Projected chances for Stanford? [Junior]

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm currently a junior in Hong Kong. I just came from the REA thread so I'll post by vaguely borrowing their formatting.</p>

<p>Academic
[ul][<em>] SAT I (breakdown): R 730 M 710 W 700 (Composite 2140 super scored, planning a retake in January)
[</em>] SAT II: Have yet to take
[<em>] Rank: Top 10% ish
[li] IB (place score in parenthesis): HL Eng Lit (7 average), HL Philo (6 average, 7 projected), HL Econ (6 average), HL Chinese B (5/6 average), SL Environmental Systems and Societies (7 average), SL Maths (7 average) [/li] Total projected - **42 - 44<a href="Our%20school%20has%20a%20tendency%20to%20mark%20downwards%20initially%20to%20motivate%20students">/b</a>
[</em>] Major Awards: Not many specifically academics related, but tons of debating / MUN stuff. Notable - Many (I would guesstimate 4-5) best speaker trophies for regional tournaments, best debater and second best speaker at Worlds Scholars Cup HK, several (small-ish) best delegate awards for MUN etc. [/ul]</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
[ul] [<em>] Member of HK public speaking and debating delegation / team for World Individuals Debating and Public Speaking Championships (It's probably the largest and most competitive international public speaking tournaments)
[li] ** Key organizer at Rein Beau ** - a non-profit advocating for inclusivity and specifically LGBT rights (we don't have leadership positions), designed + participated in many different HK wide events. [/li] Notable: (1) a workshop designed for students at school on inclusivity / LGBT rights, inviting guest speakers, and (2) a conference for students in HK to specifically talk about inclusivity and how we can help our communities to grow, will aim specifically at helping to nurture projects and ideas.
[li] ** Co-president at SPARK Debating ** - Inter-school organization that holds charitable debating tournaments locally on a bi-yearly basis.[/li][li] ** President of Student Council <a href="+%20President%20of%20Assistant%20Student%20Council%20(a%20cabinet%20that%20overtakes%20the%20general%20cabinet%20after%20one%20year%20of" title="assistance">/b</a>, and 1 year of Student Council liaison)[/li][li] ** President of Philosophy Society <a href="Group%20that%20gathers%20to%20teach%20/%20talk%20about%20philosophy%20every%20week">/b</a>[/li][</em>] Various other random clubs with small roles, freelance journalist for several student publications, Flute G8 ABRSM, participation in some small singing competitions + various [/ul]</p>

<p>** Work Experience and Summer Activities **
[ul] [<em>] Worked as ** coach/tutor for Flashpoint Debating , non-profit organization that teaches debating to underprivileged schools
[</em>] Attended **EPGY Stanford summer camp in summer before sophomore year
[li] Internship at random research firm (that researched logistics and supply chain management, thinking about leaving this out because it's got nothing to do with my areas of interests, took it just for general work experience) [/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Recommendations are expected to be at least good, if not outstanding, depending on how close I get with my teachers this year.</p>

<p>Other
[ul] [<em>] School Type: Private, "international", one of the top tier schools in Hong Kong
[</em>] Ethnicity: East Asian
[<em>] Gender: F
[</em>] Income Bracket: Middle - high
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None [/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>Any thoughts? :) I'm hoping my ECs will improve as well over the next few months as things grow, but sadly I think I'm at my limit. For this summer I'm deliberating between a 5-week intensive service program for underprivileged kids in HK that involves teaching English through various other subjects and areas of interest (Summerbridge HK) and another summer program, either EPGY at Stanford again or a political science program in Georgetown.</p>

<p>I also understand Stanford is high reach for basically everyone, but was wondering how good my chances are now, and what I can do to improve those chances (besides from application stuff)? Good luck to everyone and thanks!</p>

2

<p>Bump… help guys please.</p>

3

<p>Medium to medium-high match. At that point, it is unpredictable. I’d calculate you have a 50+% chance.</p>

