Hi guys,
I’m a senior in CA who’s interested in CS, and Im trying to figure out if I should apply SCEA to my top choice, Stanford
My stats:
GPA: 3.9 UW, 4.25 W
SAT: 2270 (770 CR, 740 M, 760 W), 2310 superscore
SAT II: Got a 650 on Math II in sophomore year, taking Bio and Math II in October 2015
ACT: taking this Saturday, aiming for 35 or 36
APs: 5 on APUSH, AP Calc BC
4 on AP EURO, AP Lang (self-studied for 2 days), AP CS
Rank: Top 10% out of 38 seniors
ECs:
-Did Taekwondo for 8.5 years (from 2nd to 10th grade), had a 2nd degree black belt and was part of the Special Team of Role Models (STORM), an elite club of black belts that helped teach classes. Was on Competition Team, went to tons of tournaments including a top-10 finish at the Jr Olympics out of 25+ people. Have tons of medals from Taekwondo.
-Played basketball in 10th and 11th grade, was co-captain in 11th
-Currently doing an unpaid CS internship for a start-up, JibaSoft Inc.
-Went to Punjabi school at my temple for 6 years, have some small awards from that
-Member of Interact for past 3 years
-NYLF: Medicine summer after sophomore year
Classes I’m taking senior year: APES, AP Chem, Linear Algebra, Advanced Computer Programming: Data Structures, AP Stats, AP Gov, AP Lit, Econ
If I get 750+ in Math II and Bio in Oct. and at least a 34 on my ACT, do you guys think I should apply early or try to raise my GPA a little higher?
Unless you’re good enough to be a valuable asset to Stanford’s club Taekwondo team, it will be really difficult for you to gain admission because there’s nothing really special in your application.
Well, of course I know that it’ll be difficult… it’s literally a crapshoot. But should I apply early if I get those minimum test scores that I mentioned in my original post?
I don’t think you could make a significant difference in GPA is half a year it’s already very good. Unless you get at least 35 on act submit the sat. My sat tutor told me that top schools would rather see the sat and a 2270 is a very good score. If I were you, I’d apply EA unless you tank the subject test which, if you study, is unlikely.
Well, I can get my UW GPA to like 3.93 and my weighted GPA to like 4.29 if I get straight A’s or like one A-, which could be end up being the difference (thought not huge) between accepted or rejected. . Also, Stanford requires me to submit all SATs and ACTs so it won’t matter what I get on the ACT, I’ll still have to submit it.
I’m going to be brutally honest with you. Its going to be very difficult for you to get in. Here is why:
You are ORM
Applying for an overrepresented major
Applying from an overrepresented state (CA)
Math II score is low (40th percentile)
Your SAT scores are good but keep in mind that Stanford rejects 69% of students with a perfect 2400 (https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=66225)
ECs don’t stand out
You have no other hooks
I would save your EA/ED choice to another school where you have a higher shot at acceptance. You have the stats for the UC schools and many other top schools. But for Stanford its a crapshoot.