<p>Hey, I'm in the summer after my Junior year in high school, and I'm a bit conflicted about schools to apply to. I tend to be pretty modest about my history, and because of this I don't know where I can get into because I generally sell myself short. But I've been prompted to post this to see whether or not I can actually make it into the prestigious Stanford University. My GPA is between an A- and an A, and I've taken every single advanced course offered in my school, and I'm an IB Diploma candidate. I took the SAT: M-700 V-700 W-660 but I plan to take it over...and the ACT: Composite- 33, E-32, M-33, G-32, S-33...I have a 620 on the Math IC SAT II but I plan on taking the IIC, the IC again, and the U.S. history and I am going to work until they are all at or around 700. I also am the ace on my varsity baseball team, I won all league, I ran varsity cross country in 10th grade, I'm in the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society, and the National Science Honor Society, I am looking at a very nice recommendation from my guidance counselor and teacher recommendations should be equally nice. Though I don't know what makes me stand out that would help me get admitted into the schools like the Ivies, or schools equally strong in academics. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.</p>
<p>You are an average candidate. Nothing too extraordinary but you would be competetive</p>
<p>Here's the strategy you need to take on your application:</p>
<p>don't be modest on your app.</p>
<p>you aren't the strongest applicant; hence, you need to "sell" yourself on the app.</p>
<p>good point zephyr, be honest, but make as big a deal out of your accomplishments as is possible, everyone else will be</p>
<p>I think what will make you stand out on the application will be 1) your essays, or 2) if you're recruited to play a college sport.</p>
<p>you need to apply to stanford. period.</p>
<p>if you don't, you're going to wonder for the rest of your life whether or not you could have gotten into the best college in the world.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>I totally agree with firebird.</p>
<p>I have said this on a couple posts already because I believe it's sooo true...</p>
<p>The key is PASSION!!! Sell yourself in your essays, not by bragging, but by SHOWING them how much you have learned and grown and what you have come to truly enjoy. You can talk about the exhilirating feelings of winning a big basketball tourney; you could tell it as a story, even. Like:</p>
<p>"As my teammates and I ran onto the court, I searched their faces and found nothing but determination. From that moment, I knew that we would leave with the win, that our hours of hard practice would truly show themselves today."</p>
<p>Or...</p>
<p>"I admit that I'm a lazy guy once in a while, just your average Joe, occasionally neglecting to make my bed or clean up my desk - the way I see it, I'm just going to use them again. But my experiences in basketball have taught me without a doubt that hard work and constantly pushing beyond laziness and exhaustion are more rewarding that I can put into words."</p>
<p>So.... go for it, and be honest!! Show them who you are!!</p>
<p>bump..... .......</p>
<p>I disagree with some of the above posters. I think celestial has it right. Find teachers who will brag about you for you. Don't use your essays to talk about all of your accomplishments. Use them as a chance to bring out you as a person and what makes you interesting. What do you love to do? What have you learned in life? What challenges have you overcome? How have you grown as a person? I sincerely believe that really thinking about those questions and bringing out you as a person will work MUCH better in an essay than bragging. People relate to stories about people, they don't relate to laundry lists of activities. Admissions representitives aren't an exception.</p>