Just trying to get an idea if applying would even be realistic, or if you guys could recommend similar colleges you think I would be qualified for? I’m currently a junior
My Information:
GPA: 3.96 (All As, two A-)
SAT: 1480 (Taking again in the spring)
AP Classes Taken:
AP World History
AP Calculus AB
AP Chemistry
AP Physics 1
AP Classes I Plan to take senior year:
AP Biology
AP Physics C
AP Calculus BC
AP Spanish
All others classes have been honors if possible
I should mention my school only has 6 periods so it’s a struggle fitting in AP classes with graduation requirement classes
Also I took a bridge class over the summer to skip a year in math to take AB as a junior.
Extra Circulars:
My main academic focus that I enjoy and would probably build my application off of would be Spanish. I’m currently in spanish 3 Honors as a junior and plan on taking AP next year. My awards/activities:
-Spanish 1 student of the year
First in the state of Georgia National spanish exam level 2
Studied abroad for a few weeks in Spain last summer
-Spanish Club
Been nominated for my state Governors Honors Program for Spanish, will possibly attend this summer at Berry college in Georgia
My other extra circulars include:
-I started a club at my high school to raise money for Operation Smile, a cause very close to my family as my brother has it
Over 60 service hours with beta club
-Officer of key club (webmaster)
Will be recognized as a “service student” by my school next semester.
-Member of national honor society and national math honor society
-Various other clubs here and there
On top of that I was a member of my schools symphonic band for two years and played basketball my freshman year.
I would probably major in chemical engineering and hope to minor in linguistics.
it would definitely be a stretch. Youve only taken 4 APs and SATs should break 1500 if you even want a shot. ECs wise, the first impression I had was that you would be majoring in Spanish, but chemical engineering of all things? Stanford engineering is particularly competitive. It would be advisable to apply as a Spanish major bc I can see you getting in safely. Maybe then apply for transfer?
Improve your SAT a bit and you will be qualified for all of the better programs in the country. Just google chemical engineering rankings for a list. Your chance of being admitted to any of the super selective schools is low because of the sheer volume of well qualified applicants. What can your family afford? I would use that as a starting point, and use the NPC at each to get an idea of costs.
Chemical engineering curriculum will be similar at any accredited college you attend.
Fortunately GT tuition will be almost free to you with Zell Laurie scholarship, so all you will have to cover is living expenses, books, and lab fees so you have an excellent, very affordable in-state option. I would benchmark the other schools against GT
Ignore the advice about majors, e.g. from @kaaaaatrina. Applicants to Stanford do not specify a major. You have until the end of sophomore year to declare your area of concentration.
^ Exactly. applicants are admitted to Stanford as a whole not specific majors. if you have a strong and obvious STEM background but apply only as a Spanish major you will likely get rejected for two main reasons:
Adcoms will realize that you are (foolishly) trying to game the system
there is gonna be a mismatch between your background and your declared academic interests. there are gonna be applicants with seriously impressive accomplishments in linguistics who will be applying to Stanford.
Stanford is a high reach even for people with perfect scores. The only way Stanford is not a reach for a non-legacy, non-development case and unhooked student is if the student has really major awards (science olympiads, olympic medals, renegeron STS, major publications etc) plus great scores/grades.