I started through Khan Academy. I haven’t programmed anything major or super-spectacular but I learn more every day, and the more I learn, the more it becomes a passion for me.
@rdeng2614 I have never talked with Stanford adcoms about how they use the two optional subject tests, so anything I say would be a guess. However, since they are recommended, they are very likely used in admissions.
@JustOneDad I was talking about the AP Scores. When OP got a 3 and a 4 you thought that was proof that the OP did not go to a very competitive school. I was wondering if adcoms would use your logic and use AP Scores to ‘validate’ academic proficiency.
JavaScript? HTML?
Do you have a telescope or are you a “naked eye” astronomer?
Only JS right now, hopefully I can expand my horizons over the summer. I had a telescope when I was younger but not anymore so I guess I’m a “naked eye” astronomer.
@rdeng2614 I just checked to see the exact wording for subject tests and AP tests on the website:
“SAT Subject Tests are recommended but not required. Applicants who do not take SAT Subject Tests will not be at a disadvantage. Because SAT Subject Tests are optional, applicants may use Score Choice to selectively send their SAT Subject Test scores.
AP examination scores are recommended but not required. If you have these scores, we recommend you self-report them on the Common Application. You may report any scores you choose.”
So, if nothing else, at least considering that they are both described the same way then they probably have similar importance. I feel like AP classes are mostly important to see if you tried to take rigorous classes and the tests are important to see if you understood what the heck was going on, but that’s just me.
@rdeng2614 Well, sometimes, you’re just using every clue you can get to figure something out.
So, what do you think the most competitive thing you ever did was? I’m talking about something where you felt you were up against the most competitive people from the widest possible area.
@JustOneDad Probably the Academic Decathlon. I actually was thinking of incorporating that into one of my essay topics.
It’s been a major learning experience for me, mostly because every year, I’ve improved, and I am going to do my absolute best with it as a senior.
JustOneDad is feeding you quite a bit of wrong information. MY ADVICE would be to report and send in only your ACT score as it’s equivalent to a 2330 on the SAT. Furthermore, AP scores don’t do anything for admissions.
You seem competitive enough to get in, but remember that these colleges are crapshoots. It’s very luck dependent.
@ezraspinapple Stanford requires you to send in all scores of both your ACT and SAT. No way around it.
And yeah, I know it sucks that no matter what, it can be a tossup. I mostly just wanna check my chances as compared to others who have gotten in.
Honestly, I would say that stanford is beyond reach. A dream within a dream. Obviously apply, but don’t invest too much into it. Consider going there for graduate school. Berkeley is the compsci reach you may be hoping for and Davis is a match.
Why you may have a chance: clearly you’ve gone through your own set of difficulties and hardship.
However, Many stanford applicants have gone through worse and ended up stronger.
You are below the average for stanford without any significant hook.
Lastly, I saw that you won’t take subject tests bc you think you won’t do well. Would you imagine the desired student saying that? No, the student would say, I will do my best to try and if I fail, I know I did all I could. (I’m not telling you to take the tests btw.)
Keep those points in mind. You are not defined by numbers. But you are defined by the vision you set yourself in.
Nonetheless, if you can stress the match and how it will make you a stronger person, stronger than the best comp sci applicant after growth, that would be good. So… write a good essay and you just might get in? I think that counts more than anything you can do now. Don’t stress about tests. Getting 800s means very little and 600-700s are average (I think avg for math was 680 and near 800 for stanford).
@andyis It also doesn’t help that I didn’t even know that subject tests were a possibility until late in the game. But isn’t it equally important for someone to know their limits and how to devote their time to what’s important? If I had figured out about subject test options earlier, would it have been better for me to spend my time on something such as one of the language tests or to practice programming on Khan Academy? The SAT isn’t my strong suit, so I figure I should spend my time devoted to things more important than trying to diversify my test scores with subject tests.
And thank you for responding! It always just gets confusing because I know there always seems to be a “chance” when it comes to Stanford and I appreciate everyone reading through all this and helping me out.
If you look around CC, there are threads where you can see the stats of accepted and rejected applicants. It would be good to work through those. You might get some ideas. Your June scores might come in big. 
@JustOneDad I’ve been trying to scan through a lot of people on here, although I know that not everyone who has applied is on here. Mostly intimidating because so many people are awesome though XD
And if I did really amazing on my June SAT I think I would… I dunno. Probably be like “Hey, my June SAT scores improved. That’s cool.” since I would be so happy I’d forget how to be happy.
UCSC may be another school worth looking into for CS and physics.
@ucbalumnus I’m not planning on going too far away from home when I leave for college. I’m just lucky that I have a variety of schools close enough that I can apply to.
SJSU sounds sorta good…
@JustOneDad What do you mean by “sorta good”?
I’ve recently met a number of pretty impressive CS students from there.