Please chance my daughter, Does she have a "hook"?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>She is my first one applying next year so we are new to this whole process. If I ask redundant questions I apologize. We are from Wisconsin so our schools lean to ACT scores, should she take the SAT as well?</p>

<p>ACT Scores:
English 29
Math24
Science 21
reading 27
Writing 9/12</p>

<p>As you can tell math and science not her strong point but we are working on it!</p>

<p>GPA 3.93 weighted(3.87 unweighted)
In top 8%</p>

<p>All honors classes, 6years math, 5 yrs science.
AP us gov, comp. gov, Stats, Bio, English</p>

<p>EC.
Class VP 1 year
Class Pres 2yrs
Student Council pres. 1year
JSA pres 2yrs. and founder of schools JSA chapter(Junior Statesman of America)
Selected for Bager State Girls, American legion "political" camp.
Spanish NHS</p>

<p>Intern Russ Feingold campaign, Volunteered for Scott Walker Recall, Alberta Daling recall, Sandy Patch for Senate and Barrett for Governor. I am hoping that being an intern at the age of 15 and all here state politics involvement is a "hook".</p>

<p>Personal challenge: My husband died her freshman year and she has been a "parent" to my younger children so I have been able to work. It has been a motivation for her to excel and become involved. It has also made us fall below the Federal poverty level. I think her essay should be about this or is that to whinny?</p>

<p>As you can tell her politics are on the left side so please don't hold it against her, will Stanford?</p>

<p>ANY feedback appreciated! I am alone doing this and our schools aren't very supportive to anyone who is applying out of state.</p>

<p>Thanks!!</p>

2

<p>I think her ACT is low…also I don’t think her EC’s have a “hook”. Of course, she can still try…</p>

3

<p>In all honesty, to be competitive, your daughter should be top in her state or Valedictorian.</p>

<p>Sorry, but I don’t think Wisconsin schools are all that great, so her imperfect GPA and relatively low ACT scores won’t help at all.</p>

<p>Many, if not all, of Stanford applicants were interns at age 15 - so that is not very unique. If she is interested in Politics, make sure she goes all out with Politics - be the best at what your interested in.</p>

4

<p>Stanford acceptance is unlikely. ACT too low. Not competitive with the listed stats.</p>

<p>Start with the basics–what kind of campus would she like? Potential major/career? Be realistic and honest about schools she can afford to attend. </p>

<p>Sounds like your EFC will be low or zero. Find schools that meet need; choose the safeties, pick others where she will be in the top quartile to increase merit offers in addition to grants. Make sure she has at least one school she loves, is willing to attend, and is affordable. Don’t fall in love with the ones out of reach. Do the due diligence and be VERY thorough. You want her to have real choices in the spring.</p>

<p>Have her do some serious self-prep for the ACT and take it again, maybe twice. Get the score to a 28 or up. Keep involved in the political ECs.</p>

5

<p>For what it’s worth, you are getting excellent and accurate advice for those who have responded.</p>

<p>One thing you didn’t mention - is your daughter a URM? That sometimes can make a huge difference.</p>

6

<p>Sorry but I must agree with the assessments already made… her ACT score is too low, GPA too low, and her ECs are nothing out of the ordinary for most Stanford applicants. While she may not need to be Val, she should be ranked in the very top of her class to have a realistic shot at Stanford.</p>

7

<p>Crapshoot at best: there will be just too many applicants like this, OK/good ECs but nothing special, some internship experience, OK/good grades, OK test scores (nothing that stands out). Good luck.</p>

8

<p>Only a division 1 athlete can.</p>

9

<p>Don’t be completely discouraged. Yes, her ACT is on the low end, but Stanford notes on their website that people with ACTs in the 24 to 29 range still comprise 13% of the incoming class (though their admit rates drop to 3%). It may be worth either taking the SAT or retaking the ACT to see if she can improve on either–you still have time before application time If she can get above a 28 or 29 (or a 1900 to 2000 SAT), her chances will improve substantially.</p>

<p>Is she really passionate about helping out in politics? If so, try to find ways to make this come across in the application–let this passion show through. That will help your daughter stand about from the other amazing applicants. She doesn’t need to have cured cancer; sure it helps (haha), but in the absence of such a feat, she should work on presenting herself as someone who is incredibly hardworking and passionate about her involvement. Your daughter seems to enjoy politics, so she should delve into detail on this, explaining how she has taken initiative here in order to let her passion and dedication shine through.</p>

<p>Your personal challenge as a family is totally legitimate and you should make note of it when applying. How? A) Have a guidance counselor writing a recommendation for her write specifically about the challenge your family has gone through and how she has persevered through all of this. This will give credibility to your situation, and resultingly, admissions counselors will ease up in recognition of all she’s gone through.</p>

