What are my chances for Stanford?

About me:
Asian Female
-not really a minority in my reach schools ):
-not legacy):
-not first-generation ):
Hoping to major in pharmaceuticals or engineering

New SAT: 1570 (800 math, 770 reading & writing) (8/8/7 for essay)
ACT: 35 (36 in all subjects, but 33 in reading)
SAT II: math II 800 (Chem and Bio scores yet to come out)
Unweighted/Weighted GPA: 3.97/4.3
AP/IB: AP Chem: 4 (took 5 APs, scores still to come out)

Awards:
-2015 All-state athlete
-2015 finalist in State Math Prize Competition
-National Merit Finalist
-AP Scholar with distinction
-Scholar athlete
-honorable mention in National Spanish Exam (2 years)

Others:
-Homecoming Queen (sorry if this is irrelevant, my adviser/friend told me colleges like it?)
-Swim (captain)
-Marching Band (Section and Squad Leader)
-French Club (board)
-member of NHS
-member of symphonic band and symphony orchestra (our band is pretty renowned, we have performed in Carnegie Hall)

Job/Work Experience:
-lead student IT worker in a company for 4 years
-teacher in SAT class
-worked in a cancer research lab for 1 month
-counselor for a summer program (integrating American kids to Asia)
Volunteer/Community Service: Over 40 hours

And if not Stanford, what other colleges would you suggest I qualify for?

You qualify for Stanford. But far more students qualify than can be admitted. Stanford and others at that level are reaches for everyone. Choose some matches and safeties.

Agreed with @TomSrOfBoston . You also intend to go into pharmaceuticals or engineering yet your E/Cs don’t really show an overwhelming passion for that field. How do you expect to make yourself stand out in a crowd of cookie-cutter smart, asian, STEM interested kids?

You look well qualified. You might want to write an essay or elaborate in an essay about your summer counseling job. It look interesting to me so might be interesting to admissions. Even in the day of political correctness, being homecoming queen is a positive. It shows you get along with other students and have some leadership qualities, always a plus.

Agree with @TomSrOfBoston and @CiteYourSources , you are fine academically but lack EC’s to show your passion and commitment to the majors. You will be competing with Intel, Siemens, Dupont, google and other award winners along with many Olympiad participants and winners. One month of cancer research will look pretty weak amidst those who have already authored papers.

Invest your time strengthening the Ec’s to match you interest

Academically, you’re very competitive for Stanford, but I agree with the above on ECs. While you probably won’t win Intel or publish a paper before college apps are due, you could get involved in some type of STEM EC (considering you don’t really have any) and exhaust all internship opportunities.

Side note: How do you know you’re a National Merit Finalist? Even if you got a perfect PSAT, it would sound presumptuous to put NMF on a college app considering Semifinalists aren’t notified until September.

@pineapple86 Thanks for replying! And yeah, I’m not sure if other schools had it, but my school called some of us in for a meeting to let us know? I know semifinalists aren’t announced for a while, so I’m not really sure how legitimate that meeting was haha

Maybe applying “undecided” could help you. What are your target/reach schools? (Not that you aren’t competitive for Stanford, but it IS Stanford. Reach for everyone).

My question is I’m guessing that you took a break year before applying to college? Because if not, this is B.S.

I’m going to agree with the comments above:
You have some really nice EC’s: But they’re not really focused, and most of them are “cliched.”
Think of all the Stanford applicants who will also have been a part of NHS, maybe a language club, and a sport. The music is a really nice and interesting touch, but it doesn’t really scream “I’m one of a kind out of a pool of 40,000 kids .”

Job and work experience is also sort of all over the place:
working a job is always noble, so kudos to you.
But I’m not sure about the importance of the cancer research lab? What did you accomplish there? Even if it was just doing research that supported a theory.
Also, I’d be wary about the community service. Most schools have community service as a requirement and the numbers usually range from anywhere between 30-50. So having a somewhat small number may show you only went slightly beyond the requirement. (If service is not a requirement at your school, the fact you did 40 hours is amazing!)

I think your strongest point would have to be your essays. You have to really go into specifics to sort of combat the variety of your application. Hope no dreams were crushed!

Good luck!

Of course, you are qualified for Stanford, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you will get in. Thousands of qualified students like you get rejected, and nobody knows why. Make sure you have safety schools.

You’re a beast

@dkcub17 Thanks for replying! Haha you didn’t crush my dreams, going to any school would be great for me. About the essays, could you elaborate on how I would combat the variety of my application? I agree with you that I don’t really have any strong points, I think I’m a jack of all trades. I really enjoy a variety of things which is why my application is all over the place. Any advice would be appreciated!

@xjscptpg Sure: So being a jack of all trades in terms of extracurriculars is not a bad thing; I’m a jack of all trades as well. But in my opinion it’s not going to help much in admissions. Compare a computer science-focused senior who has interned at a data company and has created his own programs and has won regional and state, even national, awards in computer science and has participated in hackathons etc. to someone who was part of the NHS, French Club, had so music EC’s, but also did a science research internship for one month: Colleges might be more apt to chose the individual with a spike in computer science as opposed to a jack of all trades. It’s important to think about the applicant pool: Think about how many of the 30,000 kids will claim to be jack of all trades with a finger in each pie. You need something that makes you unique. Because your EC’s are varied, your essay needs to be your strongpoint.

Your essay is where you should highlight something you did whether it was a concert, research, or being part of a club and how it uniquely impacted you. Your essay has to highlight a specific experience that makes you stand out among the rest of the “jacks-of-all-trades.” Maybe it was the cancer research that just changed your worldview. Or maybe playing in Carnegie Hall was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience you cherish. Don’t fake the essay i.e. where you lie about how being in French Club was the most exciting and unique experience in the world: Be honest.

Also, lastly, I think some self-proclaimed “jack-of all trades” are really people with a broad focus: Maybe you just love learning which is why you’re in a bunch of different activities. Maybe you’re really into media which is why you do all these art projects. Might be something to think about.

*Take my advice with a grain of salt. I’m an incoming senior as well with no experience in admissions. I’m regurgitating info I’ve read on other college-prep blogs, admissions sites, etc.

I would look at some top 20-30 schools and some top LACs. I don’t see you not getting into at least some of those schools.