4

<p>Huh I wasn’t expecting that. Thanks I guess, do you have any tips? I’m not sure what could potentially hold me back right now other than SAT…? :stuck_out_tongue: But I could be wrong!</p>

5

<p>Your SAT is definitely fine, you could try to improve it if you want. Another option is also taking the ACT. If you can score ~33+ (to ~34+ superscored) and submit it as well as you SAT, that would strengthen your application.
Doing that and doing well on your SAT II’s would be the best you could do. Like I said, it’ likely but random now as your stats are great, but the number of openings is low. :O</p>

6

<p>hippoman sorry but you can’t just say medium high match for stanford. Nobody is like that unless they have legacy or have amazing hooks. I would say reach especially since your SAT is a bit low. Try to get it above a 2250 and also take the ACT. Good luck.</p>

7

<p>I meant I wasn’t expecting ANYONE to say that I had a 50%+ chance :stuck_out_tongue: that seems pretty crazy, I’m not THAT great a student ha but thanks though! Yes, college apps are pretty random… Hope it all goes well though, fingers crossed!</p>

8

<p>@pieguy Yep retaking SAT this January! Is it super necessary to take ACT? Will it help me? I’m planning SAT January, then SAT II’s June… I was thinking about taking APs but it’s probably too late now. Would taking AP Comparative government be a feasible aim for May 14? I just want to show that I genuinely am interested in politics, which you can’t really see anywhere else (and plus the subject is fun, I’ve bought the books but they’re collecting dust as a rush over all other coursework right now)</p>

9

<p>@pieguy321 I agree, I agree. But, at this point it literally goes either way. 50/50. Thus, I thought it would be logical to say 50%.
Narrowing down the odds to say, 20% or so, or even up to 90% would require extreme detail :P</p>

10

<p>@hippoman13 I guess so haha. To anyone who feels like answering more questions… reference SAT / SAT II / ACT / AP planning above ^ am I on the right track?</p>

<p>(Copy-pasting below for reference):
I’m retaking the SAT this January. Is it super necessary to take ACT? Will it help me? I’m planning SAT January, then SAT II’s June… I was thinking about taking APs but it’s probably too late now. Would taking AP Comparative government be a feasible aim for May 14? I just want to show that I genuinely am interested in politics, which you can’t really see anywhere else (and plus the subject is fun, I’ve bought the books but they’re collecting dust as a rush over all other coursework right now)</p>

11

<p>If you are good at achievement-based classes, such as your Advanced sciences and mathematics, then take the ACT. The English is much less tricky, and it has a science and a more clear mathematics section. Since Stanford likes internationals like you for boatloads of money, I think you have a chance.</p>

12

<p>I have a lot of extra curricular stuff on my hands right now as well, so I’m wondering whether it’s worth it to take ALL of the above. I can manage my SAT retest and SAT subject tests at bare minimum, but I’m wondering if taking ACT again specifically is worth it? It seems like a great time-suck TBH and I’m trying to avoid having to learn a whole new format again. Does it matter if you don’t have ACT grades? And for the record SAT II Chinese will probably be my easiest one. According to other semi-native speakers it’s a goldmine of laughter.</p>

<p>I take IB now as well, but there is one subject (Comparative Government) that I’m pretty interested in taking in AP. Is it worth it to try and self study my way through this, or should I focus my time on everything else? :slight_smile: Thanks!</p>

13

<p>In regards to the ACT/SAT dilemma, I’d recommend taking the free practice test on the ACT website. If you don’t score well on that, maybe just focus on your SAT and subject tests.</p>

<p>I’m not too familiar with how IB works since my school only has AP, but your ECs look really solid. You’ve got some good leadership experience, and your summer plans look great! If you can tuck some competition victories under your belt, that’ll really boost your chances.</p>

<p>Keep up the good work, and definitely start your application essays early next year to give you the maximum amount of time to perfect everything. Good luck and keep up the good work!</p>