What are My chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>I know a ton of people put out their scores, hoping for reassurance that they are on par with what Stanford is looking for... and admittedly I am just the same. I was wondering what others think of the things I have done and if they will be enough for Stanford.</p>

<p>I am a white female senior from a private school in Florida. My parents are both doctors, so our income is $300,000+ each year. I am ranked in the top 10th of my class (though we don't officially rank because our class sizes are only around 160ish- very small!) and have a GPA of 3.99 unweighted. </p>

<p>My Superscore for the SAT is:
Math: 740
CR: 680
Writing: 690</p>

<p>My ACT is a 32</p>

<p>APs include:
Chemistry- 4
Calculus AB- 5
Language- 4
Physics- Taking Senior Year
Calculus AB/BC- Senior Year
Statistics- Senior Year
(Our school only offers a few APs because we are so small and only allows students to start taking them Junior Year)</p>

<p>I have rowed in High School for 2 years on JV (and 3 years in middle school, not that it matters, really)</p>

<p>ECs:
Science Fair
-3 years
-Discovery Channel Young Scientist
-1st Place at Regional fair every time
-1st Place at International Sustainable World Symposium
-International Fair Observer (10th grade) and Finalist (11th grade)
-BioGENEius State finalist and International Alternate for the Southeast region
-Research involves Nanotechnology at a university
-Research Paper
-More special awards than I can count!</p>

<p>Volunteer work (1000+ hours)
-840ish hours spent at a camp for persons with disabilities
-many other smaller service projects including: Row for the Cure, homeless shelter work, etc.
-Reason for so many hours: autistic brother, so I like to help others with disabilities</p>

<p>Clubs:
Mu Alpha Theta: 2 years
National Honor society: 3 years
Junior National Honor Society: 1 year
National Spanish Honor Society: 3 years
Cum Laude Society: 2 years
Dreams Come True: 2 years
Science Olympiad: 4 years (Captain for 2)
Brain Brawl Team: 4 years (Captain for 3)
Vocal Ensemble: 2 years
Fuel (Bible Study): 2 years</p>

<p>Misc.
I am proficient in Spanish
I am currently teaching myself Japanese and Sign Language (ASL)
I make Jewelry as a hobby
I play guitar
I can pick locks
I have hiked every National Park in America and many in Canada
I spent 2.5 weeks in China last summer with 3 friends, learning about the culture
I want to be a Chemical Engineer focusing in Alternative Energies (that has been the focus of my research as well)</p>

<p>I think that is about it. I know that I still need to take the SAT IIs, which I am taking in November. I will be taking Math II and Physics. I also know that my ACT and SAT scores are a bit lacking, but I am retaking both tests in October after having 2 months of private tutoring.</p>

<p>So the big question is this: Will my extracurriculars overcome my slightly lower test scores for making me a desirable student to Stanford? I hope so! Please tell me what you think.</p>

<p>PS- Oh boy, I just realized how long this is. Sorry!</p>

2

<p>Dang, Momo. Don’t stress. I think that you are right on the borderline of an acceptance letter, but I think that the final decision will come down to your essays. You need to show just how passionate you really are, especially about science, because that’s what you seem to be pursuing rather ardently. As for your ECs overcoming your low scores, I can’t answer that, because one thing I’ve heard from a bunch of admissions officers(including Stanford) is that they don’t want to see someone unnecessarily “stretched thin” with clubs, and joining them just to add things to their resume. I hope that you aren’t joining so many clubs for that reason.</p>

<p>For your essays to be good, I suggest looking up Stanford, and seeing what appeals to you. Don’t write about the reasons that everyone and their grandmother writes about, but something that makes it clear to the admissions committee why you want to go there, and more importantly, why you should go there. Your stats should be able to at least show them that you want to go there, and your essays will tell them you should. Like for me, I was interested in African music, and I accidentally found out that Stanford is the only school with an African music group, and a world-renown one at that. I used that for a substantial part of my essay. But that’s just me. I think if you do some research, like see what kind of research various professors are doing, and find something you like, you should have a pretty good shot at Stanford.</p>

<p>Anyway, I apologize for my length, but I just came back from a meeting with my counselor, so these thoughts have rattling about in my head. I hope I was helpful, and I wish you and myself the best of luck this fall.</p>

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<p>And for the record, while the fact that you can pick locks is very indisputably cool, it’s also a little scary. I don’t know if Stanford wants to have a master thief at their school. ;P</p>

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<p>^ I think it was a funny little side note that the OP placed. However, I would agree that your picking lock stuff has me scared…just don’t try it for evil reasons…:wink: In fact, quit it lol.</p>