<p>I'm currently at a CC in california and want to transfer to Stanford, I do have back ups, and I know its a long shot, but I was just wondering what I could do to really set myself apart from the other applicants. Thus far this is what I am looking at for my application:</p>
<p>GPA: 3.9
EC's:
-Tutoring Elementary, Middle and High School Students
-Internship at Kaiser
-I also work at Wal-Mart if that makes a difference
-I'm trilingual if that matters at all
-I work for a company that helps simulate the culture in the middle east to prepare soldiers who are getting sent to Afghanistan</p>
<p>Thats about it, any suggestions on what else I can do to improve my chances?</p>
<p>Are you ethnically Iranian (re: Farsi)? That might be of some interest to Stanford.</p>
<p>But with a 1.5% transfer rate (about 20 students a year), it is just a wild grab-bag. I have met a handful of transfer students to Stanford and they almost always have an unusual hook… or lacking that, I believe an out of this world great essay (I met one guy who didn’t seem to have a hook, but he read part of his essay and it was very trippy in a good way–philosophical and exuberant–I wouldn’t try to imitate it, it probably just worked for his particular profile.)</p>
<p>I have come to the conclusion that Stanford approaches its transfer student selection like they are building a tiny exotic “zoo” – look, a US Marine! look, a 50 year old mother of 2 boys! look, a male cheerleader from the Philippines! look, a young lady who built her own harp from scratch!</p>
<p>I also don’t buy for a moment their stance of “we really value our transfer students, they add so much to our campus” – when taking only 20 students per year. Santa Clara University down the road (a school of similar size) accepts upwards of 500 transfer students per year.</p>
<p>Be sure you love your back-ups. Treat Stanford like a lotto ticket. Good luck!</p>
<p>You might have a chance, but I wouldn’t count on it. Look into the UCs where you should be solid. USC? </p>
<p>As for the SAT question, you need to look at Stanford’s info. In any case, they might not care that your SATs are low because you’ve grown since high school.</p>
<p>I know for sure I can get my SAT’s up, but I know that I have to do something significant to get in. I was wrong in saying that its a hope, its what I am going for, thats my goal, if I don’t get in I won’t loose sleep over it, but I want to do everything I can to make sure that I didn’t get rejected for a lack of effort. I just want to do something special not only to get into school, but also to give opportunities to others. Any suggestions for an EC that I can do to be one of the 20 that are admitted. There are no limits to the effort I’m willing to put into it.</p>
<p>There are no “suggested” ECs to get you in. There aren’t any “preferred” ECs.</p>
<p>An EC that is impressive is one that you have pursued for your own reasons, because of your own interests. One that “fits” you and helps the Admissions Committee understand who you are outside of the classroom and what you will contribute to the community. An EC that you start to pursue a few months prior to your application is not likely to be noticed at all… and might, unfortunately, be perceived as something you did just to pad your resume.</p>