Stanford Admissions Help

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

I’m worried. Right now is the summer before my junior year and I realize now is the time to put forth my best efforts.

I want to get accepted to Stanford. I’ve researched other people on what seemingly got them in and it doesn’t seem consistent. Some people get in with stellar grades, others with amazing extra curriculars and awards. A few of them I have no idea how they did it but good for them!

I have the appearantly right GPA, course load, and test scores, but I’m bland. I know I could have passion, but I’m not quite sure how to express it or even what exactly I have a passion for. I lack a certain “je ne sais quoi” (In my family we throw random French phrases into our conversations).

Here’s my basic non-academic life:
Track for 2 years (but I have to quit)
School Choir (I love to sing and will continue through high school)
School Clubs (HOSA, National Honors Society, Chinese Club–one of three white kids-- and a few service clubs but I am not in leadership)
Counselor for a Children’s Day Camp (last summer, this summer, and next summer)
Camp Counselor (starting this summer and next summer)
Various hours of Community Service
Very involved in my church (leadership here)

I have a large family. I have 2 older and 2 younger siblings and instead of spending a lot of time building up my resume, I put them and my church first. They are a major part of my life and always will be.

I am planning to start volunteering at my public library and I am on a waiting list to volunteer at a hospital. I would like to also mention that I am a full IB diploma candidate.

Compared to a lot of other people I am not very interesting. I love math and science (I will be taking Calculus 2 my senior year and a total of six different science courses). I have considered majoring in Chemistry or Physics. I also love to read and write. I spend hours a week reading all different sorts of books: classics, fantasy, sci if, romance, nonfiction. Anything. History is also fascinating to me. I am addicted to TV shows based in other centuries on Masterpiece Classic as well as documentaries. I am very unfocused with a particular subject which is why I thought the IB program would be great for me. I just like learning.

My question is: what more can I do? How do I get Stanford to see I’m not just another applicant with a perfect GPA and enough AP/IB classes to kill a person?

Mostly, I want suggestions of activities, internships, or whatever that will be fun and interesting. I realize I should have been doing this since freshman year so I hope I’m not too late.

NOTE: I am also a crazy, humorous teenage girl who likes to hang out with her friends. I am a movie addict. I love making cookies (and eating them). I’m the girl who prays before every scary test. I adore life and do not want to spend all my time on college admissions, but am willing to make sacrifices as long as I stay happy.

2

Start your school’s first simultaneous movie/cookie/comedy/Bible club.

3

Genius

4

Your essays are one of the only ways you can stand out from the crowd.

5

“Some people get in with stellar grades…”
Some? 75% of Stanford admits have a 4.0 and the rest aren’t far behind.

What makes you think you’re NOT just another applicant?

6

@JustOneDad I am just another applicant. That’s the problem. I actually have a 3.97 (because of a B+) but I take rigorous courses that challenge myself. And that was a poor choice of words on my part. I know the majority have perfect or near perfect grades

7

I agree with @rdeng2614 on the essays. Also, the letter of recommendations will matter a lot too. However, don’t set your heart on Stanford- with your profile, a lot of it will boil down to luck. Apply broadly to the top colleges, and there will likely be some that are looking for a profile like yours.

8

If you are trying to say you know all Stanford admits have taken rigorous courses that challenge themselves, I will agree with you.

I see you doing well at a lot of universities. Why are you stuck on Stanford?

9

@JustOneDad I appreciate you think I could do well. I have a lot of safety schools on my list if I get rejected, but I believe Stanford would ensure later career opportunities (as would the Ivys). I also think the campus and location is beautiful. If I can’t get in, I wouldn’t mind going to school elsewhere. There is always the Ivys, MIT, and other well known schools. But Stanford is the dream.

10

@toolegittoquit. Your stats aren’t bad. What’s your SAT/ACT score?
Have you taken one of them?
Your question is like everyone who applies to Stanford. Nobody knows the real true how admissions work for schools like IVY’s or Stanford. There a lot of stellar applicants. Try to be involved on EC’s and do what you like. Remember that is holistic admission on the top ones. Not only scores matter but each part of your app.

11

Write awesome essays–for instance, you say you put your family and church first, above resume building, but how? In what ways? They might be interesting–and if they’re not, then you’d better have something more interesting to write about.

But in the end, setting your sights on a single dream school is a fool’s errand. Stanford is so selective that there’s a huge element of luck involved; there are many factors far beyond your control. Get over it, and rest assured that your accomplishments will ensure you end up at a great school. The sooner you gain a measure of perspective, the less likely you are to have your heart needlessly broken.

12

Maybe you should learn reflexive pronoun usage.

13

@toolegittoquit When you say Stanford will get you so much greater career opportunities, what field are you looking at? It is very likely you are overestimating the value that it will give you. Unless you are interested in investment banking or management consulting, the school you go to won’t matter nearly as much (if at all) as you think- it will be the actual skills that you have, especially in fields like engineering (read: Google has no problem in taking a CC student over a Stanford student if the CC student is a better programmer). Even if you are interested in banking/consulting, there are a lot of target schools, and some that are not very difficult to get into- if you apply broadly, you should be able to get into one.

14

If you think Stanford’s name, (or any other Ivy) will make up for something you lack, you’re going to waste both time and money and make a big mistake.

15

I agree with what JustOneDad said.

16

Where did she say her school will make up for anything? You guys are harsh!

17

@Jr12317 I got a 34 on the ACT my first time, but I’m retaking it this fall. On the SAT Math 2 Subject Test, I got an 800 and I will be taking other ones next year. I plan on trying out the SAT 1 too.

@puzzled123 I am not positive what I plan on majoring in. I am considering business, engineering, or a science.

@JustOneDad I don’t expect to get a job I am not qualified for just because I go to a name school. In the circumstance two applicant are equally qualified, I would assume the one with the more prestigious education has the better chance. If I don’t go to Stanford, I still believe I can succeed with just a decent school. It might require a little more work to find connections and job opportunities.

18

@toolegittoquit. Don’t take it again. 34 or so score is enough for any school. Congrats for that score. Don’t take the SAT1. You are doing good with the ACT. Also, don’t lose hope with those schools, it’s true to get in. But you are doing a great job.

19

Students often think they need to go to a name brand institution because it will “open doors”, but the truth is that it’s all about what you do and not where you go.

20

Agree^^^