Very weak GPA, but good ACT and phenomenal work experience/passion. Chance?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>I go to one of the top public high schools in my state with about 5,000 students (with roughly 1,100 in my graduating class) with a level system, where in the level that I was placed after 7th grade standardized testing, a 3.5 GPA is virtually the highest possible. I have a 2.8 GPA, got a 29 on the ACT, and wrote a set of great essays (I write online in my free time). I made a strong point to include a great deal of my voice and humor. I also had stellar recommendations (or so I've been told) written on my behalf. But what really shines in my application to Stanford is my work experience.</p>

<p>I've been programming since I was in seventh grade. Mainly mobile apps, but my programming tongue is cultured. I started off making apps for myself and selling them on iTunes. Then I started freelancing in eighth grade, and was hired at an advertising agency freshman year to build apps for their clients. Later during freshman year I was hired by a very successful entrepreneur to work at his venture capital firm as an advisor to portfolio companies and an engineer to build companies in-house. There, I co-founded a large profitable technology startup that is at the forefront of it's industry with investments from a "who's who" of technology investors. It was an incredible experience that everyone must do once in their lifetime. The rush of having an idea, making it tangible, then putting it out into the world is pure ecstasy. I've since left that company and am now working on building an exciting new startup. While I managed my time incredibly well, my schoolwork has ultimately suffered. It's something I'm ashamed of and will have to live with. But the past is the past, and I'm okay with that.</p>

<p>Stanford, opposed to other schools considered to be in it's league, is very holistic with admissions. I'm truly hoping that the admissions committee will see beyond my GPA, instead seeing the world-changing passion that I have. Stanford wants it's students to think, live, and succeed with a global mindset and a hunger for knowledge, both which I [think I] have myself.</p>

<p>However, I'm worried that my GPA will outweigh my passions. These passions for technology are what have kept me up until 4am melding my mind into code, building paradigm-shifting software, and given me the confidence to succeed in an ever-changing world.</p>

<p>This all being said, Stanford is my dream school. But with most dreams, they don't always come true. And if I do get denied from Stanford, such is life. I know that I'll succeed no matter where I end up, and that is okay. But do I have a chance?</p>

2

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<p>They’ll look beyond your GPA and test scores, to an extent. With 1/20 of America’s best and brightest getting accepted, they can be choosy and pick those who have great extra-curricular profiles and stellar grades/test scores. </p>

<p>It’s worth a shot to apply, but sorry kid, I don’t think you have much of a shot. It’s good that you already have the confidence to take bad news in stride, most your age don’t. </p>

<p>Why do you want to go to Stanford? Stanford is not just a giant tech incubator with a top-5 football team, it’s a university with a high density and breadth of top scholars from around the world. Not top VCs, not top entrepreneurs, not top global business leaders, but top scholars first and foremost. Is that what you’re looking for? Not to give you too hard of a time, but if you were willing to sacrifice your academics for your extra-curricular pursuits before, what is different this time? If accepted, will you just become another one of Stanford’s drop-outs who develop a billion dollar social media application?</p>

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Don’t tell me what to do. But seriously, don’t say “everyone must” do this in an essay or something, especially when the people who read your application probably haven’t done said thing and have no intention of doing so.</p>

3

<p>Well, what is your class rank? If the highest at your school is a 3.5 that’s different than schools where a lot of people get 4.0s. Also, are there any extenuating circumstances for your grades?</p>

<p>There’s only so much that extracurriculars can do for you. I’m not saying Stanford does this, but most schools like to say good grades before good extracurriculars. </p>

<p>That said, class rank and/or extenuating circumstances can put things into more perspective.</p>

4

<p>Stanford wants students who they know will thrive at their school and benefit from all there is to offer. Based on your description, it seems like you are already on your own two feet with your previous business success. It almost seems like you are a bill gates type who doesn’t really need college. They will most likely reject you (like they will for every applicant), but its not just because of your low GPA, but also because it seems that you can succeed on your own without depending on education, and because what Stanford offers is top-of-the-line education, they probably want to accept someone who they think needs them as much as Stanford needs the student. Does this make sense?</p>

5

<p>You come across as very self-assured. If this shows through in your application, I would hazard a guess that it would impact your chances negatively. You say you managed your time “incredibly well,” but you want to get into Stanford with a 2.8/29? You claim to have a “world-changing passion”–how have you changed the world?</p>

6

<p>Sorry to say that, but I am not sure if your file would even pass the first reader with 2.8/29.</p>