On track for Stanford?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey, I am a homeschooled student, (would be a Junior if in Highschool). Let me know if you think I'm on track for a successful admission to Stanford, if you can given that I am probably a "unique" applicant:</p>

<p>Tests:
PSAT: 71 CR, 72 M, 76 W = 219 (99th Percentile in Arizona, almost certainly a Semi-Finalist for NMS)
SAT: 800 CR; 770 M; 680 WR (72 MC, 7 Essay) = 2250
SAT II: Taking Physics and Chemistry in May
AP: Taking Calculus in May </p>

<p>Academics:
As I said earlier, I'm homeschooled, so I don't have the typical High-School grades/class rank and such. However, I am enrolled full time at the local community college, and I've taken the following classes in my Junior and HS years - </p>

<p>MAT 122 Intermediate Algebra<br>
MAT 151 College Algebra / Functions<br>
MAT 182 Plane Trigonometry<br>
MAT 221 Calc Analytic Geom I<br>
MAT 230 Calc/Analytic Geom II</p>

<p>PHY 121 Univ Physics I:Mechanics
PHY 131 Univ Phy II:Elec/Mgnetsm (these two classes are generally considered at the same level as advanced 200 level classes)</p>

<p>CHM 151 General Chemistry I<br>
CHM 151LL General Chemistry I Lab<br>
CHM 152 General Chemistry II*<br>
CHM 152LL General Chemistry II Lab*</p>

<p>SPA 115 Begin Spanish Convers I
SPA 102 Elementary Spanish II<br>
SPA 201 Intermediate Spanish I with Honors </p>

<p>ENG 101 First-Year Composition with Honors<br>
ENG 102 First-Year Composition with Honors* </p>

<p>HIS 100 Hist of W Civ-Mid Ages
HIS 101 Hist W Civ/Mid Ages-1789<br>
HIS 104 Us History 1870-Present with Honors* </p>

<p>*Currently enrolled in</p>

<p>By the end of this semester I will have earned 61 College Credits, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.863 - I have received A's in every class, except Calc II, where I got a C. I had a bad professor, but rather than drop, I am going to take the AP Calculus BC exam and get a 5 (hopefully) to make up for it. Naturally this isn't an exhaustive list of my education, just the quantitative parts of it (I've done many other things in homeschooling! although recently the focus has shifted to the community college). By the end of next semester, I will have earned a 2-year (associates in science) degree and graduate the community college with honors distinction. </p>

<p>Awards:
-Won first place for the Arizona Asian American Association Writing Competition
-Concertmaster of every orchestra (except current one) that I've played in
-9th Place in the Phoenix Youth Symphony's Concerto Competition (arguably the most competitive violin competition in the state)
-Won a scholarship to the NAU Summer Music Camp
-Won the Honeywell Aerospace Challenge as part of a homeschooled student team
-Will attain my Eagle Scout award soon (Eagle Project is all the remains)
-NM Semi-Finalist (almost certainly given my score)
-Participated twice in my community college's math competition (requires teacher recommendation)</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars:
-12 years of playing the Violin. I have spent 5 years (currently on my 6th) playing as a member of the Phoenix Youth Symphony organization, which consists of many performance groups. I have played in 3, been Concertmaster of two, and currently play in THE Phoenix Youth Symphony, one of the top youth orchestras in the southwest. </p>

<p>-About 3 years in Boy Scouts, and 3 in a Venture Crew, which I have served as Vice-President and President of for 2 years. We (the Venture Crew)were featured in the cover article an issue of Boys' Life, the official Boy Scouts magazine with a subscription in the millions. Going to get my Eagle award soon. Last summer I did a 3-week backpack at Philmont, the official boy scout "ranch" (misnomer - it's a huge area) in NM as part of their Rayado program, which requires an application and gives the award upon completion. </p>

<p>-Community Service: Many many hours (can't find the number right now) through Boy Scouts. </p>

<p>-Swim Team: I have participated in the swim team at the local high-school for the past 3 years. I swam at the State level last year and "Lettered" (I put it in quotes, because the school wasn't able to officially recognize me as a homeschooled student).</p>

