Rising HS Junior's Chances at Stanford

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I know I'm a bit early to be asking whether I have any chances of getting accepted to Stanford, but I also started this thread to get any advice you all can possibly give me. Basically...Stanford is my dream college, always wanted to go there, yada yada, you've heard the drill. This is pretty long, but I'm desperate for advice. I'm grateful to anyone who replies.</p>

<p>Ethnicity: Asian
*first generation college student, parents don't even have high school degrees
*immigrated to US from China when I was 4-5 years old</p>

<p>Languages - Fluent: English, Mandarin, Fouzhounese (Chinese dialect)
Adequate: Cantonese, Spanish (still learning)
Learning: Korean, Japanese
** I plan on possibly majoring in Asian studies or international relations, which explains all the languages. I just love languages I'm very interested especially in the humanities field.</p>

<p>Freshman year GPA: 3.9 (I know Stanford doesn't really look at freshman year, but just for the record.)
Sophomore year GPA: 3.9
Junior year schedule: (All my classes are basically honors since I go to an IB school)
AP English & Composition
AP US History
Anatomy
Pre-Cal
Spanish 3
AP Psychology
IB Theory of Knowledge
Creative Writing//School Literary/Arts Magazine Staff
Teacher/office aid (I really need a free period, you'll see why in a minute).</p>

<p>Senior year schedule:
AP/IB Biology
AP Calculus
IB English
IB History of the Americas
AP Spanish
IB Geography
AP Government/Economics
IB Theory of Knowledge
possibles: IB Discrete HL, AP Physics</p>

<p>I took the ACT for the first time this summer, and received a 29. I know...not good, but I plan on taking it as many times as I can to raise it as much as possible. No SAT scores yet...will take both SAT I and SAT II's soon.</p>

<p>I'm an IB candidate and attend an "elite public high school" according to Newsweek magazine. It's one of the top-rated high schools in the United States. Like any other IB student, I'm basically forced to perfect time management skills, what with how much work we have to do.</p>

<p>My first two years of high school, I didn't really participate in EC's other than Science Club and Spanish Club, but I do have a legit reason. I work at my parent's restaurant everyday after school until about 10-11 pm so I rarely have time to do anything, much less have free time. Honestly, I barely have enough time to do schoolwork considering it IS IB and there's a crapload of homework ALL the time. In conclusion, I work about 45+ hours a week and will continue to do so until I go off to college, unfortunately. It isn't really a choice for me or my parents; I have to do it. I'm pretty much contributing to earning our family's income; it's just the way our cirumstances are. I know I sound like I'm exaggerating, but it's the truth. I also manage a lot of the things that need to be done at the restaurant because my parents are limited in speaking English, so I'm knowledgeable about business. So you can see how much responsibility is put on me as a result of my parents' lack of understanding English :/ The next two years will be absolute pain. However, I'm trying to do something about my list of EC's so starting junior year, here it is:</p>

<p>-Student Council: Junior Class President
-National Honor Society (tutoring involved)
-National Spanish Honor Society
-National English Honor Society
-Scholar's Bowl
-Habitat for Humanity officer
-Spanish Club officer
-Choir (since the 6th grade) - Singing is a passion of mine.
-tons of community service hours because of IB's CAS program
-School Literary/Arts Magazine
-teaching myself piano...no time for lessons so I have to go with what time I have. Like I said, I love music but was never able to get a formal music education (other than choir in school) due to family time and money issues.
-educational school trip to Spain in the summer before senior year.</p>

<p>School sports I plan on participating in for the next two years:
-cross country
-tennis</p>

<p>Some awards I can think of at the moment (not that impressive though):
Super Scholar (in the top 100 scorers in the county for PSAT, sophomore year)
freshman - English & Biology Top Student awards
sophomore - English & Spanish Top Student awards
~ expecting some more for junior year </p>

<p>Again, I'm only a rising junior so I'm aware that my stats are not up to par, but this is the reason I'm asking for help. </p>

<p>What I'm Asking: How do you think I'm doing as of now and what can I do to improve my chances of getting accepted? What are things I should emphasize, or leave out? Also, from what you have seen, can anyone suggest any strong essay topics based on my EC's/experiences?</p>

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<p>Working that many hours will not take anything away from your chances. In fact, colleges will probably look very favorably on an applicant who can put in 40+ hours a week at work and still maintain a near-perfect GPA. If you can score a 2200+ on your SATs, you'll stand a great chance at Stanford. Everything else looks great.</p>

3

<p>your GPA and test scores are the only things that are going to bring you down. If you consider how many other asian students apply to California schools and their average GPA and test scores, you are going to be competing with a pool with much better credentials that you have. However, I do agree with scared6378 - get a really good test score and you definitely have a great chance.
your EC's look FAB.</p>