<p>B) She could write an essay about how she has persevered through the difficulties. In her essay though, she must speak very much from the heart and in her own voice. She should show and not tell. Let the emotions, the feelings, the time and energy she has put in lift directly off the paper for the admissions counselors.</p>

<p>Your daughter will need a stellar essay/essays to get admissions to Stanford, but I think it’s doable. Of the things she should write about, I would think writing about rising above the poverty your family has faced would make for a good essay. Seriously–poverty? I frankly think that if she makes it clear that your family has been through all this trouble and that she has remained passionate for school and activities despite the tough situation, the admissions counselors will really respect that.</p>

<p>One other thing she should possibly write about is her political involvement, as it shows passion–one of the primary things the Stanford admissions counselors will be looking for.</p>

<hr>

<p>Good luck in the college admissions process. I hope this post helps. Don’t be discouraged by all you’ve read above: if your daughter can make her passions and perseverance shine through, I think that in the context of all y’all have gone through, she has a shot.</p>

10

<p>Stanford won’t hold her politics against her. They may like her activism. What she’s missing, on your list, at least, is other community service to benefit others, not just pursue her own interests. And, a sense of what legit responsibilities she holds (and any leadership) in the political activities. And/or some attention she has receved for her efforts. It’s not so much about hard work and “passion,” as about her vision, follow through and accomplishments.</p>

<p>Why only honors? Did she choose to delay APs or is she taking them now? Hard to fathom, but most of the competition will apply with 4.0+ weighted, including a stack of APs. If your hs simply doesn’t offer APs before senior year, that’s another matter. But, with the high-ish rank, and low-ish ACT scores, it suggests your hs isn’t highly competitive. If she really just doesn’t test well, yes, try the SAT. </p>

<p>Sorry about your family situation. Get to know finaid.org to understand how fin aid works and what mistakes not to make. Be sure to find safety schools (for admittance and for costs/financial aid) that she will love. And, remember, the essay should really be “show not tell.” Good luck.</p>

11

<p>Disorbust, why Stanford? What particularly attracted you, or your daughter there? Is it because of the 100% need based financial aid, a particular program, etc?</p>

12

<p>“What she’s missing, on your list, at least, is other community service to benefit others, not just pursue her own interests”</p>

<p>That is absolutely not necessary - especially not for someone who has the responsibilities of a “parent” to younger children, and whose father died in her freshman year. For wealthy, privileged children whose lives have been devoid of real challenges, then some community service to 1) get exposure to people whose lives haven’t been as easy and 2) to demonstrate some capacity for empathy and compassion, community service is probably a good thing - although also not required if there are high levels of EC achievement in other areas.</p>

13

<p>Well, i totally think your daughter can get in. Make sure she writes about her internship at 15. I would also suggest you Google the book " How to be a high school superstar" by Cal Newport. It definitely helped me decide that to put on my application. =)</p>

14

<p>Her ECs are weak and she doesn’t have a hook, so it will be a long shot.</p>

<p>You definitely want to get that ACT score up (or try taking the SAT and hope to get at least a 2100 in that) though.</p>

15

<p>I was accepted to Stanford about a month ago. I wasn’t a valedictorian (we had 42 at my school) and I wasn’t in the top decile, either. What made me stand out was my passion for alternative energy. I think if your daughter expresses her passion for politics, welfare reform, etc. then she could have a great chance of getting in. Her essays are critical. Make sure they show how excited she is about what she wants to do for a career and she’ll have as good of a shot as any other applicant. Good luck!</p>

16

<p>It’s good that she interned at a young age…how did she get her internship?</p>

17

<p>I honestly say she has a pretty good chance. Not everyone has money and she did a hell of a lot more than a lot of people I’ve seen. Not many people are interested in politics either and doing all those internships make her really stand out. However, admissions are random so don’t be sure about anything but definitely apply. Good luck to you guys. I can see how hard it is for low incomes to make it as a lot of my friends are low income and they usually get trapped in ganglife and drugs. Good luck.</p>

18

<p>You might find it helpful to read the book “Admission Matters” by Jon Reider, et al. It is a clear overview of the whole admissions process. Reider was a former admissions dean at Stanford, so his insight is particularly useful.</p>

19

<p>Consider having her take the SAT instead, which are heavier on Reading and Verbal, since that seems to be what she’s stronger on.</p>

20

<p>With an ACT score of 25, her chances of getting in Stanford are extremely low.</p>

<p>To be honest, I’m not even sure that she would get into the University of Wisconsin with that low of an ACT score.</p>