Parochial
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female</p>

<p>OTHER FACTORS:
Extra C's: acting, directing, poetry club founder/student leader, quiz bowl, fed challenge, voice lessons, painting (I submitted a portfolio and auditioned on campus when I visited)
Why: Showed lots of interest, attended poetry class thing, auditioned, portfolio, and I'm a bit of a legacy (my dad went there).</p>

<p>Joy joy joy.</p>

78

<p>Even if my kid had gotten in (and my kid did get into other most selective colleges), I think the process is unfair and arbitrary. Life is unfair. But visavis college admissions, I'd recommend reading "College Admissions Trade Secrets" by Andrew Allen, (written by an independent college counselor who is also a statistician) p 197: "Admission rates to top colleges are, on average, as follows: celebrities 95%, top recruited athletes 90%, regular recruited athletes 70%, minorities 50%, legacy 44%, early decision 40%, major contributors 35%, regular decision 8%. These admissions rates would typically combine for an overall reported admission rate of 20 to 25%. . ." On page 211, he goes on to say: "By the mid- to late-1980s, an applicant usually had to fall into one of three categories to get admitted to a top college: accomplished leader/special talent, top athlete, or minority. Either you're a leader within your school or within an academic or extracurricular field, you're a great athlete on a good team, or you're an 'under-represented' minority. Standard-issue white students (particularly male students) from suburbia stood little chance of being admitted to a top college, regardless of how successful their academic record was; those standard-issue applicants competed for the few remaining seats (often 7,000 to 12,000 applicants competing for 50 open seats!)." Finally, you can disagree without being disagreeable.</p>

79

<p>^ I don't know about those statistics, but I certainly agree that the process is very often arbitary and unfair. Lots of excellent people get rejected, and sometimes it seems like there's no rhyme nor reason as to who is accepted and who is rejected.</p>

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<pre><code>* SAT: 2400
* SAT IIs: 800 Physics, 800 Math IIC, 800 Chem
* GPA: 4.00 UW (I never quite figured out what my weighted GPA was...)
* Rank: 1/ ~500
* Other stats: 5's on three AP exams, nothing else though
</code></pre>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<pre><code>* Essays: Okay. Showed who I was, I guess.
* Teacher Recs: Didn't read.
* Counselor Rec: Didn’t read.
* Hook (if any): I-STS Semifinalist?
</code></pre>

<p>Location/Person:</p>

<pre><code>* State or Country: CA
* School Type: Public
* Ethnicity: Asian
* Gender: Male
</code></pre>

<p>Other Factors:</p>

<pre><code>* Extracurriculars: Intel STS Semifinalists, cross country (not varsity), etc.
* Why I think I was accepted/rejected: Not sure... my outcome was unexpected, to say the least.
* Other thoughts: WOOOOO!!
</code></pre>

80

<p>*Decision: Rejected *</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT: 2270 (780m, 720cr, 770w) although they probably just saw 2160 (720m, 670cr, 770w)
[</em>] SAT IIs: 740 IIC, 710 Spanish, 710 IC, 660USH
[<em>] GPA: 4.0 uw/ 4.34w
[</em>] Rank: 1/334 uw, 8/334w
[<em>] Other stats: FULL IB (6 IB SL ANTHRO)
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Essays: hmmm. I really thought my picture one was great, but i guess not. The others weren't special.
[<em>] Teacher Recs: I think anywhere from a few best in my careers to top 2-3%. I'm not sure really what they said.
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Same as above.<br>
[<em>] Hook (if any): Nothing I guess. I really love aviation and wrote my essay about that.
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[</em>] State or Country: Oregon
[<em>] School Type: Public
[</em>] Ethnicity: White
[<em>] Gender: Male
[/ul]Other Factors:[list]
[</em>] Extracurriculars: Constitution team, class prez, mun, nhs, cross country, swimming, two study abroads, internship, etc.
[<em>] Why I think I was accepted/deferred: Stanford is a crap shoot. I didn't get in. I didn't really have a substantiated hook (should've gotten my pilot's license). I wasn't amazing, just great lol.<br>
[</em>] Other thoughts: Oh well. My heart wasn't set on it. Other things didn't work out as well as I hoped. My school had three accepted and one waitlisted. Stanford doesn't play the stats game. Everyone who got in had something special (even if it wasn't amazing, it was legacy or other things...). We did better this year than last year, but not as well as the year before (9 accepted!).</p>