Should I apply to Stanford even though I don’t believe my grades are good enough?

Applying to College
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Here are my current stats:
GPA: 4.3
10 AP classes by the time I graduate
5 on AP Language and Composition (but 3s on ap bio, seminar, and world. I don’t plan to submit these)
National Hispanic merit scholar
Ap scholar
NHS
Class rank: 11/500

I plan on going test optional regarding SAT/ACT.
I’m aware that these aren’t necessarily “bad” scores; however, compared to what I’ve seen from others, they’re definitely not good either. I do have other extracurriculars, leadership, and recommendations that I believe are pretty strong, but I just don’t know if they’ll even consider me regarding my academics. Is it worth it for me to apply?

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Weighted or unweighted.

Regardless, this is a fine GPA.

Stanford is a reach for everyone who applies. Why are you going test optional?

You can’t get accepted if you don’t apply…so try.

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If you love the school, feel your essays and extracurriculars can make a compelling case about why you would be a great fit, and your family is comfortable with the budget, it’s worth a try… if you want to write all those supplemental essays (Stanford has quite a few).

Just be sure that you have a balanced list with likely schools and at least one safety that you would be happy to attend.

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And, it’s not always the students with the best grades that get in. Apply knowing it’s a longshot no matter what your grades are.

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Going test optional because I don’t feel like I did well on the SAT. Haven’t gotten scores back but it didn’t feel very well

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If you don’t apply, I know where you are not going!!

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Your grades would appear to meet the benchmark. After that admission may be about other things, like EC’s, recommendations and essays.

Apply but know that noone knows for sure, so have other schools you would love to attend in mind.

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I agree with other posters. Based on the information shared, there is no reason you should not apply. Just understand that a holistic admissions process looks at things you can control (stats, essays, etc) and institutional priorities you cannot (diversity initiatives, for example).

If you have a balanced list with safety/match schools, you can and should absolutely go for your reaches. Good luck!

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You needn’t apply until Nov 1 if so is there a reason you can’t have your score by then if you’ve already taken it? And if you are RD then Jan 5.

Maybe you’ll surprise yourself score wise?

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I think the question is whether you are interested in applying early or RD? Because there’s no reason not to apply RD but you are probably wasting your time unless there is something really unique and special you’ve achieved or about your identity/demographic that you didn’t reveal. If you want a chance of getting in then you’ll need to apply EA and even then I think it’s extremely unlikely (but not impossible) that you get in. Nothing against you- that’s true for almost everyone even those at the top of their schools. But do you want to throw away your early application on such a long shot or use it on a school you have a much better chance of getting in to? That really depends on your appetite for risk, whether you have a good ED2 option, or whether you want to be stressed about admissions all senior year waiting for RD, where your chances are always worse. Many reach schools now admit more than half their class in the EA/ED and ED2 rounds. If you’d be just as happy at Tulane (for example) as at Stanford then I would say apply early to Tulane instead.

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My advice would be that if you don’t try you’ll never know. You’re stats seem very impressive, but grades aside there is other room on the application for you to stand out. I know Stanford’s application has about 8 supplemental essay questions and although that is daunting, it also gives you more opportunities to share your interests, passions, goals etc. You never know what could happen and I think it really can’t hurt to apply if you are interested in the school. Good luck!