Relatively low SAT score, chance me for Stanford REA please

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
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Academics:

-New SAT:1450/1600, (730CR,720Math), 21/24 Writing.

-No ACT, no SAT II (will take MATH II and Biology later)

-Class rank:Probably top 1%

-GPA: 3.98 UW.

-Coursework: Took most challenging possible courseload all 3 years. AP Calc BC (5), AP Chemistry (4), AP Comparative Government (4), AP US History (3), AP Psychology (5). Currently taking Calculus III and Sophomore Physics class at local Community college.

Extracurriculars and Awards:

-2 years Model UN. Named Honorable mention delegate twice at MUNUC.

-2 years Track and Field: Hold 2 school records. 4xAll-conference, 5xAll-region, 3xAll-State in track&field as a sprinter. Member of state-champion 4x200 relay team. Academic all-state. Member of Home country’s junior national team.

-2 years Varsity Baseball. Academic all-district and all-region, District & Regional champion.

-1 year Science Olympiad (Current school doesn’t have a team): Placed first regionally, second-state wide, and ninth nationally. Medaled in anatomy.

-NHS: 2 years. Some volunteer work every month, amount varies.

-Paid summer lab assistant at home country’s National Institute for Genetics. (Helped primarily with imaging and electrophoresis, did some PCR work and handled PCR calculations) (summer before junior year)

-Paid summer lab assistant at home country’s National Biotech institute, worked in photovoltaics division. (Did research project on how to increase crop yield via solar cell engineering, also did some PCR work on the side) (summer before senior year, pretty much like 9-5 job)

-Volunteer at local hospital: 12 hours a week, primarily working at the gift shop.

-Calculus tutor at Community College, 5 hours a week.

-2xQuiz bowl: Captain and Voted team MVP.

-AP Scholar with Distinction.

Misc.:

-Fluent in three languages.

-Legacy at Umich

-Reach:Stanford(EA), Johns Hopkins, Duke, USC

-Low-reach:Umich, Purdue

-Match: My local college, Illinois tech

Any advice would be appreciated as well

Stanford’s my dream school… but I think my shot of getting in will be a combination of luck and my best essay writing.

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Why did you create this thread if you already know what your chances are? Like you said, it’s a reach. IDK what else you’re expecting.

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Stanford would be a Reach even if you had a high SAT score. It is a Reach for every applicant and no one can be chanced for a school with a less than 5% acceptance rate.

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@marccoreus11 I can’t really give any advice on Stanford. I know a number of kids who have gotten in and many who have been rejected - and all had similar stats. As Stanford’s own admissions folks have said more than once, they could fill 2 classes every year.

I’d be more interested in IDing what you are looking for in a school. I’m guessing maybe engineering from the list? But the schools you named are a bit of a scattershot. I guess they are all relatively big-ish to big well-known schools, but there is no geographical pattern (except your fall backs being in the midwest). There are a number of similar institutions you might want to consider. Aside from Ill tech none of those can be considered slam-dunks (unless Mich has a strong legacy program.) You probably have as good a shot at USC as UMich or Purdue. Hopkins takes a lot of it’s class ED - around 30%, and you can’t do Hopkins ED and Stanford REA (But you can do Stanford REA and UMich EA, which is a good way to go. Since they are both due about the same time and then you will know about Mich by Xmas, which can make for a nicer holiday if you get in.) Also, USC has a Dec. 1 deadline to be considered for merit aid. It is also an EA of sorts (not really, but if you get a scholarship they let you know earlier than “regular” admits.

I would imagine you’ve already looked into this, but how good a runner are you? Hopkins is D3 and the speeds they will consider in a runner are a tiny bit more forgiving than schools like Stanford, USC. Similarly, there are other strong DIII schools - if you are fast enough, that you could look at.

In my experience with the kids I know, the “standard” advice is pretty accurate: to have a reasonable shot you have to have the stats at least in the 50-75 range (and lots of kids will) and then find some ways to stand out that are attractive to the school (the infamous hook) and find some authentic ways to show real, compelling interest or fit, and get a little lucky.

If your stats are 25-50 range you need a lot of luck, a bigger hook or a more compelling argument for why you are a good fit. Hope this helps.

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On average your resume looks better than mine did. I got accepted. Who knows? Your summer lab positions look impressive to me if that is what you expand on in your essay.

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Whoa! You hold 2 school records. State champion 200 relay. 3X All-state all in only 2 years! Curious? What is your 200 PR time? Are you being recruited by any schools for track? @CaliDad2020 makes a great point about Hopkins.

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Haha thanks for all the replies. My 200 PR time is 22.14. I actually am getting athletically recruited by numerous schools (JHU really wants me), but Stanford and USC’s coach said I could walk-on if I got in.