What are my chances of getting in Stanford?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>I am an upcoming senior at a private school in Alabama. Stanford is my dream school and I was curious as to your opinions if I have a legitimate shot of getting accepted. Here's the gist of my resume.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.81u
ACT: 33 (so far, I will be able to get it up easily.)
PSAT: 205
SAT: Haven't taken it yet.
AP: N/A at my school
Honors: English (10,11,12) (Only Honors available)</p>

<p>ECs: Varsity Soccer (4 years; 1 year captain), Varsity Tennis(11,12), Forensics (11,12), I play on a Nationally ranked club soccer team, Show Choir (9,10,12), Chorus (10), Band (9), Student Government (9; Secretary), Yearbook (11,12; 1 year editor, 2 years as Head Graphic Designer), Math Team (9,10,11,12)</p>

<p>Clubs: Jr. Civitan(10,11,12), Spanish Club(10,11,12), Mu Alpha Theta "Math Club"(10,11,12), Science Club(9,10,11,12), Italian Club (10), SADD (10,11,12), Sr. Beta (9,10,11,12), Berean Society (9,10,11,12), etc.</p>

<p>As far as a "hook" goes, I have a severe hearing loss in both ears. It was estimated that I missed over 50% of speech. I have struggled to succeed in school while still trying to fit in. I plan on writing an essay on this. Is this a good hook? I am also in the process of writing a book concerning religion. I have developed a product and have received a phone call from a Fortune 500 company concerning it. I plan to negotiate soon. Is this stuff good? I would appreciate complete honesty.</p>

2

<p>Definitely take the ACT/SAT again as soon as you can in the fall. If you think you can do better, do.
Stanford, though, relies most heavily on the hook because all of their applicants have pretty much the same academic record, extracurriculars and community service included.
Making sure they KNOW that you’ve struggled with the hearing loss is very important and will help to highlight a lot of things about your character that aren’t otherwise evident. That doesn’t necessarily mean you should write your essay on it, and definitely don’t write your essay about all three of those things.
Pick the thing in your life that you are most excited about or most proud of, and write about that. If it happens to be overcoming hearing loss or writing a book, great. If it is none of those things, that’s ok. There are other places in your application to make sure Stanford knows about those things (there’s an additional information section for you to discuss personal and family/financial challenges, a page for your accomplishments, etc.).
If you write about something you love, and for all I care it could be percussion or entomology, it will come across in your writing and you don’t run the risk of it reading like a resume, which is exactly what the essay is NOT supposed to be.
Decide what about yourself you most want to communicate and are least able to communicate through any other part of your application, and you give yourself the best shot. Good luck!!</p>