<p>good luck, sista</p>

4

<p>thanks :) I'm planning on really working hard at studying for the SAT's & ACT in the next year. If I feel they are competitive enough, I will attempt to apply Early Action...I am somewhat of a perfectionist, so hopefully those scores will be good enough.</p>

<p>anyone else?</p>

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<p>i HIGHLY recommend the princeton review's ACT book. They're seriously amazing. Especially pay attention to the science strategy section. I'm assuming you have native-level competency at English, or almost; if your vocab's weak, the ACT's a better fit.
Definitely try both tests though. And the power of a high PSAT score next year cannot be emphasized enough.</p>

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<p>thisdude415, I actually have purchased the PR ACT book, but unfortunately didn't study very much at all for the ACT. In fact, I barely looked at the math and science sections; stupid me. And you're right, I'm pretty strong in reading/writing...34 on reading, and 32 on writing...but I'm going to really need to study the math & science sections. My vocab isn't necessarily weak, but definitely not impressive, which is why I'm less confident about that part of the SAT.</p>

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<p>I barely have enough time to do schoolwork considering it IS IB and there's a crapload of homework ALL the time.</p>

<p>Everyone deals with that. It's not just you.</p>

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<p>llpitch
That's true, but I'm the only high school student I am aware of who works from the time school (or EC's) ends to 10-11 pm every night. 10-hour workdays on weekends too. 7 days a week. And I don't think you understand just exactly what International Baccalaureate is. I'm not even in an IB program...I go to an IB SCHOOL, where practically everything - starting freshman year - is IB level. My school is renowned for being exceptionally challenging, even more so than some private schools.
I'm not trying to brag or anything, because that's not what I'm doing. I'm just putting the facts out there. But you seem to think I'm complaining and pitying myself regarding the lack of time issue. That may be so to you, but I personally don't hold this opinion. I wrote that as a way of emphasizing exactly how much I work to help support my family.</p>

<p>And anyway, if you're here to post a smart comment indicating how you think I value my position over any other high school student's, why bother? I realize most high school students deal with an immense amount of homework so I really don't need you to tell me. Like I said, I'm only pointing out that my situation is different from most high school students. I'm just here to ask for advice, sheesh.</p>

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<p>*But you seem to think I'm complaining and pitying myself regarding the lack of time issue. That may be so to you, but I personally don't hold this opinion. And anyway, if you're here to post a smart comment indicating how you think I value my position over any other high school student's, why bother? *</p>

<p>My post certainly was not filled with the amount of pithy you just accredited to it. I was just pointing out that everyone has homework. Perhaps your new to internet forums, but you shouldn't make such wild inferences from posts you see. With just text, some posts can have ambiguous meanings (as you just saw). You also shouldn't take things you see on the internet personally.</p>

<p>Also, from what you have seen, can anyone suggest any strong essay topics based on my EC's/experiences?</p>

<p>The topics you choose for your essay should be much more personal than anything that can be presented in an internet forum.</p>

<p>Other advice:</p>

<p>Definitely practice for the SAT/ACT. You really can't undermine the importance of those tests for the top colleges. Consider checking out the SAT/ACT/AP forums on CC. They have lots of advice/tips/strategies. </p>

<p>Try and focus on less ECs. Your list looks more like a "laundry" list that seems as if its stretching you out. Perhaps you could focus more on a couple ECs and truly become spectacular/make a difference in them? That's really what matters more than just doing stuff that takes up time.</p>

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<p>Alright, thanks. I'll keep in mind the advice you've given me.</p>

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<p>anyone else? I'd appreciate it very much.</p>

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<p>i'm not sure if i'm "qualified" to give you much advice but i'll tell you this. one thing you'll hear over and over again, is to put dedication into a select number of ECs rather than to spread yourself too thinly over a wide range of ECs. colleges dont want jacks of all trades.</p>

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<p>yeah, i've heard it so many times, it's practically imprinted on my brain. thanks anyway though.</p>

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<p>Come back in a year with all your test scores and we'll chance you</p>

<p>You seem to be on the right track</p>

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<p>thanks, i'll do that. if anyone else has any advice anyway, i'd appreciate it.</p>

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<p>Don't just pick up a bunch of ECs. I'm sure your essay on working in your parent's restaurant and your reflection on that will be more effective than the laundry list you posted.</p>

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<p>thanks :)
i do plan on working on my ECs, but they're not just random things i felt like doing. i actually do hold an interest in them, but i'll definitely work to show that when i list my ECs on the apps.</p>