Rejected from REA advice?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

Hi like the title says I was rejected from Stanford REA and was becoming anxious about my remaining applications.

Since I flat out got rejected and not even deferred, it makes me feel that my application as a whole was bad, but I’m just unsure what part of my application they didn’t like. I was wondering if anyone was willing to give me some advice on how I can improve my app/ schools that I should apply to. Thank you so much in advance!

Demographics: Female, asian (texas)

SAT/SAT II: 1590

UW/W GPA: 4.0/4.45 (I go to a t-10 school in the nation)

5 AP’s: APUSH, AP Stats, AP CSP, AP Micro, AP Macro-> received all 5s

taking ap calc bc, ap physics, and ap psych

took Micro, Macro, and english class at a CC

Extracurriculars:

Digital marketing intern at a marketing agency for 4 years- worked with big clients w 5 figure monthly ad budgets

Marketing strategist at a company and created a campaign that brought in 18,000 in revenue- he wrote me a great supplemental LOR

Marketing volunteer for a charity- helped raise 5 figures in donations with my marketing campaigns

Digital marketing manager for various local businesses- helped set up fb ads and managed social media

Founder of e-commerce store- brought in over $20,000 in revenue, profited around $2k, donated 10% to school

Executive producer for our school news show

Student rep on leadership committee & managed school social media

VP, Secretary, DoA of a few clubs at school

Honors: Valedictorian, ap scholar w distinction

2

Applying strictly on academic merit (no urm, legacy, athletic recruitment, major donor, etc.) and absent significant national or international level awards/achievements, HYPMS collectively rejects thousands of Vals, even those with 1600’s and 4.0s.

Being rejected from a school with an <5% acceptance rate is unsurprising, even with your stats. Make sure to apply beyond HYPM.

3

You are aware that Stanford rejects thousands of students? They have to because they don’t have the room for all of the valedictorians, as well as international students who want to get in. The US has about 35K high schools. Each one has a valedictorian, whom, you can be sure are applying to Stanford.

Stanford is one of the most selective schools in the nation. Were you not aware that your chances of being accepted were limited? You need a hook and that doesn’t appear to be in your vitae above^.
Hooks:

Recruited Athlete (Olympic level),
-national and/or international status (Obamas, Malala, etc.),
-well-regarded artist/musician or something the school needs (ex: oboist, painter, sculptor),
-parent donors of a building or wing of a hospital,
-legacy (not used so much anymore for admission, but is used with the rest of the application),
-Under-rep minority student with killer stats and all of the above/below:
-a history of an original idea in social/community activism over time that has gone nationwide (building clinics/schools in US, Greenpeace-like/Save the whales, composting business with proceeds to develop community gardens at elem schools nationwide-I saw this student on CBS Sunday morning).

4

Congratulations on your HS achievements, you should be proud of yourself.

Sorry that Stanford didn’t work out but that is a high reach for everyone, even such a high stats applicant as yourself. As long as you have a balanced list of reaches, matches and at least one affordable safety, you should have some good options.

Beyond that it’s difficult to give you advice…we can’t see other, very important components of your application, such as the essays and letters of rec. Stay positive and keep a realistic perspective.

Posters can help you with your overall college list if you share it. Are you applying EDII somewhere?

5

You have great stats! Stanford is a reach for all students.

What are your match and safeties? Are you auto admit for UT? If so, you already have a super safety.

6

@h0191k - You have amazing stats. Great job. You will be fine! It’s better to be rejected now than later. My son goes to a school that sent 2 to Stanford last year. This year, some amazing students got rejected REA (one student founded a cancer research company). Elite admissions now-a-days are a crap shoot. You need to find at least 5 schools where you feel that you’ll be happy. Happiness comes from fit, not US News ranking.

My son is a junior and dead set on Stanford, but him seeing all the students rejected this year from his school will help set his expectations properly.

Keep working hard; it WILL pay off!

7

I think you should attend community college for two years. Once you have increased academic prowess you could transfer into an elite institution such as Pepperdine.

8

Stanford is probably the most unpredictable among the top 20 schools. So, I would not take such a rejection as a sign of weakness in application. Every year I have heard stories that a kid was rejected everywhere but Stanford. In my DC’s class there was such a girl. Earlier this year there was this video on youtube too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIULw3jtvNU

The guy (unhooked) was turned down by all eight ivies, Rice, Vandy etc but accepted at Stanford. His stats:
SAT scores: 1370 (Super score: 1390)
Math II: 650
Physics: 570

The upside is that Stanford gives everyone some hope no matter the stats. In SCEA round if you are not hooked Stanford is nearly impossible.

9

Thank you guys all so so much for all the advice!!!

10

Congrats on your accomplishments. If I recall correctly, Stanford defers a much smaller percentage than other T10s.

11

You didn’t do anything wrong and with your stats you will have some fabulous options. The fact “didn’t even get deferred” to Stanford means nothing - they don’t defer many students, very different than Harvard Yale etc. who defer a large percentage. With an acceptance rate around 4% it’s almost better to think of your stats as having earned you a lottery ticket – but after that it’s almost chance. I can’t wait to hear where you end up because it’s going to be someplace great!

12

You have to understand the multiple instituional wants and needs that go into choosing a class. Sometimes, in Early rounds, there are so many great applicants from some sub area or wanting a similar path.

But I will offer this. Matching includes what the college looks for. Your summary above is structured like a business resume, including revenue figures. To a tippy top college, this is more about you and your contributions during the four years. You as a student and peer, interacting, trying new things, not just the future career.

And it’s always good to show some “community service,” efforts where you actually roll up your sleeves and do for the needy or a cause, not execs or donors.

Add, we have no idea of your possible major, if your activities mesh Looks like some form of business? You have one history core AP, don’t mention any in English (what course at cc?,) bio, chem, or how far you took foreign lang. You want to verify against this https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/selection/prepare.html

So see what you can learn about the other targets and what they “look for.” It should help with perspective and adjustments. Try it.

13

Unhooked kids without these things above do get into Stanford.
OP, you have a strong record and are likely to end up some place good. It is true that lots of valedictorians are rejected from top schools.

14

I am so sorry the decision didn’t go the way you wanted. I remember the disappointment my daughter felt last year when she was not admitted by her top choice. BUT, she was admitted to other great schools and where she ended up in the perfect fit for her.

As you have already seen, college admissions as top schools is very unpredictable. I was just looking at a post from a student who went through this process last year. It was funny to see how his results and my daughter’s were pretty much flipped. He was waitlisted and denied at schools where she was accepted, including where she ended up, and he was admitted to one of her top schools where she was not admitted.

Your stats are GREAT and I suspect you will end up just where you need to be. Would you mind sharing your list with us? Make sure you apply to some true targets and safeties. A tippy top school is a reach school for everyone. Having a couple of acceptances helps lessen the stress of the process a little.

15

If you have a realistic list including match and safety schools, there is nothing to worry about. You have excellent stats and ECs and if yiu have applied wisely, you’ll end up at the best place for you.

It’s not just valedictorians who get rejected, but also salutatorians, and whoever is number three or four. Bring the valedictorian is great, but it’s not better than being any other rank in the top 5% of a class, tbh. Have some perspective. Any school with an acceptance rate under 20% is more or less a reach for all. Understand that your odds of being rejected are much more likely than being accepted. Any acceptances you get to tippy tops is icing on the cake, as long as you have at least one school you like and can afford.