Should I Apply to Stanford? (I'm new to this, please help!)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi,
I’m going to be a senior this year and I’m stuck on whether or not I should apply to Stanford. I live in California and am planning to apply to mostly UCs and CSUs. The only private school I want to apply to is Stanford, but I feel like it would be a big hassle if I didn’t really stand a chance in the first place. I just want everyone’s honest opinion on whether or not I stand a chance at being wait listed or even accepted to Stanford. Please be completely honest with me, I would really appreciate it.

Here’s my info:
GPA: 4.47 (I am in the top 3% of my class)

Extracurricular Activities: Member of Leo Club for 4 years (it’s a volunteering club), Vice President of Animal Club for 1 year, Member of Interact Club for 2 years (another volunteering club), member of my school’s swim team for 1 year

Outside Extracurricular Activities: Tutor at Kumon for 3 years, a volunteer at a local hospital for 1 year, a volunteer at my old Chinese school for 1 year, tutored at my local library for 1 year

Tests: (Reeeaaalllly weak SAT score but I’m taking it again so I won’t list it yet)
5 on AP world, 4 on APUSH, and a 3 on AP Lang & Comp (:/)
I did really bad on my Calculus AB exam, so I’m taking BC this year to try to get a better score.
Oh and also, I know Stanford expects 2 SAT subject tests and I haven’t taken any yet :(((

Essay/personal statement: I would say I’m a pretty decent writer (please don’t mind my ap lang score lol). I’ve been planning what to write about over a course of time and I think it’ll turn out pretty good

Here’s what I’m taking my senior year: AP lit, AP Calculus BC, AP gov/econ, AP computer science, and Honors Physiology & Anatomy

Here are the classes I took junior year: AP Calculus AB, AP US history, AP Lang & Comp, Chinese 3, Physics, & Digital Art

Additional Info: I come from a low-income family; I am qualified to receive free tuition if I were to be accepted.

I would really appreciate everyone’s honest opinion. It would help me a lot (and possibly save me a lot of time and stress). Thanks! :slight_smile: If you have any questions, please let me know.

2

GPAs good, ECs decent, but no one can say much without knowing your test scores. If your SAT score is gonna be around 2100+ and you get near perfect subject tests, I would apply, but don’t be surprised if you don’t get in (5.1% Acceptance 2014).

3

thanks for your feedback! i’m aiming for a score around that range, so hopefully my studying will pay off. do you have any recommendations on which 2 subject tests i should take? i’m deciding between world history and US history for one of them.

4

Choose whichever subject tests you feel like you’ll succeed on–a 4 and 5 on those exams mean you’ll be well prepared for whichever you choose. Try to pick ones you feel you won’t have to study for too much, as prepping for your SAT1 score is more important than perfect SAT2’s.

5

What would it “be a big hassle”? There’s 100% certainty you won’t get in if you don’t apply.

6

@skgriffin thanks! I’m thinking of taking Chinese and U.S. History since I’ve taken those courses recently. I’m thinking of taking the ACT in September instead of the SAT in October so that I can give myself more time to prepare for my subject tests. Do you think I stand a chance to either be wait listed or accepted?

7

@renaissancedad it would be a big hassle for me because I would have to do the common app for only one university (Stanford). That would mean I would have to spend more time applying to a school that probably won’t get into. I just would like to see if I am wasting my time or not because I fear I’m just going to be automatically rejected since I’m not good enough compared to other students. Do you think I stand a chance?

8

You have a small chance but it would be infinitely higher than not applying. Depends on how much you think a chance to Stanford is worth vs say Berkeley or LA

9

You never know, each person has a story and different circumstances. I say go for it, you may be pleasantly surprised! Your stats are not terrible so you still have some sort of a shot, albeit a small one.

10

Everything so far looks good, but I don’t think if you get a 2100 on the SAT that it will be good enough. The middle 50% range for Stanford is 2070-2350, and those toward the lower end of that that get in have major hooks (recruited athlete, etc.). You really need to be targeting 2200 or above to have a realistic shot in my opinion, and even then, you could easily be denied as Stanford is a reach for EVERYONE, even those with a perfect score on the SAT (Stanford admitted just 64% of those with a perfect 2400 on the SAT two classes ago).

AND…you mentioned low income and free tuition. Free tuition is given to students from families who make $125,000 or less a year, so you don’t have to be “low income” to get free tuition there. If your family makes $65,000 or less, you can get free tuition AND free room and board.

Stanford is an amazing place. Definitely apply, and reach for the moon with that SAT score.

11

Thanks everyone! I’m thinking of taking the ACT because I feel like the SAT hasn’t been that good to me. I’m hoping to study a lot over the summer for the ACT, take it in September, and then have the rest of the year to focus on getting perfect subject tests. Do you know what an ideal score range Stanford expects for the ACT?
I really appreciate this guys, thanks for your honesty :slight_smile:

12

Get 33+. ~34 or 35 is good. Btw I think stanford requires all scores sent so they’ll see your sat, though they probably won’t mind too much as long as you improve

13

“I’m hoping to study a lot over the summer for the ACT, take it in September, and then have the rest of the year to focus on getting perfect subject tests.”

What does this mean? You will have to take your subject tests in the fall.

14

Answer these 2 simple questions first, for yourself: What do you really know about Stanford? And what do you know about what they really look for? It is just not all about stats.

15

You definitely have a chance with your stats, even if it’s small. I also agree that a 2100 wouldn’t really be high enough–maybe research the ACT (http://www.studypoint.com/ed/act-vs-sat/) and take a few practice tests and see if you feel you could get a 33+. If that works out for you, it might be a better decision to just take the ACT.

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@andyis thanks! my 2 previous SAT scores were really bad so i’m debating on whether or not I should take it a 3rd time and improve my score since Stanford requires me to send all of them. I’m not very sure how much I can improve on the SAT; I feel like I should have taken the ACT instead, but oh well. Maybe I’ll focus on doing well on both?

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@suzy100 I meant the rest of the year as in the rest of 2015, not the rest of my senior year. :slight_smile: I plan on studying for the ACT and SAT in the summer. I’ll take the ACT in September and the SAT in October. After those are out of the way, I’ll take my Chinese subject test in November and my US History subject test in December.

18

Don’t overdo it. Given that you didn’t do so hot on the SAT twice already, I’m not sure it’s worth the effort to get say 2100 on SAT and 32 on ACT. It would be better to just get 34 on ACT. Usually they say that they just look at best score

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@lookingforward You’re definitely right. :slight_smile: I went on a tour about a month ago and was able to listen to an admission counselor talk about Stanford’s expectations, values, etc. I think I got a better understanding on what they were looking for-- hopefully I can prove that I can make a good contribution at Stanford in my essays/responses. I’ll definitely do more research and find out more information.

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@skgriffin Thanks! I’m really considering the ACT now that I think about it (I really should have done more research my junior year). I think I’m going to study for the ACT and do my best. I’ll probably study for the SAT as well so that when I submit all my scores (since it’s required :frowning: ), the admissions people can see that I at least improved from my previous (super terrible) scores.