<p>-I am an administrator for a major strategy gaming website (GameReplays.org</a>), which I have worked for for nearly 3 years. As part of my "job" on this website, I have led other staff members (consisting of people from all over the world) in production of the website's content and services. I have also represented GameReplays.org at an exclusive gaming media event at the studio of Electronic Arts in Santa Monica, LA. </p>

<p>-I have run major strategy gaming competitions with large cash prizes. The most recent was on behalf of EA with a prize total amounting to about $8,000.</p>

<p>Plans:</p>

<p>In addition to taking the SAT Physics and Chemistry tests as well as AP Calc BC, I am going to attend the Summer Leadership Seminar at West Point, as I was recently accepted for. I am also applying to go to Stanford's summer Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) for Particle or Quantum Physics.</p>

<p>So, what do people think? What suggestions do you have for me? Anything you can tell me is most welcome!</p>

2

<p>Sounds good to me =). Stanford’s been getting tougher every year (9.5% overall admit rate this year, in fact), but I’d say you have a fair shot at it =)</p>

3

<p>Wow, really impressive, you’ve got a good chance but nobody’s a sure shot for Stanford so just make sure you have some backup schools. (I would bet money on you getting in tho)</p>

<p>Maybe try and raise that SAT I? I dunno. Some people say 2250 would be enough but I don’t buy that. Just my opinion tho</p>

4

<p>Your activities and extra curriculars are very nice, but I think you should work on raising your SAT. </p>

<p>And like the first poster said, nobody can be sure of getting into a college like Stanford. Definitely apply to some easier schools as well.</p>

5

<p>Yes I’ll apply to plenty of others, Stanford is my first choice though. </p>

<p>And I’m heavily considering trying the SAT again to boost my writing. After your suggestions I probably will. Thanks!</p>

<p>Any other thoughts?</p>

6

<p>I am concerned that all of your college credits and AA degree may put you in the category of a transfer student rather than that of a freshman applicant. Perhaps you should check with Stanford Admissions to determine how you will be treated. Stanford takes very few transfers and some elite universities take none (Harvard, Princeton).</p>

7

<p>Yes, I have checked. They said that a AA degree would be impressive and would not impact my status as a potential incoming freshman. Thanks though!</p>

8

<p>Look at the people who were admitted this year, it might help you:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/481369-official-rd-acceptance-thread-class-2012-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/481369-official-rd-acceptance-thread-class-2012-a.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

9

<p>Raise the SAT? 2250 is more than enough. Don’t worry, you have a great shot.</p>

10

<p>Yeah, I agree with the poster above me. Considering that the average SAT score at Stanford is 2160 (check US news for the facts), a 2250 is great. What you really need to to is decide how you are gonna show some passion in your application. After going through the process myself, I think it truly comes down to EC’s and essays. Your grades and tests speak for themselves, so there really is nothing to do there. Everyone that applies to Stanford has great grades and scores, so they won’t help you.</p>

<p>Take that huge EC list you have and focus on what YOU LOVE the most. If you start making huge lists, I believe many adcoms look at it as an attempt to get into college rather than a true representation of yourself. Just talk about your passions. Don’t list every single award you won, or everything you did on your application, because after a while, they will start to wonder whether you did this because you WANTED to, or because it would LOOK GOOD on an application. </p>

<p>You have everything set, it all comes down to your essays and how you will present yourself. EC’s and their representation, are key, remember that. I wouldn’t steer you wrong man. SCEA, class of 2012. Trust me.</p>

11

<p>Thanks! Any other input?</p>

12

<p>Whats up DMK =D Looks like we’re gonna be competing against each other for admission to Stanford next year. gl =] </p>

<p>DivA ftw!</p>

13

<p>the huge lists are gonna boggle the admissions officers, you have to focus on your interests more. a 2250 is great- its better than the average, but not the best that Stanford is going to see. i don’t really know about homeschooling, so i guess the course load from the community colleges are good… it gives you a better sense of college courses in stanford, but it takes out the social and other leadership opportunities in high schools.</p>

<p>also, you should consider sending a violin piece as a supplement if you think you are exceptional and want to be part of an orchestra there.</p>

14

<p>Nice bump pitch :P</p>

<p>I have plenty of social and leadership activities - namely orchestra and boy scouts/venture crew. </p>

<p>I am definitely going to do a violin supplement, I’ve taken a look at the stanford orchestra’s audition repertoire and it’s within my playing ability.</p>