I (will) have an ok GPA after this junior year (had some personal issues freshman year, and goofed off all of sophomore year), should be about 3.5-3.6, and I feel I can score at least a 1510 on the SAT. I am, however, working to at least achieve finalist status in the 2018 Regeneron STS, but I dont think the results come out until March of that year, 3 months after the regular decision due date for Stanford. Would I be able to send in an addendum for them to reconsider assuming I make it? What would my chances be if so?
2017 Regeneron STS*
- Good news: Stanford doesn’t consider freshman year grades (in terms of your GPA)
- Come back when you’ve taken your SATs and have a real score. No one can accurately chance you without test scores.
- Decisions will likely be made by the time decisions for that competition come out–given acceptances go out April 1, most decisions will be made in March given they started reviewing in early Jan. I would just put that you’re a semi-finalist or whatever.
- Otherwise, there are a LOT of factors, re: can someone get into Stanford, and once someone meets those min requirements (GPA, test scores, course rigor, reasonably varied/interesting set of genuine interests pursued to a high level), it’s all down to holistic review.
- Generally make sure you have a lot of other schools on your list, and don’t fall in love with Stanford. Then you’ll be ecstatically surprised, should you get in.
Becoming finalist in STS is quite an achievement. When are the semi-finalists announced? Couldn’t you update the admissions office if you make semi-finalist? Waiting until finalists are announced would be too late
If you don’t have the grades, have not taken the standardized tests, and haven’t won any competitions, how can we chance you? Are there boxes you check that you have not shared?
Stanford will not appreciate a student who “goofed off all of sophomore year.”
Semifinalists are announced usually on Jan 4, and Finalists on the 18th. Also, everything is purely theoretical.
FWIW, here’s my opinion:
Right now, assuming you are a normal unhooked applicant, your chances are pretty close to zero.
If you achieve your goal of obtaining a 3.5-3.6 gpa by the end of junior year, your chances are still probably under 1% and probably pretty close to zero. Also, please keep in mind that Stanford recalculates your gpa dropping your freshman year grades and rounding a plus and minus grade to the letter grade (i.e. a B- and a B+ both are counted as a B).
If you also obtain your goal of at least 1510 on the SAT, your chances are probably still low single digits given your subpar gpa.
If you do all the above and become an Intel Semifinalist it will probably not change your results.
If you become one of the 40 finalists, then every single aspect of your application will probably be scrutinized to see if your mediocre academics in HS should be overlooked. Your letters of rec and essays as well other achievements and leadership positions will be evaluated. You MAY have a shot at getting in if the other parts of your app are superb.
I would caveat this by saying that every Finalist that I have met also had stellar academics so this is pretty much unchartered territory for me (and for perhaps adcoms as well). I also know quite a few Siemens and Intel Semifinailsts who did not get into their first choice schools but they all did get into pretty selective colleges. I know of one winner who was waitlisted at Harvard despite a perfect SAT and ACT, perfect grades and 5 800’s on the SAT 2, they were admitted to Stanford though. I also know of a Finalist who was rejected by his first choice school but was accepted to all his other schools. His academics were top notch though.
In summary, if all of your hypotheticals come to pass than you may have a shot at getting in but your grades will have to be overcome. Good luck with everything!