Please chance me for Stanford?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>I've been getting some pretty inconsistent answers based on my other chance thread, so I'm interested in hearing what you think.</p>

<p>Female, Asian, lives in Seattle area of Washington, middle class (likely will need financial aid for anywhere that I go to), high school is average and uncompetitive</p>

<p>GPA: 3.85 UW (likely weakest point). No weighted GPA
SAT: 2350, 2nd try
ACT: 35
SAT II: Math 2 800, Chemistry 780, US History 800 (Would taking others help at all?)
Class rank: Top 10% (UW GPA), no definite class rank system</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:
Orchestra
AP French
AP US Government
AP Calculus BC
AP Chemistry
AP Computer Science
AP English Lit</p>

<p>Junior Schedule:
Orchestra
Pre-Calculus
AP Macroeconomics/AP Microeconomics (5,5)
Chemistry
AP US History (4 or 5)
AP English Language (5)
French 5-6</p>

<p>Self-studied: AP Psychology (out of interest) (5), AP Comparative Gov. (annoying prerequisite) (5), AP Human Geography (5), AP Statistics (5)</p>

<p>Note: AP scores are projected based on how well I'm doing in the various classes and on practice tests</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
• 400+ miscellaneous volunteer hours
• BioQuest Academy at Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (summer program)
• UW Math Academy at UW Seattle College of Engineering (summer program)
• Washington Aerospace Scholars at Boeing Museum of Flight (summer program)
• Renton Youth Symphony Orchestra camp (summer program)
• Volunteer at UW Medical Center and Seattle Children's Hospital (approx. 100~120 hours)
• Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity – Seattle (approx. 50~60 hours)
• Varsity Swim (4 years), Swim Captain
• Varsity Tennis (2 years)
• Orchestra, violin player (10 years)
• Piano (self studied, 5-6 years), more or less a hobby.
• National Honors Society (3 years), President
• Key Club, (3 years), Convention Aide at District Convention, Service Projects Committee Chair
• Tutoring elementary school kids in violin and piano as part of volunteer program (5 years)
• Co-chair of committee for several local service projects (National Honors Society & Key Club sponsored), such as a special needs dance, book drive for burned elementary school, etc
• Fundraised $3,000 in school for Habitat of Humanity
• Formed Science Olympiad team & Model UN club near end of junior year, president/captain of both</p>

<p>Awards:
• National AP Scholar
• Congressional Award – Gold Certificate (didn’t have time for any of the medals)
• Academic Achievement award for all years (school award for top 20%)
• MVP for Tennis
• Rotary Youth of the Month
• Member of the Month (Key Club & NHS)
• State & District level awards for swim
• National History Day – Regionals 1st Place (this was in middle school, so not sure if it counts)
• 1st State Alternate for Soundview Solo & Ensemble, several Superior ratings for Solo & Ensemble
• Presidential Volunteer Service Award – Gold Level (2 times)</p>

2

<p>I think you would have a great shot of being admitted…if you weren’t asian. Because you are however, Stanford will still be a reach.</p>

3

<p>Well, that’s unfortunate. :frowning: There’s not much I can do to control that.</p>

4

<p>High high HIGH reach
don’t think you have much of a chance, sorry
your GPA sucks</p>

5

<p>Subterranean-If I were an admissions officer at any school, I would not accept you if I saw this. Accepting advice and approximations by random people on the internet is worse than speed dating on chat roulette. You have just as much of a chance as you actually have. Stop worrying, do your best, and apply. If you get in, then you get in. If not, then you don’t and you move on. You seem spectacular, but should chill out a little bit.</p>

6

<p>@supersmartguy: ■■■■■ orrr…? how does his GPA suck?! stop ruining his self esteem and that of hundreds of others that will see your post! 3.85 is above average. </p>

<p>I’d say you’ve a very good chance, as long as it at least has an upward trend. congratulations on your accomplishments :)</p>

7

<p>isn’t 3.85 way below the general average for Stanford?</p>

8

<p>I agree with Cardoza. OP, relax and focus on what you could do.</p>

9

<p>Your standardized test scores are too low, your schedule and ECs are too weak, and your so-called awards are pretty sad.</p>

<p>LOL JK</p>

<p>If you write damned good essays you have a shot at getting in, just like all qualified applicants. There are a fair amount of people who get into Stanford with sub-3.9 GPAs. Just do what you can to improve your GPA before applying, keep up the good work everywhere else, and pump out some stellar essays. Oh, and relax, I’m sure you’ll do our city proud :)</p>

10

<p>sorry, yes, 3.85 is below average at Stanford, but in general it’s good. either way it does not “suck”. ^__^</p>

11

<p>No, don’t listen to scodesario. That is your UNWEIGHTED GPA. The max an unweighted GPA can be is 4.00, so 3.85/4.00 isn’t low at all. These people do not understand what unweighted means.</p>

12

<p>I didn’t say it was low… I said the complete opposite lol. it is however, on the lower end of GPAs of admitted students at Stanford, who usually have 3.9+</p>

13

<p>It’s unweighted! As in NOT weighted. Students get into stanford with 3.4s and yet you’re trying to tell me this is low? Sheeba give me strength.</p>

14

<p>I haven’t heard of anyone getting in with a 3.4. I assume these people were beyond exceptional in all areas save for their GPA.</p>

15

<p>I think you have a good chance! And people get into Stanford with 3.4 UW not everyone that gets into Stanford has a 4.0.</p>

16

<p>A lot of those people might be athletes or legacies though. My friend got in SCEA this year with a 3.75ish and he’s got multiple legacy connections.</p>

17

<p>Well, that certainly doesn’t apply to me.
I’m not extremely talented in swimming, so I definitely wouldn’t be an athletic recruit.
My parents went to college, but no exceptional ones. (vocational/ average 4-year)</p>

<p>A lot of you seem to be implying that there’s a number of people who get accepted with <3.5 gpas, and that just doesn’t seem realistic.
Those people, while accepted, probably have absolutely fantastic applications while having a 3.4. </p>

<p>I do not have an absolutely fantastic application.</p>

18

<p>I’m not an athlete and I have no legacies and I got in SCEA with a 3.8 UW, it’s totally possible.</p>

19

<p>Possible, but not probable, I’m guessing.
Everyone so far has said that I have a shot. Everyone who applies to Stanford has a shot, though.
Do I have a good chance? Would it be worth the application fee? That’s really what I’m asking…</p>

<p>@littlebuilder The rest of your application was probably amazing, though.
Based on past acceptances I’ve seen, my application doesn’t really stand out from the rest.</p>

20

<p>Remember that Stanford doesn’t count your grades freshman year! I didn’t read your entire post… Your chances are probably the same as everyone else! Don’t stress about it! You’ll get in where you belong!</p>