Please chance me!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown):
N/A

ACT (breakdown):
Two times;
First – C: 33 E: 33 M: 31 R: 34 S: 35 W: 8
Second – C: 35 E: 35 M: 34 R: 36 S: 34 W: 10

SAT II:
Math II: 790
USH: 740

Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
3.91

Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
Should be about 7/601

AP (place score in parenthesis):
AP World (4)
AP Chem (4)
AP Calc AB (5)
AP Lang (5)
APUSH (5)
AP Gov
AP Micro
AP Macro (Self-study)
AP Lit
AP Comp gov (Self-study)
AP Bio
AP Stats
AP Calc BC

IB (place score in parenthesis):
N/A

Senior Year Course Load:
AP Gov
AP Micro
AP Macro (Self-study)
AP Lit
AP Comp gov (Self-study)
AP Bio
AP Stats
AP Calc BC
Academic Decathlon

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Around 32 medals for Academic Decathlon (national, state, and regional level), highest scorer on team at 2014 nationals and at Round 1 competition, currently the highest scoring student in the state (AZ)

Minor Awards:
National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, District Recognition for Extraordinary Achievement

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Academic Decathlon (Team captain 10,11,12) [First time any school in our district has placed 1st at regionals and state, qualified for nationals and placed 6th in the nation, had lots of media coverage since our team really came out of nowhere. I’ve spent hundreds of hours studying for it]
Physics Club (Founder/President, 12)
Chemistry Club (11, President 12)
Calculus Club (VP, 11,12)

Job/Work Experience:
N/A

Volunteer/Community service:
Fundraisers and general organization stuff for AcaDeca
Tutor

Summer Activities:
Boys State

Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Common App: 7.5/10, it’s about skateboarding and how it shaped me, and while I believe it’s unique I’m not sure how well written it was
Stanford Supplements: I’d say 8/10, I think they really show my voice but they might be somewhat vague.

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: From my acadeca coach who I’ve also had for four classes. We’re on an incredibly personal relationship (we sometimes even joke about sharing a beer together, we can text each other at any time) so I think it should be great. I was also the first rec she did. 9.5/10
Teacher Rec #2: From my Calc teacher who I’ve had for two years now, we’re on a close relationship but not nearly as close as my first rec, and I’m not sure how good she writes rec letters. I’d say 6-7/10
Counselor Rec: Eh. I go to a large public school that has never sent anyone to a school in the top 15. It’s probably very generic, but she does know my name. 5/10
Additional Rec: N/A
Interview: N/A

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Physics or Art History
State (if domestic applicant): AZ
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: 2400 student public
Ethnicity: Hispanic (Mexican)
Gender: M
Income Bracket: 130k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM

General Comments: I was deferred ED from Columbia and so I’m looking for something different, please chance me!!

2

Bump

3

You have some impressive credits, and you are to be congratulated, but to be in the running at Stanford you have to hit on all cylinders and it looks like essays and a couple of those recs are a bit weak.

4

Personally, I think you have a fantastic shot. Your quants (GPA, ACT, etc.) are a tad on the low side but not to the point where they’d disqualify you. Being nationally ranked puts you way ahead, being from Arizona puts you way ahead, and URM may also lower the competition a little. You’re really competing for a few spots against other people from Arizona, and being #1 in state at something puts you at an advantage. Just make sure your grades are all As this semester and a Nobel would probably help you out.

5

@Stanccepted‌ My ACT is a 35, I don’t really think the majority of Stanford’s students have 36s? But thanks for chancing me!

6

@wilguen Your ACT 35 is definitely competitive. Now it’s just your essays and ECs that come into play!

7

@stahboy‌ Thanks!

8

Bump, anyone else?

9

@wilguen. What do you want to hear? I have read your profile and somewhat befuddled by why you were deferred from a binding ED school especially with your URM hook status… I do not chance nor do most of the knowledgeable posters here…and it is for a good reason. All one can say is that this school is the toughest school to get into…and you will be competing with hordes of top applicants with very similar profiles (Hispanic URM, Arizona/Southwestern state, solid middle class male, interested in STEM or humanities) in this regular round…

…all one can say is that you are competitive…no more no less…

…good luck.

10

Yeah, basically what gravitas2 said. All I meant was that you were competitive enough to be considered. Also, I’m not sure what I was thinking when I said your ACT was low… I think I was thinking of another thread maybe. You should be fine, but yeah, as gravitas2 said, you’re competing against the bulk of applicants.

11

@Stanccepted‌ Ah, I see. Thank you!

12

Art History or Physics?? I don’t think it’s possible to choose such disparate interests. I am concerned that these 2 potential majors might tell admissions that you haven’t given enough thought to who you are or what you want to do.

13

@boulders You actually don’t declare your major until the end of sophomore year, so I have time to decide. Stanford values a broad liberal arts education, and I’ve been told multiple times by alumni from not only Stanford but many top 10 schools that no college expects you to have your life decided when you are 18, that having a diverse base of interests actually makes you more unique, and that applying undecided will not hurt your chances at all. I’m really good at math and physics, but I have a passion for art history and so I’m not sure which I should pursue.