I’ll give a detailed summary of my background to get the best advice. I’m a Somali girl from Minnesota. All throughout high school I’ve taken all honors and AP. My unweighted GPA is a 3.74 and an ACT score of 33. I’m interested in the medical field so throughout high school I volunteered at my local hospital’s ER room. I’ve clocked in about 300 hours there. My school has a HOSA program (health occupations student of America) and I’m the Vice President of it. I started a medical club at my school also and I’m the President of that. My electives are mostly medical related like human anatomy or health care core curriculum. I’ve been in band up until 11th grade. And I’ve been doing Spanish for 5 years also. Since sophomore year I’ve also started playing badminton. What do you think my chances are?
I think you have a really good chance of getting in, because big colleges like Stanford want to see that you have a passion for an extracurricular or non-school related activity, and that you stick with it and are committed to it. So far you sound like a good candidate for Stanford. If you have a chance, try boosting your GPA a little, but still stay committed to your medical extracurricular activities. Good luck!
Unfortunately, despite your dedicated passion to a specific field through your extra-circulars, your GPA and ACT scores are just a little low for the standards set by Stanford. If you were applying with a 3.9 and a 35, your chances would be exponentially higher, but with your current scores, it seems unlikely that Stanford would deviate from its normal ranges to admit you. Hopefully, I’m wrong, but the stats that are generally needed to get into Stanford are quite near perfection. Good luck.
@BingBong284 I still have more opportunities to take the ACT so if I aim for a 35 would my chances be significantly better? Also the reason why my GPA is so low is because I’ve been having eye problems, that are still continuing, which has caused me problems during freshman year and I missed a chunk of sophmore year. Do you think I still have a chance?
If it’s a medically documented issue that a doctor can corroborate your claim that it affects academic performance then your lower GPA may be excused. Even if they bump up your GPA by x points, you would likely fall into their standard category of applicants: high objective statistics with major-related extra-circulars. While you still have a chance, because it’s Stanford, it’s a slim chance.
You are academically qualified to attend Stanford and being from Somali will be a giant hook. I rate your chances as very good. Stanford won’t have that many female Somali applicants that are academically qualified.
@MarwahIsmail wrote: “which has caused me problems during freshman year”
Good news, I don’t think Stanford considers 9th grade grades. I think you are a very good candidate, at least as good as anyone that comes around here posting good stats. That said almost no one is a shoe-in at any of these reach schools, they may very well chose you over a 4.0 36 +++ or a third one with lower stats but a better application (on the eyes of the reader…) might be the one that gets in. I would highly advise against turning this (admission to any one college) into a goal for a number of reasons. Contrary to the vibe you will get in a place like this forum Stanford is just a good school, nothing more, nothing less. Keep doing what you are doing and don’t listen to anyone that tells you that X-school wants something you are not doing or haven’t done, they don’t know what they are talking about. If you do so you will increase your chances of ending up in a good school while enjoying the process on your way there.
I think you have a great chance. Let us know.
< 5% like everyone else without a significant hook
@BingBong284 a 33 act score is their average score – I got in with a 33 this year. You just need a score that gets your foot in the door. You’ve got just as good of a chance as anyone else, I just really suggest focusing your application as much as you can to what you’re most passionate about. Ultimately, they want engaged go-getters more than just good test takers.
you have a good chance of getting in imo… your hook is being from Somalia and your passion for medicine. the medical club you started and HOSA are great.
is there a way you could explore your passion in the medical field more?
perhaps doing community outreach to the Somalia community to get medical services… ie… help with translator services at medical clinics… programs for childcare info for recent immigrants… something that shows your engagement with your community and leadership in improving the healthcare of your community. You are probably more knowledgeable about the needs of your community esp from a medical standpoint and learning about the issues and challenges while developing solutions to gain better access to medical care is particularly interesting imo.
just some ideas to really develop your passion… and this is what Stanford is looking for imo. good luck!
I think that you have a chance, but it is somewhere in the single digit percentages. Definitely also seriously consider and apply to other safer options.
Stanford’s acceptance rate is less than 5% It is a huge long-shot for any unhooked applicant.
I suggest you work to create a solid college list that includes reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable and that you would be happy to attend. The people I see who get hurt by the college admission process are the ones who focus on one or two hyper-competitive schools and then don’t get in.
I personally think that Stanford looks for diversity so much, not in terms of race or religion or anything like that, but unique, even quirky characteristics that stand out. Being Somali and female and not in tech probably will help for sure. If you have some other unique ECs or something within your culture that is different, amazing, etc, those are the type of things that Stanford really looks for. @sbballer is on the right track.
Now that the results are out did u get admitted?
@“Somali Boy” The original poster has not been on CC since the day after this was posted.
Now that the results are out did u get admitted?
Did you get in?