Academics:
GPA: 4.34 weighted (mostly As and A+s, 5 A-s/B+s)
ACT: 32 composite, 32 superscore
APUSH: 4
AP LANG: 4
AP BIO: 3
Activities/Leadership:
Newspaper - News Editor
Marching Band - Section Leader
Jazz Ensemble 1 - Section Leader
Iowa Youth Congress - Squad Leader
Model United Nations
Spanish Club - CoPresidente
Speech - Improv Captain
Drama (Club)
Concert Band - Section Leader
Pep Band - Section Leader
Show Choir Combo - Combo Captain
Pit Orchestra
Liturgy Ensemble
Cross Country - Junior Varsity Captain
Soccer
Key Club
Ambassadors
Mascoting
National Honor Society
Math Club - Relay Captain
Running Club - Officer
Spanish National Honor Society
XTrAS
Ministers of Hospitality
Senior Service Committee - Education Subcommittee Leader
Senior Mentors
Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership (HOBY) - Junior Facilitator (JUFA)
Iowa Youth Institute - Borlaug Scholar
Honors/Awards:
World Leadership Conference Delegate Top 10 Finalist (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership)
Outstanding Delegate (Model United Nations)
Outstanding Position Paper (Model United Nations)
Solo Division 1 Ratings (Concert Band)
Letters/Pins (Band)
Outstanding Soloist (Jazz Band)
Rookie of the Year Award (Show Choir Combo)
Combo Spirit Award (Show Choir Combo)
Most Improved Award (Cross Country)
Band Achievement Award (Band)
Essays:
I overcame a speech impediment and became a successful public speaker.
I created and led a school-wide movement that emphasized the importance of mutual respect among all extracurricular activities (XC Equal Rights Movement).
Stanford is a reach for everyone because they let is less than 5% of applicants. I would say it is the same for all of the Ivies. You are AMAZING and will get in where you are supposed to get in. I have a son who is a rising senior and I’m trying to keep him sane.
If I worked at Stanford I would take you
Off-topic but how the hell do kids like this fit all these activities onto the application? Aren’t there only 10 or 12 spots? I don’t see how you could include so much without attaching an additional extended activities list. Doesn’t Stanford frown upon attaching unsolicited materials, though?
Test scores are okay but not good enough for Stanford.
You need to align your ECs.
Having a “laundry list” puts off many adcoms because it looks like your padding your “resume”.
Stanford looks for students that are known world-wide and stand out.
Think Malala, the Obama girls, Olympic athletes, celebrities, heroes (the guys that stopped terrorist train attack in France), children of large donors, etc. After they fill up with those students, there are a few spots left for the legacy “regular” students: Eagle Scouts who are entrepreneurs, Greenpeace and Sierra Club activists, Small business owners, etc. Stanford is quite a reach for everyone.
I was accepted early admissions back in 2007. I didn’t take the ACT. My SAT scores were Math 800, Writing 640, Critical Reading (verbal) 570. I got 800s on SAT Math II and Physics subject tests. I did some unusual ECs which I believe weighed more heavily than my SAT scores. I am only one example so I don’t know if it is meaningful or not.
Let me begin by stating that I begin my Stanford journey next month so I will give you feedback based on my experience.
Your grades are not great but that is not the most important thing to Stanford. Are you a URM? Focus on how you overcame the speech issue. Very powerful. Let me know if you have specific questions. Focus on essays so that you stand out. Good luck.
