I am planning to apply to Stanford early action. However, I just realized that in the past three years, no one from my school has gotten in. Students at my school regularly get accepted to other top colleges such as Harvard and Yale, but never Stanford. Could my school be blacklisted? Stanford has always been my dream school, and I believe I have a fairly strong application. Should I run the risk of applying to Stanford even though no one has ever been accepted?
Stanford enrolled 1,706 students for the class of 2022.
https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/selection/statistics.html
There are approximately 26,407 public secondary schools and 10,693 private secondary schools in the US. This is a total of 37,100 high schools.
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/hs/hsfacts.html
This means that there are nearly 22 times more high schools in the US than there are freshmen students at Stanford.
In an average year, the average high school in the US admits no students to Stanford. Over the average three year period, the average high school in the US still admits no students to Stanford.
“in the past three years, no one from my school has gotten in”
This is true for the vast majority of the high schools in the US. This is normal.
Stanford has not blacklisted your high school. Stanford is just a very difficult university to get admitted to.
If you are an exceptionally strong student and you would like to attend Stanford, then apply. However, you need to focus on schools where you have a good chance for admission. Stanford is not a safety for anyone.
1 Like
Welcome to the club. My kid’s HS, < 30 minute drive away, hasn’t had anyone in 4 years but I think one got in this year. Same thing, someone has gotten into every Ivy and a ton to Berkeley. If you’re a local Asian but not a URM, male and going into STEM, you have virtually no shot. It’s my opinion but it’s also based on quite a bit of observation.
My high school has existed for about 15 years and we never got anyone into Stanford or ANY Ivy League until last year (despite numerous NMF, near-perfect SATs, etc.) Shoot your shot; it’s well worth it.
1 Like
Life is about “shooting your shot!” Great expression. Thanks @Racingfan53
I wouldn’t let historical rates from your high school deter you if you otherwise have the stats and the right stuff to be a competitive applicant. You can never be sure if or when they will decide to take a chance on someone from your high school.
@friedegg: Depends upon your qualifications & whether or not your second choice school offers a significantly better chance of admission if you apply early (ED or EA).
Some view EA and ED as a calculated risk, while others may see it as a chance of a lifetime to shoot for the stars.
What is your second choice school ?
Stanford never accepted a student from your school or just not in the past three years? This is confusing.
Stanford has a 4% admissions rate, so it basically comes down to luck. Colleges don’t blacklist high schools, because there’s just too many of them to keep track of. Just apply. Chances are, you’ll get rejected anyway 
Or you might get accepted. It’ll be on your own merits.
What if this is the year a kid gets in from your high school and you didn’t apply? Would you wonder what if? Would you be okay with that? Only you know the answer.
1 Like