Stanford or Harvard: Which One?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>Hey CC,</p>

<p>So I'm a junior from Vancouver, BC Canada (the Olympics!) and I'm really into entrepreneurship (social entrepreneurship specifically, it's the socially consciousness side of biz). </p>

<p>I ultimately want to go into business, but who knows, I also might lean towards Med. </p>

<p>So narrowing down my universities for one's that have good undergrad programs for prospective MBA and MD students, and one's that have the established Social Enterprise programs:</p>

<p>I've come to Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia (haha, esentially half the ivies), </p>

<p>but my top two picks are *Stanford and Harvard. *</p>

<p>I was wondering if you guys could chance me and maybe give me some advice based on my interests and achievements whether Stanford or Harvard would be better (that's if I can even get in!)</p>

<p>School - Extremely Competitive: rated as the second best school in all of Canada. </p>

<p>GPA - 95 % (school doesn't have 4.0 system)
Class Rank - 3 / 150 (but sadly my school has a policy of not giving ranks to unis)
SAT 1 - 800 M, 740 CR, 730 W (plan on taking it again) 2270
SAT 2 - 780 Math 2, 770 Physics (should I take any more?)
All my courses are AP's, accelerated and honors... most rigorous course load at my school (Latin included!)
3 AP's in Juinor year, and 6 in senior = 9 AP's in total</p>

<p>National Round:</p>

<p>Music-
Nationals for Concert Band
Nationals for Wind Ensemble</p>

<p>Sports-
Bronze Medal in Rowing at Nationals</p>

<p>Extracurricular-
Nationals for School-reach (Canadian name for quizbowl)
Destination Imagination qualified for Global Championships </p>

<p>Academics-
Top score in country for National Mythology Exam
4 Years Gold Medal / Summa Cum Laude for National Latin Exam </p>

<p>The theme to myself and my App: Social Entrepreneurship <a href="A%20combination%20of%20leadership%20and%20volunteering,%20in%20accord%20with%20youth%20empowerment%20and%20education">/U</a></p>

<ul>
<li><p>My biggest thing and what I'll write my essay about: I founded a non-profit youth organization that raises money in BC by providing Model UN conferences to students across BC and then using the money to help the kids in the slums of Bombay in India (the same slums as the one in slumdog millionare) </p></li>
<li><p>This thing is really big for me and really comprehensive... if you are interested or nice enough to offer me advice, I'll send you the document (or post it) that exactly covers what I'm doing.</p></li>
<li><p>Raised about $ 6000 so far for that... my non-profit essentially kills two birds with one stone: gives the opportunity of MUN to kids who would never have it before (ie rural kids) and in India I hire teachers with the raised money (the most lacking resources surprisingly enough) to teach the slum kids.</p></li>
<li><p>I spent my freshman summer volunteering and helping these slum kids: taught them financial literacy and English and that experience served as the catalyst for me to found my organization </p></li>
<li><p>Going back to the same place this summer to volunteer again and hire the teachers with the raised money</p></li>
<li><p>*Since the beginning of high school, I've amassed about 1500 hours of service, but their dedicated hours spent with my passion of youth empowerment and education * </p></li>
<li><p>First ever high school student in Vancouver to be on the board of a non-profit: on the board for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society Vancouver </p></li>
<li><p>Mentor mentally and behaviorally ill kids on a weekly basis</p></li>
<li><p>Mentor underprivileged and at risk kids making the jump to high school</p></li>
<li><p>And much much more, but I don't want to bore you (bunches of provincial titles, president of tons of clubs, editor in chief of literary publication, etc.)</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Strengths: My strong theme and drive for the one are of Social Entrepreneurship - I think I encapsulate the heart of social entrepreneur and I think my achievements convey it; the non profit I started and my dedication to it since the beginning of high school
Weaknesses: International, Weak SAT and grades (relative), not many AP's; do too many things and too much leadership all over the place - seems like I'm resume driven even though I'm not.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for the chance and advice!</p>

2

<p>so… do you like social entrepreneurship?</p>

3

<p>Well before I go of to corporate land, I want to be a social entrepreneur, so definitely do like it. </p>

<p>And I already am a social entrepreneur: I started a MUN with a franchise concept for kids across my province with the proceeds going to kids in India.</p>

<p>It was more like I did some self-reflection and realized I was a social entrepreneur, no the other way around.</p>

4

<p>Um, bigdreams…Shazami was gently ribbing you with that question, since you mentioned that interest half a dozen times or so in your post. :slight_smile: Good luck to you!</p>

5

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>I knew Shazami was poking fun at me, but I decided to ignore it and use it as an opportunity to explain a little more, lol :)</p>

<p>do you think I should present myself in a different way</p>