What are my chances at Harvard/Stanford?

Hello, I was inquiring about my chances at either one of these prestigious universities.
My freshman-senior status’s are as follows. If it helps my chances, both of my cousins are former admissions to Stanford. Also some more things to note, I am 3 years ahead in math and am 2 years ahead in science.

Academic ~
GPA - 3.98/4
SAT - 2370
ACT - 35

Extracurricular-
Participate in >20 hours per week, every week since beginning of freshman year.
Former member of the National Honors society. (4 years)
Former member of MENSA. (9 years)
Former valedictorian of my high school. (3, possibly 4 years)

What is your current status? Would you be entering a freshmen? Reason I ask is you are using the term former which makes me believe you are not in HS anymore.

My current status is #3/416 in my senior class.

So you are taking a gap year? Otherwise how can you be a former valedictorian.

They are reaches for you and most everyone but you are in the range.

As of right now I’m #3/416, as aforementioned, but am currently on the break between administering any admissions to either of the universities because I wanted to ensure that my chances, although comparable to <6%, could be higher than such. As for how I can be valedictorian, I was for freshman-junior. As of right now I’m placed in the top 3, as I mentioned earlier.

Are you international? That would make your odds even harder. I think these schools are reaches for most everyone. Your ECs are also lacking or at least you didn’t give much detail and show no leadership which these schools like to see in their students.

I’m not international, but I can see where I possibly lack in my extracurriculars. I was hoping my academic revenend could make up for my fault in my extracurriculars, but of course this can be managed.

You would be a competitive applicant at both schools. But that means they are still reaches.

Your best chance at admission to one of them would be to apply SCEA to Harvard – apparently it’s a bit more likely of an admit than Stanford REA. RD is brutal at both.

Good to hear, thanks for your insight as well. I may consider applying in a different stance at Harvard, or the contrasting Stanford.

Your extracurriculars are a bit shallow, in my honest opinion.

These schools turn away applicants with 4.0 UW and 36 ACTs. Stats alone won’t get you in. Being #1 in your class is not an EC. Being a member of MENSA or NHS is not an EC unless you were actively involved. Great essays will help you and it’s not impossible but find some matches and safety schools too. If you are taking a gap year (which it sounds like you are if you are a senior now) do something that shows you are the type of person they are looking for and something that makes you stand out from everyone with your same stats.

If it were ED i’d caution against applying ED at a school unless you were certain it was your #1 choice. SCEA isn’t quite as restrictive. Still, read up on it to learn if it’s too restrictive for your admissions plans.

I agree, I intended on that being the academic sector of my post. I will work on it and have some backups in case I get denied. Thanks for your insight.

Good luck!

Thanks!

Do you thinking that my academic sector makes up for it though, in the long run?

Definitely keep researching schools and add to your list a few matches and at least one safety. (you can obviously also add more reach schools – other Ivies, MIT, Chicago, JHU, Duke, Northwestern, top LACs, etc.)

You should like and be able to afford (run the NPC) all the schools to which you apply. That will go a long way toward ensuring a happy ending in your admissions experience.

I will for sure, thanks for your insights.

One “sector” does not make up for another. Top schools expect it all.

I think your stats are excellent and set you apart but unfortunately college admissions is tough. These schools will accept students with lower stats for other reasons. It is a numbers game. Don’t get me wrong, I think with excellent essays you have a shot. Maybe your essay can even address why your ECs aren’t as strong. But these schools will probably have ten qualified applicants for every spot. I wish you all the best. Make your essays stand out but do have some back up plans. It’s ok to dream but understand the odds going in.